Would you be interested in a Height-Adjustable MFT? Let us know!

[jmbfestool]

umm no I would adjust it every day! As I have my bench on site in a different place every day and most jobs dont have flat ground so I know ill be doing alot of adjustments and thats why I like my Spring Idea!!!  

Being able just to place the MFT on the ground and the legs self adjust to the ground is quick easy and saves alot of hassle and I would buy one or even two if they made one like that.

JMB

It seems like you are talking about 2 different things, at least from my perspective.  You could get a leg leveler add on like the Little Giant ladders have.  This would allow you to place the table on uneven ground.  

Adjusting the table to different heights is a different story though.  I believe there have been ergonomic studies as to whether people really use the adjustments on their equipment.  When asked if someone would use the adjustments, many say "Oh, yes!  I'd adjust it every day!".  When researchers go into the field and measure these adjustments over time, they find that the equipment really doesn't get adjusted much, if at all.

One of the very difficult things relating to product design and research is "how much do you listen to the customer?"  Customers will tell you one thing, but observation tends to prove something different.

I agree and disagree!   I agree that work shop lads will not often alter the height of the bench.  Site lads will! Well I will any way I will be altering it every working day! Every time I set up my MFT I will adjust the legs to suite the ground.  Most people drives paths gardens are never perfectly flat so I always have to keep moving my MFT around till it stops wobbling around as I have said the current one foot adjustment is to little of adjustment.   I think festool either has to make a decision to go for the easy levelling type of MFT or go for just the height adjustment bench or make both sorts!  Or design something kind alike my idea! which will do both and please both types people!

JMB

 

[GPowers]

Adjusting the table to different heights is a different story though.  I believe there have been ergonomic studies as to whether people really use the adjustments on their equipment.  When asked if someone would use the adjustments, many say "Oh, yes!  I'd adjust it every day!".  When researchers go into the field and measure these adjustments over time, they find that the equipment really doesn't get adjusted much, if at all.

I may not adjust is every day, but being 6'4" tall it would be adjusted higher that my MFT/3 is today. I think that is important too as some of us are taller then average and some of us are shorter then average.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Interesting thread.

I have to be contrarian on the 'workshop vs. field' requirements.  I'm mostly a workshop type and I would see adjusting it often.  Different heights depending on the project, e.g., a dovetailed drawer needing close eye contact vs. a chair that needs attention over a 40 inch vertical span; and depending on the stage of the project - one height while dealing with 'parts', other heights for different stages of assembly or finishing.

If I just wanted to adjust it to my height, I could build a platform or have a go at the legs with a hacksaw [scared]... relax, just kidding.

 

[Warrior]

Id be more interested in a ridgid mft frame vs height adjustment. Also would like the mft rails not to sag over time too. I have 3 mft 1080s and they all have a slight sag along the long side.

Are the MFT3 rails more robust?

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Id be more interested in a ridgid mft frame vs height adjustment. Also would like the mft rails not to sag over time too. I have 3 mft 1080s and they all have a slight sag along the long side.

This concerns me!  Do you think you could remove the rails, flip them, and reinstall them?  Put the crown on top, so to speak, and let time & gravity even it out... ?

 

[Alan m]

i would be interested in both a height selectable (when asembling the mft ) but perminent mft for the shop with shelf etc ,and also an mft with 4 adjustable feet and adjusteble legs for site work

 

[colyn]

http://www.rdm-ind.com/images/MONARCH-workbench2.gif

Here is what I have been  working on for a couple of months with factories to bring this product to the DIY market at an affordable price
WHAT would you pay for a system like this - $250 ? $300? $350?
- my idea was for ANY style table - ( similar - ) for those that want to see an easy affordable way.
won't add much weight and will be as steady as your existing table
each leg can be adjusted for stability/uneven ground independently but cranks UP/Down w/all 4 legs
supports up to 1000 lbs
hand crank ( least expensive way) is foldable and stores flush ( so no protrusion)
is available with electric motor and either foot pedal or switch( up/down)
can be attached to ANY leg ( retrofit) -

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Human dimensions (within specific population groups) fit a standard bell curve (e.g. Americans and Europeans have a specific curve, Asians another curve, Africans another, etc.).

Ideally, well designed equipment is engineered to fit the 5th to 95th percentiles of a specific target population (e.g. equipment should work well for 90% of American or European males).  I haven't checked my ergonomic books lately, but I believe that the height of the MFT fits within the fixed worksurface height recommendations for this range of the population.  Users like GPowers would be on the upper tail end of that bell curve, possibly outside the 95th percentile, so he would need some sort of accommodation, such as a riser to get the table to a working height appropriate for his size.

Adjustability is nice, but it is pricey.  Festool could manufacture in a very elegant solution, but it may end up being unused by many of you.  There is no doubt that many of you could come up with more cost-effective adjustment solutions to solve any height/adjustability issues.

 

[JSands]

I keep all my work surfaces, TS, BS, Jointer, etc. at 42"... my back is too old to constantly bend over...
I tried an MFT at trade show... no way, I could prob. jury rig it to make it higher, but I simply used other tables...  as mentioned by the previous poster, it always comes down to cost vs. the amount of population it would service...I would suggest an add-on accessory to make the MFT taller, that accessory would be adjustable height to cover a large range of tall users, of course within reason.  No many 7 footers do ww. 

 

[Wood_Junkie]

hmmm, almost true! [big grin]

The table lifts were actually bed lifts sold by Bed, Bath & Beyond. (That cost way less than the time I would spend fabricating something.)
They are sold in sets of four and available in two heights, see the links below.
They are in fact extremely stable, and if you want to combine two 1080 tables together  "width wise" - where the two leg sets come together I had to modify the tops slightly by nibbing them on my bandsaw.

I'm a shade over 6'1" and the MFT 1080s sometimes are murder on my back.  And the 2x4 scraps I raise 'em on aren't exactly awesome.      [thanks] [thanks] [thanks]

[not worthy]    [not worthy]

Just a quickie follow-up.  Turns out Bed Bath & Beyond has several sizes and shapes of bed lifts.

The 7" lifts Roger links are $14.99 a set.
But, they have some 5" lifts which are round, and only cost $8.99.  I got two sets of these.

I haven't put them to work yet, as I'm still setting up the new shop.  But I am definitely looking forward to my 1080's being 5 inches higher!
More to come later...

 

[croessler]

Unfortunately I did no see this topic until today so was not able to respond to the survey. However, considering that I am 6'4" I would love a work surface that is height adjustable. Just so long as stability is in no way compromised.

Chris