putting additional clamp for stop ruler on back of table

[paulhtremblay]

In order to set the stop ruler  (fence) to the very back of the MFT3 table, I need to put my additional clamp for the stop ruler  on the long rail, at the very back of the table. When I do this, the additional clamp does not hold the stop ruler secure.

No matter how tight I tighten the additional clamp, the stop ruler can still wiggle. I have tried putting the additional stop clamp on both long sides of the MFT3 table with the same results.

The additional clamp works properly when used on the side of the table, on the short rail. In this position, the additional clamp does not allow the stop ruler to move at all.

 

[tjbnwi]

I never noticed this problem on my MFT's. I'll double check tomorrow. As far as I know the only difference is the length of the profiles so the clamp should work on any side.

Tom

 

[xtrememtnbiker]

Tom, I was messing more with mine today since I'm in the early stages of figuring this stuff out. The issue on mine is not where the V groove is, but rather where the end holder attaches to the fence. The little plastic tab that goes into the T track on the fence is not big enough it would appear. As in, it clamps with great downward pressure, but the fence can still move back and forth on the clamp. It's small, but it's definitely there.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Tom, I was messing more with mine today since I'm in the early stages of figuring this stuff out. The issue on mine is not where the V groove is, but rather where the end holder attaches to the fence. The little plastic tab that goes into the T track on the fence is not big enough it would appear. As in, it clamps with great downward pressure, but the fence can still move back and forth on the clamp. It's small, but it's definitely there.

Same here, except I only get that play on the long side of the rails. I looked very closely, and noticed that there is more space between the tab and clamp on the short side. On the long side, the clamp essentially bottoms out--you can't screw down the top any more.

 

[tjbnwi]

I just tried the support on the rear profile.

I did have an issue with slop. I corrected it by placing the top piece back to the factory position. This could be why it is shipped in the closer to the tab hole. It appears that on the side profile with the upper piece rotated 90° to the lower piece it can pull the rail down tight. On the rear profile the tap is out farther and does not draw down as well. With the upper piece mounted using the closer to the tab hole it provides more down pressure.

In the closer hole it is a pain to tighten the support with the fence in the tall position. I had to leave the fence fixing knob on the miter head loose, tighten the knob, tighten the miter head knob, snug the lever on the support.  No problem with it in the lower position.

Tom

 

[rljatl]

Mine is tight using two clamps on the long side of the MFT and the factory position for the knob, but I did notice that I could easily lift the front edge of the fence off the table even with two clamps tightened down.  I added some slick tape and it makes a big difference.

Hopefully, you can see the opaque whitish looking slick tape between the clamp and the fence.  It takes two layers of slick tape to fill the gap between the clamp and the fence.  Otherwise, the gap allows the front edge of the rail to rise up a considerable amount.  I think Paul Marcel mentions this problem in his video.

Maybe you could do something similar to fix your problem?

 

[xtrememtnbiker]

I just tried the support on the rear profile.

I did have an issue with slop. I corrected it by placing the top piece back to the factory position. This could be why it is shipped in the closer to the tab hole. It appears that on the side profile with the upper piece rotated 90° to the lower piece it can pull the rail down tight. On the rear profile the tap is out farther and does not draw down as well. With the upper piece mounted using the closer to the tab hole it provides more down pressure.

In the closer hole it is a pain to tighten the support with the fence in the tall position. I had to leave the fence fixing knob on the miter head loose, tighten the knob, tighten the miter head knob, snug the lever on the support.  No problem with it in the lower position.

Tom

See what happens when I listen to you. I move it to the closer hole and get screwed up. I had a busy day all day and never got to try it but glad you did. Thanks for the report.

 

[paulhtremblay]

I tried tape and it it did seem to eliminate the play, but I discovered a more serious problem with this setup: the additional clamp pulls the rail out of alignment. I aligned my fence with dogs and secured it to the angle clamp. Tightening the additional clamp pulled the fence backwards. I tried this a few times, with and without the tape, one time securing the clamp and then tightening the angle unit.

I wonder if Festool has designed the table to not use this setup.

I noted that if you put the additional clamp as far back as you can on the side rail, you still cut a board 640 mm (25 inches) wide.

Festool?

 

[tjbnwi]

I just tried the support on the rear profile.

I did have an issue with slop. I corrected it by placing the top piece back to the factory position. This could be why it is shipped in the closer to the tab hole. It appears that on the side profile with the upper piece rotated 90° to the lower piece it can pull the rail down tight. On the rear profile the tap is out farther and does not draw down as well. With the upper piece mounted using the closer to the tab hole it provides more down pressure.

In the closer hole it is a pain to tighten the support with the fence in the tall position. I had to leave the fence fixing knob on the miter head loose, tighten the knob, tighten the miter head knob, snug the lever on the support.  No problem with it in the lower position.

Tom

See what happens when I listen to you. I move it to the closer hole and get screwed up. I had a busy day all day and never got to try it but glad you did. Thanks for the report.

I would not have known if it wasn't for this thread. I moved mine back to the far hole and do not care about the play. When I set the stock I push it against the fence, the fence then stops against the support.

Tom

 

[xtrememtnbiker]

I just tried the support on the rear profile.

I did have an issue with slop. I corrected it by placing the top piece back to the factory position. This could be why it is shipped in the closer to the tab hole. It appears that on the side profile with the upper piece rotated 90° to the lower piece it can pull the rail down tight. On the rear profile the tap is out farther and does not draw down as well. With the upper piece mounted using the closer to the tab hole it provides more down pressure.

In the closer hole it is a pain to tighten the support with the fence in the tall position. I had to leave the fence fixing knob on the miter head loose, tighten the knob, tighten the miter head knob, snug the lever on the support.  No problem with it in the lower position.

Tom

See what happens when I listen to you. I move it to the closer hole and get screwed up. I had a busy day all day and never got to try it but glad you did. Thanks for the report.

I would not have known if it wasn't for this thread. I moved mine back to the far hole and do not care about the play. When I set the stock I push it against the fence, the fence then stops against the support.

Tom

That's how I set mine up on the back fence the other day. It worked fine.

 

[rljatl]

I tried tape and it it did seem to eliminate the play, but I discovered a more serious problem with this setup: the additional clamp pulls the rail out of alignment. I aligned my fence with dogs and secured it to the angle clamp. Tightening the additional clamp pulled the fence backwards. I tried this a few times, with and without the tape, one time securing the clamp and then tightening the angle unit.

I wonder if Festool has designed the table to not use this setup.

I noted that if you put the additional clamp as far back as you can on the side rail, you still cut a board 640 mm (25 inches) wide.

Festool?

What kind of tape did you use?  Slick tape (UHMW) is relatively hard, like plastic.  With two layers on the clamp face, I don't think you would have a problem with the clamp moving as you tightened it down, unless there is too much room between the fence and the dogs.  Then, it would move. 

Try pushing the fence back against the clamps and away from the dog holes as you tighten the clamps.  You may then have space between the fence and the dogs.  In this case, you can make a spacer to fill the gap.

In general, I think it is better to have the fence pushed against the clamps as you tighten the clamps instead of towards the dogs.  That way, the clamps will not move the fence as you tighten them down.  However, this probably will require a spacer between the fence and dogs to keep the fence parallel with the holes.  Check out Half-Inch Shy's MFT videos on Youtube.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Festool?

In general, I think it is better to have the fence pushed against the clamps as you tighten the clamps instead of towards the dogs.  That way, the clamps will not move the fence as you tighten them down.  However, this probably will require a spacer between the fence and dogs to keep the fence parallel with the holes.  Check out Half-Inch Shy's MFT videos on Youtube.
[/quote]

I used both dogs and  square to align the fence. The important point is that I can tighten the clamp of the angle unit, then, with nothing else touching the fence, tighten the additional clamp and notice how the additional clamp pulls the rail out of alignment. That occurs with or without the tape. As I tighten the knob, the additional clamp pulls the rail back towards the rail to which it is fastened. I will try again tonight.

 

[rljatl]

As I tighten the knob, the additional clamp pulls the rail back towards the rail to which it is fastened. I will try again tonight.

This why you should push the fence back against the clamps rather than pulling it towards the square or dogs.  If the fence is tight against the clamps as you are tightening the clamps, there will be no where for the fence to go.

Both of these videos are good.

#16.2 - Festool MFT - Part 2 - My Modified MFT

Setting Up a Festool MFT/3 a Slightly Different Way

 

[paulhtremblay]

[

Both of these videos are good.

I've seen both videos multiple times. Neither places the additional clamp against the back rail.

 

[rljatl]

[

Both of these videos are good.

I've seen both videos multiple times. Neither places the additional clamp against the back rail.

Paul Marcel does in the first video above.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Paul Marcel does in the first video above.

Yes, you are correct. I had seen the first video a while back, but I was wrong in saying that I had seen it multiple times. The second one I have definitely seen multiple times. I used the second video as a guide to setup my MFT3, but probably won't use it again because you have to put the fence in front of the first row of dogs, and you lose a lot of width on the table.

Paul Marcel's uses two clamps. I use the just the hardware supplied by Festool. Festool calls the clamp that is giving me trouble an "additional clamp." But it is really not additional in the sense that it is one more than everyone has.

Paul Marcel's clamps seem to hold his fence in place. My single one does not, so that system would not work. Perhaps another clamp might work.

Paul Marcel uses MDF shims in his system. I would worry that the MDF piece would not be exactly the same width. If it were even .1 mm wider at one end, all my cuts would similarly be off. I could use the width of a metal square as my shim for the guide rail. I have actually played around with doing this, but again, even a slight difference in width will make all my cuts that much off.

The back shim is more problematic because you have to have a shim that fits exactly between the dogs and the fence. Paul Marcel can do this because he has a table saw and is very skilful. I don't have a table saw and do not have that much sill, or that much confidence in my skill. 

Anyway, that doesn't really solve the problem of the additional clamp not holding the rail firmly in place.

 

[adugas]

Thx for starting this thread, I've tried setting my table up in the initial fashion and I'm facing same problems. I'll try all your tips and see if it helps me. Glad im not the only one seeing this problem, thought i was a little crazy at first.

cheers