Festool MFT

[Matt Meiser]

I never really understood the MFT until a Festool demo at our woodworking club several months ago given by the regional Festool rep. After that I understood its capabilities but didn't really see how it fit into my shop. Last weekend I went to a Festool breakfast/demo at our local Woodcraft. The same rep demo'd several of the new Festool items, but one of the store employees demo'd the MFT and talked about how he uses it in his own shop.

I bought one. Or I should say I ordered one as another guy at the event also saw the light and bought the one they had in stock before me. I got mine Wednesday.

I used it this weekend making cabinet boxes and shelves.

I'm really mad at myself for not buying it 3 years ago! :D

[Jack Wilson50]

Matt:

How did you find room, did it replace another table?

[Matt Meiser]

No, I need to figure out a better place for it--right now its in front of some other stuff. The nice thing is that it does fold up if/when I want that floor space back for another project.

[Michael W. Clark]

Matt,
Can you explain some of the benefits you see in the MFT? They interest me, but, like you at first, I don't really understand their potential. I've thought before about building an assembly table (torsion box style) with holes drilled in the top. Somehow though, I think there is more to the MFT than that, but I don't fully understand its uses. I have a friend that has one and he really likes his as well.

Mike

[Rich Riddle]

I am in the same boat with Mike on not understanding the potential of the table. I am in Northern Kentucky but have access to both a Rockler and Woodcraft fifteen minutes north in Cincinnati. Perhaps I should read some of the e-mail from Woodcraft after all. They just seem much more costly than Rockler in this area.

[Matt Meiser]

The big thing for me was accurate and repeatable cross cuts. The capacity is over 24" as shipped but I also learned it can be used with a longer rail across the table for 48" which I didn't do.

But after getting it home it also just works great as a table. Will be even better once I get some of the quick clamps and clamping elements.

[Glenn Ancona]

We have several - only disapointment here is that the older version and the newer are not the same height.
They fold up compact to go on site or can be stored on edge without falling over.
The rail / cross cut function comes on and off easily and its very precise as Matt mentioned
The Festool clamps fit thru the holes in the top to clamp anything down including the kappex.
The #1 systaner box is the same height as the Kappex cutting surface when both are on the table
They have clamp slots for working on edge
They clamp together to make a table twice as big - if you have two.
There is adjustment on the leg for unever surfaces.
Depending on your band saw height it works great as a aigner type extension for radius and big work.
Its EXACTLY the height of the aggazani 24 -24 on the mobile base.
Pricey as all festools are but well thought out - knowing the green guys, I'm sure I'm missing a few more features
Glenn

[Julian Tracy]

I've had both, the 1080 and now have the MFT 3. I'd say the only real reason to spend the cash on one is if you have a definite need for a lot of long accurate 90 degree cross cuts - say, like when building cabinets or shelving onsite.

And that need would be further qualified as specifically cutting high-problem sheet goods, like melamine, or high-dollar veneers, etc. that are very difficult if not impossible to get good perfect cuts with when using any other method...

Yes - it's a great work table and clamping surface, but I always chuckle when the guys at FOG reccomend it or many of them for a shop when the cross-cutting need is not the main objective. I mean, who needs a $600 wobbly work table right?

Cause it's not like they are super sturdy or stable. Certainly not a whole lot of use for handplaning or hammering.

Hard to do crosscutting of wide boards accurately onsite with other methods, so they shine for that use.

I will say don't bother with the 1080, the MFT3 is lighter and taller and more importantly, the fence is better built and easier to install and remove.

Julian

[Matt Meiser]

The wobble is a definite issue in my opinion but they do at least acknowledge that on the MFT/3 and sell, at extra cost of course, a set of braces. I'll probably end up buying them.

Even in my shop, I think its the best wide-board crosscutting method I've got by far. A TS sled is limited to some extent, and a large one becomes unweildy, especially with an correspondingly large panel. A square and Festool rails can be used, but the prefinished ply is pretty slippery and its not hard to knock that out of alignment, even if clamping--putting on the clamps can do it. And since most of my cabinet parts were over the limits of the parallel guides in at least one dimension, there was no repeatability beyond measuring.

[Jeff Monson]

I've had a MFT for about 4 years, I used it for crosscutting, but I like it best for holding workpieces and jigs. Works well for glue ups on odd shaped pieces also. I got tired of folding it up when I needed space so I converted it into a rolling assembly/workstation that has storage underneath. I've sanded the top smooth a few times, next time its full of glue and scars I will flip it. Its very versatile, and the top is surprisingly rugged.

[Jamie Buxton]

..The big thing for me was accurate and repeatable cross cuts..

Precise cross cuts are very important for cutting sheet goods to make cabinets. But the MFT takes a lot of room to store, costs a lot, and isn't big enough to handle a 4'x8' sheet. Instead of a MFT, I made what's essentially a 4'x4' Speed-square. I tuned it until it is the most precise 90 degree angle in my shop. I put a measuring tape on it, like on a tablesaw rail. It gives accurate repeatable 90.00 degree cross cuts. It stores easily. It cost lots less than an MFT.

[Stephen Cherry]

I'm starting to get the festool bug. and my credit cards are just about paid off.

[Julian Tracy]

Using a $600+ wobbly work table mostly for clamping and glueups seems like a poor allocation of tool funds to me...

Maybe I've yet to see the light, cause I HAVE the MFT and had the earlier version and am still thinking of getting rid of it as it's cost vs. value proposition still seems a bit out of wack....

Might need a $500 Festool class to see the light.

JT

[Eric DeSilva]

I like my MFT1080, especially as a work holding surface for doing things like dominos or strange glue ups. I particularly like the ratcheting quick clamps--they are surprisingly strong. So much so that I bought some similar clamps from Bessey, only to be very disappointed. Also look into the Qwas dogs and the Qwas rail dogs--I find those handy too. I think Bob Marino sells those.

[Todd Burch]

I have an MFT. I purchased it in 2004, so perhaps it's the 1080. Mine is not wobbly at all. When working a job onsite (as I was back then) it was awesome. I used it as scaffolding quite a bit. I built a step stool 1/2 the height of the MFT, attached it to the MFT, and in 2 steps, I was tall enough to work on the ceiling. I haven't used mine in a while, but I wouldn't get rid of it. It's a great temp work surface and folds up nicely and out of the way.

[Eric DeSilva]

Mine isn't wobbly, and saying that I "especially" like it for certain activities does not usually mean that is "mostly" what it is for. I use my MFT for a lot of things, but since others were citing it as only a device for crosscutting accurately, I thought I'd throw some other possibilities out there. Funny thing about the MFT is that the more I use it, the more things I tend to use it for.

If you bought a new MFT without having figured out how to use your old MFT, you probably shouldn't go around accusing other people of poorly allocating their tool funds.

[Julian Tracy]

I didn't buy either one new, and I'm not sure that I would. Most of the Festools I own were bought used - only a few new, like the Domino, Ro90, etc. Quite a few are great for what I paid used, not sure I'd buy again at new retail. Though the RO 90 and the Domino are keepers to be sure.

1080 bought for about $350 and sold for about $380, the MFT3 I think I paid about $340 for...

At those prices, I'll probably keep, but at $600+ I'd give it a bit more thought and certainly wouldn't get a second one just for added support or additional clamping surface. Drill a pattern of 3/4" holes in mdf is easy enough.

My attitude comes from all of the impractical "You've got to buy this, and this and this..." that flies around the fog forum when new comers ask advice for initially tooling up with Festool products.

Enjoy yours, I still give it only a 7 out of 10 in terms of value for the cost. But I'll admit that though I have a ton of green stuff, I ask a little more out of my spent dollars than some.

JT

[Erik Christensen]

I built a massive MFT style bench a couple of years ago - http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?143694-A-different-workbench

I can cross cut around 36" at a perfect 90 degrees and with the depth stop can cut multiples with absolute accuracy about every minute, it is a bit high for hand tools but for power work it rocks... it does not wobble but then again it is not portable either :)

[Jeff Monson]

I built a massive MFT style bench a couple of years ago - http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?143694-A-different-workbench

I can cross cut around 36" at a perfect 90 degrees and with the depth stop can cut multiples with absolute accuracy about every minute, it is a bit high for hand tools but for power work it rocks... it does not wobble but then again it is not portable either :)

Erik, that is ALOT like mine. Mine is not portable either(jobsite to jobsite that is).....but that is not a concern for me.

[Jim Becker]

It's interesting, Matt. I don't use my MFT very much, but when I do use it, it serves the purpose well. Although most of the time, I utilize it as a portable workstation for home improvement tasks, I keep it handy to my shop and pull it out to use when a particular operation that can leverage it's unique capabilities comes into play. I suspect I only use it less than some folks because I have the slider.

Don't assume that the MFT is only a saw-focused workstation, either. I've used it many times with my OF1010 and OF1400 routers.

[Ted Miller]

The wobble is a definite issue in my opinion but they do at least acknowledge that on the MFT/3 and sell, at extra cost of course, a set of braces. I'll probably end up buying them.

Even in my shop, I think its the best wide-board crosscutting method I've got by far. A TS sled is limited to some extent, and a large one becomes unweildy, especially with an correspondingly large panel. A square and Festool rails can be used, but the prefinished ply is pretty slippery and its not hard to knock that out of alignment, even if clamping--putting on the clamps can do it. And since most of my cabinet parts were over the limits of the parallel guides in at least one dimension, there was no repeatability beyond measuring.

+1, But the braces do help a bit, but the table is not very stable with or without the braces unless you are cutting small stock.

I removed the legs from my MFT/3. When I need to make large crosscuts on longer sheet stock, I throw the legless MFT up on my large outfeed table, in 2 minutes you are set up and square and begin crosscutting...

[trevor adair]

I have had my mft/3 for more than 2 years and find it invaluable. I too do not notice a "wobble" probably because my hand plane work is done at a proper workbench vice. I recently did a kitchen and dont know how I would have managed without it. My plywood supplier ripped all my 3/4 sheets to 24 1/4 so I could handle them easily, then it was a simple task of setting my stop on the MFT and presto I had my sheets cut down to perfect lengths. Quick rip on the table saw and the widths are perfect. Where I found it really shined was on the repeatable cuts for the rails and stiles for all of my doors. Most would have been too long for my Incra HD stops and the MFT handled all with ease.. With a full set of clamping elements it makes a great surface for sanding as well..
Mine has never been folded up since the day I put it together, it is easily the most used surface in my shop