What are options for replacing MFT 1080 Table Top

[Jim_in_PA]

Glad you found someone, Mark!

 

[mcfal12]

I see replacement Mft1080 tops are on sale for $135 at trunkworks.

They also sell a replacement mft top for the MW1000 and the MW1000 extension table for those interested.

 

[Mark Katz]

Followuup with pictures!

My new MFT1080 top from [member=80018]trunkworks[/member] arrived by Fedex on Saturday (4 days after ordering). Here's what the old one looked like:
[attachimg=1]

The well-packed replacement.
[attachimg=2]

More evidence of great packing.
[attachimg=3]

New top installed.
[attachimg=4]

For $135, shipping included, I can't imagein a better solution. Thanks [member=80018]trunkworks[/member]!

 

[rocky100370]

Nice!! Their packaging is A+++++ Just ordered another one.

 

[mino]

[member=608]Mark Katz[/member] I have never measured one to be sure, but since it's German, I would assume 18mm rather than 3/4". It's definitely not 1", at that thickness, the clamps will not make the turn in the holes.
Ask me how I know that  [blink]

The MFT/3 tops are 19.5 mm. Guess they take standard 20 mm MDF stock and sand it for flatness.

I have an MFT-style "top-only" table from a 25 mm thick board which needed 5 mm roundovers on both sides of the holes for the classic clamps to work well. But that table(top) is not used with dogs ..

Doing it over, I believe a 22 mm top with 2 mm chamfer on both sides of the holes is probably as good as it gets for strength, without compromising clamps compatibility.

 

[trunkworks]

Cheese, my product engineer is out of town at the moment but I will get an answer to this for you as soon as he returns!

[member=80018]trunkworks[/member]  Just curious what tolerances you are specifying the CNC operator to maintain for hole diameter and center-to-center locational positions?

TSO for instance, manufactures bench dogs in 2 different diameters to address the tolerance issue.

 

[ElectricFeet]

Just flip it over and when the other side is worn out use it as a template to make a new one out of MDF.

Yes for the first part, no for the second.

After a frustrating few years with my Festool MFT/3 and not getting things square, I finally succumbed and bought [member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member] ’s parf guide system. Although it’s more work than I expected, it worked a treat and it makes a top that’s bang on square.

Using the rails to check on my old Festool top, however, I found that it’s absolutely not square.

I bought it many years ago, so maybe they are more precise these days. And mine dipped slightly in the middle too, so maybe humidity and vertical storage warped it a bit. But it would have made really a lousy template for a new one. Using Peter’s guides — or making your own (you simply follow the 3-4-5 rule) — would be a better option.

 

[jaykojc]

Someone with a CNC can also make you a replacement quickly and easily...

Fine. I don't know anyone with a CNC. If I were to look for a local commercial outfit with a CNC, I wouldn't know which of them might be able to make a decent quality product. And I'd most likely have to supply them with a drawing or spec and I don't have the time to deal with that.

Someone with a CNC can also make you a replacement quickly and easily...

Let me phrase it this way - I did just that! Trunkworks (i.e. someone with a CNC) is making a replacement for me.  Actually, they already made it, shipped it, and Fedeex says they will deliver it right to my door tomorrow. Couldn't been easier. And they already knew what an MFT1080 top is - I didn't have to explain it to them.

I've used local sign shops who generally have excellent CNC capabilities to do stuff like this and its easier than you think.  The holes are just 96mm on center, and its x by y mm in length and width...

 

[Cheese]

Cheese, my product engineer is out of town at the moment but I will get an answer to this for you as soon as he returns!

[member=80018]trunkworks[/member] thanks...much appreciated.  [smile]