Which first, CMS/MFT-VL or router module?

[Jimmy FineCut]

I am about to take the plunge and buy the cms unit, router module and the sliding table but I can't afford to buy both cms and router module in one go. [sad]

So I'm thinking of buying the cms unit and sliding table and making my own router insert for the time being. This way the sliding table will be an easy fit.

I have seen THIS video which gave me the idea.

Has anyone done this or been in the same situation?

Thanks
Jimmy

 

[Jimmy FineCut]

Slight change of plan.

Looks the MFT3/VL now could be the the better option for me.

Meeting my local Festool customer service guy next week see for myself the pros and cons of the cms vs mft/vl  [smile]

 

[djb]

I wish someone like FastCap would make blanks like that... I have several tools that deserve a drop in like the ones made in that video, that Festool will never make (NAINA or not). (ping [member=18506]Paul Akers[/member])

I'd think that other than the financial issues, the question comes down to whether you need/want a separate table or not, and the relative "size" of the table top produced by each arrangement. I'm not sure what system options exist for tying the CMS to an MFT or whether they are truly standalone without using the VR version... but that aside that is what it seems to come down to...

 

[bkharman]

Slight change of plan.

Looks the MFT3/VL now could be the the better option for me.

Meeting my local Festool customer service guy next week see for myself the pros and cons of the cms vs mft/vl  [smile]

Jimmy,

I have the VL and use it for its full potential.  I have several threads about my MFT+VL+Incra LS+Precision Dogs Plate+x+y+z and I use the crap out of it.  I also have some NAINA inserts that have helped it become part of my everyday woodworking life...

I have built some custom inserts as well, but I don't feel like they are in a good enough state to showcase here.  I love the ideas that Nicolas has in his videos and he has done a great job on executing them.  I have approached several of our Aluminum friendly vendors on the FOG about custom inserts and have received similar feedback from all... the extrusion process would be very difficult and costly.  I made mine out of MDO, but I like shiny things like the rest of us.  Ultimately, it needs to have function over form for me but if I am going to share with folks, it needs to have a bit more form in my opinion.  I will say that I made a MDO insert that held my RO90 and allowed me to have a mini disk sander  [wink]  Unfortuantely that was left on the floor when my sump pump failed and now is a lot thicker than it used to be.  So much so, that it was thrown in the fireplace last weekend to make some room.  [sad]

Cheers.  Bryan.

 

[Rob-GB]

I went CMS, full on. Router table plus TS55 table and sliding table. Here's why.
1/ Some of the places I work there is not enough room for an MFT3 plus a router/saw table (sometimes not room for MFT)
2/ Sometimes you just need to use the saw or router table, with a VL you have to carry in the MFT too ( three flights of stairs later you'd wish it was not so)
3/ I have made a table top that slots into the CMS as a small worktable, it is glossy melamine so is used as a glue up table for little jobs or coffee table  ;D

I am not anti VL, I am considering one to somehow fit onto the CMS so I can use both saw and router tables without changing over.
The sliding table is useful, very much so, however, it is redundant most of the time unless you are tenoning or crosscutting or somesuch a lot. So maybe hold off on the sliding table and go for the router table, I found it well worth having after years of making up one table after another. Just my thoughts. [2cents]

Rob

 

[jeh]

I'd think that other than the financial issues, the question comes down to whether you need/want a separate table or not, and the relative "size" of the table top produced by each arrangement. I'm not sure what system options exist for tying the CMS to an MFT or whether they are truly standalone without using the VR version... but that aside that is what it seems to come down to...

At Festool Connect last year I saw such an arrangement (GE attached to VL) making a two router setup. Looked good for rail and stile. I grabbed the attached photo from a post by Shane.

 

[Jimmy FineCut]

Cheers for the input guys.

I'm looking forward to testing both setups next Friday.