Potential for Building a Large MFT3

[JSB]

I am considering jumping into the Festool pool and see the MFT3 as pretty integral to that, as I plan on building a lot of plywood case goods (built in bookshelves, mainly) in the next couple of years.

It looks to me,  though, that it is impossible to create a large MFT3 other than by combining the MFT3 and another basic MFT3, which strikes me as costly and also not exactly the size I would like (because it will be either approximately 2'x8' or 4'x4', depending on how the two tables are joined).  The configuration that most appeals to me is the use of three top plates, so that I end up with a table top that is more or less 4'x6', something that strikes me as capable of handling a 4'x8' sheet of plywood.  Thing is, though, the 79" aluminum extrusions of edge profile that are available for older versions of the MFT don't seem to be available for the MFT3.  So it looks impossible to build a table for the MFT3 that is 4'x6'.

Am I correct here, or is it possible to get those long edge rails that are in MFT3 profile?  And if they're not available now, does anyone know if Festool plans on making them available in the future, as they did with the older models?

 

[Bob Marino]

  No, Festool does not make such an extrusion/profile for the MFT/3. What you can do is order the the existing profiles for the MFT/3, table conectors, top plates and corner brackets.

Bob

 

[JSB]

Bob:

I was looking at Festool's on-line spare parts catalog, and it looks like there is a distinction between the side profile 473513 and the side profile 228509.  I was in a Woodcraft store on Saturday and, it appeared to me that the two side profiles were the same.  Am I missing something here?

Anyway, if I wanted a large MFT3 table, you are suggesting that I could join together, say, two of the 4' edge profiles (or one 4' and another 2') for the long edge, and use a 4' profile for the shorter end.  That would give me a 4'x6' or 4'x8' table.  And as you note I'd need the corner pieces and the various screws to hold it together.  Top plate I would likely make myself, although I could purchase multiple plates.  As for legs, I was planning on building those myself anyway. 

That what you're suggesting?

 

[tbellemare]

The long profile is 472863 and the short profile is 472862. You can use those to make your table.

Tom

 

[Bob Marino]

  Tom is correct; one's the long, one's the short.
It's really up to you to configure in a way that makes sense to you. All parts are available, though it still would be nice if they had the similar longer profiles availabe for the MFT/3.

Bob