Router Table Set - Seeking feedback on CMS

[trainito]

Do you like the table? How does it perform? Any suggestions?

 

[skids]

Don't own one, but have seen it demo'd by Festool. It looks like an absolute dream to own and use.

 

[green fever]

i am sure reiska has the set up , i have one on it's way and i shall post after i put it through it's paces . green.

 

[builderbob]

I've been using mine since it came to the states!  Though the 1400 can't spin large 3 1/2" raised bits conventionally, I've done plenty of cope & stick on the CMS with great results. Is it the only router table in the world? No of course not. What makes it beneficial for me is the portability factor.  I've had the little Kreg table and I don't prefer to work 18" off the ground and not have an easy outfeed ability. I can rout that low with the CMS if I choose but at working height it's most comfortable to rout. The DC is great since its double (top & bottom). The sliding table is smooth as butter. It's also a great table for a small setup as the footprint is small and can be easily folded up and tucked away. The router is quite easy to removee from the table for tasks above the table. If you're looking for someone to nudge you over the edge...there you have it!

Bob

 

[RC]

As a straight answer to your question though: yes I'm happy with it in my barebones configuration. It is a solid piece of kit, but some sacrificed have to be made to maintain portability and small size.

Its best and worst part is the large router fence which has a rather rough adjustment by loosening the fense bolts and tap-n-align method of fine tuning. The fence has micro adjustment for the offset of the two halves of the fence, but none for the fence relative to the bit as a whole.

If your shop is stationary and can fit a router table to stay assembled at all times you can probably get a better router tables cheaper elsewhere.

I'm currently looking into possibly getting a MFT-VL extension to my MFT/3 to have an incra fence on the MFT for both sawing and router module usage in the VL sort of like Festoller has built.

Planning on keeping the router permanently setup in the GE base for roundover, etc. uses and the TS55 module primarily in the VL to have the MFT+VL as a 'table saw' and an incra ls precision fence setup for the saw and for the odd box joinery gigs with the router module in the VL as a guest module when needed.

Ofcourse if you purchase the set version with all extension tables included you won't have the financial incentive I have to look at options since I only have the CMS-GE base unit and the sliding table module and no extension tables at all. With them tables costing 250€+ a piece and the better festool fence another 170€ getting the Incra LS basic fence package and a VL extension to my MFT  turns out to be only about 150€ more expensive with clear benefits like being able to use two CMS modules concurrently and the fine adjustability of the incra system.

All the above is of course still theoretic mussing since I have more research to do on the incra system before pressing the trigger on the VL & LS order, but its looking like a good option right now.

I don't have the set with the extension tables so cannot comment on how good they are in practise, but depending on what you use a router for you might need quite frequently larger work piece support and/or fence width adjustment capasity than the base unit provides. At least they feel solid when I've looked at them at my local Festool showroom.

What I'm not totally sold on is the continued portability of the system if you have to haul the base unit, two extension tables, the slider module, the micro adjust fence, the angle unit, the Y-hose set and the router fence with you even with the router attached to the base unit. That's an awfull lot of loose kit to carry around that doesn't fit in a systainer.

I think that JMB is better qualified to tell you how the CMS system holds up to real site workloads and schedules since my stuff is a hobby and time efficiency is not a high priority to me. i.e. I have time to fiddle with the fence and take my time in putting the parts together when I feel like building something and generally measure twice, go back to the drawing board another three times, measure a bit more  and only then make a cut ;-)

 

[Jason Kehl]

I have the complete set and it works very well. Much of my work is on cottages and cladding beams to look like solid timbers is a frequent task. I can put in a lock mitre bit (mine is from Lee valley) and easily, safely and accurately rout 1x12x20' pine boards and have the assembly go together smoothly. Anyone who has used these bits know that if they set-up is out a bit the joint does not look right.

I think that this is quite a bit to ask of a portable router table. Dust collection is great, set up is easy. The need to tap the fence into the proper position is a bit disappointing for the price paid for the unit, but really is not hard to do so...

I have not used the sliding table yet, so I can't comment on that. I just ordered a Sys5 today to try and cram all the loose parts into to make the system more easily portable. As others have said, it s not the only table out there and it is expensive, but it was easy to install the OF1400 that I already owned into, hook up the CT I already had, no messing around.

j

 

[Kev]

As a straight answer to your question though: yes I'm happy with it in my barebones configuration. It is a solid piece of kit, but some sacrificed have to be made to maintain portability and small size.

Its best and worst part is the large router fence which has a rather rough adjustment by loosening the fense bolts and tap-n-align method of fine tuning. The fence has micro adjustment for the offset of the two halves of the fence, but none for the fence relative to the bit as a whole.

If your shop is stationary and can fit a router table to stay assembled at all times you can probably get a better router tables cheaper elsewhere.

I'm currently looking into possibly getting a MFT-VL extension to my MFT/3 to have an incra fence on the MFT for both sawing and router module usage in the VL sort of like Festoller has built.

Planning on keeping the router permanently setup in the GE base for roundover, etc. uses and the TS55 module primarily in the VL to have the MFT+VL as a 'table saw' and an incra ls precision fence setup for the saw and for the odd box joinery gigs with the router module in the VL as a guest module when needed.

Ofcourse if you purchase the set version with all extension tables included you won't have the financial incentive I have to look at options since I only have the CMS-GE base unit and the sliding table module and no extension tables at all. With them tables costing 250€+ a piece and the better festool fence another 170€ getting the Incra LS basic fence package and a VL extension to my MFT  turns out to be only about 150€ more expensive with clear benefits like being able to use two CMS modules concurrently and the fine adjustability of the incra system.

All the above is of course still theoretic mussing since I have more research to do on the incra system before pressing the trigger on the VL & LS order, but its looking like a good option right now.

I don't have the set with the extension tables so cannot comment on how good they are in practise, but depending on what you use a router for you might need quite frequently larger work piece support and/or fence width adjustment capasity than the base unit provides. At least they feel solid when I've looked at them at my local Festool showroom.

What I'm not totally sold on is the continued portability of the system if you have to haul the base unit, two extension tables, the slider module, the micro adjust fence, the angle unit, the Y-hose set and the router fence with you even with the router attached to the base unit. That's an awfull lot of loose kit to carry around that doesn't fit in a systainer.

I think that JMB is better qualified to tell you how the CMS system holds up to real site workloads and schedules since my stuff is a hobby and time efficiency is not a high priority to me. i.e. I have time to fiddle with the fence and take my time in putting the parts together when I feel like building something and generally measure twice, go back to the drawing board another three times, measure a bit more  and only then make a cut ;-)

Installing an Incra on an MFT/3 + VL combo is exactly what I'm considering ... I'm just paralysed at the moment between using the new "old" Incra fence I purchased many years ago or getting a nice new Incra fence with all the cool bits.

Next free day I get I'll make a trip out to my local Carbatec store, but I don't think they stock the fence configurations I would like.

I'll probably end up mounting a ~25" positioner ... half thinking of still adapting the Festool fence. I really need some play time!