Track Tubes MFT top

[Mike Goetzke]

When I decided to change to MFT style slabs I was always thinking "BIG." In my garage shop the TrackTubes enabled me to setup a three-slab 4'x8' table in minutes. This has been an excellent solution for me for about the past two years, but, I have used them with my TSO square and parallel guides exclusively and not taken advantage of the dog holes. After looking more and more at this [member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] post the light bulb lite up. If I set up a single slab table it would be MUCH easier to use dogs and my old Eurekazone bridge (similar to DashBoard) since I will actually be able to reach across the table.

 

[DynaGlide]

I just made a little video clip of my setup and how quick it is to tear down and put it back together:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7p49uDoL4/

 

[festal]

I just made a little video clip of my setup and how quick it is to tear down and put it back together:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7p49uDoL4/

Nice setup.  what hardware did you use to secure 1515 extrusion to the track or the mft top used to mount dashboard?  hard to see in the pictures.  I can see button head screw but thats about it

Mine is in progress.

Step1 arrived View attachment 1

 

[DynaGlide]

[member=71889]festal[/member] You'll have to check with [member=63307]Grev[/member] . It is a button head screw and nut combo.

 

[festal]

[member=71889]festal[/member] You'll have to check with [member=63307]Grev[/member] . It is a button head screw and nut combo.

Think I found them. How did you attach dashboard to your mft? Do you have any up close pictures?

 

[Grev]

[member=71889]festal[/member] You'll have to check with [member=63307]Grev[/member] . It is a button head screw and nut combo.

Think I found them. How did you attach dashboard to your mft? Do you have any up close pictures?

The 15 series section of t-slot extrusion is attached to the edge of the MFT top with 1/4"-20 x 1" Button Head Socket Cap Screws and economy t-nuts.  Once the t-slot is attached to the top, just slide the DashBoard into the track and tighten.  The slots along the edge of the TrackTubes MFT are spaced so you can adjust a 12" section of t-slot and/or DashBoard left/right to get it positioned so your cut is in the center of two holes .. the place where [member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] has his sacrificial strip. Here's some photos.

 

[festal]

[member=63307]Grev[/member] perfect exactly what i needed.  Thank you

 

[mac sparrow]

[member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] thank you for the inspiration and motivation.  I suspect this thread has had a similar affect on other readers, it has generated ideas and displayed products we may not have been aware of.  Following this thread, I have ordered some of the items you use, although I don't have access to the Track Tubes.

I am undecided what to do about the fence though; Festool fence/flip stops or Benchdogs UK fence system/flip stops.  Going Festool costs a little bit more but both options would do the same thing with BDUK fence having a scale.  I see you use the Festool fence system which I assume you already had from your MFT's.  I have an MFT/3 basic so I'm not committed to a fence system at the moment.  Do you have any thoughts on this?  I'd already be ordering from BDUK anyway for the fence dogs.

For the benefit of other readers here are some Festool part numbers which may be helpful if you decide to go down the Festool fence option:
Fence (Festool call this part a "Stop Profile"): 475217
Flip stops (Festool call this part an "Adjustable Stop"): 495542

Thank you again

 

[festal]

First layer of feed-n-wax down.  Now i need to do the holes (what a pain)   wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping. 
but so far not bad.  How many layers do you apply? 

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

 

[Grev]

First layer of feed-n-wax down.  Now i need to do the holes (what a pain)   wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping. 
but so far not bad.  How many layers do you apply? 

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

I put a couple coats of the wax, then periodically wipe it down again.  A post on the @TrackTubes Instagram page shows how it also erases pencil marks, which is nice if you're somebody like me who marks up their tops.

 

[DynaGlide]

First layer of feed-n-wax down.  Now i need to do the holes (what a pain)   wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping. 
but so far not bad.  How many layers do you apply? 

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

[member=71889]festal[/member] Did Freddy make you those tops? It looks like his packaging in the background.

 

[rst]

I use Howards on my tops, I keep applying until it stops absorbing.  I also coat the interior holes, that is the worst, I only do it to my MFTs not my actual cutting station tops.  I dovetailed a UMHW strip into my MFTs for crosscutting.

 

[festal]

Yes holes are the worst.  ah so the trick is to keep going until it stops absorbing.  need to find better cloth to use.  the one i'm using from home depot keeps sliding in my hands

 

[festal]

First layer of feed-n-wax down.  Now i need to do the holes (what a pain)   wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping. 
but so far not bad.  How many layers do you apply? 

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

[member=71889]festal[/member] Did Freddy make you those tops? It looks like his packaging in the background.

Yes he did. I reached out to him after I saw your setup

 

[festal]

I use Howards on my tops, I keep applying until it stops absorbing.  I also coat the interior holes, that is the worst, I only do it to my MFTs not my actual cutting station tops.  I dovetailed a UMHW strip into my MFTs for crosscutting.

What do you use to apply it?

 

[rst]

I just use a cotton wiping rag, I keep it in a flat plastic take out bin and use when needed.

 

[Birdhunter]

But how do I mount my heavy duty woodworking vise? I had to cobble on an extension to one of my MFTs to mount my vise. The extension and its supporting legs greatly improved overall table stability.

 

[DynaGlide]

But how do I mount my heavy duty woodworking vise? I had to cobble on an extension to one of my MFTs to mount my vise. The extension and its supporting legs greatly improved overall table stability.

I don't think this is the product for you if you're looking to use it for a traditional bench replacement  [wink] It excels with sheet goods processing and portability.

 

[DynaGlide]

Fred just released this video:

 

[Rick Herrick]

This guy looks very familiar.  I think he used to do a lot of YT videos.  The one I remember most was a multi-part set on making a mobile track saw station.  I really liked the way he did those videos.  Makes me even more interested in these TrackTubes knowing he is part of it.  Thanks for the link.