Some MFT Mods

[Eli]

The Rain Gutter Storage Bin.

These work really, really well as kid's bookshelves too. I got two 5' shelves out of one piece and they've followed us from Cali.

 

[Qwas]

Great ideas, thanks for sharing.

Regards,

John

Ditto/ditto/ditto

I have been working (in my head and on paper) some ideas that have been gleaned from other posts here on the FOG.  you have really put a lot of expertise into your ideas.  I hope you don't mind being copied, and copied, and copied 

It has always been my contention that the uses for the MFT are limited only by one's immaginaion.  you are drastically stetttccchhhhhiiiing those limits.  Much appreciated.
Tinker

Feel free to copy and/or modify as necessary for your own set ups. That was my reason for posting, to help others and give ideas to others. What works for me may not be ideal for you but maybe my ideas might get you thinking of new approach to making something easier.

 

[Qwas]

Hey guys and gals,

For those of you in the USA, the malleable iron beam clamp Steve mentions in his power strip boom are available at any electrical, mechanical or industrial supply house.  They are available in sizes from 8-32 to 1/2-13 thread IIRC to fit 1/4 to 2" flange.  The 1/4" we always referred to as "telephone clamps" as that was the size Ma Bell (prior to her untimely demise) used to use for stringing cables above hung ceilings in industrial/commercial buildings.  OZ Gedney was manufacturer I remember, but there could be others out there.

Thanks Matt, you're right on the name and description. I've seen them at larger hardware stores but I've never seen a name or manufacturer on them. Mine is the large one with 2 inch flange and 1/2-13 screw. You could get away with a smaller one, that's just what I had sitting around.

 

[Steveo48]

The Wheel.

This was my first modification. When I bought the table, I didn't have my workshop. Every night the table was moved into the house and in the morning it was dragged out to the porch. There was days that it would get loaded into my truck and used in the field. In South Georgia that means nice soft sand.

So my answer was one 6 inch wheel mounted on the top of the side rail. The metal bracket was something I had laying around. A couple of 1/4-20 bolts and some wing nuts and it was mounted and easily removed for use. The wheel is from a lawn mower and can be found at any hardware store.

At night, I mount the wheel, turn the table up on its side with the wheel down, fold up the legs, and wheel it into the house. It moves much like a wheelbarrow. The first night I noticed by adding a 2x4 under the other side would allow me to store the table right on its side taking up less space. I grabbed a screw and put it through the extra hole where the table legs are mounted. I keep the screw a little loose so I can move the 2x4 during use. I also moved the guide rail so it would not hang below the 2x4.

When mounted, the 6 inch wheel makes a nice rest for the ETS 150 sander.

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I love this idea with the wheel.  I'll have to try it out with an old pneumatic lawn tractor wheel.

 

[kgregc]

WOW!

I just got my MFT from Bob Marino today and I can see I have some new neat projects to do already.

Thanks, Qwas....great additions.

 

[Qwas]

I'm glad to help. I don't think my ideas are the best or the greatest but they are simple and affordable. If it helps others, that's all I was hoping for. Improve on my ideas and show the rest of us what you have done to inspire us some more.

 

[woodshopdemos]

Qwas,
  Ditto to all the above positive posts. You have really put a lot of thinking into making your setup work. What is great about the FOG is that there is so much sharing a good ideas. Great pics...thanks for posting.

 

[mhch]

 
In one of his earlier post, qwas mentionned an height adjustable ikea saw horse he uses as an
MFT extension. I had in mind to buy one for the same purpose, until I came across a Wolfcraft
height adjustable and foldable table . MDF top is 55 x 62 cm and has 20mm holes so Festool
clamps can be used. Very stable.

In Europe it is called the Master 600 (60 euros in France), while US version
seems to be the 6135 workcenter (not 100% identical but very similar).
It is also available as a craftsman product (70$)

      http://www.wolfcraft.com/display_product.cfm?cat=2&group=3

 

[mhch]

Craftsman reference is the Height Adjustable Clamping Table #65796

 

[honeydoman]

thanks for the pic of the side holder for the saw,  great idea , made one yesterday.  any other pic of shelfs etc. for the mft

 

[Qwas]

I'm glad it was useful. Sorry, but no other pictures or mods yet.

 

[mhch]

Here is my yet another version of a home made boom arm.
Nothing else than a big square made from scrap wood,
mounted using hinges on a wood post screwed to the wall.

Those hinges allow to easily detach the arm when not
needed (my shop is in a 2 car garage). Later I will also
build a base stand with a post, attached to my CT22 ,
on to reinstall it on a wood post attached to my CT 22
when mobility is needed

The hose is attached using 40mm PVC clips that can be
  opened/closed at will, although they are not meant for
  it.

  two halogen lamps located at end of arm can provide
  extra light when needed.

 

[jonny round boy]

Now that's nice - I love the task lighting on the end!!!

 

[Ned]

I'm a big fan of task lighting, too, but there's a potential problem.

If the arm must swing back and forth during a particular task, the changing lighting could be d****d annoying.

Has it been a problem, mhch?

Ned

 

[mhch]

Thanks, Johny

This arm rotates 180 degrees. My first version was only
  90 degree which I found not enough when cutting
large panels.

I read somewhere that the festool boom
arm only rotates 90 degree, which makes 4 euro a degre
(boom arm + handle is 350 euros).  This one is about
10 x less ...

 

[mhch]

I'm a big fan of task lighting, too, but there's a potential problem.

If the arm must swing back and forth during a particular task, the changing lighting could be d****d annoying.

Has it been a problem, mhch?

Ned

That's right, there are times, typically when sanding, when a constant back anf forth
moving is annoying. This is why the lighting can be turned off.  But for linear
displacement (sawing, routing), it is not.

My initial intent was first to have good focused lighting to make measurements and to
prepare work. Adding the lamps to the arm was the quickest way to get it in my garage.
Specifically since I can orientate the arm as needed for this purpose. Lamps are
mounted with a flexible device on the arm for even more flexibility.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  Great set up.  I had a swinging arm  that was much lighter duty just for a handy clean up hose for a while.   I liked it but havn't found a good place to reinstall it since  I have re arranged some things.  I think I will have to consider making my current set up pivot after seeing this.  

Seth

 

[nickao]

Really nice! I am employing a similar technique using the Festool boom arms. The task lighting is a nice touch.

 

[Corwin]

You might like a Y to plug both your tool and your boom arm light into the tool activated switch on your CT -- that way you could power the CT as needed via the light switch.

 

[mhch]

Great idea !! I'm always impressed by the collective imagination power
of the FOG !!

Sometimes I may want light without the associated CT noise.
I will thus simply add an extra lamp connected to the CT.
There is never enough lighting