Quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever done....

[rnt80]

...waiting 2+ years to get an mft.  Why didn't someone slap some sense into me?!?!?

 

[spikfot]

I was on the way to use the first emoticon of my life, but I couldn't find the right one.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If that's the dumbest thing you've ever done, then you're a very wise man!  [big grin]

 

[bruegf]

IMO, the MFT is something of a hidden gem in the festool product line.  At first glance it looks like a very overpriced folding table.  It took me a long time to decide to buy one and in the hour + drive home from the dealer I had enough to time to wonder if it was worth it, that I almost turned around and returned it before I ever got it home.  What a mistake that would have been.

I find that the MFT is the festool product that I use the most.

Enjoy!

Fred

 

[Stone Message]

Hello Everyone

I have an MFT 3 and confess that I did think twice after ordering it. I have just finished a review of it for a UK magazine and the process of writing the review made me think very carefully.

The bottom line is that the MFT 3 is a great mobile work bench that gives you many clamping options and some well thought out accessories. The guide rail with the TS55 does everything that my old radial arm saw could do and I can attach my router to it as well. I can get it in the back of my tiny Toyota Yaris and have room to spare for all my many systainers full of kit. But, it is also pretty good in the base workshop (ie when you are not at Mrs Miggens installing her wardrobe). I find it offers quick and easy clamping and is my first choice for cross cutting and router work.

Anybody who feels that they have made a mistake after buying an MFT 3 needs to think about the vast quantity of workshop machines that an MFT 3 plus a Festool circular saw and router can replace. I have sold almost all of my heavy machines and am loving the Festool integrated family approach.

Peter

 

[ajones]

I was on the way to use the first emoticon of my life, but I couldn't find the right one.

                                                        [doh]

 

[junk731]

Welcome to the club, you can say the same thing after you buy a second MFT3.

John

 

[rnt80]

Welcome to the club, you can say the same thing after you buy a second MFT3.

John

Ummm...that's already in the works.  I'm looking to get an mft basic so that I can replace my shop assembly bench/work bench with two mft's.
PS, I grew up in Kitchener and Ayr.

 

[Sparktrician]

Welcome to the club, you can say the same thing after you buy a second MFT3.

John

Ummm...that's already in the works.  I'm looking to get an mft basic so that I can replace my shop assembly bench/work bench with two mft's.
PS, I grew up in Kitchener and Ayr.

HA!  You'll soon recognize that a third one is essential (infeed / work / outfeed). 

Damn!!! That hook in my cheek hurts!!! 

[big grin]

 

[GPowers]

Ummm...that's already in the works.  I'm looking to get an mft basic so that I can replace my shop assembly bench/work bench with two mft's.
PS, I grew up in Kitchener and Ayr.

You might what to think twice about buying the BASIC MFT/3.  For the price difference the additional parts are well worth it.  The price difference is $100.  So if you buy and extra flag stop you will burn $42 (a second flag stop is almost a must). Plus you will need the fence (to span both mft/3s) if your cutting and long stock. Then you get an extra 1080mm guide rail.

So your second MFT/3 should be the package unit.

 

[peter halle]

I thought it was stupid, over priced, over hyped, etc.

Not anymore.  It travels, it replaces other holding stuff, if is sitting in my "shop" with simple cheap portable extensions attached using the v profiles.  It and the CT now share the nucleus property of the shop workflow.  After about three years I finally flipped my top.  Oh so pretty again!  Let's see this side perform like the other!

Enjoy!  

Peter

 

[Kev]

Modular MFT components to "configure your own" FrankenMFTs could be fun.

Building a traditional bench, but topping it off with Festool MFT functionality would be my perfect setup.

Would we need anything more than the edge profiles sold by the metre and a drilling template for the top?

All of the MFT accessories could then just be a kit ...

Kev

 

[CDM]

My house has no appropriate space for a shop.  There's no garage, no shed or outbuilding, no basement, and no spare activity room.  The MFT/3 gives me freedom inside and outside.  Usually, mine lives folded up under the bed on my side where it can slide out easily.  If my wife is out with the kids for a couple of hours, I can set up in the next room in 5 minutes, beaver away at a project, and clean everything up before they get back.  The "next room" is a stone-floored living room, so (shhh, don't tell) I've done all kinds of otherwise-forbidden woodworking tasks a couple of feet from our couch.  Or, if the weather is nice, I can carry it out on our north-side deck.  If I need a place to write, to set up a racquet-stringing machine... the list goes on and on.

Freedom isn't free, but it's worth it!

 

[sancho57]

Welcome to the club, you can say the same thing after you buy a second MFT3.

John

Ummm...that's already in the works.  I'm looking to get an mft basic so that I can replace my shop assembly bench/work bench with two mft's.
PS, I grew up in Kitchener and Ayr.

HA!  You'll soon recognize that a third one is essential (infeed / work / outfeed). 

Damn!!! That hook in my cheek hurts!!! 

[big grin]

thats what I did, buy one then I bought another, you can do a lot with 2 MFTs. plus if ya get a Kapex and a Kapex MFt it sits in between the 2 and is the right hieght to use the 2 mfts as infeed /out feed tables. You can mount a router inbetween them and a kreg clamp jig so you can have a complete mobile work shop

 

[Knottys]

I'm looking to purchase one when I'm in the states next month but what do you all do with the empty space underneath? do you make a drawer cabinet or just store stuff? I have a vac with the boom arm so i wont store that under and my systainers are on  a dolly. Any ideas?
I don't do install so it will stay at the shop almost exclusively.

Thanks

sorry for the off slight off topic 

 

[Sam Murdoch]

The pressure is unbearable  [unsure] [crying]  [tongue]  [blink] [embarassed]  [big grin]

 

[andy5405]

I was on the way to use the first emoticon of my life, but I couldn't find the right one.

I have to agree with Alex and I don't want to get into one upmanship but I do dumber things than that on a regular basis!  I understand exactly what you mean though and I constantly kick myself for not buying my TS55 when I first heard about them. I spent 3 years convincing myself I had  got to where I had without one and that it was overpriced etc etc. It has turned out to be the biggest game changer of all the tools I have ever bought in my 47 years on this planet.

I want an MFT as well but I can't afford one at the moment and that is unlikely to change for quite some time with my current financial commitments. I have decided to build my own version based on a mix and match of all the home made benches I have seen on here with a lot of inspiration coming from Ron Paulk's Ultimate workbench, Qwas Dogs, the MFT, the CMS system etc. I am updating the plans for it on a daily basis and have been designing it on and off for over 9 months now. The last two weeks have been particularly productive in the ideas factory and I can't wait to finish my last job before Xmas so I can get on and build it. 

 

[sancho57]

I'm looking to purchase one when I'm in the states next month but what do you all do with the empty space underneath? do you make a drawer cabinet or just store stuff? I have a vac with the boom arm so i wont store that under and my systainers are on  a dolly. Any ideas?
I don't do install so it will stay at the shop almost exclusively.

Thanks

sorry for the off slight off topic 

Some folks build a cabinet/systainer port to set the MFT on. I dont I put the dust extractor under one of mine and the systainers of the tools Im using under the other one. I fold mine up and put it away when Im not using them. saves on shop space for other tools Im using on a project

 

[Stone Message]

I'm looking to purchase one when I'm in the states next month but what do you all do with the empty space underneath? do you make a drawer cabinet or just store stuff? I have a vac with the boom arm so i wont store that under and my systainers are on  a dolly. Any ideas?
I don't do install so it will stay at the shop almost exclusively.

Thanks

sorry for the off slight off topic 

Hi Knottys

I built a set of drawers on wheels with a tough top on it. When I do anything messy, like gluing, I wheel out the drawer-bench from under the MFT3 - it saves space and helps to keep the top of the MFT3 clean(ish). I am sorry that I do not have a photograph and it is a bit tricky to take one now as I am in the middle of a video review.

Peter

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I'm looking to purchase one when I'm in the states next month but what do you all do with the empty space underneath? do you make a drawer cabinet or just store stuff? I have a vac with the boom arm so i wont store that under and my systainers are on  a dolly. Any ideas?
I don't do install so it will stay at the shop almost exclusively.

Thanks

sorry for the off slight off topic 

I do a lot of layout and detail work on the MFT.  I have a short stool and I use the space under the MFT for my legs. [big grin]