Festool MFT - Should you buy one?
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- In this video I review the Festool Multi Function Table AKA the MFT/3. I'll discuss why I bought one, what I like about it, what I don't like and if I think you should buy one.
Contents of the Video:
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - What's included
02:00 - What I DON'T like
05:05 - What I DO like
09:25 - Some Accessories
10:34 - Slop Stop
11:28 - Summary 
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![Square cuts: MFT or Rail Square? [video 422][Gifted/Ad**]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3C8XSWliOys/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks very much for taking the time to make this video.. Really appreciate your no nonsense approach.. You make some really valid points I had one of these for installation work but the weight combined with finicky nature of keeping it square while moving from job to job and the general amount of finessing that needs to be done just to get it accurate was a total time waster.. I ended up selling it for nearly what I bought it for and then purchased a couple of after market mft tops ,from which i made a couple of light weight mini Polk style benches.. This together with an aftermarket fence really suits my needs and requires minimal set up..If I'm honest I couldn't personally recommend the festool mft to anyone who earns their living in the craft professions.. (btw I'm not festool bashing I'm well invested in there ecosystem to the tune of many £thousands)
Thanks so much for sharing. Now I know what to expect when and if I purchase one.
Would really appreciate the follow up video with your opinions on it along with how you square it up as I’m looking into purchasing one next month👍🏽 keep up the good work
Spot on ... Thanks for your opinions...much appreciated
Good review, thanks
Great vid. Thank you.
No portable bench is going to be sturdy enough for serious hand woodworking. Great tip about double clamping on the side for steady routing. If all you want is a portable surface for reliably square panel work a top with a fence from Benchdogs on a couple of 2x4s on Stanley saw horses will give you 9-% of what you need. It is an expensive piece of kit. Mine stays in the workshop and I am tossing up whether to try bracing the frame or just giving up and just folding the legs and mounting it on a solid bench. You should see 10 minute workshop for that kind of set up and lots more.
Any time you want to do a video about making an MFT alternative with extrusion sides, I'll be watching it!
Great video mate, very well explained, I love my festool tools but simply drew the line at the mft, clever table but disgustingly over priced, limited table surface, wobbly legs only marginally helped with stabilising supports, I decided to build my own workbench which I enjoyed, its completely flat and rock solid, anyways stay safe.
Can you do 4x4’ sheet goods on typhus
Just a thought. If you make a replacement top of which you can't trust on the squareness of the holes, you can still square it up. That is maybe why Festool does not want you to rely on the whole.
Thanks for the video mate , I’m thinking about buying one just Duno if it’s worth the money , 🤦🏻♂️ great content mate thanks again
Hi. It cost high couse its a top tool. In small warkshop could replace formatting saw ( at some point)
Works on the 32mm multiple system, it’s great bit of kit
Glad you mentioned the pricy side of the equation of Festools. No one denies the quality and ingenuity of the Festool products. However, Festool Evangelists are not too prone in mentioning this price aspect; probably shy to admit it publicly as if they might feel or think they'd be judged as unfaithful to the Festool Cult. We must admit there is a bottom of truth. Anyways, love the Festool products; will continue to buy them.
Thanks for your honest review.
Norm from Montreal, Canada.
Great video! Question, can the miter gauge be mounted on any sides of the table? I'm thinking about making use of the long side of table and doing rip cuts. Also, can I get repeatable cut out of this table?? Thanks!!
Yes should be fine to re position. It made for repeatable cuts as had movable stops.
Hi, you wondered about the ,,96mm,, distance between the Benchdogs ?
The answer is probably in the Cross Plates of Consealed Cabinet Hinges , the screws are 32mm apart (lr32 Guide Rail) in the cabinet and also exactly above each other, that,s where the lr32 Rail comes in !
To place benchdogs 32mm apart is silly, but if you place them 3 holes futher 3x32= 96mm makes a reasonable distance and more sense !
That,s the only reason i can think of !!!
BTW, Great vid , Greetings piet!
Surely if you put two dogs in the second row of holes and two in the centre rank the put the rail and square together the holes will automatically square itself
Good vid mate. You got it sorted. I pretty much agree with every point you made. To do some serious planing with an hand plane the bench does seem a bit wobbly.
Hey mate, thanks for the video. Where did you get the "cam clamps" you reference at the 9:35 mark? Thank you!
I think the ones you are talking about are from Axminster tools. Part of their UJK range.
@@WheresMyPencilUK spot on. Thank you very much
I do love the drop down rail mechanism but I will adapt one to my diy mft.
Agree the drop down rail is great. I did look into buying the hardware for it separately but it was coming out at more than the difference between the standalone table and the one with everything.
Great video. Does the 40 20 extrusions accommodate festool accessories ?
Yes the clamps will fit in.
@@WheresMyPencilUK thank you.
Hello from California, USA. This video was very helpful to me. I'm a novice, and I've been using a circular saw with various guides (e.g., Kreg, Bora) to rip and cross cut sheets, but I'm ready step up to something that will give me more repeatable accuracy. I've been considering a table saw, but honestly they intimidate me a little -- I've got limited use of my left arm, and also a small workspace. When I saw Peter Millard's set up, I thought this set up might be the answer for me. If I go this route though, I would want to put the top and rail system on top of a mobile workbench with shelves and drawers -- is it possible to buy just the top, aluminum rails and fold down track separately? Again, thanks for the very helpful info. I'll check out your other vids.
Hi Paul thanks for your comment. I did look and can’t see you can get just the top, rails and track. At least without paying Festool spares more than the full MFT/3 price.
I’m going to mount my MFT on a trolley with drawers underneath so kind of similar to what you want. There will be a video at some point but I’m moving house before Xmas and have lots to do to set up new workshop and renovations before I get to it.
Only thing you could try is to buy the bits used on eBay but may be a while between getting what you want. Good luck. 👍🏼
Track saw and foam insulation from big box stores
Where is the video that explains how to square the Festool MFT using the holes?
Hi, Just would like to say. First the holes are 96mm centres. this is in line with the euro 32 increments. Look at the Festool LR32. Also all holes are accurate. if you put dogs in x &y you will be able to square up perfectly with the table. Or you can just use a fence with dogs. never moves.
I think Festool probably didn't want to use it as the standard alignment mechanism is that the holes are in MDF and will get slop over time. Probably works 99% of the time but guessing with Festool's focus on accuracy, they wouldn't want it to be the standard go-to method.
Good videos,, what is your day job out of curiosity? Are you in the building trade?
Thanks. No I actually work in Banking. This is all a hobby and I use a lot of tools when renovating properties. 👍🏼
@@WheresMyPencilUK I’m a commercial real estate broker that renovates properties too. So I understand where you are. I entered the Festool eco system with the Carvex jig saw and CT26 Dust Extractor. After completing an exterior ship lapped siding project and have flawless long angled cuts. I decided to take the plunge with the MFT table and TS 55 saw. It was a peculiar to hold the timber down and move the spinning blade over the timber. Exactly opposite of my table saw, chop saw, router experiences. Once I wrapped my head around it. It did take a few go’s, with many mistakes, I now love the MFT Festool system. I can set it up and square it at a job site very quickly. The dust extraction is superior to any on the market. The advent of the track for guiding the TS55 saw, router or carvex jig saw is awesome! One of my little value add deals, for a not too talented bloke like myself, rehabbing rental property, is that I do a fair amount of finish carpentry in the home or apartments or office property, I’m rehabbing as a hobby when the other trades are working away. I get great results, allowing me to charge a nice rental rate due to the nice finishing touches, or increase the resale value while flipping due to my matching door and window trim or nice crown molding, base molding and chair railing. In a phrase, my flip properties look better than most flip properties in my market, Southern California. Again, I am not a pro, don’t even pretend to be. It did require some getting used to though.
Once you do get acclimated, try the domino system for joinery. It’s a game-changer of a tool set. Take care and stay healthy! Cheers!!
How tall is it? Thinking of also using it as outfeed table for my sawstop professional. Thanks
Not sure maybe check the Festool website?
Make your own for half price? And better
8:13 "really sturdy" :D
Could you put a link to those red Festool clamp alternatives? Thanks.
They are from Axminster mate. Currently £35.48. If you are quick though Amazon are doing the green ones for £32.
Link here: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=appyifeappyif-21&keywords=Festool FS-HZ 160 Lever
Clamp&index=aps&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=xm2&linkId=43d3e677c32fbe3881b54d0b7ec47f94
If you use it I get some commission. 👍🏼😊
(Copy the whole link including the bit in black and paste it to your browser).
Brilliant. I bought 2 last year at 40 quid each. I've just bought 2 more via your link. I have a cheap Ebay MDF 'MFT' which I've built into a sturdy bench. These clamps are so useful. Thanks for the quick reply and keep your vids coming.
Thanks Trevor. Glad the link was useful. 👍🏼
@@WheresMyPencilUK 👍🏼
I don't like that I can see the table rocking and moving just as you lean on it a bit. Gives off a folding table vibe, not a Festool quality vibe. Good video, thanks for putting it out.
Much better with the cross braces fitted (495502), however that's another extra expense.
I know that Peter Millard from 10 minute workshop has his built into his work bench setup which i guess has helped make it sturdier but to see it wobble that badly makes it look like a piece of crap which some people (comments best kept to myself) are apparently happy to throw their money away on.
Totally agree, very expensive 🤬 I don’t even use the fence anymore I just use the dog’s. And you’re correct again, it’s blinking heavy
Yeah standard Festool tax!
Also look at the MFT basic then add bench dog guides
Nice one... Watch Peter Millard, he make a replaceable 9mm sacrificial strip on the cut line.
Yeah I like Peter’s videos I’ve seen that one. 👍🏼
I've been using mine for a few years, I would say it's not worth the money, I'm actually changing mine into a router table at the moment.
that would be 96mm centres..
I had been tempted previously to buy one of these but in the end got a wtop off ebay for £40 then got bench dog rail system and that works well. Cant see why this table is so expensive when its just basic extrusion pieces
Yes it’s very expensive and if you aren’t needing to move it about no point. I’ve got the Benchdogs fence. It’s a good bit of kit going to do a review in due course. 👍🏼
@@WheresMyPencilUK just followed u on instagram
Thanks mate. 👍🏼
You are not paying for those- you are paying for the label.
had one of these and used it for 3 months however it was mostly used to store stuff on top of the table, didn't get on with the fence for angle cuts, great for thin crosscut but anything else use the table saw or mitre saw, plus its heavy so if your thinking of just bundling this on job sites and up and down stairs think again!! sold it fairly quickly but can see the attraction but defo not worth the price tag
Slop stop purchased where?
Assuming eBay. That’s where I found mine.
Ebay
too dam pricey. I am thinking of buying but trying to make work what I have for now which is a home made mft but not quite right to use fully
Just use the dogs. Stick them in the holes. Forget about squaring the fence
Festool do not warrant the holes to be accurate. Because it is MDF. And the rail still has to be set square.
@@Tensquaremetreworkshop bit of a joke really , so much money, they made it with cnc i guess
@@ChristopherClaudioSkierka Usual Festool profit margin... They were fined several million euro a few years ago, for price fixing. All the working parts are bent sheet steel and IM plastic.
Not having a pop but am i right in thinking it is a very accurate saw station and convienient clamping bit of wood. Ive spent fortunes on one, ruler, plane stops list goes on. Not your problem just wondered how many pieces of waste wood ive seen just sawn and slung to give an example. Well i fell for it. No way im dissing you but if your gonna try & hide your vodka behind spirit level. Maybe time to get bigger level. You know im kidding fella. Thanks for the vid.
96 mm
did you not have a channel called happy wife happy life ?
Yes that’s this one I renamed it. 👍🏼
@@WheresMyPencilUK wife not so happy lol ? Great to see you back by the way ;)
@@kroozer5215 Happy wife, Happy life.
Nothing rhymes with husband......
Surely you just use parf dogs to square it all up??
Not according to festool
I own a festool ts55 and Of 1400, never the mft £700 wobly, heavy and small surface area, no chance
Haha! I own an mft, and whole heartedly agree. I will add that the fence sucks, it flexes, you need to treat it gingerly. The track hinge is atrocious, the stainless indexing pin damages the track, and WILL introduce slop over time. You’re smart to stay away.
@@Nunyabizn3ssI tried one out at my local Woodcraft and was appalled at how flimsy the whole thing was. $800 and every part of it wobbles. They also had the Kreg which seemed more substantial, but the accessories looked very cheap.
@@TheBiggerNoise I purchased mine in 2018. From what you say, it would appear that festool has done nothing to remediate the issues. I bet the price has gone up though!
Interesting! I've been trying to find out what MFT is all about but haven't found a single vid showing anybody doing anything which I couldn't do on a normal bench with normal tools. It's just gadget mania gone mad. Loadsa money for the gadget salesmen!
The main advantage of such a system is the ability to quickly make accurate cuts in sheet materials with a track saw. If you are not using a track saw, it is just a table with some holes to hold clamps, stops, etc. The system, when correctly set up, will make accurate 90deg cuts- allowing e.g. MDF cabinet construction to proceed quickly. It is not the only way to do this, but it has achieved a strong following- many have built their own version (at considerable cost saving) and added many features. The Ron Paulk channel documents his many, many designs over the years.
Same
A half dozen 20mm bench dogs would be much more valuable than the included fence.
To answer your question- No, you should make one.
The fence and rail are keyed to the frame (rather than the top) because MDF is not stable. It moves (quite a lot) with changes in humidity.
I recommend making your table using 18mm Baltic ply, using a CNC cut template.
Mdf is probably the most stable sheet good you can buy. Much more consistent throughout than even a Baltic birch. Also they make waterproof mdf if your worried about humidity.
@@thomasmoorhead42 Sadly not. Lean both at an angle against a wall, and come back in a week... Banana time.
Waterproof MDF refers to the glue, not the material itself. It will not come apart in moist conditions, but it will swell. There is test data available showing how MDF 'moves' when the RH changes- it is significant, and the material does not fully return afterwards. This is not a problem for most construction purposes, but when you are referencing to features in the sheet (such as using dog-holes to locate cutting axis) they lack the precision we are led to believe by some RUclips videos.
The biggest proponent of such tables is surely Ron Paulk, and he will not consider using MDF for his Paulk tables.
@@Tensquaremetreworkshop I don't see how the sheet bending against a wall would show instability for a work top. I don't think anyone thinks mdf can span very far unsupported ever. If the material really shifted that much wouldn't a dog hole system be impossible because the holes would be to small half the year? And mdf is so consistent throughout if it did shift across the sheet good it would be consistent across the product. So the edges while possibly being further apart would still all be square with each other.
@@thomasmoorhead42 This 'test' demonstrates lack of rigidity. It is meant to show the differences between a material that is homogenous and one that has directional fibre strength. If you are using MDF for, say, a router table top it will be very relevant. There is a reason even woodworking tools use much more rigid materials. Why do you think quality table saws use ground cast iron- cast alloy or sheet steel would be much cheaper. But not good enough. Any wood based product would never be even considered.
The issue when used for a table is differential movement due to localized moisture content over time. Because this movement does not return, it is likely that there will be relative movement between features. What is square when made will not remain so over time. This may not be an issue for some applications that do not require that level of accuracy, but for others may cause problems. If you are buying the Festool MFT is not an issue- the dog holes are used for clamping only (the cutting system uses the aluminium frame as reference). Many people build such tables (because of the massive saving and also the choice of size to match needs) and in that case I believe the extra cost of using quality Baltic ply is well rewarded by the more accurate placement of features, and of course the superior strength, stability, wear resistance etc etc. In any construction, it is wise to know the properties of the materials used.
To be clear, the movement is not huge- but it is enough to make many RUclips claims nonsense.
@@Tensquaremetreworkshop I think you might not understand the properties of mdf vs plywood. MDF is more stable than wood. It is not stronger, it is not more durable but it is more stable. Plywood is always limited by the fact that wood always has defects. While Baltic birch does a better job at minimizing this than most plywoods it is still an inherent aspect to it. A defect in one layer of a 3/4 piece would represent an entire 1/13th less strength in that cross section versus one void free. Plywood is full of spots like this, whether it be from knots or out right voids. MDF on the other hand has no voids and there is no grain to provide irregularitys. Furthermore if you weren't aware not all MDF is the same and you can get it made with resins or waterproof glues. So how could a product that is perfectly homogenous and perfectly impregnated throughout with waterproof adhesives be less stable than plywood? The answer is it isn't.
96mm not 94mm matey
Thanks shows what I know! 😂🙈
Whenever I've seen these overpriced card tables on display in tool shops, the MDF has already sagged. The slightest mention of moisture and the MDF swells up like cheap blotting paper. For $1500 plus ( just looked the price up) they could at least use a piece of ply instead of glorified cardboard. Ply is not only much sturdier, more stable but also lighter.
Seeing the table shake in this video doesn't give me much confidence in it.
Festool sell an ad-on kit to give greater rigidity. At the same sort of eye-watering cost...
I had one of those for a few yrs but it’s gone now too heavy too expensive too wobbly wtf watch it wobble in this video lol I can’t understand how Festool have managed to sell so many of these without improving it over the years. Just buy a mft top from eBay or get one of the machined ones advertised on there by enterprising peops four decent bench dogs and support it on a trestle or a custom table. Even better get a square that attaches to the rail and it will make perfect square cuts without even a table. At the price these tables sell for the least I would expect is a table that is solid not a rocking horse !! Don’t even get me started on the ridiculous fence that attaches at one of the ends with a naff plastic clipping doodah lol just put a couple of dogs behind it line it up flush and screw a couple pozis right through it into the table top so it doesn’t move sorted . You are paying for the vast overengineering of an item that should be simple and solid.
No, not for £600+ don't care how good it is
Good grief, it wobbles about quite a bit.
The table wobbles because you havent fitted the braces
It didn’t come with any! And I’m not paying extra for some!
Lmfao that is WAY WAY too much money.