Festool Vs Dashboard MFT Guide Rail Brackets

Festool Vs Dashboard MFT Guide Rail Brackets
Dashboard site:
dashboardpws.com
Guide Rail Bracket Set:
dashboardpws.c...
Setup Arrows:
dashboardpws.c...
Bench Dogs:
dashboardpws.c...

[@workshopdojo]

Rob from Dashboard massaged me to say there is a different way of setting up the 'Dogs' with the 'Setup Arrows' and the Guide Rail Brackets or anything you are going to square up, here is the link so take a quick look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imekhGametZ2es0

[@JaySellers]

Honestly, your presentation of the product and your video edit is more compelling than Rob's. They should collaborate with you to make their videos.

[@dahut3614]

@@JaySellers One man's compelling is another man's annoying. Stupid droning music is too loud when he's not talking endlessly and stuff that should be in focus is not. I actually checked my glasses to see if I didn't have sawdust all over them. But I do appreciate the effort, and hope that things get/have gotten (got) better!

[@sprayingasaservice850]

The entire setup from Dashboard is on another level altogether. Exquisitely engineered 👍

[@workshopdojo]

You are very right

[@hhanger1]

I know Rob the inventor personally and he is first and foremost a professional cabinet maker who simply needed and designed a better mousetrap. His attention to detail is indeed phenomenal. Not to mention he personally is a great guy! He also recently upgraded and updated the rail system. Simply rock solid.

[@workshopdojo]

Yes, he is a great guy and very helpful,

[@diyenthu2844]

This is THE most comprehensive and user friendly look at this accessory, really shows your passion for this! I agree with Jay below, you should collaborate with them!

[@workshopdojo]

Thank you 😊

[@robertkrueger3902]

I have had my dashboard's for over a year and they are fantastic! this review is spot on ! Also note when you get your system how well it is packaged! Be aware this company is small and growing so it may take a little bit to get your system , but I guarantee it will be worth the wait!

[@workshopdojo]

You are 100% right on every point Robert 👍🏽these are fabulous

[@mrklean0292]

Thanks for the heads up on shipping time. I plan on ordering one in a couple of months. I went to their website and was a little put off by the shipping dates until I read this. Thank you.

[@robertkrueger3902]

I also want to say you can make your own MFT style table and this will mount into t tracks that you can mount along the side of your bench. I drilled my table top using the parf guid system and this has enabled me to make a larger mat style table to cut larger pieces for the work I like to do . I cannot recommend this product enough.

[@workshopdojo]

You are me but in the future 😂 Robert, that’s my next plan, and I do really like Peter Parfet!

[@RpR_Makes]

Oh my gosh I totally get what you mean. Never thought about it before but yes the Festool brackets let the MFT down. Yet again my friend I am going to have to dip into the kids college fund and buy them. Excellent video, your channel and reviews are excellent.

[@workshopdojo]

Nooo… not the kids college fund! Remember you need them to make a lot of money so you can get them to buy tools for you when you retire 😂

[@BenMarshallDesigns]

Love the camera set up, lens and lighting! For the MFT, the guide rail supports are designed to be accurate with the guide rail on top of the material being cut. Some people complain that the guide rail supports won’t hold the guide rail plane with the MFT top - again, with the guide rail resting on the material, the cut is lined up to be perpendicular to the material surface. How I can see these being beneficial, is when you need to cut material that isn’t co-plane with the MFT, and when cutting material that is narrower than the guide rail. I’ve not had any experiences where the MFT guide rail supports are off when used in the first instance I mentioned. These are certainly a beautiful set of kit, and very well made by the looks of it. Keep crushing these videos!! Looking forward to more - subbed! Cheers.

[@workshopdojo]

Very interesting, Im going to drive deeper into some of this over the winter months, Nice points, Camera is Sony A7sIII and 24mm and 55mm

[@dublinf4477]

Nailed it. I bought these about two years ago maybe even three now. Absolute game changer. I cannot tell you how many different questions I asked on the FOG (Festool Owners Group) and I would get all sorts of different varying answers. On the FOG most guys know there stuff. But….all their input doesn’t help because it’s an incredibly weak design. Nothing more. Now I don’t even check for square anymore when I raise and lower the rail. Rob just nailed the design. And now I know there’s two different ways to use the arrow but I also use them with the hole. Otherwise what the heck is the hole for? Rob care to weigh in? Great video

[@workshopdojo]

I hope Rob is reading this too! Very good question

[@dashboardportableworkshop]

Sorry I missed this when it was written. The holes in the arrows are only to help you grab them and/or hang them on a hook for storage. They were made 20mm just to be thematically consistent, but some people have been confused about that so we now make them smaller to avoid any question. We have a new bracket design available to order now, which we consider the ultimate version with several upgrades for more consistency. It has the ability to adapt to minor imperfections between your table frame and its top - automatically. The first batch is now 2/3 sold out. Shipping to most of Western Europe and the UK is $58.

[@Motu2804]

Thank you for the video, and the info. I wanted to throw away my Festool one when I saw the time it took you to set the dashboard one, it look so foolproof (will definitely buy as soon as I can). Deeply appreciate it. And as always keep them coming. ^^

[@workshopdojo]

Don’t through it away yet!! Nuno

[@Motu2804]

@@workshopdojo I wont ^^, But it is frustrating to set up the table for 15 minutes and end up with a cut on a 600mm panel that's nearly 1 mm off (0.7) from one panel to the other. For my shop, it's ok, but for a client it is unacceptable. For now I can get by but as soon as I can I will definitely buy it.

[@mojorisen40]

Great video dude! Especially liked the set-up with the timer displayed

[@workshopdojo]

👍🏽

[@dwp2659]

ohh and it gets better... you can fit bosch/mafell tracks on there as well

[@workshopdojo]

Oh I didn’t know that 👍🏽

[@markkoons7488]

I don't get it. Why are the arrowhead spacers an improvement over the dogs themselves?

[@workshopdojo]

They’re not really, but what they do is they shift the cut line into MFT ..into the middle of the dog holes

[@CPBuilds]

Rob's brackets are 2nd to none. I didn't think he could improve his original version but did. If I didn't already have a 2000mm MFT I'd be all over his setup. Lots of good things coming out of Dashboard lately.

[@workshopdojo]

You’re are completely right, I can’t believe what Rob at Dashboard is doing! He has something called ‘Track Stars’ which I’m going to be doing a review on soon and they are a game changer! Bye the way, I love your last video about your wife’s storage shelf kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaCaq5JtfrWVeKM Leaving your mistakes in the video is genius! I love it.

[@CPBuilds]

@@workshopdojo Oh yes...I have hose as well. The previous version. Michael St. Amiee sold me on the INCRA fence setup and his adapter idea for the track stars. Works really well.

[@Tool-Meister]

Why are the “arrows” a better alignment tool vs quality dogs?

[@workshopdojo]

It’s not really, it’s exactly the same by the arrows move the cutline in between the dog holes

[@alland1241]

Might come as a bit of a shock to you, but my mft will set up in exactly the same way using the standard brackets and just a pair of dogs and it's just as square and it's £250 + shipping cheaper

[@workshopdojo]

I realized that just after I made the video, thanks for pointing that out

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

I wonder if the "Flat" portion of the "Arrows" (in the opposite of the pointing direction) would not be more reliable than the rounded tip of an arrow which is connected to a round, pivoting, single-point-of-contact?

[@dashboardportableworkshop]

The flat parts of the arrows are meant to register against the dogs. That single hole is only there in case you want to hang them for storage.

[@workshopdojo]

👍🏽

[@JaySellers]

Holy cow, that's an improvement! Great video.

[@workshopdojo]

Definitely, thanks

[@antzanton4842]

How long has it taken Festool to fix there rail connecters ?? Only now after another company did it

[@workshopdojo]

I know! right!!

[@jwar2163]

I have two MFT tables and I regret that I purchased the MFT 3. The Festool Bracket is the worst. I squared up my table and rail per the instructions and I watched the factory aka Festool Produced videos. Square for several cuts on the rail using the TS 55 then no longer square. Destroyed the critical cuts I made that day. I purchase the pro kit from Dash Board and my MFT STAYS SQUARE NOW. So disappointed in an 800.00 dollar system and it's weakest failure point the brackets. I may put the Festool Bracket on my other MFT that is joined and use Dash Board's system squaring arrows to square it up. Looking at Bench Dog system or a TSO product to replace the Festool Fence on the MFT

[@workshopdojo]

I know how you feel!.. Take a look at the fence that Dashboard sell, I don't have one but it looks well made.

[@nunyabizness6734]

Setup Arrows... am I missing something? Just use the dogs and reference off those. Using the setup arrows introduces 4 additional points of contact that can contribute to error.

[@workshopdojo]

Good point, and I have and still do this but I’m my excitement I didn’t show that just using dogs will give you a cutting line right through the MFT dog holes but if you use the set up pointers (not with the single dog like I did in the video but with 2 dogs on the back) it will give you a cut line on the track between the MFT dog holes

[@NicoSmets]

I agree the standard MFT brackets don't shine. Maybe you should have gotten the whole dashboard table?

[@workshopdojo]

Good point! If I were starting again I would be looking at Dashboard, the problem was I didn’t know they existed then

[@TheLastPharm]

I think Festool's position on this is affordability vs 'cost to make' vs functionality vs accuracy. For most Festool users who use this stuff on location is the stock hinge good enough, but many contractors I see don't bother with the hinge at all. That might be why revisions to this piece of kit haven't been made. Having said that, I seriously doubt that they would bother to develop their rail hinge to a standard that could better the quality of Dashboard, for example. Seems they're better off concentrating on the power tool division R&D.

[@peterbradley6592]

Not sure why there would be a need for those aluminium black arrows for setup. If you’re setting it up with the MFT holes, why not just use regular bench dogs?

[@workshopdojo]

It sets your cut from the track saw to fall between the dog holes not through them

[@farmcat3198]

Does the Dashboard guide rail bracket have some sort of feature to keep the rail from falling down and smacking you on the head?

[@workshopdojo]

😂 no

[@ega9831]

Completely agree on the “must fix” message

[@fepatton]

I have a few Festool power tools, and after watching several videos, I thought the MFT system looked promising. Once I took a closer look in the showroom, however, I couldn’t see spending that much money for a piece MDF and some stamped sheet metal. The basic table was okay, but not worth the price, and yeah, those hinges. The in-store setup was really wobbly and didn’t inspire confidence. Still thinking about a Carvex, though!

[@louiesworkshop2023]

I am in the same boat Fred, I did love my festool tools and I have come to a stage where I want a good flat bench, I am trying to fall in love with the MFT3 but cant, each time I am close to buying a see another review shining a light on the wobble, the plastic parts, the poor feeling and yes there is the price, insane really for what you are getting, I think am going to have to look for something else. Louie

[@farmcat3198]

Mafell.

[@rbrown2925]

Seems to me that since the arrow tip radius doesn’t look equal to the distance from the center of the tip to the center of the dog hole, then the arrow has to be perfectly aligned with the dog hole pattern to get the track perfectly square. In other words, any arrow rotation introduces an error. However, there’s no way of ensuring the arrows are properly aligned! It would be better just to push the track against the dogs or concentric “washers” so no error could be introduced due to rotational misalignment. EDIT: Not entirely true. I just saw the vid where the back of the each arrow should be located between two bench dogs, which ensures the arrow is square with the table.

[@dashboardportableworkshop]

The flat parts of the arrows are meant to register against the dogs. That single hole is only there in case you want to hang them for storage.

[@workshopdojo]

👍🏽

[@mururoa7024]

OK I get it, they're the Lambo of MFT brackets, but $260 on top of the MFT-3's price is too much IMO. I was wondering if they had some hidden features but it seems like they're just nicer. The stock brackets work just fine for me. They're very precise, and squaring the rail up to the stock fence and dog holes combined isn't difficult nor takes long.

[@workshopdojo]

You’re right the Festool brackets are fine and they do the job, but these are so well made and solid but it’s more money on top of an already expensive bit of kit!

[@mururoa7024]

@@workshopdojo In your experience do they get rid of the tiny 0.2mm slop caused by the rail pin on the stock brackets? If that were the case and since X-mas is around the corner and it's almost the 8th anniversary of my MFT at the same time... ;)

[@williamcooper5009]

I check my MFT with large Woodpeckers square EVERY TIME I make a cut. It is not a reliable piece of equipment. Just discovering Dashboard. I love most of my Festool tools but the MFT has far too often given me cuts shy by 1mm. No bargain when making cabinets.

[@RandyLott]

Have you ever worried about the MDF top becoming out of square with the rails? I have the MFT 1080 and there are only 4 screw slots to keep the top aligned with the rail system.

[@workshopdojo]

That’s a very good point, I’m going to start squaring to a back fence

[@garyearl8476]

Can I get this product in the UK? Thanks

[@workshopdojo]

Drop Rob, at Dashboard an email and ask him about stock and delivery to the UK, he answers pretty fast. Links for Dashboard are in the description

[@Marcel41021]

Didn't time the installation of the Festool version for a comparison.

[@workshopdojo]

As long as you’re not using the Festool fence it should be about the same time to put on

[@ZomBeatBrainZ]

Festool is the most affordable option. So for someone like me who’s building a diy table, then it works out decent.

[@5280Woodworking]

Great video, thanks for sharing. I'm getting ready to order the complete Dashboard system and use my existing MFT for my new Kapex. Love the MFT, but I'm a sucker for the next-level quality the Dashboard offers. That said, I find it interesting you, and many others, don't show squaring with a fence. I can setup my MFT just as fast with the less-than spectacular brackets, but the trick is having a reference fence, i.e. two planes at 90-degrees, to guarantee square cross cuts or short rips. Dogs are just MFT holes that can wear over time and without that other reference for SQUARE, you're just wasting your time. I think this might have been what Ben Marshall was saying. Subbed!

[@workshopdojo]

Very good points, I’m going to experiment with that fence idea

[@jaimegenovajr3257]

I heard about this Dashboard product and I didn't know that you can use the brackets to MFT3, any modifications that need to do? Thanks

[@workshopdojo]

No they just plug straight in

[@malcolmpoole9993]

I like your style of reviews 👏🏻 have you had a chance to look at the new festool adjustable rail square? there doesn’t seem to be many uk reviews about this. Wondering how it compares to others for accuracy.

[@workshopdojo]

I think you mean the new square bracket, as far as I know they are not out here in the UK yet! And because I’m not linked to Festool I have to just wait until they release it. I will buy one as soon as I can and do a review on it

[@malcolmpoole9993]

@@workshopdojo think it’s the new festool FS-WA Angle stop for guide rails. I believe it’s available in the uk. On its own or as an accessory set SYS3M 137 FS/2-Set

[@kbwfgg6400]

10 years? I bought the original festool offerings 20 years ago when they first started to bring their stuff to North America. And that piece of garbage that you show is the exact same as what I have. So, that inferior design is at least 20 years old. And I agree with you that as much as we pay for the ultra premium Festool name I do expect much better out of them. It is because that the piece of crap that I have not gotten as much use from my MFT as I should have. I did not find out about the Dashboard company or its products until tonight. It is just a shame that anyone who spends their hard earned money on the most expensive Festool has to spend morn in order to get it to work right.

[@workshopdojo]

You are definitely right 😂

[@rickenglish6962]

I built an MFT slab out of 1 inch MDX that cuts 48 inch width no problem on a couple of sawhorses for 200 bucks plus my time I can’t believe anybody would spend four grand on tables we’re supposed to be making money not spending it use your talent to build your own tables

[@workshopdojo]

Very true

[@qfudgedoggy]

Wow....amazing quality stuff. Def better than festool Didn't learn about Dashboard until just now. But man ...when festool accessories start seeming like bargain bin items I'm thinking I need to find a different hobby.

[@tedcook8749]

Spot on

[@workshopdojo]

👍🏽

[@arnaudmarie2892]

Thank you for this excellent review. All in all a quality kit, especially compared to Festool's product. However, I would have a comment on the positioning against the side profile. To ensure the perpendicularity of the support against the side rail, the manufacturer uses 2 screw heads. This is not in my opinion a good solution. The contact is made on a very small surface with the risk of damaging the side rail. In addition, depending on whether these screws are more or less screwed, the perpendicularity can be distorted. Why not have made a shoulder along the length of the vertical plate to lean on the side profile, it would have been much safer and more precise. Just my opinion and sorry for my english (helped by google).

[@workshopdojo]

You are completely right, I few people have pointed this out in the comments 👍🏽

[@Mr2at]

Love the channel, but suspect you're going to bankrupt me. How long did you wait for you're order to get delivered?

[@workshopdojo]

😂I know just how you feel! My friend said to me the other day “stop buying kit” Here in English everything is taking about 2-3 months delivery time.

[@GmailNexus]

Great Video!

[@workshopdojo]

👍🏽

[@alainthiry3965]

the arrows serve nothing just put dogs the rail will be squared of course

[@Rubin5342]

This is great. Thanks so much. //ji

[@lesterthomas3234]

hilarious...just when you thought festool was way overpriced.....here comes these guys.

[@workshopdojo]

😂 nice joke

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Don't you get it? Festool care for their shareholders, not you. Cannot believe how clunky both systems are. Most folks have moved to dog hole reference- repeatable without setup. Having to adjust for different thickness of workpiece is mad. For even more speed, see the TrakLyft system- MUCH faster to use. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mabdl6KLirKol7s BTW, you may say 'absolutely square'; an engineer says 'within tolerance'. ('Absolute' is a platonic concept that does not exist in the real world)

[@workshopdojo]

I’m starting to see that! 👍🏽Nice post

[@NicoSmets]

I wouldn't be so negative about festools priorities. They do make excellent tools, and nobody is obliged to buy them. The mft is a funny story though. In a way they missed the bal, but on the other hand they did set the foundation for a lot of third party innovation. I'm very aware of the downsides of my mft, but then again I would be lost without it!

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

@@NicoSmets You are aware that the EU fined them several millions for price fixing? From a design engineer's POV it is a very unsatisfactory design. All it has going for it is that it is cheap to make. Very. If I wanted to tilt my rail in that way I would make my own- but my TrakLyft system is better, faster, requires no adjustment, etc. See the link above.

[@peterwolf3001]

procrastination and slow delivery make this hard to watch. !

[@workshopdojo]

🤷🏽‍♂️

[@farmcat3198]

Festool requires too many accessories to make things work for actual work. It's all marketing. It's very disappointing.

[@workshopdojo]

I know, we can get all caught up with gear, keep in mind tradesmen buy kit to get work done fast, and that what Festool does well

[@silverfox8801]

Festools really are crap!