Which workflow for serial cross cuts: MFT or parallel guides?

[QuailRider43]

Breaking down 3/4" melamine sheets for cabinet boxes, shelves and drawers.  I have both the MFT and parallel guides, together with TS55REQ.  Sheets are already ripped lengthwise.  Now time for the multiple crosscuts, many of repeated lengths.  I could use the MFT, or track with parallel guides.  Each has their advantages and disadvantages: MFT is a stable and square workspace with pivoting track, but accurately setting the fence stop and re-positioning the material for each cut takes time.  The parallel guides allow for easy accurate setup, but the track has to be lifted into position with each cut.  Which workflow do people find the best?  At this point, I think I'm biased towards the parallel guides.

 

[Master Carpenter]

One vote for parallel guide.

 

[tiralie]

Which workflow do people find the best? 

MFT. Gang up similar cuts, set the stop and crank away. If you have only one MFT you will need an out feed and in feed support for the long pieces. Way easier and faster for multiple same length cuts than parallel guides.
Tim

 

[sancho57]

get a couple of flags stops. I think 3 is the min you should have. I got 7 soon to have 8. I know a guy who has more.

But that way you can do accurate repeat cuts in many projects and use them as a story stick to..

 

[Woodwork Wizard]

3m rail with parallel guides left permanently attached for ripping along the 8x4 sheets and the MFT for all the cross cuts. A MM scale on the MFT fence is very useful for setting flag stops to the desired length. For me this is a very efficient and accurate method of cutting sheet goods to size.

 

[dltflt]

I would use the MFT and flag stops.

 

[QuailRider43]

Looks like the MFT crowd have it.  Thanks.  I like the idea of making a story stick for the fence stop.  I might also stick a measuring tape on the MFT fence in the future.

 

[tjbnwi]

MFT.

A few of my flag stops on this set up.

Tom

 

[sancho57]

Dood how many do you have? I have 7 another buddy had 10. Maybe we should have a flag stop competition [big grin]

 

[Holmz]

I clamp a piece of wood to the LHS of the floppy rail and then hang the majority of the wood to the RHS.
The cut is indexed on the RHS of the floppy rail.
So all the lengths get cut the same.

But I am going up against dogs, and not using the rear fence... Hence the clamped wood rather than a flag stop.

 

[tjbnwi]

Dood how many do you have? I have 7 another buddy had 10. Maybe we should have a flag stop competition [big grin]

25-30.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

I clamp a piece of wood to the LHS of the floppy rail and then hang the majority of the wood to the RHS.
The cut is indexed on the RHS of the floppy rail.
So all the lengths get cut the same.

But I am going up against dogs, and not using the rear fence... Hence the clamped wood rather than a flag stop.

If you are using clamped wood, relief cut the bottom edge. When you slide the work piece the saw dust will not affect the cut by acting as a spacer.

When I use the flag stops I leave them elevated from the table so the saw dust passes under the stop.

Tom

 

[buckmaidt]

Do any of the online dealers sell the flagstops or is that an ekat item?

 

[flair woodworks]

Flag Stop is part number 495542.  I think they're just a regular accessory - we always have them on the wall.

 

[sancho57]

Dood how many do you have? I have 7 another buddy had 10. Maybe we should have a flag stop competition [big grin]

25-30.

Tom

The winner and new champion......

 

[QuailRider43]

Answering my own question.  After ripping down several panels, MFT is definitely superior to parallel guides, and I preferred using it whenever possible.  MFT offers easier material handling, less chipping, better dust collection, just better overall workflow.  Parallel guides were more fiddly to set up and move around, and I had more chip out on the panel bottoms.  Of course, there were times where the parallel guides were essential, namely with cuts that were either too long or too narrow to fit on the MFT.