Video Review of Festool MFT System (495462 & 495565 & 495888)

[PaulMarcel]

Here's my video review of the Festool MFT system.  I say 'system' because virtually all I cover in this review is applicable to the MFT/3 though it is the older discontinued MFT-1080.

The review is in a playlist form so you can watch all the videos together or jump to a video that interests you more.

Part 1: Overview of MFT system.  The table, the rails, using the guide rail.
Part 2: My modified MFT.  How I use Qwas dogs and some EKAT parts to gain 4.5" of crosscut capacity on my table and make calibration with a fence ruler very fast.  Includes a calibrated off-cut fence  [cool]
Part 3: Qwas-ness.  Uses of the Qwas dogs and rail dogs for angled cuts using the MFT guiderail or for doing wide square and repeatable cuts with a second guiderail.

Someone considering using an MFT and TS in place of a table saw will likely get a few ideas from parts 2 and 3.

Part 3 is definitely for "da boyz in Joisey" (Steve "Qwas" Addams and Uncle Bob)

 

[Qwas]

I had problems seeing the video at first but it was something stupid on my end.  [embarassed]

I like how you did your fence. I did something different but the end results are the same. It's well worth the effort to get the extra cutting capacity.

Very good review and you definitely understand the Qwas system and the use of stops. For those that are making the same cuts every day, you can make the stop fit over the Qwas Dogs by drilling a 13/16" hole.

Very good job with the video (I liked the overhead video) and very well explained. [thumbs up] [thumbs up] and [thanks]

 

[GhostFist]

Best reviews to date! loved the calibration tips

 

[ccarrolladams]

Paul, your MFT tips are very useful.

When I built my shop the first two large machines to be installed, after the shop DC system was working, was a CNC nested router and a pressure beam saw. Those are both products sold by Stiles in the USA. A few days later Felder USA installed a large sliding table saw, a tilting arbor shaper, a joiner and a thickness planer.

My expectation was that the beam saw would do virtually all the 90 degree cuts on sheet goods and that the slider would do all the non 90 degree cuts because its cross cut fence system is so accurate. While the beam saw is every bit as efficient and accurate as I expected, what I found from experience is that actually handling large pieces of sheet goods on the slider, as robust as it is, was not ideal.

For over four years before building my shop I had broken down most of my sheet goods using Festool TS55 and guide rails as long as 3000mm. Generally I did that TS55 sawing on a sacrificial piece of plywood, drilling random holes when I needed to use Festool clamps and fastening wood guide stops as needed using drywall screws.

Once I had the CNC router working, before we got so busy with customer orders, I wrote a program to drill 20mm holes on 96mm centers, like the MFT. The difference is that I did that on 4x10' 19mm Birch plywood. The permanent part of my work tables is welded from rectangular and square steel tubing, with poplar 19mm thick strips screwed from underneath to the tops of certain steel supports. The sacrificial top is held to the poplar strips with a little hot melt glue. That is enough to hold the top in place, and yet if my mistake the blade plunges overly deep, there is no risk of cutting a screw.

By the time I concluded it was not efficient to use the slider saw for the odd angle sheet good pieces, we were using that same saw a whole lot making solid lumber face frames and other products.

So, for the odd angle or beveled sheet good parts, we use the work tables as if they are over-sized MFT tables. We use both conventional and rail Qwas dogs. Faster than we could change settings on the slider saw, we can position a guide rail and appropriate stops to ensure we can repeat an angle to less than 0.015 degrees. With such large work tables we can keep big pieces of sheet goods balanced and still not need to lean over the table very far.

One of our work tables has MFT/3 long extrusions running along both 10' sides. The welded steel of that table is different in that it is out to the edge of the plywood, still with a poplar strip on top, but of the appropriate size the Festool extrusion can bolt to it as if it were an MFT. Along those extrusions we can and do use the same Festool rail supports, except with a 75" guide rail. That arrangement is very effective when we need many shelves with beveled edges. One of our popular products are rolling media storage shelf units in which the shelves slope toward the back 7 degrees to keep stored media from falling off the shelves. We find it is faster to move the TS55 back and forth, set to a 7 degree bevel, than more the wood on the slider saw.

Having highly accurate metal dogs available at fair prices is a major help. Yes, I do also own a large machine shop with CNC lathes. I doubt I could take one of my lathes out of production to DIY some dogs for the price I pay to buy Qwas

 

[Kristian]

Thanks for a great review Paul! I hadn't thought of using the layout of the holes like that. I'll definitely be ordering some bench dogs soon. Don't know if Qwas products are available in Europe but will check.

Thanks.

- Kristian

 

[Jeff Zanin]

Another most excellent video review, way to go Paul.

It is hard to beat the endorsement of Mr. Qwas  ;D himself with respect to how to use the dogs.

I just received my MFT so I don't have any Qwas dogs yet but hainv seen this they are definitely something I will be ordering soon. 

I especially like the rail dog setup for repeat cuts, it may not be as fast as a cabinet saw but it looks to be much more portable and versatile.

Jeff

 

[PeterK]

So now you have to sign up to watch You-Tube videos?
Is this new as of today?

 

[peter halle]

So now you have to sign up to watch You-Tube videos?
Is this new as of today?

As a moderator I am wondering is this is a technical question.  Did you have issues watching the videos?

Peter

 

[Theshipstore]

Paul:  Awesome video and great advive on the use of the table and Qwas Dogs. I just ordered my super pack today and can't wait for them to get here.
          I am so looking forward to using the especially for sheet goods I need t  cut for a cabinet I am making for a customer.
          I have 3 MFT tables I will be using and no longer plan on using my table saw for my shop work if I can use my Festool setup
Thank You
Sal

 

[PeterK]

I have watched a few of Paul's videos but this is the first I have tried requiring me to sign up or register. Just seems strange.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Thanks for all the compliments, guys!  [embarassed]  I posted it before leaving to fix something at a cousin's house way in the boonies and came back to a lot of nice replies.

As for the YouTube sign up, I don't know what's going on there for you.  YouTube has 3 settings for videos: Private (while authoring; nobody but me can see it), Unlisted where you need a full URL (not the case with the playlist), and Public where everybody can see it or search for it.  These are all marked Public as is the Playlist.

So, you should be able to see them just fine.  I tried from a different machine as a guest and it worked for me.

Now, that said, if you went to my blog page and clicked on 'Subscribe' in the "YouTube Subscription" gadget, then yes you do need to sign up.  But this is just to get notifications of when I post new stuff; for viewing, just use the playlist link I originally posted here.

 

[PaulMarcel]

ccarrolladams:  as for your "MFTs"  [jawdrop]

Actually, if you have a spare, I'd love to review one of those  [tongue]  I have a friend here with a 5x10 CNC and one of these days, my other benchtop's MDF will get replaced with an oversized "MFT" top in HDF.

Kristian: if you need Qwas dogs in Europe, I could maybe make you a deal... I'll send you some Qwas dogs and rail dogs and you send me back some Plug-It retrofit kits  [wink]

 

[Jeff Hein]

Thanks for putting the time into these videos Paul... I have enjoyed them all.

 

[Brice Burrell]

..........Don't know if Qwas products are available in Europe but will check.

Thanks.

- Kristian

They are not.  Bob Marino is the US retailer and Dan Clermont in Canada, maybe one of them would be willing to ship to Europe.  Or, you could could take Paul up on his offer. 

 

[peter halle]

Thanks for putting the time into these videos Paul... I have enjoyed them all.

I whole heartedly agree!  Paul, thank you!    

 

[ccarrolladams]

ccarrolladams:  as for your "MFTs"  [jawdrop]

Actually, if you have a spare, I'd love to review one of those  [tongue]  I have a friend here with a 5x10 CNC and one of these days, my other benchtop's MDF will get replaced with an oversized "MFT" top in HDF.

Hi Paul,

Well, if it were practical to send you a drilled 4x10' sheet by FedEx or UPS, I would do so.

Actually I bought a 5'x12' CNC router mostly because that is the most popular size of sign plastic. One of our sidelines is routing for sign companies.

Decades ago I started using plywood as my sacrificial surface. Although it is possible that MDF and HDF shrink less than does quality 19mm plywood, it is rare any given top will be in use more than 90 days. Or at least that is the case of the two work tables on which we do the bulk of our TS55 sawing. Three other 4'x10' drilled tables are used for assembly and/or hand sanding.

I have considered using HDF instead, since these tables do not leave the shop. So far I have no source for HDF larger than 4'x8' I have had no problem retaining the accuracy of the holes during the useful life of a top.

The plywood I use are sheets that were not considered attractive enough for use in a project. Instead of returning them to our plywood vendor we put them aside for eventual use building things for the shop, or making prototypes. When some time becomes available on the CNC machine, it takes seconds to call up the drilling routine. Almost always a 20mm drill bit is resident in the tool holder, since those are used for many purposes.

Currently our CNC router is in use on 2 shifts 6 days a week. When I designed the shop I left vacant space for a second CNC router on the other side of the beam saw. Currently that space separates the sheet goods department from the face frame department.

 

[rookie08]

Great reviews Paul. [thumbs up].  I see you are getting really good with your video editing as well.  Love the overhead shots!

Thanks for taking all the extra time to do all these.

I've learned something new from every video.

An added benefit is the weight loss. 

Every time I see one of your videos, my wallet gets a bit lighter! LOL

Cheers!

James

 

[vkumar]

Paul, another excellent review.  Your videos are educational, inspirational and fun.  I like your sense of humor that comes thru in every video as also the great tips. 

Can you describe your video setup a bit what type of camera, lights, stands etc.

Thanks, keep them coming.

Vijay

 

[PaulMarcel]

Sorry about the weight loss, James, but I can't be the only one going broke on green n blue

Thanks, Vijay, for the compliments.

Both of you seem interested in the camera setup so here's some shots:

Here are the video culprits...

[attachthumb=1]

The setup for the overhead shots... Handy that the 90 degree chunk of scrap was still in my bin and that the camera bases use 1/4"-20 threading   The camera is a DVC camera (digital video cassette).  Standard def.  Has a wide-angle lens on it for this.  Can't figure out where I lost the remote.  Anyway, it's probably 8 years old, but still works well; just the batteries don't hold a charge, but I'll get some replacements.  It is the infamous model that has IR recording ("night vision") that lets you see more than the TSA can

[attachthumb=2]

Some pretty high-tech lighting... 75W bulb for reference... I tried a 150W halogen and it made next to no difference on the video... I think it's the wide-band light of an incandescent lamp that warms it up better.

[attachthumb=3]

I have an el cheapo tripod, but it works well here.  72" tall when fully extended so the digital HD camera is on that; it's the main camera.

[attachthumb=4]

I actually recorded this MFT one twice  [blink] because I forgot about the DVC camera so I used my HD webcam that's in the shop.  It works well, but you have to process the video quite a bit before you even get started with non-linear editing.  It produces "oh about 22fps" and it's best for me to have 30fps DV to match the digital camera.  So I need to convert the recording to 30fps DV first, which is an added step... though capturing from the DVC is straight realtime so 6 or half-a-dozen.

Anyway, this is the mount for the Logitech 910C webcam.  Nice camera.  I used to stream from my shop all the time, but now it is pretty spotty.

[attachthumb=5]

Here's one that's on top of the CT-22 boom arm.  This is the one I used, actually, for the first try at the MFT demo.  The hook on the ceiling is there just to keep the cord out of the way or I'd clothesline myself...

[attachthumb=6]

DVC camera is a Sony TRV-50 Handycam, digicam is a Canon Vixia HFS100 with a Polaroid wide-angle adapter and shotgun mic (no, that's not my neighbor's cat on my camera...)

Editing is done on a 27" iMac  [cool] with iMovie '11.  The DVC imports by just playing it into the Firewire-400 port; digicam movie imports by popping in the SDHC card.

 

[flair woodworks]

Great series of videos.  Thanks for putting them together and sharing them.  I now understand the beauty of the MFT system - the precision-drilled holes (among the other more obvious features).