Derek Cohen
12-11-2022, 11:28 AM
While I have a Roubo-style workbench and prefer hand tools ...
https://i.postimg.cc/4XvrLQjJ/4.jpg
... and have a Hammer K3 slider to take care of rip- and crosscutting ...
https://i.postimg.cc/y1NM2MpK/10a.jpg
... it has dawned on me that that a MFT (multifunction table) would provide more than just another option for sawing - it could provide an ideal small assembly bench as well as a bench for holding small parts for routing and sanding. The balance was tipped when I recently acquired a (new) Festool AT 65EB track saw ... 20 years old but used once or twice at most.
I build a small workbench in solid timber: 1200 x 600mm pine frame and merbau top. Although I have a Domino, the construction was mortice-and-tenon. Since the top was not a standard MFT, it was necessary that I drill the 20mm holes. These were to be 96mm apart, as with the Festool MFT.
There are basically two methods to make one's own: the UFK Parf guide (drill), and the Trend template (router). The cheaper Trend template is $300 in Australia. Fortunately, I was offered the opportunity to make a template by a friend with a CNC. This went one better than the Trend, by doubling it in size. The template has 30mm holes and is used with a guide bush and 20mm router bit to create the 20mm holes.
https://i.postimg.cc/4ffJCMCS/1.jpg
The bench top was prepared by ensuring all sides were square, and then the template was squared to the front and right side ...
https://i.postimg.cc/mbNb54n9/2.jpg
My old Elu router is at least 25 years old. It used a 30mm Trend guide bush fitted into a custom made adapter ..
https://i.postimg.cc/gcrmjZ2y/3.jpg
The router bit is a Trend 20mm ...
https://i.postimg.cc/51tCLKHg/4.jpg
I was also very pleased to see how well the dust collection worked. The Elu did not come with dust collection - this was not important 25 years ago! - and I adapted the fitting from a Dewalt to fit it.
https://i.postimg.cc/z8bHPLFR/5.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/LR0ZTkLp/6.jpg
Once all the holes were routed ...
https://i.postimg.cc/pvCj9Mdy/8.jpg
... the template needed to be moved to complete the bench top. This was facilitated by two dogs which my friend had thoughtfully made for this purpose ...
https://i.postimg.cc/sjT33csD/7.jpg
The dogs are fitted into the existing holes to align the pattern ...
https://i.postimg.cc/7wFJvxKt/9.jpg
The remaining holes were drilled.
It only then occurred to me to check the bench top for flat - I should have done this earlier, although the top was flat when I first put it together. There was a 0.5mm gap at the centre, and I decided to plane it flat ...
https://i.postimg.cc/5f8YbZG4/10.jpg
The top was then sanded(80 grit) ...
https://i.postimg.cc/vQz465bC/11.jpg
... all is flat ...
https://i.postimg.cc/sVyBXTdp/12.jpg
The holes received a fine chamfer ...
https://i.postimg.cc/BSnX5tvb/13.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/4XvrLQjJ/4.jpg
... and have a Hammer K3 slider to take care of rip- and crosscutting ...
https://i.postimg.cc/y1NM2MpK/10a.jpg
... it has dawned on me that that a MFT (multifunction table) would provide more than just another option for sawing - it could provide an ideal small assembly bench as well as a bench for holding small parts for routing and sanding. The balance was tipped when I recently acquired a (new) Festool AT 65EB track saw ... 20 years old but used once or twice at most.
I build a small workbench in solid timber: 1200 x 600mm pine frame and merbau top. Although I have a Domino, the construction was mortice-and-tenon. Since the top was not a standard MFT, it was necessary that I drill the 20mm holes. These were to be 96mm apart, as with the Festool MFT.
There are basically two methods to make one's own: the UFK Parf guide (drill), and the Trend template (router). The cheaper Trend template is $300 in Australia. Fortunately, I was offered the opportunity to make a template by a friend with a CNC. This went one better than the Trend, by doubling it in size. The template has 30mm holes and is used with a guide bush and 20mm router bit to create the 20mm holes.
https://i.postimg.cc/4ffJCMCS/1.jpg
The bench top was prepared by ensuring all sides were square, and then the template was squared to the front and right side ...
https://i.postimg.cc/mbNb54n9/2.jpg
My old Elu router is at least 25 years old. It used a 30mm Trend guide bush fitted into a custom made adapter ..
https://i.postimg.cc/gcrmjZ2y/3.jpg
The router bit is a Trend 20mm ...
https://i.postimg.cc/51tCLKHg/4.jpg
I was also very pleased to see how well the dust collection worked. The Elu did not come with dust collection - this was not important 25 years ago! - and I adapted the fitting from a Dewalt to fit it.
https://i.postimg.cc/z8bHPLFR/5.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/LR0ZTkLp/6.jpg
Once all the holes were routed ...
https://i.postimg.cc/pvCj9Mdy/8.jpg
... the template needed to be moved to complete the bench top. This was facilitated by two dogs which my friend had thoughtfully made for this purpose ...
https://i.postimg.cc/sjT33csD/7.jpg
The dogs are fitted into the existing holes to align the pattern ...
https://i.postimg.cc/7wFJvxKt/9.jpg
The remaining holes were drilled.
It only then occurred to me to check the bench top for flat - I should have done this earlier, although the top was flat when I first put it together. There was a 0.5mm gap at the centre, and I decided to plane it flat ...
https://i.postimg.cc/5f8YbZG4/10.jpg
The top was then sanded(80 grit) ...
https://i.postimg.cc/vQz465bC/11.jpg
... all is flat ...
https://i.postimg.cc/sVyBXTdp/12.jpg
The holes received a fine chamfer ...
https://i.postimg.cc/BSnX5tvb/13.jpg