Microjig Matchfit Dovetail Clamps 8 months on [video 520]
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- [**Gifted/Ad] In this video I revisit my hybrid #Microjig #Matchfit #MFT after eight months of use to see how I’m getting on with the system. Enjoy!
** The Matchfit Dovetail clamp system from MicroJig was supplied for review by Wood Workers Workshop. I have not been paid to make this video or say nice things about the product. Visit woodworkersworkshop.co.uk for the full range of MicroJig products.
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Featured/mentioned in this video:-
MicroJig Matchfit Dovetail clamp Pro kit - woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/mic...
Relief Bit - woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/mic...
Staedtler 0.9 mechanical pencil amzn.to/3LbLN1j
0.9mm White leads - amzn.to/3a7T3e8
Festool lever clamp - amzn.to/2pOohLD (US: amzn.to/2pnFZIM)
Festool MFT - amzn.to/2x49HHE (US: amzn.to/2J25aKy)
Festool Midi extractor - amzn.to/2tCIN3Q (US: amzn.to/2rKNIOx)
Hultafors Talmeter tape measure - amzn.to/2pHwnbH (US: amzn.to/2oqLQc9)
Bessey DuoKlamp - amzn.to/3eDz1Ig (US: amzn.to/3w1s1dM)
Hultafors Talmeter tape measure - amzn.to/2pHwnbH (US: amzn.to/2oqLQc9)
Moldex 6810 in-ear defenders - amzn.to/2P2c5nP (US:amzn.to/2LgIsye)
Bahco 6” combi square - amzn.to/2oumhX4 (US: amzn.to/2ouSg9k)
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This is why an old-school bench with a variety of clamp types remains far more useful than adopting these proprietary systems. I have a few Matchfit dovetail clamps, and they work just fine as clamps, but I see little advantage to investing further thus limiting my options.
Thank you for putting together this helpful content!
I have and like the matchfit clamps, that said I only have holes on my workbench that I use them with as I didn't like the idea of weakening the top or splitting it. The main place I use the dovetails is on jigs for things like the tablesaw where it gives easy flexible clamping options rather than attaching a load of toggle clamps, at which point they also double up as nice push handles for the jig.
The fact that you used a standard clamp in a dog hole to secure the level to route better access to use the micro jig clamp tells a lot. Also showing but not mentioning all the ways that the grooves in the bench catch and collect items. Stick with what is simple and works. Thanks for the update.
I have one table with both dog holes and grooves then one with one dog holes. Using both holes and grooves makes face frame and door construction the simplest to find clamping options. Then if you sand the 90 degree bend of the clamp a little the clamps work in incra t track and festool guide rails. This makes it a very versatile clamp especially with jigs. Most used clamp next to parrellel camps but obviously then two are totally different.
That's not a "standard" clamp, that's a Festool clamp. A brand that is literally incompatible with other brands.
The clamps with dog holes would probably be just as good. But if you can’t go through you bench for numerous reasons dovetail grooves work great. And if you are making a sliding jig for a table saw for example, you can’t have the clamps go under the jig, so the dovetail groove is a must.
Thanks for the insights Peter. I have modified my festool gear/track clamps to use in dovetails and they still work well in my tracks.
Thanks Dave! Yes, always an option - though I remain unconvinced about the dovetail slot vs a regular T-slot routed into a surface. 🤷♂️ 👍
I agree with Peter as there is a lot to be said for limiting the number of systems in use (goodness knows there are enough of them). I use the Axminster tee-track cutter to cut slots that accommodate Festool and similar profiles clamps. I find that cutting the slots requires a clearance slot first for best results and I think this is what you did Peter when cutting for Matchfit dovetail slots, so no apparent advantages nor disadvantages to produce the slots themselves. Initially I was concerned about cutting tee-slots into 18mm ply in terms of the strength of the resultant material. However whatever is being clamped is on top of the weak spot of the track so the top of the track and the material being clamped simply form a sandwich filling between the jaws of the clamp. So for me it's Matchfit avoidance; despite the fact it looks like a very smart system indeed, it's a superfluous one. End of bulletin.
Hello. I have a couple of comments:
1. The Microjig system is mainly used to handle...other jigs that are made by hand for use on table saws, band saws and bench drills.
2. A good thick plywood should be used as the table top.
3. Woodpecker copied the idea a bit and started making their own table tops with MFT holes and dovetail grooves for...Festool clamps. I think this will be the new standard for carpentry tables as the MFT holes will no longer warp from clamping.
I made such a tabletop myself using a Bosch cutter in 24mm thick plywood and I can use Festool/Bessey and Piher clamps.
Now if woodpecker starting selling a router bit to make those grooves.
Thanks for this honest feed back. You answered a lot of my questions, and I agree: for some this may work well
Great video! As a newer woodworker, I’ve found these clamps to be one of the best purchases I’ve ever made due to their incredible versatility and how easily I can make different jigs that work with them which has saved me a lot of money and resources. In the long run I could see other options begin situationally better as you demonstrated, but I think these are incredible for the newer woodworker who doesn’t have as refined a setup as yours.
Glad to hear they work for you. As I say in the vid though, they don’t fit well into my well-established system. 👍
I will agree about the frustrations of the Matchfit system as a work bench top. Having electrical cords, drill bits, pencils, screws, and glue falling into those grooves is rather frustrating. I far prefer the system for making jigs and fences. It’s great for that, as you don’t need to have expensive t-track sitting around the shop for the unexpected jig build. I find myself using the Matchfit hardware about as much as the clamps.
Thank you for an honest unbiased opinion.
Thank you very much, answered every question I had and much more 🙏
This video helped me make my mind that these will not be for my main assembly table. They look like an excellent solution for jigs or vertical mounted clamp panels. Thanks!
Thanks for this informative review. Very well spoken and presented. 👍
Thanks for the update Peter, much appreciated.
I do have some matchfit clamps, but I won't be routing slots in my own mft worktop. IMHO, they're largely unnecessary with all the 20mm holes. They're best used with jigs and fixtures rather than the primary component of a worktop. I like the handles a lot though; quite grippy. So I'll use them for jigs as mentioned, and for through hole clamping.
I took a file to the clamps at the 90 degree bend allowing them to work with incra t track and my festool rails. Only takes a few strokes per side to remove enough material to make them fit.
Get a 10 degree dovetail bit and widen the slots so you can use your other accessories. Even the Festool clamp will work with a little fiddling. Honestly, try it! If nothing else, it will make a good video. If you make a new top with dovetail slots, you should absolutely use plywood. It's much less prone to tear out. Thanks for sharing!
Thx for this (another in a long row of) Video.
That´s exactly what I thought. Thanks for the video.
Amazing coincidence Peter, I just ordered a couple of their clamps the other day. As someone without a shed or a workshop I think they will be find for me, I have a slab of 25mm spare MDF to use on top of my folding workbench which will open up all manner of clamping options I don't currently have.
Thank you for this video. I had also considered a table with bench dogs and the machfit system. But now that I've seen what happens to the corners, I think I'll just use the holes.
Thanks for the update.
I'm planning on buying this system, but not for a workbench top for the reasons you outline.
My intended use is going to be for a couple of plywood jigs - one for my domino, a cross cut sled and a table saw tapering jig.
I was going to use MDF, but, after watching this I'll buy some plywood instead when I get around to it (and can afford the ply!!!!!!).
Two fantastic systems and you don't understand why your shop can not make them work together.
You will not be the first or the last to wonder why.
Like you said, 20+ years in one sphere of working, I wouldn't expect you to consider using Micro Jig.
Micro Jig is a whole differing ball game with a vast array of applications that your shop is not conducive too.
Space being the main item. I needed this chuckle you provided today, thank you.
These are just my own thoughts and are in way intended to be taken as in a nasty viewpoint.
Below are the trolls waiting to bite.
I agree with most of your thoughts/findings and it really does depend on your individual setup and use. For me... most of the time my Matchfit clamps stay on the jigs they are used on (drillpress fence, table saw fence/jigs, miter saw fence, etc.) and rarely come off. On my outfeed/assembly table I typically use the dog holes with either the Matchfit clamps or regular dog hole clamps, unless I'm doing something complex and need the extras to hold the parts down better. I only use them with plywood and not MDF.
All in all, I'm happy with them for their purpose and find it way more convenient than my old t-track and related clamps since the Matchfit can be made to fit anywhere you can cut a dovetail for them. It really makes most t-track I used to use very inconvenient when you consider the time it takes to install them where needed and have to buy/install the actual t-track itself.
My only complaint... they are a bit pricy unless you grab them on sale. I too wish all manufacturers made them interchangeable.
Thanks for the perspective, Peter! 😊
I absolutely agree, they should make things compatible. And the delamination is indeed a huge issue...
Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Just my opinion but Microjig was attempting to make a better thing rather than a compatible thing. I think the delamination could happen if one used compatible track clamps with t-slots and the t-slots would remove even more material than the dovetails slots.
Microjig is doing the same thing as Festool, making their own infrastructure. If you're gonna blame one company, you have to blame both.
You have a nice perspective there man!
0:05 0:05 My experience is quite different. I have adopted the matchfit dovetail slots in my benchtops, MFT tops, fixtures and jigs. In the process I’ve learned to solve most of the challenges, some similar to what you show in your video. I even adapted your rail hinge design to use the matchfit hardware. I have a couple of Festool clamps for my rails but otherwise I have about 50 matchfit clamps. I also have the 20 mm dog hole as well and use the combination of the slots and dovetail grooves especially during glue ups. All my tops except one are 3/4” ply and I’ve never had a tear out.
The comment about your MFT muscle memory is on the money, as you demonstrated when you were sliding the level along the top to reposition it for the router. My own muscle memory would have led me to use a dovetail clamp for that particular operation! Good video as usual.
When clamping I really feel that it comes down to the right clamp in the right situation. I would use Festool clamps on my MFT surfaces, but am also keen on the Bessey TW20 click klamps for the same task as you do not need to feed them through the work surface. I am also a fan of MicroJig and think they come into their own when you want to hold a workpiece securely to a jig that has a flat bottom to allow it to move freely when either trim routing or using on a table saw
Great video. I am of the same mind. I have both a MatchFit assembly table and MFT style track saw table. I always find myself just using the MFT table and slipping the dovetail clamps through the dog holes. Dog holes have proven WAY more versatile in my workflow. I also appreciate your B roll at the end of the video of stuff getting stuck in the dovetail grooves. It's a pain to get things out. Things fall through dog holes completely, which is also a pain, but I feel like I know in advance what I'm signing up for with the dog hole issue.
Yo saco todo lo que se cae por las ranuras con ayuda de un imán
You carnt re invent the wheel Peter bench dogs and mft top for me and il never change .thanks for the content all the same
Peter, I bought several of the Banggood clamps & swapped some of the lever type with what I could with the Match fit. Then I decided to grinded off a slight bit of material off both sides of the banggood clamps so that they would all fit in the match fit dovetail slots
I'll admit that i really use the match fit on my workbench, but I've been very happy with them on my crosscut sled
Thanks for the honest feedback. I have set my shed bench with a MFT top up like yours and have been building some bookcases and cabinets for my son (about 40 feet in 600mm “units”) and I was dubious but the MFT makes repetitive tasks simple. I can’t really see the benefit of the micro jigs because there seems to be plenty of flexibility with just using clamps through the holes.
Thank you Peter!
You cannot be efficient with every single tool, every single method of doing. I never own a MFT table but use to dog holes on the CNC and assembly table. Dogs are fantastic for positionning and referencing. Not so much for holding compare to the Magfit system. The only problem with Magfit is about the straight face approach, no rotation. You can make a cutting table (MFT) with diagonal slots. Peter Parrfit made a video about such a table using dogs, that illustrate what I mean. Also the Magfit clamps works wonder for holding panels vertically and for all kind of jigs around powertool.
I feel your frustration with these. Before i had an mft i bought these to use for clamping my festool track down on location jobs. I called the company and they told me to dremel the neck of the clamp to fit the festool. Pretty easy to do and now i use them on dashboard PWS T- track. Not hard to modify but they do rust a bit where i dremeled material off.
makes me flinch to see a level being clamped.
I agree... They are a great idea that turns out to be a pain in the neck. I bought some to use in the high school woodshop where I teach... They are so hard to adjust it becomes very annoying for all involved.
I like the MicroJig system on my table saw sled but not on my cnc wasteboard. It has it's uses but it's not for everyone.
Microchip invented a system for a problem which doesn't exist!
A straight forward MFT with the appropriate clamps is more than enough.
I see this as the kind of set up that you might use on a dedicated island assembly table in the middle of your workshop. I'm used to just dropping a clamp in an MFT hole, and I really don't like the idea of my main bench top riddled with channels!
Don't throw out the baby out with the bathwater.Youve figured it out!Yes the Micro Jig slots can be a pain.But they sure less expensive than T tracks.
why bother with matchfit when you can just as easily route T track? Woodpeckers just released a bit that does it like the micro jig one, but better
@@coolbugfacts1234 plus similar bits are for a long time available on aliexpress or banggood dirt cheap. And for this purpose they are good enough.
@@coolbugfacts1234 haven’t seen this bit yet.Sounds promising
Not in Britain! £££
@@10MinuteWorkshop we have to wait longer for stuff like new festool tools and it's impossible to find metric versions of common tools so i think it works out :)
most stores here don't even carry tape measures with a metric side. even the US versions of festool track saws only have an imperial scale which is maddening
I ordered the new Woodpeckers bit that makes a t slot. It will fit Festool and other common clamps
I agree with everything you've said, but I still love my matchfit clamps and slots :) - one nice thing is that it doesn't matter how thick your bench top is, iirc the rail clamps top out at 3/4inch (or something)
I really like them as well - they just don't work for me. 🤷♂️
Another option might be the WoodAnchor, produced by ToolQuest. It's really more for creating jigs & fixtures, but the WoodAnchor slot is much stronger than a regular dovetail slot, and you wouldn't have the damage/pullout issues.
I have used the Micro-Jig system for both jigs and the tracks on an MFT type top and, like Peter, see more cons than pros. While they work well for jigs - my initial use for them - I don't like the flimsy small knobs and smaller gauge screws compared to t-track hardware not to mention how pricey they are. Also the jig hardware, like the tracks, is not compatible with non-Micro-jig hardware.
As for the dovetail tracks they reach some areas that the dog holes do not but not many. I have found the dovetail tracks more useful as vertical and horizontal tracks along the side panels on my bench. Using those side rails I made sliding fences along the edges for my track saw guide rails and am able to align the blade to run in the dovetail tracks avoiding any need for a sacrificial strip or any mark in the table top (Those sliding fences are height adjustable and have an embedded 3/8" dowel on the top of the fence that the Makita rail fits in perfectly. Alignment is easily achieved by sliding one fence pivoting on the dowels until the other end is square.) Also those side tracks work well for clamping wide panels and other things that a vise might not accommodate. Because my top is open on all sides and underneath I don't have the accessibility issues that Peter has. I also already had cutout slots to accommodate a crosscut sled from the table saw and can use those as interior insertion points for the dovetail clamps. There are also some interesting uses for inserting the dovetail clamps into dog holes from underneath the table into dovetail tracks on a inverted jig piece.
However, as useful as the side tracks are, t-tracks would accomplish the same thing with greater compatibility and wider selection of better hardware at lower cost especially if you already have lots of t-track hardware and other clamps like I do . That is why I will soon try the Woodpecker router bits for making t-track.
I'm not sure I like the fact that you risk splitting the substrate if you tighten them too much or get sideways pressure. Are the standard holes a better solution?
I have received the Woodpecker track clamp router bit and cut a few test grooves and here is what I found. (note: It pretty easily cut grooves in both baltic birch and mdf in one pass.)
The Festool track clamps work perfectly as expected. Surprisingly, the MIcro-Jig dovetail hardware (not the track clamps) for jigs also work well without any modification. The Micro-Jig track clamps will work with a small modification: a shaving of approx. 1/64" on either side of the clamp where it bends; takes about 30 seconds total with a grinder. 1/2" hex bolts with a 5/16" threaded shaft also work perfectly so you can make use of all those 5/16-18 standard knobs that you may already have. Finally, if you do a similar small shaving of metal on those oval shaped t-track bolts they will also fit in the Woodpecker track.
It would appear, then, that the Woodpecker track clamp bit is more versatile that the dovetail groove especially if you modify the dovetail clamps and t-track oval bolts which is trivial to do. Since I only have a few of the Micro-Jig track clamps I will definitely modify them and perhaps a few of the oval bolts if needed. And with cheap 1/2" hex bolts I can now make use of all those knobs I already have. Doesn't solve Peter's insertion point issue but I could live with that.
Great info, thanks for sharing! I’ve resolved my insertion point issue by widening the slots at the back of the bench, in front of the fence. Works well.
Couldn't agree more with your summation. I have always had sagging using this system unless I use much thicker stock like 25mm. Also these clamps can't swivel at 360 deg like the Kregs, Besseys, Rocklers and Armor tools and as a result you need all the slots, vertical and horizontal. Some of these clamps are also auto adjusting. I made a drill press table that only needed 2 T tracks which covered the fence and hold downs. I've seen UA-cam videos using 10 dovetail slots. So stick with your MFT dog holes and clamps
Yes, I didn't want to add that the 'linear' nature of them was also a pain as it seemed an obvious/whingeing thing to say, but it really is a pain when you're used to being able to swivel a clap in a hole! 👍
Interesting video. I see your point. I recently bought the MFT/3. But I don’t have any of the Festool clamps yet. Or any other brand like these. I only have the match fit clamps. So my viewpoint was that I was glad that I could use them in the holes. I also don’t have other t-tracks. So I don’t have the compatibility issues. However… your view on them does help in deciding the times I will use the system and when I won’t. I for sure won’t be using the router bit and doing the grooves in my new MFT. I did buy some TSO products and feel pretty good about my clamping right now. Thank you for sharing your findings.
I’ll add… I was gifted the whole match fit set for Mother’s Day. So I have the dovetail bit (not the other one), 6 clamps, lots of the hardware stuff, as well as some other items. I do like the system a lot. But this helped me decide on the jigs I will use them for.
Such a great video. I must say I was taken in by some of their marketing and reviews. Your video really made me appreciate the elegant simplicity of bench dog holes. As others have mentioned, one thing they could be good for is jigs with reparable stops. I wonder if you could compare matchfit, t track and t track router bits for this use case in a future video? Is it really cheaper and easier to run a line of matchfit vs buying t track and embedding it?
I despite ,,Trenches in the bench " just for pure act of fishing something from them. I think MFT is giving me enough grief when I'm chasing fiddly parts in to void under , but parts are at least sliding and not bumping in to the growes . This is perhaps strong ,but i love MFT truly , it changed my process and Im not going back
Great review. I have considered the matchfit system because as a hobbyist the MFT is just not an option if I want to keep living in my house with my wife and kids. I have really enjoyed the budget MFT builds but the MFT tops have been difficult to find in my area and not sure I have the time to layout and manually drill all of those holes. Thanks again Peter for these videos.
There are a number of jigs available now that allow you to make your own MFT tops. I borrowed a friend's Parf guide set for the cost of a six-pack of beer. Also a number of folks with large CNCs who will cut one for a very reasonable fee.
I bought an MFT 60 by 85 top on Ebay for under £50 which I love, so it can be done on a mobile basis.
Thanks for the update and your opinion.
I feel like you may open up the dovetail slot in the middle of the table too, so you can drop a clamp down in either direction.
I can see this system being very useful for repeat work were your not repositioning after every cut or glue up.
Woodpeckers released a t track router bit that cuts and chamfers all at once, plus it's a spiral up cut bit rather than traditional brazed cutters like the matchfit
Hi Peter... I use them, but I'm not fan... I made a cross cut sled using them... it's all right... I made a portable dog hole work bench that I use with my Bora Centipede Workstand... when needed I grab a matchfit dovetail clamp for a dog hole clamp. I have promised myself to build a bigger cross cut sled using the matchfit dovetail clamping kit that I bought... maybe I'll become a fan... :( ?
Dennis from Hooked on Wood just talked about these as well in his latest video. He was fed up with coords getting stuck in the grooves - I think I would be too. It's another small thing, but many small things combined lead to real frustrations.
Yes, I think the Microjig system is a bit like Marmite and having invested in it, I went to great lengths to reinforce the underside of my MFT Top, whilst also ensuring standard clamps would still fit in the dog holes.
I must admit when I made my top, I made sure I didn't have any slots close to the edge as it's probably inevitable that the clamping pressure is going to split the top, especially in MDF.
One aspect I do like that doesn't get mentioned very often is that you can undo one screw and turn the head around
This means if you use a strong back with holes in it, the clamps can then be used to put downward pressure onto the work piece on the bench.
Not sure if I explained that very well 😁.
Where the Microjig system comes into its own is with various Jigs, especially on the Sawbench etc but they are not for everyone.
So is the MicroJig a solution without a problem?
I surprised that people haven’t produced their own dovetail clamps.
I just use Bessey clamps & cut the grooves with a dovetail bit. Works the same way (as far as I can see) & was a lot cheaper than the matchfit gear & more cross compatible.
My setup is a bit of a mashup. Originally it just had some T'Tracks. Then I added a grid of MFT type 20mm dogholes & lastly added some dovetail grooves.
This combo allows me to clamp most things. At some point I'll replace the top when I've decided which system I use the most.
All systems have their pros & cons. I suppose trying them all out is the best way to figure out which one to go with (or whether to use a combo).
Just run the corner of the micro jig clamps across the grinder to take down the corner that binds and they work well with Festool track. Cheers
That’s MicroJig’s job, wouldn’t you say? 🤷♂️
going throug with a hm T-groeffrees Ø 12,7 mm for creating a compatible system with the t track systems, isn't this a solution?
With your old MFT system I've watched you do amazing things and now you're investing hours and hours into a system which seems to be failing in far to many ways. Sometimes new just isn't better! Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
I really like the concept of the Matchfit system but unfortunately I don't have access to the hardware and clamps where I live. I do have access to track saw clamps, though, so what I've been doing is I 3D print hardware that's shaped just like the Matchfit track nuts but fits nicely inside a 9/16'' dovetail groove, which also happens to be a great fit for my Makita clamps (which I can find rather easily). It's also way cheaper than the original hardware - all I need is a few cents' worth of filament and an M6 hex bolt. Finding a decent 9/16'' dovetail bit is a bit of a hassle, however.
You obviously need to move your worktops to make them more accessible for the Microjig clamps ... solves all your problems 😂
I don't have this system or t-track or MFT at the moment, but will be going with an MFT style top when I do get around to building myself workbenches ... it seems to offer everything I'd need, while at the same time not weakening the top by cutting slots in it which can then actually delaminate the top if used incorrectly 👍
Does that behchtop have drawer under? Plenty of dust and small items fell under and I have to bend to my knees to clean or pick. Not tidy as you are?
Nope, no drawer. And no losses… 🤷♂️👍
😃 Nice honest re-visit Peter. Where the hell did that 8 months go 😬. With 20 years of muscle memory to use... I think sticking with what works is the way forward. Having said that, if we don't try new things then progress is never made 😁. Thanks for the video Peter 😁👍.
Cheers Frank! 👍
I was wondering about the issue with needing to always insert from the edge of the top. I have both an MFT type table and a T slot table. The thing I like about the T slots is that I can slide a stop to any position easily, but the MFT limits me to the dog hole positions; the same with clamps. The advantage the T slots have over the dovetails is that I can insert at the intersections so I do not need to slide all the way from the edge. I do hate all the variations in T track that causes compatibility problems.
Why not slide the rear clamps in from the front? Just put them in backwards??
As always, your experience and insights make a very helpful video. I wonder if those dovetail grooves could be made deeper so there's more material where the clamps pull?
The bits have a pretty specific depth mark on them, so I suspect not. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Hmm... I wonder if maybe you used the 1/4" shank version, and then opend up the top with a straight cutter? Sounds like more effort, even if it might work. But it just seems that "more meat" above the dovetail would be a good thing.
What a bad idea. Because of you I built a custom MFT table that 4 years later is absolutely square, I use it and the clamps every day, I don’t have to think about it or worry about the table coming apart. I firmly believe that you can use your brilliant mind for something far more useful than this.
Yeah, you are still neutral🤣 Great video, thanks. I was considering this as a follow-up whenever my MFT has to be replaced. But given your considerations I will have to give that a second thought.
A question, did the match fit clamp or placement, ever do anything the festool wouldn’t?
The only thing it did was reach workpieces that fell between the reach of two holes. Other than that it was more hindrance than help. 🤷♂️
Can't you route the dovetail slot from the wall with a 90°bit about 4-5" so that you just have to drop the clamp and pull it towards your self to get it working?
Have you watched the video? I do exactly that. 🤷♂️
@@10MinuteWorkshop Hahaa No! I'm a bad person 😄 I watched only until you told about the problem. I watched in a hurry..
Impartial as usual Peter. MFT has so many after market / 3rd party accessories and works really well. Festool dominate but you can buy cheap dogs from Banggood etc along with the squaring capabilities it has to be the most flexible system?
I've never tried milling MatchFit dovetails in MDF or HDF, but the tear-out shown at 4:00-4:45 is fairly predictable - no less so than if someone used drywall screws with MDF. In contrast, Baltic Birch plywood and solid Poplar (in any grain direction) have never failed me with MatchFit clamps in regular use.
I've never had an MFT top delaminate like that in 20 years of using them. 🤷♂️
What are the red spacer you used in the video? I think you've mentioned these in some of your other videos.
They're plastic shims or packers - handy for all kinds of things. 👍 Plastic packers - amzn.to/3JawQtF (US: amzn.to/3lfdZpf)
@@10MinuteWorkshop dad gummit..Hopefully they will be available sometime since they are listed unavailable at the moment.
What are those little spacers (I think you call them “packers”) and where do you get them?
Yep, plastic packers, or shims. You can see them in my Amazon store under the 'odds and ends' list, direct link here - amzn.to/3JqBfst or browse the store at 10minuteAmazon.com 👍
Great update video Pete, how are the other bench tops holding up mate? Do you think the black is suitable for a van fit out ? Can you get it in MR ? Cheers Pete
Thanks Dan! Other bench tops are absolutely fine. The Fibracolour isn’t an MR biard no, and seems softer internally than eg Valchromat. As long as you’re not exposing the core or treating the edges harshly, it’s no problem. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop thanks Pete appreciate your feedback 👍
Hi, What is the name of those pins you dropped in the grooves at the end of the vid? Ta.
They're called clevis pins - amzn.to/3YLLtJE
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thank you! I might invest in a few of those. Thanks for your vids.
Great video again. Is there anywhere in particular u recommend buying a mft table top from so its 100% square? Thanks
They should all be 100% square! I've had no issues with the MFT tops from CNC design. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks ordered straight away!!
Did you cut off the small piece of aluminum on the right side of your Bench Dogs UK fence, I have been considering cutting it off on mine since I have already accidently cut through it a couple times.
The under rail support used to be separate until a few months ago. "Our revised fence now comes with the under rail support complete in one piece."
@@johnclements6614 mine arrived only a week ago and is separate. Glad it is too.
@@jamesmitchell2041 I think it is now optional looking at the website.
I am very pleased with my bench dogs fence which I got last summer with the under track bit separate.
I think the vast majority of the utility is in making the table. As someone who does not own an mft, routing dove tails into a table is a lot more approachable than buying some expensive system to make an mft or pay for one. Since you've already got the mft, the utility to you would be greatly reduced.
Thanks! I think they perform two separate functions. A benefit of the MFT is the squareness of the grid of holes, so not just for clamping but for referencing against; dovetail grooves in a benchtop don’t provide that, and if you just wanted a clamping surface then a 20mm forstner bit is cheaper and easier than a proprietary dovetail router bit. Here in the UK MFT tops are a commodity item and can be bought for ~£40 / $50 or so, so the value proposition for the Microjig bits and pieces is definitely skewed against it, as they’re an expensive item here, compared to other clamps. 👍👍
I can’t imagine having both systems on one top. Ughh I shudder at the idea of losing “things” down holes and slots
I’ve done a similar thing on different tops (but not my mft type one) using the Axminster rail clamp router bit, so I can use all my standard clamps and m8 bolts only cost around £30.
I have a smaller hardwood top I use with some dog holes around the perimeter and a diagonal slot cut from end to end which is really handy
with softer mdf they act the perfect wedge chisel wood splitting effect as you clamp up....plywood seems more viable....
Agree with your opinion. Great idea, execution of function not optimal for the weakness it places in the substrate. I also think that regardless of the substrate used, over time the pressure of the clamp will fatigue the substrate at the edges of the grooves.
I’m sticking with aluminum t-track…
👍
An interesting dilemma. One possible solution that came to mind is to put a slight dovetail bevel on the leading edge of the Microjig clamp to enable a universal fit. It make work, it may sacrifice a clamp to R&D. Regardless of the clamp issue is the MFT needing to be stronger for better long term use. In my area we do not have availability of MFT or a genuine Baltic Birch plywood. Having zero experience with these systems or the MFT, a question for you: Would a thin, penetrating resin applied to the material strengthen it sufficiently to warrant the attempt?
Not worth the agg to try and make them work, I don't think - not for me, anyway. My previous MFT tops have generally lasted around 5 years, so all the issues I've had stem from the matchfit grooves. 👍
I hate the screw aspect of the matchfit clamps. I've filled all of my quick clamp/mft clamp feet to the same profile of the matchfit clamps at it works great.
What can you do with Matchfit that you can't with traditional holes? If for you there is an answer then Matchfit is a good fit. It doesn't seem that for Peter's usage there is any benefit.
In my view positioning the clamps to the workpiece is easier versus the workpiece to the clamps
I was going to suggest you alter your work flow a wee bit and pre-stage the clamps in back by sliding them in from the front, then the work piece is placed. Instead of altering the slot. But I was a bit late to the party. :D
I bought some of those clamps years ago to add to my tablesaw fence. Still in the package. sigh....
But then you never know where you'll need them to be, and as I say, 20 years of MFT muscle-memory of just being able to fit them anyehere, anytime, is hard to fight against. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop I've had great ideas of my own ruined by years of muscle memory. :p
Thanks for doing this video, I was looking for a work holding system for my cnc and i think this will be perfect. I can see this being useful for a lot of other things like my domino. I do feel that I wont be replacing the mft top with this system at least for the moment. Ive ordered some of the router bits and the clamps.. looking forward to trying this system
Why not use the 20mm holes and use old time bench dog hold downs??
You can, of course, use whatever you like, but I think in a video review of the microjig match fit system, it’s probably better to stick to the product in question. 👍
An apples to oranges comparison is the way to go when you're choosing between apples and oranges. The apples and oranges here are dog holes vs tracks for clamping. I don't think the negative aspects of tracks are specific to the Matchfit system. They apply to aluminum t-tracks as well, compounded by the cost and bother of buying and mounting the t-track.
Good points all around, and a short list of things NOT to do with the Microjig system. It appears your objections circle around your very specific usage of the system. I have never seen another MFT top with a grid of dovetails. And your choice of top material may also exacerbate your issues. Most of the Microjig jigs I have seen use "Baltic Birch" not MDF.
Forse sarebbe utile che l'incrocio delle scanalature a coda di rondine coincidessero con i fori: il micro jig si innesterebbe da i fori e non solo dai bordi.
Saluti!
I'm sorry but i want to know if it is OK for me so i expected to get a impartial analyse with the pro and con. Sorry for my english, by the way i am a fan.
I’m sorry you’re sorry - though I’m not sure I understand why you’re sorry - but if you expect an impartial analysis then you’re on the wrong channel; I give my honest opinion of products, usually a ‘first look’ when I first get the product, and a proper review after after a decent period of use, like this one. I’ve laid out the issues I’ve had with the system overall and how it relates to my usage of clamps and an MFT top, the location of my bench and how that impacts on the practical use of these clamps, and my overall dissatisfaction with the incompatibility of the system with standard rail clamps. This is all information that I feel would be useful to anyone looking to invest in the system - possibly having seen the enthusiastic positive videos posted here on UA-cam in association with the system. I literally can’t say more than that, and if that isn’t enough information for you then all I can suggest is that you put your hand in your pocket and buy a set, see how it goes. 👍
Not all things, that looks practical are functional. I think the MFT with standard holes is a good compromise.
Minuses seems bigger than pluses... as a professional who has a 1000€ woodslab on table and router cord catches at the wrong time.... yikes!
I think you're probably just more use to the mft