I disagree Tony, an MFT is a great way to incorporate alignment and clamping options into a bench that normally doesn’t have them. It doesn’t have to encompass the entire bench, and it can be a portable one as I mentioned.@djtech2k
If you are new at woodworking, I would not spend any money on a MFT especially if I was short on floor space. Both my workbench and rolling outfeed/assembly table are 2 1/2' X 5'. 2 1/2' front to rear is probably more depth than your kitchen counter tops. 2 1/2 X 5' is 1 1/2 feet narrower than a 4 x8 sheet of plywood or a 15" overhang on each side and 1 1/2 ' shorter on each end of a full sheet of plywood. That is more than adequate for you to work large projects. My workbench and assy/outfeed tables are exactly the same height which is approx 1/4" shorter in height than my table saw. Both of tese benches are on retractable wheels. The tops area double layer of 3/4" plywood - very flat and very stiff. I can unload plywood and lumber and slam them down on both benches.
Anyway, I build furniture and also small stuff. I just thought I would share some info with you.
To the left of the blade is the issue I currently have if I want to cut across an 8' sheet ..22" so gravity is not on my side if I want to cut in down the middle. I use a series of roller stands and they work, but when I clear out the other side of the shop and expand a bit the outfeed is going to wrap around to make the left of the blade at least 25" so gravity doesn't dump plywood or whatever on the floor..How far will the fence go to the right on that saw? I think 30” would be a minimal capacity for sheet goods, 36-40 better. That said, you need something like a 40 x 40 outfeed.
Really, I think you’re better off using a track saw for breaking down sheet goods with that type sawmill but it’s doable.
Well, I did once have a smoldering fire under my old saw in the piles of sawdust under it..Cord was frayed.. That was fun.. The cat was actually the fire alarm.. lolYou've saved wood out of the burn pile while its lit, haven't you? C'mon fess up. Guilty as charged ✋
I've put T-track in a single sheet of good 3/4" sanded ply table top without problem.I am still not sure about the material for the top. If I do put in T-Track, do I need more than a 3/4 sheet?
Stanton uses PARF dogs which are designed to fit very snug so they will work in 3/4.Out of curiosity, how thick would a surface need to be for dog holes? Does it need to be thicker than 3/4”? It looked like Dave Stanton’s portable was 3/4” but many videos with dog holes seem to be 2”+.
What do you want to do?Ok. I did not know there were a difference in dogs other than diameter. I’d rather not spend a ton of $ on all the accessories so what would be the typical needed diameter and depth for the most universal options?
Tony they are essential to hand work, but are helpful as stops in any kind of work.. Its all a matter of methods of work.I have spent 40 years of woodworking without using dogs.
Either I use a 'bench hook' or just clamp a board or two the the bench top instead of little dogs.
Dogs are probably better because you can drop one in a hole faster than you can clamp a single board.
If you want to use bench dogs, I would think the bench top should be at least 2" thick, maybe more. I would also think that you would have to put a shelf across the underside of the entire top with a shop vac hook-up to collect the sawdust that falls through the unoccupied dog holes.
As I stated, I never used bench dogs on my benches so I am not talking from experience - just surmising.
