Seal the MFT top? How store/transport the brackets and bits?

[thender]

After years of MFT envy, I took the punge a couple weeks ago.  I love it.

And I have been able to get it set up and calibrated properly and repeatably thanks to the many "how to" posts on this board and youtube.  Thanks to all for contributing to those as they were a great help.

Now, a few noob questions.

First, is it useful to seal the MFT top?  A few coats of spray-on sealer can help prevent moisture/water drips from swelling the top, make it easier to clean up glue drips, etc.  But I haven't read much about the FOG users doing that so I thought I'd enquire.  Getting the sealer down into the holes may be an issue, I don't know.  Any thoughts?

Next, How do y'all store and transport the MFT?  I'm thinking of the rail brackets, protractor head, etc.  I'm an amateur/DIYer that will use the MFT mostly at home, but it does need to be folded up for storage so I'm wondering how you folks store all the bits.  Put it all in a Systainer 2 along with the clamps?  At the moment I am putting the bits back into the cardboard box they shipped in, but that leaves a lot to be desired.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.  I did some searches and didn't turn up any threads on the subject, my apologies if this has been discussed before.

-Tom in SoCal

 

[Sparktrician]

Some have suggested using Osmo Polyx to coat the top (don't forget to do the bottom, too, and wipe it inside the system holes). 

 

[Dick Mahany]

I don't seal mine because I was concerned that the work surface may lose some of it's friction as that is very important for many of the assembly/clamping steps that I use mine for.  When it gets too dirty or stained, I give it a quick pass with the ROS and all is good again.

For keeping the parts all together in one place, I use a Sys3 Combi.  It holds all of the parts well.  The storage drawer was a perfect size for tapes, dogs and I bought dedicated 3mm and 5mm ball drivers for ready at hand set up and adjustments.  Have fun with yours.
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[rst]

I use Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner on my two MFTs and the 64" by 102" table that I use for cutting.  It soaks in very well, does not make the top slippery and can be sanded and redone easily.  I also worked it down into the dog holes, although that is an exercise in tedium.