Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
So I bought an MFT....
Barry Irby
The Festool folding card table. It's used, got it at a tool auction.
Does anyone know how sensitive the MDF top is to water? It's raining and I think I am going to wait for clear weather to haul it home in my pickup.
And, does anyone know how to repair the saw kerf in the top? It's not bad, but I thought it might be nice to start with a clean slate.
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Henry Higginbotham
I think the MDF top is considered sacrificial. Festool's "fix" is that you buy a new one for relatively stupid money.
I bought one back around 2004 or so, almost never used it, and sold it last year for what it cost me new. I still have the accessory kit, which I need to put on eBay or Craigslist.
Bondo
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Mark Nowicki
Sorry, thought you bought a MB....
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
I read your post's headline and thought to myself, "MFT? Marriage and Family Therapist?* I didn't know there was a market for them."
*This may be a California term.
My Favorite Thing?
Henry, I have lost my mind....
Barry Irby
gone Festool crazy. What accessory kit do you have and how much do you want for it?
Re: My Favorite Thing?
Barry Irby
MFT is Festoolian for Multi Function Table but like PIN number, a redundancy has been built in. It's now a MFT Table, which spelled out is a Multi Function Table Table. Probably better than the more Americanized Mother F@#$ing Table.
Re: Henry, I have lost my mind....
John K Jordan
>>>...gone Festool crazy.
You should pay my friend a visit. I could not believe how many Festools he has until I saw them. I can hear him now: "Festool, only Festool"
There are probably 2-3 times what is in this photo but some are Systainers for supplies. He likes the way things stack for transport - he does a lot of remodeling. He has some specialized Festools I've never heard of or have seen advertised.
I'll tell him you're coming to learn from the master. He's in northern Italy which is a bit of a trip but it's really pleasant there this time of year.
JKJ
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio
Just take the top off and turn it over. Put the kerfed end away from where the new kerf will be.
To answer your first question - yes, the mdf top will be moisture sensitive, so either cover it or wait for a sunny day to bring it home.
BTW, I sealed mine with several coats of Sealcoat®. The mdf soaked it up like a sponge.
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Barry Irby
Thanks, that's what I thought. I hauled it to my friends shop on a foggy misty day. A fifteen minute trip. There were cardboard boxes in the load. Did not bother them at all. The MDF top is distinctly more "fuzzy" than when I picked it up. I will fine sand it and apply some Sealcoat.
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Jim Dillon
Barry, years ago I used multiple coats of Watco clear oil on my MDF TS extension table (to the right of the saw blade). While that has worked fine, it is still not impervious to moisture as I found out when I accidentally laid a very wet pressure-treated 2x6 on the MDF for a couple of weeks. The MDF bulged a tad where the board had been. Lots of sanding got me back to flat (sort-of) and I learnt a lesson. Bottom line, I would not transport that table in the rain unless it was covered. Jim
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Barry Irby
I went to my friends warehouse to get it today in my pickup. It was threatening rain and heavy storms so I left it there until tomorrow. I want to get it and get it set up, but not in enough hurry to risk ruining it.
Thanks for the tip on treated lumber.
I understand there is some waterproof MDF out there. If I make a new top I may look into it.
Re: So I bought an MFT....
Mark Nowicki
In Canada, the brand name of waterproof or exterior use MDF is Extira.
Re: So I bought an MFT....
William Duffield
Third party CNC controller programs to make your own precise MFT top out of baltic birch or the waterproof MDF, or even Corian or phenolic, are "out there" on the web.
In general, shallow kerfs in the MFT top are not an issue, until you get so many in the wrong places that they begin to affect the "zero clearance" function and you start to get chip out on the bottom surfaces of your stock.
Of course with the TS75, since its depth gauge is not calibrated for imperial measurements or for the thickness of the rail, a minor calculation mistake can accidentally cut a deep kerf that compromises the integrity of the top.
Make A New One *LINK*
Stuart Johnson
This Parf system will allow you make your own.
http://www.leevalley.com/us/Hardware/page.aspx?p=75354&cat=1,41637
I looked at that....
Barry Irby
I have watched several videos on YouTube on that and several others. At that cost, I think I will just keep the one I have. I have been scheming on several different versions.
Re: Henry, I have lost my mind....
Henry Higginbotham
Barry, now that I look at it more closely, it was described as a "rail" accessory kit, rather than an MFT accessory kit. Festool FS-SYS/2.
Maybe you can get an idea from this picture of the card in the Systainer lid. I'm planning to sell it without the two clamps, which I've found lots of other uses for.
The rest of the contents are:
-an angle thingy
-two rail connectors that don't produce a very straight long rail on their own, although I hear good things about the jig ($109?) that Betterly makes for alignment.
-an extra splinter guard
-a rail stop
-a rounded doohickey that attaches to the near end of your rail and lets the power cord slide smoothly (this works well)
I never used anything in the box except the clamps and rail connectors, since I never had to do the on-site work I had anticipated. If it still sound interesting, I'll try to see what similar kits go for on eBay, then back out the eBay and PayPal fees and apply a good-buddy discount.
