Pulling the trigger on MFT/3 Table What are the must haves?

[Bugsysiegals]

Hey Bugsy...I'm glad to see someone else that was not satisfied with the stock fence arrangement. Although in my case I wanted the additional cross cut capability.  I made model years ago using UHMW routed and screwed together, giving me 27 1/2" width cutting using the same Incra and have two stops. You'd is a much more elegant solution.  The other thing I did was extend the fence with a piece of 3/8" aluminum so that short pieces are supported thru the cut.  Also, routed the square cut line with dovetail slot so I could use another UHMW removable kerf insert.

Thanks!! It was two weeks of frustration as I continually adjusted the model so it fit snug in all areas while keeping 90 degrees to the surface.  It feels like it snaps into place and doesn't need the knobs but I put them on just for safe measure.  I've not cut many short pieces but when I did I put a longer piece behind the short piece to "extend" the fence ... It would be worth seeing what you've done!

 

[tjskinny]

Nice design Bugsy!  I’ve been sketching out similar designs to attach a fence just behind the mft top like that.  I was going to use UHMW / aluminum and have a fence on the offcut side like rst, and with your brackets would be easy to do as well.  All to say your design is very elegant and thanks for sharing!

 

[Mr_Mod]

Bugsy,

Are the brackets that attach to the MFT/3 extrusions 3D printed? i think they are great, wouldn't mind a set if they were available to buy

 

[rst]

While Bugsy and used the Incra fence, I use the flip down stops.  I often make multiples of differing lengths so it is more convenient to be able to flip out of the way. 

 

[jcrowe1950]

I have the MFT but didn't get along with all the getting and keeping all the pieces square to one another (despite having a wide array of expensive setup gadgets).  Now I use the TSO GRS-16PE guide rail square (attached to the MFT flip bracket) and one of the TSO TPG parallel guides attached to the rail square. IMO this is the most accurate no-fuss setup for perfect square cuts and with the parallel guide it also makes repeatable length cuts a doddle with a minimum one time calibration.

Hi Simon,
  I am very interested in your use of the Festool MFT flip bracket with the TSO TRS-16PE and parallel guides as I was actually considering something similar. Since buying both of the squares and the full parallel guide setup from TSO, I have been blown away by the accuracy and precision of the square and parallel guides. Can you actually post any photos? I like the MFT/3 a lot and if properly set up it can be very accurate with repeatable cuts. The protractor is nice as well, but when people complain about the holes in the MFT not being "calibrated" to the stops in the sides, there's no way that is possible due to slop in the attachment of the top....and it was not designed that way. Hans Friedebach from TSO Products made the point that much of the Festool gear has been around a good, long while and it functions as designed. The aftermarket companies like TSO, Woodpecker, Seneca have the luxury of seeing a functional design and improving on it. In any case, I am personally very impressed with both the MFT/3 and the aftermarket tools. To the original poster, I'd consider the Woodpecker MFT Setup square. You can get your MFT fence to guide rail dead nuts accurate with it but you need to look at some of the Festool expert MFT setup videos on Youtube. Some people claim that the setup causes slop to develop between the guide rail and the steel tapered pin on the guide rail support on the front of the MFT. It turns out that is caused by a mistake in setup (I know this because I made that mistake a few times myself). In any case, best of luck.