table and router next - a few questions on those

[asmirnov]

Hi everybody!

I purchased T15+3 recently, I like the tool. Now I guess I will go ahead and spend some more J
I am not in the construction business (yet), but handy ? I yet have to meet a construction guy who will make something better then me (it was almost a joke  
I have plans to do some closet work (shelves, doors, cedar walls), French doors, make frames for double windows (very custom, so I am afraid I will have to come up with very custom wood frames for those). And generally speaking - I like good tools.
I guess I will start with the table and the router and then the saw. Would appreciate if I can get some feedback ? I looked through the forum postings back to last year on these topics and have a few questions (you don?t have to comment on all of them   but any feedback will be very valuable)
1. MFT table. If I compare MFT3 and MFT3 Kapex tables, the Kapex one is smaller, but even with standard MFT3 you gonna have work pieces that don?t fit on it ? right? So I will still have a part of the piece hanging over. So from this point does it really matter if I buy Kapex version? It looks like the functionality is the same.
2. Holding clamps ? looks like I will need at least a couple of ?clamping elements? (from my McFeely?s magazine), they sell for $94 I think. And may be a couple of quick clamps. But as far as standard ?F? clamps goes ? I already have a few of those so I guess I wouldn?t need those.
3. Cross members  (495502) ? do you really need those?
4. From http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/495462 looks like the rail system is included, so except for table connector, cross member and stop flag ? do I need anything else?
5. OF 1400 router ? someone here was complaining about (quote) ?crappy foot that came with the rail attachment kit?? Would you recommend this kit?
6. MFS system ? I may completely off here but from what I saw so far - you need MFS in case you need to do ?non line-straight router cuts?? Is that right? Otherwise the guide rail would suffice?
7. Dust extractor ? are you guys happy with it? The reason I am asking - I saw a couple of these items on ebay where people sell those after 1 use. So I wonder why they sell it after 1 use ? is there something wrong? I am thinking about buying MIDI (not MINI because for what ever reason it looks like MINI doesn?t work work with 1400 otherwise I think I will be happy with that).

Thank you much

Anatoliy

 

[Bob Marino]

Hi everybody!

I purchased T15+3 recently, I like the tool. Now I guess I will go ahead and spend some more J
I am not in the construction business (yet), but handy ? I yet have to meet a construction guy who will make something better then me (it was almost a joke  
I have plans to do some closet work (shelves, doors, cedar walls), French doors, make frames for double windows (very custom, so I am afraid I will have to come up with very custom wood frames for those). And generally speaking - I like good tools.
I guess I will start with the table and the router and then the saw. Would appreciate if I can get some feedback ? I looked through the forum postings back to last year on these topics and have a few questions (you don?t have to comment on all of them   but any feedback will be very valuable)
1. MFT table. If I compare MFT3 and MFT3 Kapex tables, the Kapex one is smaller, but even with standard MFT3 you gonna have work pieces that don?t fit on it ? right? So I will still have a part of the piece hanging over. So from this point does it really matter if I buy Kapex version? It looks like the functionality is the same.
The MFT's - none of them alone will allow you to cut full sheets of plywood/MDF, it's not designed for that, but the MFT/3 table is the way to go over the MFT3/Kapex. The latter doesn't have rails or hardware, is lower and way too small for practicality. It's meant to be a stand for the Kapex, not a substitute for the MFT/3.

2. Holding clamps ? looks like I will need at least a couple of ?clamping elements? (from my McFeely?s magazine), they sell for $94 I think. And may be a couple of quick clamps. But as far as standard ?F? clamps goes ? I already have a few of those so I guess I wouldn?t need those. "Need?"- you must determine your budget, but the clamping elements (and variations thereof) are very useful.Get a pair.

3. Cross members  (495502) ? do you really need those? Maybe, they do add some ridigity to the MFT. Get the MFT, see if it's ridgid enough for  your applications; you can always buy it later.
4. From http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/495462 looks like the rail system is included, so except for table connector, cross member and stop flag ? do I need anything else? What are you connecting? If it is the MFT/3 and the MFT3/KAPEX, the latter is 3" lower; so they are not on the same plane.

5. OF 1400 router ? someone here was complaining about (quote) ?crappy foot that came with the rail attachment kit?? Would you recommend this kit? The "foot" isn't crappy, but there are other homemade supports that people have designed that do work well. If you are getting the OF 1400, get the guide stop ("foot" included).

6. MFS system ? I may completely off here but from what I saw so far - you need MFS in case you need to do ?non line-straight router cuts?? Is that right? Otherwise the guide rail would suffice? I would suggest getting familiar with the router and guide stop (and the other tools) before getting into the "more esoteric" (but very useful) accessories such as the MFS.

7. Dust extractor ? are you guys happy with it? The reason I am asking - I saw a couple of these items on ebay where people sell those after 1 use. So I wonder why they sell it after 1 use ? is there something wrong? I am thinking about buying MIDI (not MINI because for what ever reason it looks like MINI doesn?t work work with 1400 otherwise I think I will be happy with that).
I can't answer as to why people sell after 1 usage, but here is "nothing wrong" with any of the CT's. The MINI and MIDI are the same vacs , with the same motor and suction specs, only the capacity is different.. My personal preference would be for the CT 22 over the MINI/MIDI.

  Hope this quick and (admittedly incomplete) reply helps.

Bob

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Go with the MFT/3 table as a work table and not the Kapex as it is for the saw and doesn't include the guides as the larger one does, IIRC.  Two or three tables is really nice if you have the room and money...

1400 dust collection will work best with the 36mm hose, so make sure you get that hose.  The cleaning set with it is a good value with the stainless steel pieces and heavy duty floor sweep.  I would get a CT22 as minimum if you don't need to move the vac around from job to job.  A Dust Deputy is also a great investment to go with the vac setup.  You can even use a cheap Sears shop vac with the DD and a good gore-tex filter and get great collection of even fine sanding dust.

Micro Fence also makes a router guide set which is a nice alternative to the Festool one to run on the tracks and is more accurate overall.

Clamps are needed and can be added over time but figure you are going to spend several hundred dollars on them over time, but they are very useful and work well.  I like the clamping elements and the quick type f clamps best.  More money but easier to use....

Hope this helps some....

Best,
Todd

 

[johnsonri]

You will be happy with the MFT/3. The options and capabilities that you gain are almost limitless.

Rey

 

[Forrest Anderson]

2. Holding clamps - looks like I will need at least a couple of "clamping elements" (from my McFeely's magazine), they sell for $94 I think. And may be a couple of quick clamps. But as far as standard "F" clamps goes - I already have a few of those so I guess I wouldn't need those.

If you are talking about the Festool FSZ100 and FSZ300 clamps with the screw thread and grey wooden handles like this...



...then you should note that although they may look like standard F clamps at first glance, the foot has been specially made so that it fits into T-track like that found on the guide rails, and so that it will fit into one of the 20mm diameter holes in the MFT. Normal F clamps have bigger feet, often with a pad on them. Here's what the foot of the Festool FSZ screw clamp looks like...

6. MFS system - I may completely off here but from what I saw so far - you need MFS in case you need to do "non line-straight router cuts"? Is that right? Otherwise the guide rail would suffice?

To get an idea of what the MFS can do, you might want to check out the following links...

MFS Article "Making a Jack Miter" (Brice Burrell)

MFS Article "Routing Stair Stringers with the OF1400 and MFS" (Brice Burrell)

MFS Article "Using the Festool MFS multi routing template" (Scott Slater)

MFS Article: "Cutting Cutouts using MFS Templates"

MFS Supplementary Manual "Advanced cutting and routing techniques using the MFS multi routing template" (Jerry Work)

MFS Video

MFS400 Preview (traditional Woodworking)

Forrest

 

[asmirnov]

Thanks folks who responded.

Bob and Todd -why would you prefer CT22 over MINI/MIDI? Power? Suction?

Thanks

Anatoliy

 

[Bob Marino]

Thanks folks who responded.

Bob and Todd -why would you prefer CT22 over MINI/MIDI? Power? Suction?

Thanks

Anatoliy

Essentially yes to both and the availablilty right now of HEPA filters standard (though the MIDI/MINI will have HEPA's available at a later date). I also like the 22 and 33 for the much easier way the larger hoses attach. Yes, you can use the 36 mm hose on the MINI/MIDI too but it's more involved.

Bob

 

[asmirnov]

Thanks Forrest - great articles!

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Ditto to what Bob said regarding HEPA, power and ease of use/capacity...

Best,
Todd

 

[Kevin Stricker]

Don't spend your money on a MFT until you have a tool to use it with.  Consider a piece of plywood and some saw horses can substitute for a work surface.  The MFT can't cut or shape wood, it is a tool to allow you to do those things more efficiently.  It is primarily designed as a cross cut platform for the TS55.  If you focus on Festools that have unique capabilities like the TS55 for your initial purchases you will feel much better about shelling out the cash for more of them.  The saw let's you build things, the MFT just helps you hold those things.  Just my .02.

 

[nclemmons]

While I agree that you may need the tools first to justify the MFT, I am amazed at how much I use the MFT every day without a Festool tool.  The holding and squaring capabilities of the table are useful for many workshop tasks.  I use it maybe 10% of the time as a cross-cut aid for the saws.  The balance of the time it's for sanding, holding while I plane, route, shape, paint, etc.

I'd say it is the most used Festool I have.  But I never would have assumed that as I went into the purchase process.

neil

 

[hotbikr]

I purchased the Domino first and then the TS 55.  I then realized I really needed the MFT.  Mine is an older model but very useful and set to be dead on square with the guide rail to the fence.  I agree with neilc that the MFT is my most used tool and I own many festool products.  The 1400 router is very nice and can do any job, however the 1010 is smaller, lighter and easier to use.

I have the midi vac and it works very well for me.  I have other dust collection for the shop and only use the midi with the Festool tools.

Good luck with your purchases,

Jim