Author Topic: Track Tubes MFT top (Read 33267 times)

Grev · « **Reply #30 on:** March 16, 2021, 09:32 AM »

Quote from: Mortiser on March 14, 2021, 07:34 PM

@DynaGlide Matt, I may have missed this in a previous post, but did you consider adjusting the right wing in closer and having your cut line for your guide rail in the gap between the right side of your main table and your right wing? I realize that you may not have the support area you desire to the right of the cut but it does eliminate the issue of a saw kerf in the table.
Seems to me I saw a prior picture some time ago where Glenn was doing just that. But I could be wrong.

I used dominos to attach a sacrificial cut strip to the right of my Festool MFT3 replacement top. When using the TrackTubes, the top can be slid to the left side of the tubes and a wing can be placed on the right for material support, so support hasn't been a problem. Because the tubes are hollow, I also milled some telescoping extensions that can be used for extended support .. like shown here on my lifting table. The extensions can be used on the left or right side of the tubes, so no problem with support on either side of the cut.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #31 on:** March 16, 2021, 10:06 AM »

Hey Glenn now that I see the sacrificial strip I might do the same. That's a lot easier to replace than if I were to rout one that interference fits into the TrackTubes top.

Thanks for sharing.

Mike Goetzke · « **Reply #32 on:** March 16, 2021, 10:08 AM »

@Grev Hi Glenn. Can you share how you fasten the fence to the slab in pic #2? Do you utilize the narrow slots?

Also, what WP t-track rule is that. I have a 4' story stick but the scale goes from left to right.

Thanks
Mike

Grev · « **Reply #33 on:** March 16, 2021, 11:13 AM »

Quote from: Mike Goetzke on March 16, 2021, 10:08 AM

@Grev Hi Glenn. Can you share how you fasten the fence to the slab in pic #2? Do you utilize the narrow slots?

Also, what WP t-track rule is that. I have a 4' story stick but the scale goes from left to right.

Thanks
Mike

I used a router template to add slots to the edge and use a 1/4"-20 hex bolt and knob to capture the bottom t-track and tighten it to the top. Rock solid and only takes 30 seconds or so to set up. Not sure if it was a coincidence, but using the Woodpecker MFT square, and pegging it to the dog holes, the track is just about perfectly flush with the edge of the top. The scales on the WP track you get with some of their products (Story Stick, DP Fence, etc., don't have the correct scale). I actually purchased some WP DP Track and added an adhesive metal rule I get from oregonrule.com. The Woodcraft "back to back" track also works good and is less expensive.

Quote from: DynaGlide on March 16, 2021, 10:06 AM

Hey Glenn now that I see the sacrificial strip I might do the same. That's a lot easier to replace than if I were to rout one that interference fits into the TrackTubes top.

Thanks for sharing.

The slots in the edge of the top could be used for attaching a strip, but a more permanent solution would be to use the dominos like I did. Easy enough to cut off and re-attach a new one when needed. Fred @BristolArtisanCo has shown a sacrificial strip he's added to some of his tops, which could also be added. So lots of choices to keep from cutting into the top.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #34 on:** March 16, 2021, 03:48 PM »

I toyed with making the domino sacrificial strip for a split second. Didn't care for mounting the guide rail so far over. No turning back now:

I also waxed both sides with Howard Feed N Wax at @Grev recommendation. It's nice stuff although a bit tedious with all the holes already bored.

Mike Goetzke · « **Reply #35 on:** March 16, 2021, 04:12 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on March 16, 2021, 03:48 PM

I toyed with making the domino sacrificial strip for a split second. Didn't care for mounting the guide rail so far over. No turning back now:

I also waxed both sides with Howard Feed N Wax at @Grev recommendation. It's nice stuff although a bit tedious with all the holes already bored.

Ouch - I was toying with buying that router on the recon site this morning but it was still almost $800 with taxes.

Glenn also steered me onto Feed n Wax. Yes, I did all the holes too on my three slabs. I did end up heating it up - that made application so much easier.

festal · « **Reply #36 on:** March 17, 2021, 07:31 AM »

Hello all. Question - where did you get the track tubes top? I checked on their site and only see the tubes for sale.

Thinking of building this instead of buying mft3

Thank you

Alex

Grev · « **Reply #37 on:** March 17, 2021, 07:58 AM »

Quote from: festal on March 17, 2021, 07:31 AM

Hello all. Question - where did you get the track tubes top? I checked on their site and only see the tubes for sale.

Thinking of building this instead of buying mft3

Thank you

Alex

The tops were CNC'd by Fred @BristolArtisanCo. You can message him through his website, or email him for details. I noticed his email is listed in his profile.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #38 on:** March 17, 2021, 09:33 AM »

To answer a question earlier about how much the tops cost: I don't think I'll ever know. Fred called me up last night and thanked me for all I've done to spotlight his tops and told me to pay for shipping and we'd be more than good. Can't beat that.

When this all started there wasn't any sort of agreement like you see on YouTube or Instagram where people get stuff in return for promoting it. I just did it because I like the products and see the potential for their expansion. I paid retail on my TrackTubes (4 of them now, 2 original 90" and 2 of the new double slotted 72"). I just wanted to be upfront about my investment so far.

festal · « **Reply #39 on:** March 17, 2021, 10:10 AM »

Quote from: Grev on March 17, 2021, 07:58 AM

Quote from: festal on March 17, 2021, 07:31 AM
Hello all. Question - where did you get the track tubes top? I checked on their site and only see the tubes for sale.

Thinking of building this instead of buying mft3

Thank you

Alex

The tops were CNC'd by Fred @BristolArtisanCo. You can message him through his website, or email him for details. I noticed his email is listed in his profile.

thank you just did

Mike Goetzke · « **Reply #40 on:** March 17, 2021, 10:55 AM »

When I decided to change to MFT style slabs I was always thinking "BIG." In my garage shop the TrackTubes enabled me to setup a three-slab 4'x8' table in minutes. This has been an excellent solution for me for about the past two years, but, I have used them with my TSO square and parallel guides exclusively and not taken advantage of the dog holes. After looking more and more at this @DynaGlide post the light bulb lite up. If I set up a single slab table it would be MUCH easier to use dogs and my old Eurekazone bridge (similar to DashBoard) since I will actually be able to reach across the table.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #41 on:** March 27, 2021, 02:32 PM »

I just made a little video clip of my setup and how quick it is to tear down and put it back together:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7p49uDoL4/

festal · « **Reply #42 on:** March 27, 2021, 06:38 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on March 27, 2021, 02:32 PM

I just made a little video clip of my setup and how quick it is to tear down and put it back together:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7p49uDoL4/

Nice setup. what hardware did you use to secure 1515 extrusion to the track or the mft top used to mount dashboard? hard to see in the pictures. I can see button head screw but thats about it

Mine is in progress.

Step1 arrived

DynaGlide · « **Reply #43 on:** March 27, 2021, 07:35 PM »

@festal You'll have to check with @Grev . It is a button head screw and nut combo.

festal · « **Reply #44 on:** March 27, 2021, 07:53 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on March 27, 2021, 07:35 PM

@festal You'll have to check with @Grev . It is a button head screw and nut combo.

Think I found them. How did you attach dashboard to your mft? Do you have any up close pictures?

Grev · « **Reply #45 on:** March 28, 2021, 08:38 AM »

Quote from: festal on March 27, 2021, 07:53 PM

Quote from: DynaGlide on March 27, 2021, 07:35 PM
@festal You'll have to check with @Grev . It is a button head screw and nut combo.

Think I found them. How did you attach dashboard to your mft? Do you have any up close pictures?

The 15 series section of t-slot extrusion is attached to the edge of the MFT top with 1/4"-20 x 1" Button Head Socket Cap Screws and economy t-nuts. Once the t-slot is attached to the top, just slide the DashBoard into the track and tighten. The slots along the edge of the TrackTubes MFT are spaced so you can adjust a 12" section of t-slot and/or DashBoard left/right to get it positioned so your cut is in the center of two holes .. the place where @DynaGlide has his sacrificial strip. Here's some photos.

festal · « **Reply #46 on:** March 28, 2021, 10:20 AM »

@Grev perfect exactly what i needed. Thank you

mackenzie · « **Reply #47 on:** April 02, 2021, 04:10 PM »

@DynaGlide thank you for the inspiration and motivation. I suspect this thread has had a similar affect on other readers, it has generated ideas and displayed products we may not have been aware of. Following this thread, I have ordered some of the items you use, although I don't have access to the Track Tubes.

I am undecided what to do about the fence though; Festool fence/flip stops or Benchdogs UK fence system/flip stops. Going Festool costs a little bit more but both options would do the same thing with BDUK fence having a scale. I see you use the Festool fence system which I assume you already had from your MFT's. I have an MFT/3 basic so I'm not committed to a fence system at the moment. Do you have any thoughts on this? I'd already be ordering from BDUK anyway for the fence dogs.

For the benefit of other readers here are some Festool part numbers which may be helpful if you decide to go down the Festool fence option:
Fence (Festool call this part a "Stop Profile"): 475217
Flip stops (Festool call this part an "Adjustable Stop"): 495542

Thank you again

festal · « **Reply #48 on:** April 04, 2021, 12:36 PM »

First layer of feed-n-wax down. Now i need to do the holes (what a pain)

wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping.
but so far not bad. How many layers do you apply?

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

Grev · « **Reply #49 on:** April 04, 2021, 01:44 PM »

Quote from: festal on April 04, 2021, 12:36 PM

First layer of feed-n-wax down. Now i need to do the holes (what a pain) wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping.
but so far not bad. How many layers do you apply?

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

I put a couple coats of the wax, then periodically wipe it down again. A post on the @TrackTubes Instagram page shows how it also erases pencil marks, which is nice if you're somebody like me who marks up their tops.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #50 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:16 PM »

Quote from: festal on April 04, 2021, 12:36 PM

First layer of feed-n-wax down. Now i need to do the holes (what a pain) wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping.
but so far not bad. How many layers do you apply?

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

@festal Did Freddy make you those tops? It looks like his packaging in the background.

rst · « **Reply #51 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:28 PM »

I use Howards on my tops, I keep applying until it stops absorbing. I also coat the interior holes, that is the worst, I only do it to my MFTs not my actual cutting station tops. I dovetailed a UMHW strip into my MFTs for crosscutting.

festal · « **Reply #52 on:** April 04, 2021, 02:40 PM »

Yes holes are the worst. ah so the trick is to keep going until it stops absorbing. need to find better cloth to use. the one i'm using from home depot keeps sliding in my hands

festal · « **Reply #53 on:** April 04, 2021, 05:24 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on April 04, 2021, 02:16 PM

Quote from: festal on April 04, 2021, 12:36 PM
First layer of feed-n-wax down. Now i need to do the holes (what a pain) wax just abosrbs into the mdf before i even finish wiping.
but so far not bad. How many layers do you apply?

I haven't had my hands this soft in a while lol

@festal Did Freddy make you those tops? It looks like his packaging in the background.

Yes he did. I reached out to him after I saw your setup

festal · « **Reply #54 on:** April 04, 2021, 05:25 PM »

Quote from: rst on April 04, 2021, 02:28 PM

I use Howards on my tops, I keep applying until it stops absorbing. I also coat the interior holes, that is the worst, I only do it to my MFTs not my actual cutting station tops. I dovetailed a UMHW strip into my MFTs for crosscutting.

What do you use to apply it?

rst · « **Reply #55 on:** April 04, 2021, 08:57 PM »

I just use a cotton wiping rag, I keep it in a flat plastic take out bin and use when needed.

Birdhunter · « **Reply #56 on:** April 28, 2021, 02:49 AM »

But how do I mount my heavy duty woodworking vise? I had to cobble on an extension to one of my MFTs to mount my vise. The extension and its supporting legs greatly improved overall table stability.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #57 on:** April 28, 2021, 08:10 AM »

Quote from: Birdhunter on April 28, 2021, 02:49 AM

But how do I mount my heavy duty woodworking vise? I had to cobble on an extension to one of my MFTs to mount my vise. The extension and its supporting legs greatly improved overall table stability.

I don't think this is the product for you if you're looking to use it for a traditional bench replacement

It excels with sheet goods processing and portability.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #58 on:** May 01, 2021, 07:18 AM »

Fred just released this video:

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #59 on:** May 01, 2021, 09:27 AM »

This guy looks very familiar. I think he used to do a lot of YT videos. The one I remember most was a multi-part set on making a mobile track saw station. I really liked the way he did those videos. Makes me even more interested in these TrackTubes knowing he is part of it. Thanks for the link.