How to Make Repeatable Thin Cuts with the Festool MFT3

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

In this week's Two Minute Tuesday, I go over How to Make Repeatable Thin Cuts with the Festool MFT3. I don't have a tablesaw, joiner or planer - however that doesn't stop me from getting thin rip cuts with a track saw and the Festool MFT/3. It's a pretty simple process and only takes two minutes to explain!
Affiliate links to the tools I own and use:
DISCLAIMER - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Festool 204083 CT Cyclone Dust Separator - amzn.to/3dsvNVx
Festool 564261 CXS Li Compact Drill Driver Plus - amzn.to/2SRqUfs
Festool 574690 HL 850 E Planer - amzn.to/33W1hAu
Festool 497514 Kapex UG Portable Miter Station Set - amzn.to/2GYFmzT
Festool 574930 CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor - amzn.to/352xaGZ
Festool 452881 Non-Antistatic Hose, 1-15/16 in X 11.5 ft (36 mm X 3.5 m) - amzn.to/378xUgm
Festool 575039 ETS EC 150/3 EQ Random Orbit Sander - amzn.to/3due7cs
Festool 561593 Carvex PS 420 EBQ Jigsaw - amzn.to/318AjDJ
Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 Q Set - amzn.to/3179Ne2
Festool 495315 MFT/3 Multifunction Table - amzn.to/2IqPWzT
Festool 574456 MFK 700 EQ Edge Banding Router - amzn.to/34VAl3a
Festool 574609 KA 65 CONTURO Portable Edge Bander - amzn.to/3iZT2rt
Festool MFT/3 Conturo Table Set - amzn.to/317cHzj
Festool 574692 OF 1400 EQ Router - amzn.to/2H5UOdj
0:00 Intro
1:44 Materials and Tools
2:39 Setting up MFT3
4:39 Making the first cut
5:17 Conclusion

Пікірлер: 71

  • @AngieWilliamsDesigns
    @AngieWilliamsDesigns Жыл бұрын

    This was super helpful. I was just trying to cut a 1x12 into 2" strips on the MFT/3. Wasn't quite sure how to get repeatable cuts. This helps ALOT.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad it helped!

  • @roverboat2503
    @roverboat2503 Жыл бұрын

    Brilliant! That has just saved me faffing around with my bandsaw with less than perfect results. Thank you mate!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you found it helpful!

  • @mikevyvyan7060
    @mikevyvyan70602 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for a very helpful video. I have just purchased an MFT3 and needed to understand the best way to cut some pieces narrower than the rail. Your video provided the answer, so that's great. Having not come across your channel before, you are now on my viewing list, and I look forward to what else I can learn. So thanks again.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks mike! Happy to have you here

  • @davidgeorge442
    @davidgeorge4423 жыл бұрын

    The more I see of Festool’s products, the more impressed I am. This awesome. Such a straightforward explanation. I don’t like making narrow cuts on the table saw - especially precision repeat cuts - and I imagine this is generally safer. Thanks for sharing.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Safer, yes - easier and quicker than a table saw - no! Completely possible without a table saw, but most won't want to do that unless they are limited on space and tools. Glad you liked it!

  • @clearcut6818

    @clearcut6818

    2 жыл бұрын

    The table saw is good for long stock ripping, which the MFT3 is never good at.

  • @pmelchman
    @pmelchman3 жыл бұрын

    great video Ben. this is a great example of thinking outside the box.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely!

  • @petewardrope6524
    @petewardrope65245 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this! I work in a 120sq ft workshop and also can't fit a table saw. I use the MFT and have been trying to figure out an efficient way to do this. This video is a great help!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    5 ай бұрын

    Very welcome

  • @chrisr8996
    @chrisr89963 жыл бұрын

    Good and simple explanation! You might wanna consider getting a rip blade (e.g. Festool TS 75 Panther blade with 16 teeth), it makes rip cuts a lot faster, cleaner (and no burn marks) and puts a LOT less strain on the machine (as heard around 5:03). It's well worth the investment!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yep! It's something I've been looking into getting the panther blade. From what I can tell, it is the same kerf as the stock blade that comes with the 75. I usually make my projects with plywood, so haven't completely decided to pick one up. As I start to get into more soft and hard woods - I'll certainly scoop one up. Appreciate the insight and the view!

  • @rbr4155
    @rbr41553 ай бұрын

    That’s so simple I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before thanks for posting this. I almost bought like $100 tool to do the same thing pushing the cuts out past the table and the other direction too though

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 ай бұрын

    Nice! Glad it helped!

  • @pavel_grgvch
    @pavel_grgvch3 жыл бұрын

    thanks for the video, I subscribed! i have mft/3 with ts55 for hobby

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Appreciate the sub!! Nice, I've used a buddies TS55 before, great bit of kit. I'm holding out for a TSC55!

  • @murphyrp01
    @murphyrp012 жыл бұрын

    So needed to see this video.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    Great! What are you making?

  • @murphyrp01

    @murphyrp01

    2 жыл бұрын

    Well I am making some Ron Paulk designed cupboards. I am making up some jigs and found that i need thin 21mm pieces x 800 mm or so pieces. I was right at the end of the sheet. I’d prefer to cut it from the piece I have but this has been problematic as it is quite narrow. So will see if I can try your method before going to a large sheet.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@murphyrp01 awesome! hope it works out well for you.

  • @gmrhymer2624
    @gmrhymer26242 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Ben! Just what I needed as I've been fumbling through repeated cuts with only a track saw. Especially with stock that's narrower than the track & without an MFT to hold the track up. Any tips for this?

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hey GM. To support the guide rail, you need support that is the same thickness as the material being cut/ripped. This can be challenging at times and requires a little forward planning. If you don’t have additional pieces to act as a spacer, you can cut some spacer blocks to set up under the guide rail. This can be time consuming, but a necessity when there isn’t an MFT with guide rail supports. It’s very possible, but not preferred 😆 hope this helps and thanks for dropping a question!! 🤜🏻🤛🏻

  • @thomasnn
    @thomasnn4 ай бұрын

    genious

  • @AlvinC-sz3li
    @AlvinC-sz3li Жыл бұрын

    Smart way!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @jimpierce7591
    @jimpierce75913 жыл бұрын

    Hi Ben, thanks for a great video. I don't think I have heard you mention why you chose the TS 75 over the TS 55. I am trying to decide between the two. I have not tried both saws, but I wonder if the extra weight of the TS 75 will make the saw more cumbersome to use.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hey, Jim, thanks for the comment. I picked the 75 mainly because of the plunge depth. I’m former military, we lived by the adage of “better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it”. It can be a bit Wiley to move the 75 around at times. I’ve also used the 55 and appreciate its smaller form factor. The 55 and 75 are capable machines - however the 75 has the deeper depth capacity and a more powerful motor. I recently wrote a supplemental article for my friends website that talks about this exact problem you’re facing, give it a look. www.bentswoodworking.com/blog/festool-tracksaw-review-ts-75-vs-ts-55

  • @jason-hh6lu
    @jason-hh6lu3 жыл бұрын

    Very cool. Keep up the nice videos. Have you watched any of The New Brit Workshop videos? Peter is great with an MFT and different ways to use it. Plus you will see the Parf Dogs that go into the MFT holes.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Yes, I love Peters channel - one of the main sources I use before buying a tool!! Love how in-depth his videos are.

  • @horatiobeaker
    @horatiobeaker3 жыл бұрын

    This is really helpful because I don’t own a table saw, planer or joiner either. Thanks

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! Glad you found it helpful! Appreciate the comment as well.

  • @ThekiBoran

    @ThekiBoran

    3 жыл бұрын

    You can get by without a jointer but a lunch box planer properly calibrated and with sharp blades is extremely useful if you plan to work with solid lumber. And a lunch box planer doesn't take much space either. With a piece of 3/4 x 12" X 96" MDF you can square up sizeable chunks of lumber. Tons of videos for planer sleds but I suggest to keep it simple.

  • @horatiobeaker

    @horatiobeaker

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ThekiBoran thank you.

  • @sekritskworl-sekrit_studios
    @sekritskworl-sekrit_studios3 жыл бұрын

    SUPER USEFUL!!!... I've had an MFT for years and have only used it as a "Dog-Hole" clamp utility because I couldn't wrap my head around how to properly use it. Would you please create a video on how to calibrate the track and everything?

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    😂I'm literally editing a video right now on how to do just that. It will be released this Sunday (make sure you subscribe!). If you aren't already, you can follow me on Instagram, I usually post in my stories about what I'm up to. Glad you're finding the content helpful!!

  • @sekritskworl-sekrit_studios

    @sekritskworl-sekrit_studios

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns HOLY CRAP!!!! You're answering and I haven't even finished the video on the Festool CT Cyclone that i'm watching now... LOL You're pretty "High Speed/Low Drag"... You a Vet? I like your style, Brother! I'm rarely on Instagram. But, will gladly follow. If you are on Twitter, then it'd be great to get a follow from you, and i'd happly retweet your content there. You can find me at @Sekrit_Studios. Also, if you happen to be in the New England are by chance, perhaps there are other venues by which I can also attempt to get the word out on your channel.

  • @ivanboschi3084
    @ivanboschi3084 Жыл бұрын

    Hi Ben do you think the mft table can replace the table saw for panel cutting? here in Italy the tablesaws for hobbyists are very poor in cutting quality. Thanks for your time

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    Жыл бұрын

    I believe a track saw and a long guide rail can do the same cuts, just not as quickly

  • @swolleneyes
    @swolleneyes2 жыл бұрын

    Wish i found this yesterday before i cut all my thin pieces like crap. Do you ever run into the cut not being perpendicular to the surface if a large portion of the track is floating? Also, what do you do when you get near the end of your peice where it might be too light to stay still while you are cutting? Thanks for the helpful vids!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    If your piece isn't square after ripping (or parallel to whatever you referenced), then it is likely that your saw is tipping to one side or the other, which gives a cut edge that isn't 90° to the reference face (face that is against your MFT top). This is why you should always support the entire width of the guide rail as best possible. If you cannot support the entire length of the guide rail, use strips that are the same thickness as the piece you are ripping and place them perpendicular and underneath the guide rail about every 12-15 inches (or about the length of your track saw base plate). This ensures that the entire weight of the track saw is supported and won't lend to tipping. Appreciate the comment!

  • @swolleneyes

    @swolleneyes

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns thank you, Ben. great tips. your squaring tutorial for the MFT3 was also super helpful!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@swolleneyes 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻

  • @dc42nr86
    @dc42nr863 жыл бұрын

    Are you choosing not to have a table saw or would you own one if you had the opportunity to? Just curious if it is for safety reasons like myself. Thanks!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's more of space restrictions than anything. Although my space looks big right now, I'm going to be renovating my basement this year, and will eventually wall off my workshop area. If I bought a tablesaw (which I haven't had too many needs for), I would also need a dedicated dust extractor (just more money, space taken up, etc). I can get by with what I currently have, and it allows me to make content centered around limited space (which is why I focus on festool).

  • @mikiauto73
    @mikiauto733 ай бұрын

    Hello, do this method work for rips thick of 2 mm for example?

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 ай бұрын

    Technically yes

  • @alaurben
    @alaurben3 жыл бұрын

    Ben, I would suggest a shim/packer between the melamine stop and base of the rail on the left hand side. The rail will sag, under the weight of the saw as it passes along, and may cause deflection in the cut (burn/blade marks). Have used this technique many times, much safer than having the thin piece on the offside tight between a stop and the blade. The TS saws have a slight left toe-in at the front, so more likely to catch the piece and throw it back towards you if constrained. Hope this helps, Alan

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Alan, that makes sense and great tip - thanks for sharing!! I’ve modified this technique since releasing this video, similar to what you have here. Although I think the better solution for me is to just get a table saw 🤣🤣🤣 cheers

  • @alaurben

    @alaurben

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns Just save up for the new TKS80 Festool Sawstop. I am looking at it for a large on-site joinery contract. The price is staggeringly high, but all your other Festool bits and pieces will attach to it! 😂

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@alaurben if only it were available in the states!!!

  • @alaurben

    @alaurben

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns Really! I thought that's why they bought Sawstop, in order to get UL approval for their table saws in the US. It may well be pending though. It's a great setup with all the attachments.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@alaurben from what I understand, festool doesn’t want to infringe on the SawStop market here in the US, so they have no official plans to release the TKS here, which is similar to the sawstop contractor saw

  • @markie1984powell
    @markie1984powell3 жыл бұрын

    Nice simple idea, although I was wondering, would it be viable to add a table saw style rip fence to one side of the track saw cut line to provide repeatable thin rip cuts?

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Not sure I follow what you're describing. Do you mean having a positive reference to the right side of the blade to set the width of your cut on the material? This works better with pictures 😂 words aren't great for describing tool use ideas 😂😂

  • @markie1984powell

    @markie1984powell

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns haha yeah struggling to find a way to describe what I mean. Essentially imagine attaching a table saw rip fence system to the right hand side of the cut line. Something like this www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/n307QARipFenceAdjust.jpg it just seems you could use the ruler on the fence system to quickly set cut dimensions and quick adjustments can be made moving the fence further or closer as needed. I might try draw up my idea tomorrow haha

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@markie1984powell theres something that is similar to what you're saying - although I don't know how well it will work with a Track Saw. www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/mft-3-precision-saw-router-fence-with-incra-incremental-positioning-system/. scroll towards the bottom of the page

  • @markie1984powell

    @markie1984powell

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns that is a fancy bit of kit, unfortunately my budget and workspace is far too small to accommodate that as an option as beautiful as it is haha. I might even just see if I can use a self clamping straight edge as a temporary fence (as long as my mft top is cut at a good 90 degrees to the dog holes)

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@markie1984powell yeah it is. Sometimes we just gotta work with what we have and come up with our own unique solutions.

  • @gherreraj
    @gherreraj2 жыл бұрын

    Where did you get that apron?

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    2 жыл бұрын

    www.leatherbydragonfly.com

  • @Sisu2280
    @Sisu22803 жыл бұрын

    Did you accidentally cut your fence on an angled cut? I was so close to doing but happened to watch Sedge from Festool explain how it may be an issue. Cool vids man.

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    lol yep!! that was on a mitered cut, and I forgot to back the stop ruler away from the path of the blade. Shop scars!!

  • @Sisu2280

    @Sisu2280

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BenMarshallDesigns Happens! Keep up the good work.

  • @stephanc2005
    @stephanc20053 жыл бұрын

    she never goes to school?!

  • @BenMarshallDesigns

    @BenMarshallDesigns

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lol! They do hybrid now. When I made this video they were doing ALL virtual - and I was still a full time IN SEAT with school. Needless to say - it was a busy time!

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