Hi,  long time intermittent lurker and its my first time posting on here.  While I don't know anyone on this forum I know I have a lot in common with probably most anyone reading this.  A good craftsman is always looking for new solutions to old problems.  I'm thankful for some gained wisdom lurking while in these forums over the years.   I thought I'd share my bench project, hopefully it can help someone else with theirs.












Its taken a few years to get around to making a more permanent home for Festool in my shop.  What started as a drawer stack became a proper workbench and a system of work in my shop. 

The dust collection boom and track in particular have been a game changer in my shop. The dust boom pictured is my 3rd version and one that will likely remain.  It moves smoothly and is lightweight. When moving the tools you can't feel the boom moving around above.  No more dragging the hose over the edges of the table or hooking a hose on another tool.

All the track saw tracks are hanging from above. This is by far the most convenient storage for those long track I've found. 

My names Chad and here's my Festool Shop Bench.  Enjoy!

Nice job on the bench and welcome to the FOG.

Great looking shop! I don’t want to be greedy but do you happen to have a pic of the 4th side of your mft bench?

The drawer pulls. Those had me for a second.

Truly inspiring workshop!

There’s many many very nice details and thoughtful solutions you have done, from the boom arm in the ceiling and to the MFT bench.

As for one who’s thinking of using a MFT/3 with a cabinet below, and still keep the outer dimensions - this is brilliant, and it kicks butt in the direction I want to go too.

Thanks for sharing!

Really awesome shop you have! Do you have a CNC? Noticing lots of precise pieces cut out - lest you've got steady hands!

Steady hands on this one.  I built it working backwards from the constraints of different tools features and sizes. So the bench kind of evolved as it was built.  I do a lot of small part detail work so this went pretty quick in between the head scratching. 

Quote from: FestitaMakool on April 16, 2021, 09:39 AM

Truly inspiring workshop!

There’s many many very nice details and thoughtful solutions you have done, from the boom arm in the ceiling and to the MFT bench.

As for one who’s thinking of using a MFT/3 with a cabinet below, and still keep the outer dimensions - this is brilliant, and it kicks butt in the direction I want to go too.

Thanks for sharing!

Completely agree!

That said, I long for the day when I don't have to fold up sawhorses and pack everything back against the walls of the garage after I'm done with a project.  Foldable/portable workstations that don't flop around seem to get pricey in a hurry (not that the rolling MFT pictured isn't also a bit of a spend, of course).

The stuff that's now in the bench was spread all over the shop.  Drove me crazy. Dozens of boxed abrasives stacked, no idea what I was running out of.  My shops not huge, so I fight for every bit of space.   The footprint and outer dimensions was the first criteria when I started making this. 

The real cost on this, is of course time.  Materials weren't too bad.  I spent a lot of time on my traditional workbench about 14 years ago and I don't regret all that time spent. Still reaping the benefits of doing it right the first time and never looking back except to add a new feature here and there.

Very nice! Looks like you better start posting more often

Quote from: BenMarshallDesigns on April 16, 2021, 08:26 AM

Really awesome shop you have! Do you have a CNC? Noticing lots of precise pieces cut out - lest you've got steady hands!

Steady hands on this one.  I built it working backwards from the constraints of different tools features and sizes. So the bench kind of evolved as it was built.  I do a lot of small part detail work so this went pretty quick in between the head scratching.

You really did all of those by hand? That seems like a project that is just begging for a template/router/ and a bushing. Then you only do the by hand part once.
Great looking shop. I like the boom arm set-up. I need something similar, but haven't worked it out yet. As it is now, my hose hangs over a kneewall when not in use, and drags on the floor when in use.
The main sticking point is that I swap between 2 hoses, depending on application. My router table has it's own hose and power cord. I swap the cord/hose when using it. This is far from ideal. I may just end up getting a CT15 to solve it.

As introductions go, this is the best I have seen!  Welcome to the FOG, Chad!

You have a great shop and did a wonderful job with customizing it.

This is awesome! I love the MFT bench and the boom arm. I like how the bench is utilitarian and practical with the tools out of their cases and at the ready, but still some really nice detailing like the rounded corners that echo the MFT itself, and "T-Loc" pulls. If you do have pics of the boom arm construction, that would be very cool to see, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around how the internals work.

Is that a single vac hose on the boom? The hose on my CT15 is like 1/3 the length haha.

Awesome shop, thanks for sharing!

I love the systainers for site work and transport.  Nothing better.  I also love the clean look of tower walls of systainers in shops.  I just always had a bunch open in the shop as I was always swapping out tools. when I get going in the shop I just get tool explosions on all the work surfaces and am left without space for the work I was trying to finish. 

The tools that hang off can all be moved wherever using the 20mm holes everywhere.  I used the veritas bench anchors.  It basically operates like the hardware for a bike stem.  The hooks and track saw both pop off with an Allen wrench.

I never store clamps in the closed position either. One of the first things I learned in the first shop I ever worked in.  Clamps look nicer closed but doubles your work closing them to store them and again opening them to use them.  Open clamps are ready.  So hanging all the clamps and jigs off the sides speeds things along.  Common theme with this build is everything is a reach away with no more than one interaction required. 

The pulls are pretty great.  I really wanted the bench to fall as close in line with a Festool aesthetic as possible. 

Gimme a few days on the boom details... Its super simple and any of you could make it in a Sunday afternoon.  I haven't really delved into content creation but a video on the boom would be easy to pop out. 30 seconds of video and it would all be clear.  Its been possibly the best thing I've done for my shop.  Super cheap to make and can be easily adapted to different height ceilings.  The bad news is that the longer hose which is fairly new only works on the larger size ct vacs. The hose is the D36mm x 7m.  So its both larger diameter and about 22 ft long.  You'll also need an adapter to size down to the tool dust ports.  I'll put a parts list together on that for people to adapt to their own shops. 

I really like the idea of making the bench into an extraction/power nest. NEAT!

Combining the extraction boom run with power delivery to a moving "island" bench is a true mark of an inventor.

But the best by fart is the paper storage with the extremely simple yet effective separators between the papers. Those win 1st prize with me!

Wow what a fantastic set up! I recently made my own MFT style bench with an aluminium extrusion base. I've been trying to plan a boom arm setup for my workshop as I need to be able to break down big sheets down before they get to the MFT. Would love some photos for inspiration if you'd be so kind?