Festool Parf dogs actual size to fit the MFT3!!!

[lastminute]

I've just bought the Veritas Parf and normal dogs from APTC...
..tried them in a brand new MFT800 top and am disappointed at the 'slopiness'.
The diameter of the dogs that fit into the holes is 19.86mm.
Should they not be a lot nearer the 20mm hole size...ie. maybe 19.95ish?
I cant measure the hole sizes accurately..not having any bore mics!
I've not got the MFT3 yet..wondering if they will fit it any better!!

..surely I'm not being too 'picky'?

Gerry

 

[carlb40]

I think this comes up a lot on FOG, there are 2 sizes of dogs available. 1 size is 20mm the other to fit the undersize holes. Im not sure if the parf dogs come in 2 sizes or not. But having a sloppy fit is no good for accuracy.

 

[vally bar]

I must admit I had to look up "Parf Dog" as when I saw that the suggestion of 9 hundredths of a millimetre would improve accuracy I was intrigued as to there use in woodwork.

 

[vally bar]

Again my curiosity got the better of me and I googled MFT 800 and came up with what looked like a piece of 18 mm MDF with a series of 20 mm (ish) holes at about 100 mm centres with a replacement top board coming in (small one) at about £70 + del, we could do these at say 1200 x 600 mm or to a given size smaller for about £40 + delivery and anything up to 3050 x 1200 mm so in reality you could adapt any size bench or saw horse set up to a MFT.
Thoughts?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Would it have "Festool" written over it for the tool snobs?

 

[vally bar]

Good point so it's a non starter ;-)

 

[The Bear]

Vally
I think you'ld sell lots if they are accurate (probably CNCd). I think the centres are 96mm if my sad memory serves me right.

Mark

 

[pcb1962]

Good point so it's a non starter ;-)

Not at all, many of us are very happy with our replica MFT tops.
Mine was expertly made by Stu_2 of this forum.

 

[vally bar]

Yes I am talking CnC at whatever centres you want up to 10 x 5 sheet size and probably up to 50 mm MDF although larger sizes would have to be collected or your own transport arranged.

 

[pcb1962]

up to 10 x 5 sheet size and probably up to 50 mm MDF

No point making them thicker than 19mm or you can't get the clamps through the holes

 

[vally bar]

No problem 18 mm it is for a MFT but for a bench top thicker could be an option?

 

[JJ1]

I've just bought the Veritas Parf and normal dogs from APTC...
..tried them in a brand new MFT800 top and am disappointed at the 'slopiness'.
The diameter of the dogs that fit into the holes is 19.86mm.
Should they not be a lot nearer the 20mm hole size...ie. maybe 19.95ish?
I cant measure the hole sizes accurately..not having any bore mics!
I've not got the MFT3 yet..wondering if they will fit it any better!!

..surely I'm not being too 'picky'?

I think you'll find that the hole size is identical on all of the different MFT tops. I believe the size varied slightly with much older tops.

There is a reason for the slightly loose fit and I've read an explanation as to why but I can't remember where, probably on the Festool Owners Group Forum. I suspect it's because if the top was ever to swell a fraction due to moisture then the dogs would be too tight and awkward to use.
I wouldn't concern yourself with the loose fit affecting accuracy. They are threaded underneath with a standard M8 thread, so for a totally snug fit they can be easily fastened from underneath. I use a couple of the Festool knurled knobs that came with my clamps but anything else that fits will work fine.
I can certainly guarantee that using the Festool TS 55 in combination with the parf/bench dogs and MFT top will produce 100% accurate rip and cross cuts. When I first got my track saw I measured the accuracy of the cuts several times with a digital angle finder and it was 100% accurate time after time.