Should I Buy a MFT

[ryan]

I was going to buy the saw mft combo but does anyone think it would be wiser to wait until the mft3 hits the market.  I'm excited to get the saw and I don't know how long I can wait.  I need something compelling to keep me form running to the store tomorrow. 

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Qwas]

I've had an MFT-1080 for over a year now and love it. I won't be running out to buy the MFT3 because my table works fine. If I didn't already own a MFT, I would wait for the new MFT3.

However, you are in a great position. The MFT3 has a new groove in the side that will be used for some new and better accessories. There is already mention of a better miter fence. And I'm sure all future MFT accessories will take advantage of this new groove. Those of us with the older MFTs will be left behind.

The MFT3 is also a few inches taller. It you are 6 foot or over, you might find the MFT3 more comfortable to work on.

 

[vkumar]

I am in the same boat as you and also will be watching this thread carefully.

Vijay

I was going to buy the saw mft combo but does anyone think it would be wiser to wait until the mft3 hits the market.  I'm excited to get the saw and I don't know how long I can wait.  I need something compelling to keep me form running to the store tomorrow. 

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Eli]

I'd just get the 1080, unless you think there will be height issues. I'm 5'11", the 1080 and 800 are fine for me. I wouldn't want to wait for the new one.

 

[Ned]

I'd just get the 1080, unless you think there will be height issues. I'm 5'11", the 1080 and 800 are fine for me. I wouldn't want to wait for the new one.

I'm the same height and put 3" (~75mm) raisers under my 1080, FWIW.

Ned

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I use my MFT every day, with Festool stuff and sometimes for other purposes.  I wouldnt wait!

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I wouldn't wait if you have uses for an MFT today.  I have two MFTs and after I clear some other older style work tables from my garage shop, I will be buying another MFT, because I found the MFT to be the Festool product I use the most, with their F-style clamps and clamping elements coming in second.  I think that if you buy now and later decide you want the MFT3, you will not find it difficult to sell your "old" MFT to a person who already has some older, shorter MFTs.  I'm 5' 8" and don't need additional table top height to be comfortable. 

Dave R.

 

[Ron Pegram]

I'm hoping I don't come off as too much of a jerky salesman with this but another consideration is the gap between now and then. From what I've heard, it will be May before the new table is ready for shipping. Many, if not all, retailers are running pretty low on stock. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of potential customers are forced to wait for 1-2 months because the old tables are completely gone and the new ones aren't ready.

Just something to think about...

 

[Daviddubya]

It depends on how you will be using the MFT.  It looks like the new MFT3 will have an improved fence for cutting panels at an angle.  The current MFT is weak in this aspect, IMHO.  I have an MFT, two in fact, and NEVER use it to cut panels at an angle.  So, if you are like me, the old MFT is probably just fine.

 

[The Dude]

I'd just get the 1080, unless you think there will be height issues. I'm 5'11", the 1080 and 800 are fine for me. I wouldn't want to wait for the new one.

I have to wear the "Elton John Shoes from Tommy to work my 1080."  Looks like I will have to get some different shoes in a couple of months.    I was looking forward to an MFT to come out by 2009

Timmy C

"Can I borrow some money...I am a little short."

 

[alg]

Ryan,

Did you run out an buy a MFT? Don't sit around contemplating it. RUN and get one especially if you are considering the package with the saw.
I use the saw every once in awhile but I use the MFT everytime.

 

[Steveo48]

Isn't the MFT3 a little smaller than the 1080? :-[

Ryan, if you are in a hurry disregard below:

I'm a big believer that if you make some of your own tools, cabinets (or work table) that it's a great opportunity to really hone your skills.  (Plus if you screw it up it stays in the shop!) My shop at home has several cabinets that I've made over the years to hold tools, supplies and consumables, custom made to fit my personality, tools and habits.  Steve Jones has an awesome cabinet that he's made to carry his "stuff", very portable, really something to be proud of.  Several other members have made their own systainer ports, complete with Festoolian paint schemes.  There are several threads on building your own MFT and other festool like items and can be really inspiring.

In the past, before the 5 gallon bucket became a tool box, a carpenters tool box was his resume, a way to show potential employers or clients his skills.  If you have the time to make your own MFT, you'll learn a lot and can be awesomely proud of what you've done.

One last point, please take a moment to search MFT threads on this blog if you haven't done so already.  You'll discover that the MFT isn't everything for everyone, several members (not me, I don't own one) have issues with square and repeatability. 

Steve

 

[ryan]

Thanks for all the great advice.  This users group is really friendly and encouraging. 

SteveO I think maybe I'll give that a try.  At this point I'm really all theory and little practice.  Could anyone direct me to some "custome mft-ish" tables?

God bless you all.

Ryan

 

[Steveo48]

Eli had me search Jumbo and I found these.....
http://www.briangray.net/projectdetail.cfm?ProjectID=32
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=805.0

Here's a nice smaller one on as a lift table.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=1843.0

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Ryan,

I own an MFT 1080 and an MFT 800 and plan to add a 3rd - I have not decided which size to buy next.  Many of the custom built MFTs on FOG are larger than the 1080 in size, and presumably well fit the needs of their constructor owners.  But before plunging into making your own MFT variant, particularly an extra large one, you might also benefit from checking through the MFT related posts by Jerry Work.  I recall that when he wrote his excellent manual on the MFT that he described how and why he built one with a very large top for use in furniture construction.  But later, he posted that he had dismantled that large MFT and had gone back to use of multiple MFT 1080s due to the ability to reconfigure them according to the needs of various projects.  He is a professional furniture designer and maker and makes some rather complicated pieces requiring much precision in layout and machining of the components.  If I were to make a custom MFT for my own use, I would strongly consider mating it to one of the roll-about hydraulic lift hand trucks.  Doing so would enable its use to lift and transport heavy items (once lifted a short distance onto the table), to adjust the height of the workpiece to minimize your motion and strain on your back when working on a project, including applying a finish, facilitate transport of heavy sheet materials (adjust to truck bed height, pull on sheet, transport, raise or lower  to assist unloading),  enable use as a perfect height extension to any other work table or jointer, planer or table saw, and enable you to roll it against a wall for storage when not in use.  (Gee, I think I just sold one to myself!  But still, I do not see a need to build my own MFT to gain all these additional functions.  All that I would need to do is buy one of the small lift carts from Harbor Freight or another vendor and secure a complete MFT 1080 to the top of that lift cart.  Then if I needed another MFT 1080, I could dismount it and couple it to my other 1080.)

Dave R.

 

[texan63]

Dave R. wrote:
"All that I would need to do is buy one of the small lift carts from Harbor Freight or another vendor and secure a complete MFT 1080 to the top of that lift cart.  Then if I needed another MFT 1080, I could dismount it and couple it to my other 1080."

To Ryan or anyone in the market for hydraulic lift carts:
A word of caution on buying lower cost hydraulic lift carts. I purchased one two years ago from Northern Hydraulics (approx $115.00) that is pretty low quality. At about two months old, the hyd. cylinder failed. NH replaced it, but it's a cheapo Chinese-made and not compatible with anything made/serviced here (had to wait 4 weeks for shipment). I had trouble finding a shop to install it and to make the pressure relief mechanism work correctly. Definitely a buyer beware. I haven't heard anything about Harbor Freight's version. 
Good luck,
Travis

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Given the pricing, I expect Harbor Freight's low priced hydraulic lift carts to be made in China.

Dave R.

 

[Steve Jones]

Dave, I could be wrong, but... I believe EVERYTHING from Harbor Freight is made in china. that's where I buy my $15 sawzalls.

 

[Jerry Work]

Another take on this dialog.......

The current height MFT has one very big advantage the way I use them.  The current height units are slightly lower than most of the tables on my stationary machines so I can move an MFT by dragging it from one location to another and they just slide right under the tops, fence extensions, etc. on the stationary machines.  Very handy and much faster than having to take them down and move them on edge.

As one example, I just finished a very large, complex conference table for a customer in Las Vegas.  It is 8' in diameter with a top made from 40 tapered sections of 45mm thick solid Oregon big leaf maple assembled into ten segments of 40 tapered sections each.  8mm wide bloodwood inlays cover the joints between each segment.  Five of these sit on top of tree trunk sections acting as the legs and the other five slide in groves into splines in the five sitting on legs.  The five that slide in feature a spring loaded tension rod that pulls all sections to the center to accommodate the shrinkage that will occur when this piece goes from So. Oregon to the very low humidity of Las Vegas.  The table weights between 600 and 700 pounds and had to be assembled on an flat reference base built on top of the 100 year old fir floors in my studio.  So, from the time final assembly began until it moves out of here early next week I have lost use of a lot of floor space - floor space where I normally have three MFTs set up for selecting and sorting stock.

As a result, it was necessary to reconfigure the tables and space while the other commission pieces also under construction take form.  Being able to move all five of my MFTs around the stationary tools so easily proved to be a really important benefit.  The "new", higher MFTs will not slide under the stationary tools so would not be as convenient, at least not in my space.  Food for thought.

Jerry

 

[Daviddubya]

Given the pricing, I expect Harbor Freight's low priced hydraulic lift carts to be made in China.

Dave R.

Interesting that Harbor Freight comes up in a Festool forum.  Now there are the opposite ends of the tool spectrum!!!    My policy on Harbor Freight is buy to nothing from them that has ANY moving parts.