MFT/3 Replacement Table top Cut in 18mm Moisture Resistant MDF Multi Function Clamping Table

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I'm mainly going to be using the MFT top for cutting down sheet materials, being able to make square and 45 degree cuts quickly and accurately. Making your own top with the Parf guide does take time, but I am confident the 10x20 hole pattern in my 1x2-meter worktop is as accurate as any woodworker could need or want. I do not think Festool guarantees the accuracy of the hole pattern or hole diameter in its MFT/3 tables. I made this simple jig based off an existing top with extreme care and it works very well to duplicate hole patterns.

If you’re into woodworking and you like the idea of a track saw (plunge saw with a guide rail), then you must have looked at a Festool MFT. Keep in mind that when using a 'pattern' router bit (the bearing is at the top, closest to the router) some manufacturers slightly undersize the cutter diameter compared to the bearing diameter so that the 'pattern' does not cut each time.It was 1 1/4" MDF, which increases the drilling/routing effort in the first place, but the real kicker is that the F style clamps will not fit through the holes. And before I made this cut I made a test cut on another piece just to verify that my tablesaw was cutting accurately because it was really important that it measured exactly 200mm after making the cut, I verify it with a tape measure that I trust for accuracy. Had I thought about this, I would be able to flip the top over when it became too abused (and I do abuse it). I just secure it with dogs and a clamp, drill out most of each hole with a 1/2" bit, and then finish them off with a 1/2" pattern bit. These holes are going to make it much easier to locate the drill bit accurately at each of the increments.

My lesson learned was to use a backer board when drilling the 20mm holes to reduce the likelihood of blowout from the large cutter as it exited the Valchromat top. I still need to familiarise myself with everything else that an MFT table can do, because like I say I'm a total newb and there's probably lots of stuff it can do that I don't know about yet. If you want the useful “accessory pack” then you’ll need to fork out again, but really all you need is some star-knobs, a bit of t-track, t-nuts and some 3/4″ / 20mm dowel. There were a bunch of people getting sheets of OSB and taking up space in the aisle, so I just kinda surfed on by.

Quote from: sandy on January 11, 2020, 06:49 PM Festool 491072 is the one that I use, without any problems. I'm in the same boat; my PGS Mk II just arrived and I'll be heading out in a week or so when the weather improves a bit to get the materials for my DIY mft. I checked all four corners and I marked up the corner that I liked the most - it looked perfectly square so I'll work from that corner as my reference corner when I start to mark up the hole positions. Accuracy here isn’t critical – this won’t affect the alignment of your dog holes, but it’s still nice to get a good fit inside the MFT, so try your best. Compact™ 88 is a balanced blend of responsibly sourced wood fibres, bonding agents, resins, heat and then pressure.