Woodpeckers latest OTT: MFT shelf support

[live4ever]

Well, this one should generate some discussion. 

Now my eyes might be deceiving me, but this seems like it would double as a 25"x48" MFS/VRJ (same hardware).  I guess it's an option for those who missed out on adding the 32" rails to their VRJ order and don't want to rout Supertrack themselves.  Though the 48" rails are not routed for hardware, and of course all of the tracks are not laser engraved either.

As for what it's advertised for, I'm not seeing the added value there.  It's an awfully expensive shelf support - maybe it adds additional rigidity over some notched 2x4s and plywood.
https://www.woodpeck.com/mftss.html

 

[lwoirhaye]

Markets mature.  Innovation cycles wind down.  Then aside from the collector and special use market it turns into price wars and value must be established by premium brands on criteria other than whether the product does its thing effectively.

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[Corwin]

It seems that April Fools' Day comes earlier and earlier each year.  [tongue] [huh] [blink]

 

[HarveyWildes]

Markets mature.  Innovation cycles wind down.  Then aside from the collector and special use market it turns into price wars and value must be established by premium brands on criteria other than whether the product does its thing effectively.

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Dang - my picture just keeps popping up in unexpected places.  Please don't take this as an official endorsement of Festool, although I do like the brand.

 

[peter halle]

I used 8' of scrap 1 x 2 hardwood and 12 screws for mine.  I did check to see if I totally lost track of time and it was April already.

 

[Sparktrician]

Another solution in search of a problem...  [huh]

 

[sprior]

I've already got my LFT sysport cabinet so not useful to me, but since they're making it out of supertrack it seems they could have included the end connectors required to make the track also work as a square router template and then I'd be tempted.

 

[Dogberryjr]

Oftentimes when the latest OTT arrives, I agonize right up to the last day for ordering.

Other times, it's a very, very simple decision.

 

[jeh]

An overpriced solution looking for a problem, not mention a quick way to sheer some skin off of your shin on those corners.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Since it isn’t April Fools Day yet they must have way too much of that T-track aluminum. IMO they should make a bunch of the MFS template thing and put it in the catalog, at a discount.

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

Does no one notice that the shelf support in the top 2 photos on the Woodpecker page don't match? The top one shows the supertrack has been notched to fit down on the MFT rods, then the next photo shows brackets to keep it in place.

 

[jimbo51]

This is a nice reminder of what a person could do with a few feet of lumber to add additional shelf space under the MFT. It does seem to be a case where a home built solution would be just as effective at a very small fraction of the cost.

 

[Cheese]

This is one I actually agree with...this one deserves to be a One Time Tool and then just move on.

Not exactly their best foot forward on this one. This ranks right next to that other great OTT...the Lumber Rule.

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Here's a OTT that was quietly introduced a week ago. The Clamp Support System 24.

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https://www.woodpeck.com/css24.html

 

[mwildt]

It's not a bad idea in general. A storage shelf could come handy for some users. I do find their product a bit of overkill for what it is.

While the aluminum profiles are nice they are too wide to give max height for storage. No need for that beefy profile, deflection and all. The brackets that provide the shelf connection to the leg cross member could use some padding as to not dig into the paint (a guess). I think a non stationary use of such shelf quickly would loose appeal. Just too heavy and a repeated on/off would destroy the paint on the legs.

Some thoughts I would have considered to incorporate as to make the shelf idea more outstanding.

Stability improvement
The mft/3 does rock a bit if doing hand work. A simple brace can stabilize the table quit a bit. Just have to clamp a cross brace from top rail to leg in the back (like top to left leg) and in the front (top to right leg). Stability improves quite a bit. Having cross brace in back OR front does not help enough. Needs opposite sides imho. I do not see the shelf add anything to such improvement. Would have been an excellent sales feature.

Storage
While a full shelf is nice it removes the ability to have the dust extractor underneath. Does not look like there is enough headroom to put even a midi on the shelf. Two options could have been provided. A full shelf and a half shelf. Full shelf is what was presented. The half shelf could use same profiles but half length. Left side would rest on the leg cross member as it does today. Right side could hang using another piece of profile attached to the top rails inner side. Voila a half shelf and the dust extractor could pop into the other side, on the floor.

A genius move would have been to combine these two without loosing access to the shelf.

Portability
Nice with a shelf when working in the field. Gives that extra place to put a clamp or tool. I see this as perhaps too beefy for mobility.

Double use as router guide
Great idea but I doubt anyone will go through the hassle to take things apart to do this, unless it's really a one off thing.

Anyways just some quick thoughts. Flame away

 

[Master Carpenter]

That's a lot of money for a shelf.

I've often wondered why Festool doesn't offer a sysport that connects under the MFT. And a wheel kit. I guess we all just build our own.

 

[HarveyWildes]

Since it isn’t April Fools Day yet they must have way too much of that T-track aluminum. IMO they should make a bunch of the MFS template thing and put it in the catalog, at a discount.

I second the thought.

Festool sells two supporting rods for $80 (before this year's price increases).  That's about $40 a piece, plus some hardware.  Woodpeckers has 5 pieces for $200, plus some hardware, -and- it's usable as super track.  They're just giving us the pricing we're used to from Festool.

 

[rst]

I used 8020 quick frame square tubing to make cross braces and flanged tubing for shelf supports. 
View attachment 1  I later added the same shelf supports for the other sides.  I used the sames extrusions to make a sys port.
View attachment 2  The syss sit on U shaped 18 ga steel pans that I had made and I cut holes for the feet to sit, and over extension slides to make access easier.  I can open the lids fully while still on the shelf.

 

[mwildt]

[member=25351]rst[/member] looks great. Care to share the cross brace details ?

I've not tried the middle as you tried. How does it hold up?

 

[rst]

I made the upper and lower ends from some thick black ABS.  They are milled to fit into the 1" tubes.  The lower ones were made in one long piece, then I drilled a hole the diameter of the cross brace and split with my bandsaw to fit over the cross brace.  The upper ones were a little trickier.  I had to tinker with getting the proper angle, and milled a finger to engage the slot in the MFT profile.  The braces are not attached but rather, tension fit.  Between the cross brace and shelve supports my MFT is rock solid.

 

[live4ever]

I made the upper and lower ends from some thick black ABS.  They are milled to fit into the 1" tubes.  The lower ones were made in one long piece, then I drilled a hole the diameter of the cross brace and split with my bandsaw to fit over the cross brace.  The upper ones were a little trickier.  I had to tinker with getting the proper angle, and milled a finger to engage the slot in the MFT profile.  The braces are not attached but rather, tension fit.  Between the cross brace and shelve supports my MFT is rock solid.

Rock solid enough for light to moderate hand planing?