18 Months Later - How I've Been Using My DIY MFT Workbench

[@MasonWoodshop]

Do you have any other ways that I can improve the way I use my DIY MFT? Leave a comment below!

[@colinleigh6198]

This is the first time I've seen your KZbin and very much enjoyed it, hence why I'm messaging you. I have the UJK items but for most of my cuts I now use the BENCHDOG Mk2 fence with their Quad MFT Hinge System. When manufacturing my new MFT top on a Ron Paulk style monocoque structure, (same principle as yours), I cut my MFT top 10mm oversize and then used my Makita rails set against a couple of MFT dogs to finish the 4 sides of my MFT top, therefore ensuring that the sides of the top are exactly squared and parallel, and the same distance to the MFT holes. I also made the pieces for the monocoque structure height the same width as the Makita tracksaw rails using the same setup to cut them and have a few MFT 20mm holes in those sides. This is great for adding an extension "MFT table" which is manufactured in the same manner thereby guarantees a perfect setup when adding to any of the 4 sides using the Benchdog connector dogs to locate these MFT extensions. I notice you've also been using the UJK 20mm MFT reamer with countersink to finish your MFT holes which is a great product to maintain the holes

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@colinleigh6198Thanks for sharing, Colin! After a few people recommended the Benchdogs fence, I placed my order for the 1200mm MK2 w/ right-side support piece (I wanted a second flip stop so this added cost wasn't too bad as it included it). I can't wait to try it out when it gets delivered (hopefully) next week. That side add-on you detailed sounds amazing and very functional - I've been wondering what type of vise/clamping mechanism to put on the side and your solution gives me some thoughts to consider!

[@gwademytube]

BenchDogs UK imperial and metric (dual scale) fence with multiple stops works great. Take a look at that instead of the t-track idea.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Oh boy! I’ve wanted to try some Bench Dogs stuff and that fence looks absolutely perfect for what I’m looking for - thanks for sharing! Shipping to Canada is quite high, but I’ll keep an eye on this as it solves my exact problem and is not destructive to the top.

[@ogwoodworks]

Also highly recommend the BenchDogs fence system. I built a very similar Paulk-style MFT and started with the UJK fence as you did. But I ended up switching to the 1.2 meter BenchDogs fence with 2 flip stops and I find it works much better. I also use their guide rail hinge which has been a total game-changer for my track saw work. Shipping from BenchDogs in the UK to Canada is quite expensive, but their products are just excellent.

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@ogwoodworksthanks for the testimonial! I do think it’s exactly what I’m looking for and I’m glad you mentioned the multiple stops idea. This is an improvement I think I might make sooner than later, plus the existing UJK fences can be used as stops for much of my other needs.

[@arco-design]

I use the Dashboard fence which works great, minus the scale. That said, I do have a bunch of their stuff like their large precision triangle/MFT square and a bunch of their dogs and the stuff is very high quality. I think they have a sale running now, but yah the shipping to here in Canada is a tad on the high side if you aren't buying a ton of stuff.

[@MasonWoodshop]

I keep forgetting about Dashboard. I’ll have to check out the sale! Thanks for the reminder.

[@thomasfisher2634]

Great video , really appreciate a fellow Canadian woodworker! 🇨🇦 Your shop is looking amazing!Your a couple years ahead of mine and you give me great inspiration. Cheers !

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching! Happy to hear it’s given you some inspiration. 🇨🇦

[@ericaddington5417]

I just ordered a set so I don't have an opinion on their workability but Rockler has a set of 2 "Dust Right 2-1/2'' Clamping Hose Holders" which might help with your hose aggravation.

[@danielbroadbelt1]

Before I built my large shop, I worked out of a 1 car garage shop for 30+ years. It forces you to think out of the box to fit all of your tools and still have enough space to build things. I built a similar tracksaw table and got around the hose problem by mounting a couple of small pulleys to the wall and ceiling. Just thread the 550 cord thru the pulleys and tie off to the hose. Pull up vacuum hose as needed.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for sharing that idea! I’ve moved things around a bit since this video but I still think that pully + paracord solution you mention could work really well for me.

[@craigjok]

Nice video and tour of your mft. I’ve done a similar build for a second table top/crosscut station. I built a rack which I can store the top in a vertical position when not in use. The mft top mounts on top of a foldable set of saw horses. The parf guide system is awesome as you mentioned. I also installed dog holes in my main off feed and assembly table as well.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Great to hear from other DIY MFT builders. Thanks for sharing!

[@williamdoyle649]

First of all,I love your bench and your philosophy behind it.But have you thought about storing your sustainers under the bench using pull out trays and draw slides.That way you'll have more wall space.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for the suggestion! I do think about it from time to time with two reasons why I don’t follow-through: I still want to get my scrap sheet good under there and secondly, the way I built the bottom of this bench is horribly inefficient for Systainers (lots of 650-700mm gaps, which isn’t wide enough to go 2-wide with Systainers and is too much to justify the wasted space of going 1-wide. I may think on this a bit more as I could rotate the Systainers, though.

[@R-1.]

Maybe you should check out the Benchdogs fence, I love mine! The UJK one is very well made but I think it mostly works best with the Domino joiner. The hose is always an issue in my shop too, I’ve resorted to using bungee cords to lift it up a bit. Lastly the Dashboard guide rail bracket is a piece of kit well worth looking into. Pricey but rock solid and worth every penny

[@MasonWoodshop]

Haha, I ordered the 1200mm MK2 yesterday based on the suggestions here. My plan is to move the UJK to a smaller MFT I’m going to build exactly for the reason you mentioned (Domino). I’m glad that you validated my decision as it was costly (notably shipping).

[@R-1.]

@@MasonWoodshop it’s money well spent!

[@R-1.]

@@MasonWoodshop one more thing…I bought some Makita colored guide rail end caps from a company called “Tool Theory”. Those guide rail ends are sharp and my 4 yr old daughter likes to come into my workshop, I couldn’t bare the thought of her bumping into them. They also help with deflecting the hose!

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@R-1.Oh wow, that's a fantastic idea, epsecially as I have a 5 year old that runs around in the garage often. They have a few accessories I think I'm going to purchase. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@garrydye2394]

I simply 3D printed some bench dogs with a U shape on top of each to help glide the hose around. Can easily move it from dog to dog and at least you have control over the hose versus you putting it down and then it sliding back to where you don't want it. Easy to make...easy to move...easy on the wallet solution.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Great tip! I’m hoping to have a 3D printer in my shop sometime in the next few months to do exactly this sort of thing.

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

I really would like to get a better way to handle my dust hose as well. It looks like the table is working out well for you.

[@MasonWoodshop]

It’s been great!!! I’ve moved it back to the position in my 2023 shop tour but I’ve also been moving it out onto the driveway a lot the past couple of months. Really handy with the casters on it.

[@cherbhy3]

Thanks for the great overview. I’d be really interested in a video detailing when you use MFT vs Sawstop jobsite and why. I am setting up a shop and considering omitting a table saw altogether.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching! I really don’t use the table saw much at all. When I do use it, it’s either for ripping long material or narrow material. Not something I can quite get rid of, but it’s often collecting dust, haha

[@cherbhy3]

@@MasonWoodshop thanks that’s helpful! Seems like one could get by with a good bandsaw + outfeed in those situations.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Yeah!!! A bandsaw with a good outfeed setup would be more versatile.

[@nutsmcflurry3737]

⁠@@cherbhy3I’m planning on omitting a table saw also. I’ll be building cabinets from sheet goods, so I plan on get by with a track saw, router, sander and dust extraction all from Festool. While I would like a domino, it will have to wait. To replace it so I can still use dominos, the loose tenon jig from 10minuteworkshop will suffice.

[@tomjudkins3799]

I've been following your videos for ideas on a new outfeed mft. My shop tour is on my shorts listing on my channel. The best solution I've found so far for managing my dust extractor hose is the rockler 2" hose spring clamps. They are cheap which is nice, but I'm also tall and I can reach my floor joists easily.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Nice shop!! I think those could work for me.

[@UpcycleFab]

Great video! You just saved me money on the Orange camber clamps that I’ve been thinking about over the last year. Check out Benchdogs rail, I believe it have markings on it. But you might be like me…not wanting to change the heavy duty support bars. Maybe move the dust collection stuff under the table and extend a little. I’m clumsy and I would trip over that hose. This way you can have a boom(even though you don’t want one) but maybe on that same boom utilize the upright and have some vertical storage. My planet to create a carriage for my track saw to dock in between cuts. Too many times I’m moving wood after cutting it and the dang saw is in the way.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Great advice and based on another comment, I think the Bench Dogs fence is going to make its way into my shop sometime this year. Thats a great idea about the hose going underneath (even through the torsion box), as I think the hose will be long enough.

[@rdsattube]

Just curious. Wouldn’t the dust extractor hose issue work better if you switched side of the table that you work from so the extractor is behind you and the hose does t have to cross the table?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Definitely! And I've repositioned the MFT from when this video was made - shop tour coming next week!

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Love the videos. Love seeing the toys I am interested in. I dare you to price check epoxy floors and consider it. Maybe even laminate you just put down without glue. Just curious because the floor could make your shop more comfortable.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Epoxy is definitely something I’d like to do and I priced it out last year when we had our porch done. Price wasn’t too bad and it would help a lot with how slick it can get in the humid summer. Main issue for me is where to put everything while it’s getting done. Haha!

[@bradb8292]

Since you are using your MFT table as your primary cutting station, why not turn your table around 180 degrees? This way you won't need to move your hose around as much, while making a cut. You could also put your dust extractor under the table, but I think with the chip separator it would be too tall to fit. I'm not sure on the height of that, since I only have the extractor.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Turning the table around makes a ton of sense and I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that before! I’m going to play around with that positioning tomorrow to see how it suits my workflow. Great suggestion!

[@troyboy4345]

As a make do solution, until you get round to make a thinner table, you could remove the end, lower sections of the torsion box "mouths" and fit drawers in place, for tools etc ... maybe ?

[@MasonWoodshop]

That’s a very interesting idea! I really don’t need access underneath everywhere, so a couple of small drawers could be a great addition. Thanks for the idea!

[@donschroeder7484]

Nice setup. Regarding your extractor hose…I took a couple screen door springs, hooked them together and hooked them above my table. Attached a Velcro sling and run my hose and cord through that. It stretches nicely, keeps my hose out of the way and costs maybe $7 or $8. I would attach a pic but don’t know how…🤔

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching! That solution sounds great and could work with the way my rafters are setup. Thanks for the tip!

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

Very nice

[@keanMechanic]

Flipping the rail on its side to push the material through! Why didn’t I think of that,genius.

[@MooseRidge]

I started out with imperial (3/4”) dogs, but I am having a tough time finding all of the good quality type dog accessories like you use. Does anyone have recommendations on places I should look or am I better off to just bite the bullet and reset to the 20mm world now?

[@MasonWoodshop]

My first workbench about 8 years ago used 3/4” holes and the best place to get accessories at that time was Lee Valley. Taking a look now and the quantity of 3/4” at Lee Valley has dropped a bit, although some retailers like Benchdogs do sell imperial 3/4” versions of some of their dogs. It does however seem like the MFT style top popularized by Festool has created a whole ecosystem of 20mm accessories.

[@johnv4179]

Re measurement, why don’t you just adhere an adhesive tape measure right on the table?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Ha!!! That’s an amazing idea that I hadn’t considered. I could even put it on the backside of the fence so the height of the tape would interfere with the workpiece at all. This is a great suggestion, thank you!

[@rickbyno2401]

Who did you get the table top from?

[@MasonWoodshop]

I built it myself from a sheet of MDF using the UJK Park Guide System. Works great!

[@nuvis2108]

Hi there. Fellow wood worker from Toronto. Where did you purchase the MDF from? Did you use any MR MDF? What are your thoughts making the top from birch plywood?

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@nuvis2108 Ooooh, great questions! My MDF is generally just cheap stuff from Home Depot or Rona and if you have a retailer that sells MR MDF, I beg you to let me know as I can't find it anywhere! I know you're in Toronto and I'm in London, but I just can't seem to find MR MDF. Birch plywood could be used, but I think you'd run into chipping issues when drilling the wholes and you wouldn't have the general stability/smoothness of MDF.

[@nuvis2108]

Some wood shops/marketplace retailers do sell some higher quality MDF used to make cabinet doors. There are varieties like Ranger board, Platinum grade etc.

[@kjc10]

Is that just regular MDF with Polyx oil on it?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Yup! It’s held up great, too.

[@timlist4173]

So what makes this bench a mft VS other benches?

[@MasonWoodshop]

I don’t know for certain, but it seems like the use of MFT as a term has become ubiquitous with 20mm dog holes on 96mm centres.

[@nutsmcflurry3737]

Looks like you need a surface to put items from your cut list while the big table is in use. When I build my Paulk style tables, I want to install t-tracks above and below the cutouts in the sides of the table. Just another way to attach accessories or jigs.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Yes! Thats exactly why I ended up building a smaller version of the MFT which has been great in my shop.

[@metapublic]

as a professional cabinetmaker in germany, i'm always amazed at how much money goes into these youtube garage shops. here, for example, i see festo tools worth easily 10,000 - 15,000 euros, not to mention all the expensive unnecessary hobby tools, festo is one of the most expensive tools a carpenter can have, if he can afford it. Just to make a few boxes in a garage from time to time, or better, one unnecessary workbench after another. often not even professional workshops have the youtube equipment and still produce better quality. so i often wonder what you guys do in your jobs to afford all this expensive tools. in my opinion, it's not what tools do, but the skills of a person. sorry to bring this up, but these garage youtube videos are getting excessive

[@MasonWoodshop]

This is a fantastic comment, and I’m glad you posted it. For me, the Festool tools and equivalent accessories aren’t because I’m a high-end cabinet shop or woodworking shop, but because the tools themselves (appreciating the engineering, learning them, etc.) are a hobby in itself. Yes, I produce work I’m proud of, but that’s primarily for my family. Do I need these tools to produce what I do? No. But, I get a ton of enjoyment out of these tools, even when just practicing with them. I’m lucky to be in a position where KZbin funds this hobby and I haven’t been “out of pocket” on tools in quite some time, thankfully. I also haven’t pocketed any money that hasn’t been rolled back into new tools or material for what I’ve made for the house. I recognize this is a privileged position to be in, but I wanted to provide a transparent response to your great question as I think many other present themselves as full-on production shops when they are actually KZbin-centric.

[@MonChouMoiToi]

Instead of MFT Workbench (18 Months Later), you show EVERY SINGLE tool you have, every single? Not EXACTLY... You forgot the saucepans, plates, griddles, shoes, and toilet papers (Let me guess, from Festool?). ... ... Hell... That's becoming more and more REDICULOUS!!!

[@MasonWoodshop]

Sorry if it came across that way, my intention was to setup the table to showcase the way I use various tools on the MFT, not as a showcase of the tools themselves. I’ll take this into consideration with future videos.

[@spartan_7389]

This is exactly the video I was looking for. Every video just shows the build process, nobody talks about long term use. Thank you for a great video, don’t listen to this pessimist

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@spartan_7389 Happy to hear the video was helpful and thanks for the kind words!