parallel guides or mft3 table or just mft3 table top

[paulhtremblay]

I am about to buy a Festool ts 55 track saw, a 55 inch track, and a vacuum for making cabinets (mostly out of MDF) for my house. A bit later I will compliment my setup with a Dewalt DW 745 table saw for smaller cuts.

I also would like to invest in some type of Festool system to allow for repeatable parallel cuts, and accurate 90 degree cuts. Originally I had planned on getting the parallel rails with extensions, and the table top, and making my own solid base. But then I saw the Festool video and realized the full table had tracks on the side that allowed for cross cutting. At the same time, I have read reviews (on Amazon, specifically) that note that the MFT3 table will not provide accurate 90 degree cuts each time. So my options are:

1. Parallel rails with just table top. Advantages: ability to make repeatable parallel cuts, and use quas dogs for 90 degree cross cuts. Base will be stronger than MFT3 base. Disadvantages: MFT3 top alone may not allow for repeatable, accurate cuts.

2. Full MFT table. Advantages: rails on table can be calibrated with care to get accurate, repeatable cuts. Disadvantages: lets a bit less steady. Narrow rips without parallel guides may be more difficult. MFT3 may not give complete accuracy.

There is an option 3, where I get the parallel guide rails and the full table, but I would like to avoid this if possible, since my initial investment is already going to be quite a bit.

 

[eddomak]

Since your budget is limited (something I am understand well), personally I would go with Option 1 - Parallel Guides, MFT Top, and Qwas / Precision /Parf) dogs.

Here in Australia the MFT is a crazy price ($AUD $1000 is achievable), and although I have one and like it a lot, the type of things I do I would rather have spent less on the "full" MFT and use the balance of the money for parallel guides or a better dust extractor or a jigsaw. I made my own stable base for the MFT anyway, and don't clamp tht much on the side rails. I don't use the MFT's angle guide. The key thing I would miss would be the flip-down shorter guiderail, but I could easily live with using rail/parf dogs as an alternative and save the money.

Anyway, hope this helps. Better make yourself a home made base for that top quick smart, or you'll end up buying the rest of the MFT one day anyway...  [tongue]

 

[sancho57]

Well I hate to break it to ya bud,

But cabinet making you'll need both, P guides to rip to width and the MFT to rip to length.