What to get next, what to get rid of?

[southern_guy]

Hi all

Having discovered Festool, I am now building a collection. So far principal tools in the workshop are:

a) TS55 plunge saw
b) OF1010 router
c) CT22 Dust Extractor
d) LR32 Hole set
e) Scheppach TKU sawbench
f) Woodrat.

On my list of "to gets' is the Domino and the MFT.

I now need help deciding:
a) which to get first, the Domino or the MFT, and;

b) if it came to the crunch, which ones of e) and f) should go to fund the next aquisitions

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey southern_guy!

Interesting question!  I try to set a tool free every time I bring a new tool into the shop.  Just sold my last 5 inch sander and paper!

I guess the answer to your question depends on what kind of woodworking you do and how well you like the tools on your list.  Would the Domino do everything you do with the Woodrat?  I sold my Leigh FMT jig to pay for the Domino.

One personal observation - I have both the Domino and the MFT.  I use the MFT every day.  I use the Domino rarely, but that may just be the type of projects I'm doing right now.

Let us know what you decide!  Oh the agony!!!

 

[brandon.nickel]

Unless you have a nice workbench already, get the MFT.  You'll also want several clamps.  I use the clamping elements ALL the time (Item #  488030).  You can use the table for cross-cutting, sanding, assembly, clamping, etc.  The Domino is a great joinery machine, but I think your Woodrat will duplicate much of its functionality (I don't have one, so I'm going off what I've heard).  You can use the Domino for some of your projects, but you'll use the MFT for everything.

 

[Greg in Memphis]

I'd like to put my two cents in on the MFT.
I have a very small shop at my house where I had a minimum of room for equipment.
I had a homemade traditional workbench (nothing fancy) that was used every day for one thing or another.
Before knowledge of the MFT, there was no way you could convince me to get rid of my workbench. She was a good old girl and did everything I asked of her.
A lot of times I would need to cut bigger pieces of wood outside with some sawhorses. For something needing to be clamped down or together , I used my B & D Workmate.
I got the MFT 800 for use outside because of the infinite clamping possibilities and it's portability and stability for it's size. Kinda like a Workmate on steroids, I thought.
I had the MFT 800 for two weeks and decided to give away my traditional workbench to make room for a platform to hold an MFT 1080 and an MFT 800 side by side.
I very much enjoy this setup because I can use both the bigger and smaller MFTs joined together for sheet goods, with the option of removing the 45 lb MFT 800 at a moments notice to work off-site.
This is the best worktable setup I have ever encountered.
Used in conjuction with a Festool 75, this setup replaced my need for a radial arm saw that I also thought I could not live without, freeing up space for a great drill press (yippee).
MFTs make everything more fluid and easier.
MFTs can replace a lot of stuff that take up space you don't even realize.
MFTs will make room for the tools you really need.
I would recommend the MFT 800 deluxe to anyone with a TS 55 or TS 75.
Be prepared to totally rethink (and rearrange) your layout of your shop, though. I've been spending a considerable amount of time reorganizing my shop, since now I have more actual working space and functionality. Time and energy, in the long run, which I consider will have been well spent.

Hope this helps

Greg

 

[HowardH]

I spent several hundred on the hard maple to build a great workbench and now it is primarily used to set stuff down on.  Why, the MFT of course.  Much more versatile, I use it with every project.  Wish I could say that with the Domino I have.  It's been pretty lonely for a while, sitting all alone in it's systainer, locked up in the sysport.  I better use it to make it feel wanted...