TS LS Joinery system and the MFT 3

[roblg3]

Ive been working construction in the field for years. I'm taking the plunge into cabinetry as a business.  I have a dewalt portable table saw that i'm considering upgrading with the Incra ts ls joinery system and adding a router table on the left of the saw.  Any thoughts on this? smart or dumb move?  i know the table saw needs an upgrade, but after diving in with the ts55req, ct mini (for mobile use in my handyman business), c15+3, ro90dxfeq, mft3 set, blades and associated abrasives and systainers, the only other purchase i think i can justify is this incra system. considering that i have every size router i can think of, piles of hand tools and assorted nailers, a 6 by 36X4 combination disc/belt sander....
Anyway, the real question beyond what else do I HAVE TO HAVE RIGHT NOW, is, since i really use the table saw for very little, does it make sense to buy this thing and use it with the mft3? is that even possible? would it be stupid to try to mount a router IN the MFT?  I dunno, i'm working in a single car garage and rolling things in and out when needed. Not the ultimate shop, but it'll do until money makes it worth a bigger space.  Lots going on in this post, I'm open to all ideas, since i already know what I"M thinking, it's always good to have another set of eyes to point out what's being missed.
Thanks!

 

[peter halle]

In my mind it DOES NOT make sense.  You can easily make a router table that will accept an insert for any router and then create a mount to get it at the same height as the mft/3.  I know I did.

In my mind looking at your list is wether you will be making face frame or Euro style cabinets.  If you go face frame you might have to look at a jointer and thickness planer.  Lumber is much cheaper away from the big box stores, but even if they a S2s and ripped one edge, the thicknesses don't always match.

By the way I am not knocking those who are looking to add an Incra to the MFT.  I am saying that if you plan for instance a batch of cabinets and plan your workflow you can get buy with a tape measure if you process all the similar parts at the same time and also move the stops as little as possible until the next subset of the procedure.

Peter

 

[roblg3]

Thanks Peter!
I've been wandering around looking at other set-ups.  The big thing for me is as you alluded to is making the rips for face frame.  I'm really trying to figure out how to make an easy to use and adjust fence that i can make my large router be my shaper/jointer.  I'm torn between parallel guides set for the 55 and pushing the table saw to the corner for use when needed, but i definitely want to do box and dovetail joints etc. and it seems that the INCRA system makes that super simple.  maybe the parallel guides and one of the router tables with a wonder fence is a good idea?  I see your posts and I really appreciate that you have chosen to help me, i respect your opinion.  I'm a small time guy starting life over again at 40 and just cant take the beating of the jobsites anymore. I have a ton of stuff, but not a real cabinet shop and i'm hoping to not scrap everything and replace.  I'm kicking around so many ideas they're getting completely jumbled.

 

[peter halle]

If you ever want to travel down to Richmond on a weekend I will spend a day going thru stuff.  Most of the stuff is stuff that I have learned here.  If interested, PM me.

Peter

 

[roblg3]

Answers to this question are thoroughly covered in this thread...http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/mft-upgrade!-incra-ls-positioner-incremental-system-vs-table-saw-fence-on-mft3/msg101328/#msg101328
Thanks to everyone's hard work that was done!

 

[BUTTER]

Though it doesn't hurt to work through a few sets of cabinets on your own, I strongly suggest exploring options for outsourcing parts as much as possible.  It's tough to charge enough to justify the setup costs (and equipment investments) to make your own drawerboxes or 5-pc doors.  After you've built some cabinet boxes, it may or may not prove more cost-effective to have a cnc company make them.  That frees you up to do the more interesting and unusual things.

 

[alkaline]

Though it doesn't hurt to work through a few sets of cabinets on your own, I strongly suggest exploring options for outsourcing parts as much as possible.  It's tough to charge enough to justify the setup costs (and equipment investments) to make your own drawerboxes or 5-pc doors.  After you've built some cabinet boxes, it may or may not prove more cost-effective to have a cnc company make them.  That frees you up to do the more interesting and unusual things.

That is very true.