Busy, busy, busy……

14 Responses to “Busy, busy, busy……”

1. Glenn Folley on April 24th, 2008 4:23 pm

   Hi Marc,
   I wish I would have known you were going to be in Columbus, I would have made the trip down from the Cleveland area to meet you in person. Your finish DVD is great and thanks for the autographs. Keep up the great work.

2. Vic on April 24th, 2008 7:31 pm

   You two are great! I think it funny that the relationship you both have with each other is much like mine with Sylvia: No stress-low stress.
   You definitely need that in a partner, especially with as many balls as you both have up in the air (JUGGLING METAPHOR!) Thanks for the update and how hard you work to put out great content.

3. Tom on April 24th, 2008 10:18 pm

   Marc - I heard on your podcast that you will cover the Festool MFT. I had a question about that table since I have never seen it in person - if you use the circular saw and guide rails over it to cut plywood, etc - I assume the saw cuts through the table - stupid question: if the saw cuts up what looks like an MDF top I assume you need to make sure all your cuts are in the same area or the table will soon be tore to shreds - I was trying to visualize how that table would be good to use for very long if it is getting cut up by the circular saw - hope this question makes sense - Tom

4. thewoodwhisperer on April 24th, 2008 10:30 pm

   Hey Tom. The table works much like the table of a radial arm saw. You have to cut into it in order to completely cut through the wood. But in most cases, the blade is cutting in the same spot all the time. Even when cutting on an angle, the guide rail stays in the same position so you are still cuting into the same kerf. If you are careful, you can use the same side for years and years without having to worry about the top being mangled. Now, in most cases, the kerf will widen slight over time and your cuts will not be as clean. At this point you have a choice. You can move the guide rail just a bit so you start in a new area, or you can turn the mdf top around. And once you cut through and widen the kerf on that side, you can flip it upside down. Now you have two fresh areas to cut on. So in reality, the MDF top could very well last forever. I have owned mine for about 3 years now and I am still on the first side. And because I am cheap, and also because I cut a little too deep once, I actually filled my kerf with some epoxy. I leveled it with the surface and recut a fresh kerf. Worked like a charm. But really, I probably should have just reversed the top, lol. Now if by some odd circumstance you find a way to completely demolish the MDF top, you can always buy a replacement.

5. Denis Rezendes (Teen Age Woodworker) on April 25th, 2008 9:08 am

   I can’t wait for the Fine Woodworking Project. Thats gonna be really cool to watch. nice video, and thanks for keeping us updated.

6. WiZeR on April 25th, 2008 9:47 am

   Marc, I know you are sponsored by Festool (which probably answers my question), but have you looked at/considered the EZ system? Would be interesting to see a comparison between the 2 products (mft vs pbb)

7. Steve on April 25th, 2008 10:14 am

   For the MFT cut through issue try going to youtube and search for “MFT Slot Repair”. That vid shows a quick way how he repairs his MFT top.

8. thewoodwhisperer on April 25th, 2008 11:35 am

   Hey Wizer. I have heard a few folks mention the EZ system and I have been to their site a few times. Looks like it could potentially offer some of the same features you get from the MFT. And you can BYOS (bring your own saw)! :) Might be a reasonable alternative. Without any real experience with the EZ system, I can’t exactly comment on how the functionality and build quality compares to the Festool line. The EZ line certainly looks well-engineered and sturdy. But without digging very deep, it seems like you will miss out on some of the great features that make the MFT such a versatile tool. For instance, because of the clamping features, the MFT could very well replace a traditional workbench in some shops. I know I use my MFT ALOT for holding parts when I sand. Much quicker and easier than using my workbench. Just something to consider and I probably shouldn’t say more until I know the full capabilities of the PBB.

   It looks like the cost ends up being pretty similar (EZ PBB/Any saw vs MFT/TS-55), so it brings up an interesting question. Which system performs better and provides the best value in the long run? Not sure if you care to hear my gut reaction (purely speculation), but I have never had any great success with systems that claim to work with every tool. I would much prefer a saw that was designed from the ground up to work with that system. Less screws to tighten and less adjustments to make usually equates to more accuracy and much less frustration. The other thing to consider is that Festool products are really designed as a system. So if you start with Festool, it is advantageous to continue building up your collection since the tools really do work best when used with the system. If you have no intention of adopting the system, then you might be better off using an independent system like the EZ.

   But ultimately, the short answer is: I don’t know how it compares because I never used it. lol. Maybe that should have just been my original answer. :)

9. Daniel on April 25th, 2008 11:50 am

   Thanks for the video blog. Since I don’t read well ( being from Alabama and Homeschooled) it was nice to get the “10lbs into a 5lb sack”-blog in video form. Maybe you should do that from now on.
   Keep up the good work and do yourself a favor, make your wife that coffee table!

10. Kris Lauer on April 25th, 2008 7:19 pm

    Thanks for the update. Looking forward to the upcoming projects. I get both Popular Woodworking and Fine Woodworking and well as a couple of others. Just got the new Festool Cat. Can’t wait to dig into that. Looks like you have a couple of nice dogs as well.lol
    P.S. Happy Belated Birthday Nicole. You look why too young for 21. Marc you too do a great job. Glad to see your success!
    Kris

11. Jeremy (Bama5150) on April 26th, 2008 7:00 am

    whoa Daniel! I’m from Alabama and i have no trouble reading :) and i was a vict…a product of the public shools. The video update was a good idea though.

12. Jeremy (Bama5150) on April 26th, 2008 7:01 am

    i can read, but just can’t spell. That’s schools, not shools.

13. Claude Stewart on April 26th, 2008 7:49 am

    I think this is get great format to convey the message. Oh and a word to Daniel read,read,read, practice,practice,practice. Well maybe two words. claude

14. Bruce on April 29th, 2008 5:32 pm

    Marc,
    I really enjoyed the video update; almost as much as I enjoyed visiting you live chat session the other evening. It was light, informative and as always, entertaining. Keep up the good work and more importantly take good care of Nix and the puppies.

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