Thanks, Peter for the review, looking forward to seeing it in place on your bench. as for the weights at present the Medite Version is 31Kg and the Valchromat is 33.5Kg.
I picked my table up from the factory about a month ago and got a tour as well which was a bonus. It’s a quality product and I’m looking forward to using it in a couple of weeks for making some cabinets at home.
This has always been an excellent channel, but it just keeps getting better and better. Thank you, Peter, for mastering your craft of video production and topic selection. That's all besides how much I learn from you.
It really makes a great impression. I do see the weight as an actual advantage, still light enough to be able to move it each day, but heavy enough to be stable for plaining.
Absolute no denying it, its a fabulous product. As with all BD products, looks extremely well turned out. I can't justify the price point though for my workshop. I've gone the Metabo (£179) route and I can get three of those for the cost of one BD main bench. With the Metabo that allows me to cut full sized sheets. I'm very very happy with the route I've gone. But if budget was no option then a full BD set up would already be on order!!!!
This is it, tbh. With a 3x3 custom rail hinge and the parf system; this is replicated to the exact same accuracy at a fraction of the cost. Yes, BD stuff is quality, for sure, and no doubt for professional joiners is worth the outlay, but it's just way overpriced for the market, for me.
As someone who has bought both of those benches myself I completely see where you’re coming from and as I think I say in the video we’re in a golden age of plenty as far as MFT style benches go. Great to have the choice! 👍
Hi Peter, Good review on the Ultra MFT workstation, It's good to see that all benchdogs fit the MFT top and no reaming needed. As always a great video have a good weekend Take care
Hi Peter, Thank you for the outstanding video as always! It would be extremely helpful if you could one day do a complete beginner's guide to MFT workstations and all the various attachments such hinges, fences, squares etc needed to get started as a beginner. Perhaps related to the bundles offered by Benchdog tools on their website. I've been contemplating whether to go all out for one of their bundles or start off gradually with just a bench and build up from there.
Mine came last week while on holiday, but it’s set up now and a good bench. I’ve found the hole chamfer on mine is not quite enough For UJK dogs, but that’s the only compatibility issue I’ve found. Fixed with the uk chamfer tool. When setting it up, found the weight too much. I was filming that set-up at the time and looking at the footage today I was clearly angered by the heft of the thing. I’ve calmed down a bit now but HSE recommends that above 26kg it’s a two person lift. It’s something I’m aware of in my day job when managing site compliance and risk and something the delivery driver complained about when he showed up and I wasn’t around to help. The wheels will be a necessity for frequent site work. Do also remember that it’s a complete system but minus the rail. And like the mft/3 the optimal length is going to be 1080mm with a 1400mm rail feeling a little too long.
Been waiting for this, my finger is hovering over order button!!! - worry is Benchdogs usually bring out a Mk2 of something within 1-2 years. It does look like they have thought of virtually everything. Do I tell the wife that I’ve watched another one of your videos 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Looks great. I didn’t like how wobbly or expensive the Festool MFT was, so I built one out of Baltic birch. It’s 30 x 48” and weighs 23kg. And has legs put at 15° so it doesn’t wobble at all and doesn’t need cross supports.
Been waiting for this review. As soon as I get a garage or a leak proof shed, this is going to be my first purchase! My airing cupboard can't take any more tools for now ha
Great video! I have spent time making my own MFT style work bench. Following Ron Paulk and his many benches, Dave Stanton and his small work portable bench. I built my own, it is very heavy. For me, it had to fit in the back of my estate to be able to work at my daughters and else where. From what I can see, this new bench ticks a high number of boxes. As you say, the replaceable strip, a light coat to protect the surface, is not a big deal. The cost is in a good ball park. To make one cost me more!
Great bench and as with many things from Bench dogs super tempting, for my use case though it would very much be an indulgence. Fast forward to 12 months from now where I'm blaming you because I wound up buying it lol
Got mine last week, based on this vid I think peter has more core strength than me 💪😄 First thing I did with mine was hand plane a scrap of wood on it, was solid
The quality of these seem outstanding. I can definitely see the value in having one of these in a tighter space. The flatpack option is a great idea, I'll be looking into this and if the price to ship this across the pond makes sense, I just might take you up on that discount code :) Full colored MDF or Velcromat is difficult to find over here..would love to get that black top CNCd. Great video as always Peter, thank you!
I thought I was quite far down the MFT rabbit hole..... turns out my descent has only just begun! this looks very interesting.... off to Benchdogs site I go....
Great video. Brilliant product from Benchdogs, as usual. But you know, I think I’ll stick with my Peter Millard designed portable workbench. It doesn’t have the features and the t-tracks on the side, but it does me fine.
Great to see this product, looking for award to the follow up video. One question I hope you can answer Peter. What is the widest width between the dog holes across the bench? Could you fit a 600mm sheet between them so that you could cut it using Stanton dog locks method (for those of us without a rail hinge)? Thanks
Sorry for the slow response - had to get back in the workshop to check. Yes, you can get 650mm between a pair of quad dogs on the short side, 1030mm or just over on the long side.👍
Thanks for the review Peter, I have an MFT3 so couldn't justify the cost of the new table but I have just taken delivery of the new Benchdogs Valchromat replacement top and the Quad MFT hinge system, the out of the box accuracy of the Quad Hinge & top has really put the rickety Festool Hinge (That endlessly needed correcting) to shame, I am less than 0.04mm over 600mm out (that's less than 0.0016") which makes it more accurate than a top end woodpecker square and importantly it seems repeatable! I could push for more on the custom pin setting but seems good enough for my needs as is. but I have to say from a pointless perspective the Valchromat is super bling especially with a bunch of stainless plugs in it, was there a need in my little workshop? nope but does look good!, Only downside is I might recess the front hinge part to be flush with some beneath bolstering but not sure yet but that would increase the cut width a fair bit... Thanks as always for the great posts.
Thanks Brian! Yes, the OEM MFT hinge was an odd design - having the height and lateral adjustment on the same clunky level lock would always be problematic! And I 100% agree with the bling of the valchromat, it just looks fantastic. 👌👍
Nice addition to the MFT market. I would like to see the MFT3 comparison also. I also have the MFT1080 and a MFT800 table I use, with some of Rob’s (DashBoard) accessories. Benchdog seems to have come up with an excellent product at a better price than Rob is doing, but Rob’s system does interface with the MFT quite nicely, including his Outrigger extension unit. Cheers
Hi Peter, hope you have a speedy recovery. Unfortunately to get the size I want here in the states, these are out of my price range. I found a really good rail system and bought a large custom Valchromat top from Benchdogs. Can you finish it like MDF. Shellac, hard wax oil?
Thanks Peter, that looks like a great albeit premium product, perhaps not what you need with your current wrist strain though ? It's out of my budget league unfortunately, but like most Benchdog items I wouldn't necessarily say it's not reasonable value for money, just hard for me to justify, looking forward to your long term review !
Yes, definitely a premium product. Once it’s in place it won’t be moved around much, so the 31Kg weight isn’t that big of a deal tbh, and the wheel set will definitely be useful! 👍
I really like the Benchdogs mft. As I'm in the US, I'd have to see what the cost of it is over here with shipping to see if it's a viable purchase. I think though, that the Paulk workstation, with pats supplied from a local CNC shop would be cheaper and larger. The only difference would be the lack of clamping slots around the perimeter. I appreciate the time and cost to yourself to make these videos. As an ex pat in the US, I fully appreciate the system approach. There are black and green users over here but the Euro system has never been fully adopted, much like the metric system which I still use.
I'm thinking there's another product in this - a version that only has the tracks on front and back extrusion, stubby height adjustment feet instead of legs and no handle, meant for building into an existing workshop like yours. Also a pre-routed sacrificial strip channel would probably be a nice addon too for people who buy the bench and quad hinge bundle.
Oh, you started video some weeks before, seen the wrist been injured 😢 It's a great bench, 35kg, not for everyday carry. I got the Benchdogs hinge and know the quality of Ralphs products.
Short answer, very. This is from the Medite spec sheet - I'll link that below as well:- PERFORMANCE The test methods used for moisture resistant MEDITE MR includes a specialized cyclic test (EN 321) in which test pieces, after conditioning, are immersed in water at 20°C for 72 hours, frozen in air at -12°C for 24 hours, and heated in an air-circulated oven at 70°C for 72 hours. This cycle is carried out three times, followed by post conditioning and physical testing according to EN 622 test methods. MEDITE MR is accepted in the UK by the NHBC for use in suitable applications. Medite MRMDF data sheet - files.mutualcdn.com/medite-smartply/files/MEDITE-MR-Datasheet-V12-0224.pdf
My only gripe is that the holes at the ends are not on 48mm centres from the edge so when you add extra tables to it you lose the 96mm centres at the joint.
Thanks, good review! In this review it appears that the legs are actually straight (perpendicular to tabletop), but in a previous video, the legs were slightly angled out or splayed. Curious if this is a design change? Think the splayed legs could be problematic - possibly a trip hazard or interfering with clamping tall items to side. Definitely like version depicted in this video. It's also cool that all sides are flat and stands straight without support - can be easily stored away when not in use. It's weight is definitely heavier than the MFT/3 or the Portable Dashboard, but that can be an advantage if used as stationary workbench. I found that the MFT/3 can be a bit heavy and awkward to handle at times, so doubt that this would be easier without adding wheel package? Like the ability to store rail underneath, also like leg design, with channels could easily add mounts or other shelving. I doubt I would purchase as a portable solution, but if rigidity is comparable to the Portable Dashboard and had the option of retractable casters - it would be an ideal solution for a great movable workbench at home. The MFT/3 has always been difficult to reposition when needing move slightly, especially if loaded with materials or tools! Have you seen the Shortcut version of the Portable Dashboard - at 20kg that would be an interesting comparison! Thanks Again!
No, the legs are designed to be splayed for stability, though I will check to see if they would lock in the 90° position - that’s something I hadn’t considered, thanks. 👍
In the original video we had the hinged legs directly connected to the extrusion but found over time that this wasn’t stable and could come loose. So we made the leg blocks which prevented the logs from splaying and made it more stable.
@@Benchdogtools Does this mean that the legs are now always at 90 degrees, and does that apply to the outrigger attachment as well? Also from the review, I discovered that there is a ver 2.1 of your fence - great improvement - just placed an order. Thanks!
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks Peter! I'd be interested to know the max cut width between the Quad Hinge and Quad Hinge Support for the Utra MFT. I've considered the Quad Hinge system since it can be utilized with multiple rail types, but due to the way its mounted to MFT/3, it reduces cut width. In your review, noticed that the Quad Hinge butts up flush with the under-rail portion of fence, which is a problem I've been trying to correct in current setup - the under-rail portion of fence (old version) flexes slightly. Curious if the cut width is now comparable or more than that of the MFT/3 since the Ultra MFT is slightly larger than MFT/3.
Thanks for the vide0, I just received my metabo mwb table and I really like it, this one is great but at 10kg more and the price... Yeah luckily I got a reamer from BD because holes are definitely too tight 😅
Looks good, with the only negative being that the black finish seems to come off very easily for something that is priced like this. You've only use it to show us the features and I can already see the sides scratching up with sliding and tightening the clamps on the side. I know it's a work tool, but still.
I’d have to check when I’m next in the workshop but honestly it’s probably a question best addressed to @benchdogtools - I know the extrusion is custom to them. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop I did not think of that. Lol. Once I get these measurements I would like to send you the accessory I have been working on for that bench.
I think it's unfortunate that Benchdogs decided to close access to the T-Slots from the corners of the table. On a Festool MFT the corners are open, which allows to slide various accessories in the T-slots, which can be longer than the foot of a quick clamp.
That’s feedback that should probably go to Benchdog Tools, but I can’t think of a single accesssory I’ve used that can’t have the option of t-bolts instead of a t-bar. 🤷♂️👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop My MFT is freestanding, doesn't have anything next to it. I 3D printed a pencil tray, a cable hook, a tray to hold 6 benchdogs and a hook for my earmuffs and safety glasses.
We designed the connection system this way for accuracy when connecting multiple tables. With the slots this allows for sliding nuts to allow for connecting accessories.
@@Benchdogtools Thanks for your response. That's absolutely fine. I know you guys make high quality products for I have bought some. I think it would be beneficial for people who use 3rd party accessories, or who make their own, to know the length of the slots. The product description already indicates the width (8 and 10mm) but knowing the length of the opening would also be very useful. Thank you.
i was about to place an order but the shipping to canada is 1/3 of the total cost... that is unfortunate.. and later i tried to get the workbench without the top. they do not even ship to Canada...
The really unfortunate part is that the shipping costs to the US and Canada are subsidised - it actually costs more than that. re the discount, are you ordering the bundle? As noted in the description, the discount code won't apply unfortunately, as it's already a discounted package.
Peter - wouuld reducing the leg length of the makita clamp not allow it to fit a standard top? I don't use mft tops so can't try it but just looking at the video it certainly looks like it would
Well I didn't know that my Makita rail clamps don't play nicely with an mft. Bummer. A video idea that spring to mind watching this, how moisture resistant is MR MDF? Maybe a comparison to standard MDF (which we all know swells if you as much as breathing near it).
There’s a link in the description to the spec sheet, but this is the money quote: “PERFORMANCE The test methods used for moisture resistant MEDITE MR includes a specialized cyclic test (EN 321) in which test pieces, after conditioning, are immersed in water at 20°C for 72 hours, frozen in air at -12°C for 24 hours, and heated in an air-circulated oven at 70°C for 72 hours. This cycle is carried out three times, followed by post conditioning and physical testing according to EN 622 test methods. MEDITE MR is accepted in the UK by the NHBC for use in suitable applications.”
Could be branded as MFT/3 version 2.0, incorporating features that address the various niggles of the Festool product. I wonder if Ralph might soon be enjoying a comfortable early retirement when TTS Tooltechnic Systems make an offer he cannot refuse! The only issue for me is the weight. At 35kg I doubt I could comfortably lift it off the floor to set it up. So I like the idea of getting the framework without the top. No doubt there will be lots of negativity in the comments about the cost. But the point is what is the value of the tool, not the upfront cost. How much can it save it terms of time, i.e. productivity, whether as a trades person or hobbyist? Equally what will the residual value be, second hand? Like Festool, BDUK have developed a system approach and it's made in the UK. BDUK deserve some kind of award for bringing jobs to their region.
I overstated the weight, quoting the shipped package; the MFT Medite is 31Kg, the valchromat ~33Kg - both beyond the recommended 26Kg limit for one person, but less than the ~35Kg I said. 👍
Valchromat is black, whereas the benches are Anthracite Fibracolour - it would be almost as jarring! 😂 Nah, I have some stain, I fancy knocking the colour back a bit myself. 👍
Peter for the same reason of limited space at the back of my MFT I have your Rail Hinge. Whilst it would appear that this could be fitted to the front and back tracks on the Benchdogs MFT, ideally I would like Ralph to make a Benchdogs Rail Hinge to your design and as yours would use the front and back tracks on their MFT Workstation. Possible ? Please let me know. Thanks
@@10MinuteWorkshop Think your Rail Hinge design made by Benchdogs would be ideal with their MFT for users with small workshops. Would be interested to know what Ralph thinks .
@RalphBD plus you can buy the frame only. I would have a torsion box, Ron paulk style with with double 15 or 20mm mdf, with very few holes, for joinery work
Read all the comments here on YT, Peter and it seems a very split bag of users. Cost seems to be the biggest issue for some and the weight next inline. It definitely is; Can you afford it and how are you going to use it. As commented, would you leave it unattended on site, no way and you might want to, if you can afford it link three together, so real range of opinion altogether. Fantastic appraisal video as always.
Thanks David! I mis-spoke on the weight - it's 31Kg for the Medite MFT (35Kg shipped) so lighter, but still hefty. As for leaving it onsite, well, the weight probably helps there lol, but I wonder if they'd say the same about leaving a Festool MFT/3 onsite? As always, all I can do is provide the information and point out a few things to consider that may not be obvious - wether it works for the individuals is up to them to decide. 👍
Would you say it’s better than the Festool mft3 or just as good or not as good. I’d love to see a difference in the two video if you would be able to at any point
I’ve never used the current MFT/3 but I think the Benchdogs bench addresses many of the shortcomings of the Festool. I would definitely be interested to compare them. 👍
It’s tiny ~300 sq ft split into 2 rooms. Perhaps you’re seeing the b-roll that was shot at the Benchdogs factory workshop? With the OSB (warm wood) walls? 👍
Thanbks! Yes, international shipping for something if this size will always be costly; I experience this with my smaller products too; we do what we can, but there's not a whole lot that can be done.
Basic version £395, Regular £575. Wish they'd just make one that's in the middle at say £485 and has the t-slots. Excluding them isn't just basic it's daft. For years I've used an MFT top mounted onto a self built timber subframe set onto foldable trestles when doing mobile work. All-in that probably cost about £100 and is I suspect reasonably comparable to the BG basic version, stability wise. Good that they have you trialing their stuff and pointing out the (obvious) shortcomings.
Another point of view would be that they don't have to do a basic version at all, they could just have done a premium MFT/3 alternative. 🤷♂️ As I say in the vid I use the t-slots all the time so the basic wasn't an option for me - though as I'm workshop based I'd be very interested in a Medite top and the frame without the leg assembly; like yourself I have other benches I can use on site... 🤔 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Yes, that's true. Sometimes fewer options is a better option. Or rather, just the option to build to your own requirements, although I appreciate this makes more work for the BD team having to put together more custom orders in their warehouses. Just seems that without the t-slots it's not much better than the many cheaper options you've covered previously. All companies aside, your own DIY versions are excellent, and possibly the best approach for most who require something more tailored.
Thank you for your revuew Mr 10 mins. Obviously ut's fexpensive, vut on the face of it, it appears that BD have got all the details cinched just right. I make my own benches but i can see qyute clearly that tue BD answers everything inwould want for east day to day fuss free use. Furthermore I think it might even be an absolute pleasure to use. Tye only mussing detail really is the 25kg weight point for a 1-man lift in a commercial context, but I'm sure plenty of tradies won't give a rats @$$ about a few more kilos. Perhaps the next incarnation will he 4mm alu with poplar ply top, who knows... Seems to he a proper alternative to the f-word bench though given the similar BD attitude to the systematic. And i can speak from personal experience of top notch and artentive after sales customer service from BD.
Thanks! I mis-spoke re the weight, quoting the shipped package; the medite is 31Kg, the valchromat ~33Kg. Still over the one-man carry limit, but not by as much. 👍
A previous video talked me into ordering one. It arrived yesterday. Packaging did the trick (but did not show any signs of abuse so.....). I opted for the black top (I blame you and Hooked on Wood) - indeed she is a hefty girl! Ufdah! Made the mistake of sliding the leg braces down before flipping it on its' feet - bent on of the braces. Annoying. This is going to take a wee bit different work flow than my MFT. I have the Festool track flippy thing. Not that impressed. Got the DashBoard version - much better. After kicking the idea around I opted for Benchdog's Quad Hinge and I think that is going to be the bees knees. Not as flexible in locating them as you are stuck with the holes in the top. But once installed there is no fiddling - it's square. Huge plus.
I like Peter but recently the videos seem to be based on advertising which is a bit of a put off. Getting back to basics would be great, but I understand the financing and the need to make money. I would too.
Thanks; it's a balancing act - I've featured Benchdogs twice in the previous ten videos which is unusual, and ironically came about because of a sponsor commitment - I have an agent now and I've agreed to do one ad-read in one video per month this year. The thing is, 'getting back to basics' means different things to different people; I have an entire playlist of 'basic builds' that simply weren't as popular as I'd expected so I'm not likely to be doing any more, and in all honestly you can probably pick a build of any kind and find it - or a variation of it - in my back catalogue. I'll list the previous ten videos below - I'd be genuinely interested to hear which of them you think are 'advertising' given that I've purchased every product I've featured. 🤷♂️ 👍 Previous ten videos:- Wrong Rail, Offset cabinet markup, MFT-alike makeovers, How to avoid mark-up mistakes, Benchdogs shop tour, Benchdogs big base, Rutlands cordless plunge saw, Bad stool design, Excel Workbench, Metabo workbench.
100% see where you’re coming from, but I’ve had messages from people asking if they could join three together, so clearly not too expensive for everyone. 👍
So don’t buy them. 🤷♂️ As I say in the video there are decent portable bench options out there from ~£60 or so. Or you can make your own - there’s freely available videos linked in the description if you need some inspiration, or plans available for a tenner or so if you prefer someone else to have done the maths. But there are also folks who are happy to pay for a quality product that plays nicely with others. This is one of a few options for them. 👍
@10MinuteWorkshop I definitely won't buy them. I'll also definitely continue to voice my opinion about these absolutely predatory pricing schemes. I have more money than sense and even I see the greed here. A fool and his money are easily parted. Just because some people are "happy to pay" the price doesn't make it reasonable or fair.
@@6BlackWingsso how much do you think this table cost to make. And how much profit do you think is a reasonable profit margin to make on a product. What would your hourly rate be? I’ll be interested in hearing you voice your opinion on this subject.
![Torsion Box Router Bench Build 2 [**Gifted][video 478]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q-Vyq4ShHT0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Torsion Box Router Bench Build 2 [**Gifted][video 478]](/img/tr.png)
Thanks, Peter for the review, looking forward to seeing it in place on your bench. as for the weights at present the Medite Version is 31Kg and the Valchromat is 33.5Kg.
I knew I should have checked! 🤦♂️
I picked my table up from the factory about a month ago and got a tour as well which was a bonus. It’s a quality product and I’m looking forward to using it in a couple of weeks for making some cabinets at home.
This has always been an excellent channel, but it just keeps getting better and better. Thank you, Peter, for mastering your craft of video production and topic selection. That's all besides how much I learn from you.
Thank you! 👍
It really makes a great impression. I do see the weight as an actual advantage, still light enough to be able to move it each day, but heavy enough to be stable for plaining.
It’s actually the first portable bench that I’d consider using with hand tools. 👍
Informative video, thank you very much. And yes, I would love to see the MFT 3 comparison.
Absolute no denying it, its a fabulous product. As with all BD products, looks extremely well turned out. I can't justify the price point though for my workshop. I've gone the Metabo (£179) route and I can get three of those for the cost of one BD main bench. With the Metabo that allows me to cut full sized sheets. I'm very very happy with the route I've gone. But if budget was no option then a full BD set up would already be on order!!!!
This is it, tbh. With a 3x3 custom rail hinge and the parf system; this is replicated to the exact same accuracy at a fraction of the cost. Yes, BD stuff is quality, for sure, and no doubt for professional joiners is worth the outlay, but it's just way overpriced for the market, for me.
As someone who has bought both of those benches myself I completely see where you’re coming from and as I think I say in the video we’re in a golden age of plenty as far as MFT style benches go. Great to have the choice! 👍
Its a work of art... a beautiful and well designed bench.
It really is! 👍
Bravo Peter ,Bravo Benchdog - Great Table 👍
Thanks! And yes, it is! 💪👍
Hi Peter, Good review on the Ultra MFT workstation, It's good to see that all benchdogs fit the MFT top and no reaming needed. As always a great video have a good weekend Take care
Thanks Shaun, you too! 👍
Hi Peter, Thank you for the outstanding video as always! It would be extremely helpful if you could one day do a complete beginner's guide to MFT workstations and all the various attachments such hinges, fences, squares etc needed to get started as a beginner. Perhaps related to the bundles offered by Benchdog tools on their website. I've been contemplating whether to go all out for one of their bundles or start off gradually with just a bench and build up from there.
Another great product from BD, well thought out and manufactured. 👊🏻
🇬🇧
Yep. Solid. 👍💪
Mine came last week while on holiday, but it’s set up now and a good bench. I’ve found the hole chamfer on mine is not quite enough
For UJK dogs, but that’s the only compatibility issue I’ve found. Fixed with the uk chamfer tool. When setting it up, found the weight too much. I was filming that set-up at the time and looking at the footage today I was clearly angered by the heft of the thing. I’ve calmed down a bit now but HSE recommends that above 26kg it’s a two person lift. It’s something I’m aware of in my day job when managing site compliance and risk and something the delivery driver complained about when he showed up and I wasn’t around to help. The wheels will be a necessity for frequent site work.
Do also remember that it’s a complete system but minus the rail. And like the mft/3 the optimal length is going to be 1080mm with a 1400mm rail feeling a little too long.
Thanks Karl. Yes, very true re the rail, that would be an additional cost; just as well there's a discount code for the bench..😬 👍
Absolutely beautiful. I would love to have one of those. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to afford one for a long time though.
Thanks for the review, amazing content as always and I've come to expect good things out of Benchdogs, they're very good quality stuff!
Been waiting for this, my finger is hovering over order button!!! - worry is Benchdogs usually bring out a Mk2 of something within 1-2 years. It does look like they have thought of virtually everything. Do I tell the wife that I’ve watched another one of your videos 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Sure go ahead - I take the blame for most purchases... 😂
The only thing we have is accessories that will attach to this workstation. We have a number already in prototype stage.
Fantastic review, Peter! Thanks!!!
This bench really looks great! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Thanks, you too! 👍
Another quality item from Benchdogs! I'm very happy with my Festool but if I hadn't already purchased this looks to be a clever alternative
Couldn't agree more! 👍
Lovely product. Actually seems better than the festool one which is saying something. I like how the sides are completely flush, and it has wheels.
Totally agree! 👍
Looks great. I didn’t like how wobbly or expensive the Festool MFT was, so I built one out of Baltic birch. It’s 30 x 48” and weighs 23kg. And has legs put at 15° so it doesn’t wobble at all and doesn’t need cross supports.
Been waiting for this review. As soon as I get a garage or a leak proof shed, this is going to be my first purchase! My airing cupboard can't take any more tools for now ha
Thanks! It’s an excellent choice! 👌👍
I've got an MFT3, so would selfishly like to see a comparison!
Great video! I have spent time making my own MFT style work bench. Following Ron Paulk and his many benches, Dave Stanton and his small work portable bench. I built my own, it is very heavy. For me, it had to fit in the back of my estate to be able to work at my daughters and else where. From what I can see, this new bench ticks a high number of boxes. As you say, the replaceable strip, a light coat to protect the surface, is not a big deal. The cost is in a good ball park. To make one cost me more!
The one I made cost as much as the benchdogs basic! 👍
Great bench and as with many things from Bench dogs super tempting, for my use case though it would very much be an indulgence. Fast forward to 12 months from now where I'm blaming you because I wound up buying it lol
I don’t sell anything Khuz - I just make people want to buy them! 😂👍
Got mine last week, based on this vid I think peter has more core strength than me 💪😄 First thing I did with mine was hand plane a scrap of wood on it, was solid
😂 It’s one of very few portable benches that I’d say would work for hand tools. 👍
Good to hear your experience that bench is that robust. Thanks for sharing.
The quality of these seem outstanding. I can definitely see the value in having one of these in a tighter space. The flatpack option is a great idea, I'll be looking into this and if the price to ship this across the pond makes sense, I just might take you up on that discount code :) Full colored MDF or Velcromat is difficult to find over here..would love to get that black top CNCd. Great video as always Peter, thank you!
Thanks! 👍
I thought I was quite far down the MFT rabbit hole..... turns out my descent has only just begun!
this looks very interesting.... off to Benchdogs site I go....
As a user of an MFT3 I'm definitely interested in how this compares in practical terms!
Great video. Brilliant product from Benchdogs, as usual. But you know, I think I’ll stick with my Peter Millard designed portable workbench. It doesn’t have the features and the t-tracks on the side, but it does me fine.
I still have mine! 👍
Great to see this product, looking for award to the follow up video. One question I hope you can answer Peter. What is the widest width between the dog holes across the bench? Could you fit a 600mm sheet between them so that you could cut it using Stanton dog locks method (for those of us without a rail hinge)? Thanks
Basic maths tells that you can if you use the the first&last row or the offset holes.
Sorry for the slow response - had to get back in the workshop to check. Yes, you can get 650mm between a pair of quad dogs on the short side, 1030mm or just over on the long side.👍
Thanks for the review Peter, I have an MFT3 so couldn't justify the cost of the new table but I have just taken delivery of the new Benchdogs Valchromat replacement top and the Quad MFT hinge system, the out of the box accuracy of the Quad Hinge & top has really put the rickety Festool Hinge (That endlessly needed correcting) to shame, I am less than 0.04mm over 600mm out (that's less than 0.0016") which makes it more accurate than a top end woodpecker square and importantly it seems repeatable! I could push for more on the custom pin setting but seems good enough for my needs as is. but I have to say from a pointless perspective the Valchromat is super bling especially with a bunch of stainless plugs in it, was there a need in my little workshop? nope but does look good!, Only downside is I might recess the front hinge part to be flush with some beneath bolstering but not sure yet but that would increase the cut width a fair bit... Thanks as always for the great posts.
Thanks Brian! Yes, the OEM MFT hinge was an odd design - having the height and lateral adjustment on the same clunky level lock would always be problematic! And I 100% agree with the bling of the valchromat, it just looks fantastic. 👌👍
Helpful video AGAIN! :)
I would like to see the comperisong.
The next work station I’m buying is dashboard , I’m really intrigued by its size and stability
Really consider considering making the change to an MFT table after watching this video
Nice addition to the MFT market. I would like to see the MFT3 comparison also. I also have the MFT1080 and a MFT800 table I use, with some of Rob’s (DashBoard) accessories. Benchdog seems to have come up with an excellent product at a better price than Rob is doing, but Rob’s system does interface with the MFT quite nicely, including his Outrigger extension unit.
Cheers
Yes, I'm very respectful of what Rob has done at Dashboard. - it's a great system and like Benchdogs he's taken the fight to Festool on the MFT front.
Hi Peter, hope you have a speedy recovery. Unfortunately to get the size I want here in the states, these are out of my price range. I found a really good rail system and bought a large custom Valchromat top from Benchdogs. Can you finish it like MDF. Shellac, hard wax oil?
Thank you! Yes, Valchromat works well with a hard wax oil finish. First coat really soaks in though! 👍
Thanks Peter, that looks like a great albeit premium product, perhaps not what you need with your current wrist strain though ? It's out of my budget league unfortunately, but like most Benchdog items I wouldn't necessarily say it's not reasonable value for money, just hard for me to justify, looking forward to your long term review !
Yes, definitely a premium product. Once it’s in place it won’t be moved around much, so the 31Kg weight isn’t that big of a deal tbh, and the wheel set will definitely be useful! 👍
I really like the Benchdogs mft. As I'm in the US, I'd have to see what the cost of it is over here with shipping to see if it's a viable purchase. I think though, that the Paulk workstation, with pats supplied from a local CNC shop would be cheaper and larger. The only difference would be the lack of clamping slots around the perimeter.
I appreciate the time and cost to yourself to make these videos. As an ex pat in the US, I fully appreciate the system approach. There are black and green users over here but the Euro system has never been fully adopted, much like the metric system which I still use.
I'm thinking there's another product in this - a version that only has the tracks on front and back extrusion, stubby height adjustment feet instead of legs and no handle, meant for building into an existing workshop like yours.
Also a pre-routed sacrificial strip channel would probably be a nice addon too for people who buy the bench and quad hinge bundle.
Interesting idea! 👍
Oh, you started video some weeks before, seen the wrist been injured 😢
It's a great bench, 35kg, not for everyday carry. I got the Benchdogs hinge and know the quality of Ralphs products.
Turns out it's 31Kg - I should have checked - and the wrist brace is just precautionary - everything was shot this week. 👍
How moisture resistant is MR MDF?
Short answer, very. This is from the Medite spec sheet - I'll link that below as well:-
PERFORMANCE
The test methods used for moisture resistant MEDITE MR includes a specialized cyclic test (EN 321) in which test pieces, after conditioning, are immersed in water at 20°C for 72 hours, frozen in air at -12°C for 24 hours, and heated in an air-circulated oven at 70°C for 72 hours. This cycle is carried out three times, followed by post conditioning and physical testing according to EN 622 test methods. MEDITE MR is accepted in the UK by the NHBC for use in suitable applications.
Medite MRMDF data sheet - files.mutualcdn.com/medite-smartply/files/MEDITE-MR-Datasheet-V12-0224.pdf
My only gripe is that the holes at the ends are not on 48mm centres from the edge so when you add extra tables to it you lose the 96mm centres at the joint.
Feel free to ignore the discount code and pay the full price 😅🤣😂
I can’t put it any plainer really! 😂😂
Thanks for this update, i love the DBUK-products but did you ever tested the UJK workbench
Thanks! No, it’s just a personal thing; I’ve never got along with tops on trestles. 🤷♂️👍
Thanks, good review! In this review it appears that the legs are actually straight (perpendicular to tabletop), but in a previous video, the legs were slightly angled out or splayed. Curious if this is a design change? Think the splayed legs could be problematic - possibly a trip hazard or interfering with clamping tall items to side. Definitely like version depicted in this video. It's also cool that all sides are flat and stands straight without support - can be easily stored away when not in use. It's weight is definitely heavier than the MFT/3 or the Portable Dashboard, but that can be an advantage if used as stationary workbench. I found that the MFT/3 can be a bit heavy and awkward to handle at times, so doubt that this would be easier without adding wheel package? Like the ability to store rail underneath, also like leg design, with channels could easily add mounts or other shelving. I doubt I would purchase as a portable solution, but if rigidity is comparable to the Portable Dashboard and had the option of retractable casters - it would be an ideal solution for a great movable workbench at home. The MFT/3 has always been difficult to reposition when needing move slightly, especially if loaded with materials or tools! Have you seen the Shortcut version of the Portable Dashboard - at 20kg that would be an interesting comparison! Thanks Again!
No, the legs are designed to be splayed for stability, though I will check to see if they would lock in the 90° position - that’s something I hadn’t considered, thanks. 👍
In the original video we had the hinged legs directly connected to the extrusion but found over time that this wasn’t stable and could come loose. So we made the leg blocks which prevented the logs from splaying and made it more stable.
@@Benchdogtools Does this mean that the legs are now always at 90 degrees, and does that apply to the outrigger attachment as well? Also from the review, I discovered that there is a ver 2.1 of your fence - great improvement - just placed an order. Thanks!
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks Peter! I'd be interested to know the max cut width between the Quad Hinge and Quad Hinge Support for the Utra MFT. I've considered the Quad Hinge system since it can be utilized with multiple rail types, but due to the way its mounted to MFT/3, it reduces cut width. In your review, noticed that the Quad Hinge butts up flush with the under-rail portion of fence, which is a problem I've been trying to correct in current setup - the under-rail portion of fence (old version) flexes slightly. Curious if the cut width is now comparable or more than that of the MFT/3 since the Ultra MFT is slightly larger than MFT/3.
I tried to purchase this really stable ultra MFT as bundle with the rest of the system, but unfortunately they do not ship it to Greece :(
Thanks for the vide0, I just received my metabo mwb table and I really like it, this one is great but at 10kg more and the price... Yeah luckily I got a reamer from BD because holes are definitely too tight 😅
Thanks! I mis-spoke re the weight, I was quoting the shipped package, medite bench alone is 31Kg, valchromat ~33Kg. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop thanks, it's still 9kg more which is not a small difference. But if I had money I would def consider it :)
Looks good, with the only negative being that the black finish seems to come off very easily for something that is priced like this. You've only use it to show us the features and I can already see the sides scratching up with sliding and tightening the clamps on the side. I know it's a work tool, but still.
This is all anodised, so no paint will fall off. these marks can be wiped down as the anodising is very durable
As Benchdogs say, they're just surface marks - they'll wipe off easily. I've seen the anodising plant, at benchdogs HQ, it's a touch surface! 👍
Great video. Good looking bench. What bolts or t-nuts fit in the top slot of the extrusion? Is that a 4080 custom extrusion. Thanks.
I’d have to check when I’m next in the workshop but honestly it’s probably a question best addressed to @benchdogtools - I know the extrusion is custom to them. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop
I did not think of that. Lol. Once I get these measurements I would like to send you the accessory I have been working on for that bench.
They are standard 4545 sliding nuts or drop in nuts. M8 or m6. For 10mm slot. We will have them on our website next week.
@@Benchdogtools Thank you. This will help. Hopefully by Christmas that will be in my shop. Great looking bench.
I think it's unfortunate that Benchdogs decided to close access to the T-Slots from the corners of the table. On a Festool MFT the corners are open, which allows to slide various accessories in the T-slots, which can be longer than the foot of a quick clamp.
That’s feedback that should probably go to Benchdog Tools, but I can’t think of a single accesssory I’ve used that can’t have the option of t-bolts instead of a t-bar. 🤷♂️👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop My MFT is freestanding, doesn't have anything next to it. I 3D printed a pencil tray, a cable hook, a tray to hold 6 benchdogs and a hook for my earmuffs and safety glasses.
We designed the connection system this way for accuracy when connecting multiple tables. With the slots this allows for sliding nuts to allow for connecting accessories.
@@Benchdogtools Thanks for your response. That's absolutely fine. I know you guys make high quality products for I have bought some. I think it would be beneficial for people who use 3rd party accessories, or who make their own, to know the length of the slots. The product description already indicates the width (8 and 10mm) but knowing the length of the opening would also be very useful. Thank you.
i was about to place an order but the shipping to canada is 1/3 of the total cost... that is unfortunate..
and later i tried to get the workbench without the top. they do not even ship to Canada...
The really unfortunate part is that the shipping costs to the US and Canada are subsidised - it actually costs more than that. re the discount, are you ordering the bundle? As noted in the description, the discount code won't apply unfortunately, as it's already a discounted package.
We will be adding the price for Canada as soon as s we have the new rates.
Peter - wouuld reducing the leg length of the makita clamp not allow it to fit a standard top? I don't use mft tops so can't try it but just looking at the video it certainly looks like it would
Probably john, though the thickness at the bend can also cause issues; but tbh, why bother when there are so many other compatible clamps around. 👍
Well I didn't know that my Makita rail clamps don't play nicely with an mft. Bummer. A video idea that spring to mind watching this, how moisture resistant is MR MDF? Maybe a comparison to standard MDF (which we all know swells if you as much as breathing near it).
There’s a link in the description to the spec sheet, but this is the money quote:
“PERFORMANCE
The test methods used for moisture resistant MEDITE MR includes a specialized cyclic test (EN 321) in which test pieces, after conditioning, are immersed in water at 20°C for 72 hours, frozen in air at -12°C for 24 hours, and heated in an air-circulated oven at 70°C for 72 hours. This cycle is carried out three times, followed by post conditioning and physical testing according to EN 622 test methods. MEDITE MR is accepted in the UK by the NHBC for use in suitable applications.”
@@10MinuteWorkshop that's very impressive!
Could be branded as MFT/3 version 2.0, incorporating features that address the various niggles of the Festool product. I wonder if Ralph might soon be enjoying a comfortable early retirement when TTS Tooltechnic Systems make an offer he cannot refuse!
The only issue for me is the weight. At 35kg I doubt I could comfortably lift it off the floor to set it up. So I like the idea of getting the framework without the top.
No doubt there will be lots of negativity in the comments about the cost. But the point is what is the value of the tool, not the upfront cost. How much can it save it terms of time, i.e. productivity, whether as a trades person or hobbyist? Equally what will the residual value be, second hand? Like Festool, BDUK have developed a system approach and it's made in the UK. BDUK deserve some kind of award for bringing jobs to their region.
I overstated the weight, quoting the shipped package; the MFT Medite is 31Kg, the valchromat ~33Kg - both beyond the recommended 26Kg limit for one person, but less than the ~35Kg I said. 👍
Decided not to go for the valcromat top Peter?
Valchromat is black, whereas the benches are Anthracite Fibracolour - it would be almost as jarring! 😂 Nah, I have some stain, I fancy knocking the colour back a bit myself. 👍
Peter for the same reason of limited space at the back of my MFT I have your Rail Hinge. Whilst it would appear that this could be fitted to the front and back tracks on the Benchdogs MFT, ideally I would like Ralph to make a Benchdogs Rail Hinge to your design and as yours would use the front and back tracks on their MFT Workstation. Possible ? Please let me know. Thanks
I think Ralph is busy enough making his own products without making mine as well. Always happy to have a conversation though! 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Think your Rail Hinge design made by Benchdogs would be ideal with their MFT for users with small workshops. Would be interested to know what Ralph thinks .
Love MFT concept but not the cost
Thanks, but it is cheaper than a Festool MFT3
@RalphBD plus you can buy the frame only. I would have a torsion box, Ron paulk style with with double 15 or 20mm mdf, with very few holes, for joinery work
Read all the comments here on YT, Peter and it seems a very split bag of users. Cost seems to be the biggest issue for some and the weight next inline. It definitely is;
Can you afford it and how are you going to use it.
As commented, would you leave it unattended on site, no way and you might want to, if you can afford it link three together, so real range of opinion altogether. Fantastic appraisal video as always.
Thanks David! I mis-spoke on the weight - it's 31Kg for the Medite MFT (35Kg shipped) so lighter, but still hefty. As for leaving it onsite, well, the weight probably helps there lol, but I wonder if they'd say the same about leaving a Festool MFT/3 onsite? As always, all I can do is provide the information and point out a few things to consider that may not be obvious - wether it works for the individuals is up to them to decide. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Absolutely Peter, don't shoot the messenger🤣
Comparison on Fstool Would be good
I can only dream ...
Would you say it’s better than the Festool mft3 or just as good or not as good. I’d love to see a difference in the two video if you would be able to at any point
I’ve never used the current MFT/3 but I think the Benchdogs bench addresses many of the shortcomings of the Festool. I would definitely be interested to compare them. 👍
?Some camera angles make Peter's workshop look tiny, but other angles give the impression the space is actually considerable. What's going on, lol?
It’s tiny ~300 sq ft split into 2 rooms. Perhaps you’re seeing the b-roll that was shot at the Benchdogs factory workshop? With the OSB (warm wood) walls? 👍
Great Video. Thank you.
Nice table, would like to buy, But international shipping to US for $212.95 is prohibitive.
we are working on this. Shipping is costly. We have had many sales from across the pond, with a few customers buying 2/3/4 tables.
Thanbks! Yes, international shipping for something if this size will always be costly; I experience this with my smaller products too; we do what we can, but there's not a whole lot that can be done.
Basic version £395, Regular £575. Wish they'd just make one that's in the middle at say £485 and has the t-slots. Excluding them isn't just basic it's daft. For years I've used an MFT top mounted onto a self built timber subframe set onto foldable trestles when doing mobile work. All-in that probably cost about £100 and is I suspect reasonably comparable to the BG basic version, stability wise. Good that they have you trialing their stuff and pointing out the (obvious) shortcomings.
Another point of view would be that they don't have to do a basic version at all, they could just have done a premium MFT/3 alternative. 🤷♂️ As I say in the vid I use the t-slots all the time so the basic wasn't an option for me - though as I'm workshop based I'd be very interested in a Medite top and the frame without the leg assembly; like yourself I have other benches I can use on site... 🤔 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Yes, that's true. Sometimes fewer options is a better option. Or rather, just the option to build to your own requirements, although I appreciate this makes more work for the BD team having to put together more custom orders in their warehouses. Just seems that without the t-slots it's not much better than the many cheaper options you've covered previously. All companies aside, your own DIY versions are excellent, and possibly the best approach for most who require something more tailored.
I am going to say future Peter, I bet there is not much you don’t like…. 😂
Probably not, but you never know something until you use it for a while!
@@10MinuteWorkshopvery true
Thank you for your revuew Mr 10 mins. Obviously ut's fexpensive, vut on the face of it, it appears that BD have got all the details cinched just right. I make my own benches but i can see qyute clearly that tue BD answers everything inwould want for east day to day fuss free use. Furthermore I think it might even be an absolute pleasure to use. Tye only mussing detail really is the 25kg weight point for a 1-man lift in a commercial context, but I'm sure plenty of tradies won't give a rats @$$ about a few more kilos. Perhaps the next incarnation will he 4mm alu with poplar ply top, who knows... Seems to he a proper alternative to the f-word bench though given the similar BD attitude to the systematic. And i can speak from personal experience of top notch and artentive after sales customer service from BD.
Thanks! I mis-spoke re the weight, quoting the shipped package; the medite is 31Kg, the valchromat ~33Kg. Still over the one-man carry limit, but not by as much. 👍
Ooh I’m feeling spendy…
A previous video talked me into ordering one. It arrived yesterday. Packaging did the trick (but did not show any signs of abuse so.....). I opted for the black top (I blame you and Hooked on Wood) - indeed she is a hefty girl! Ufdah! Made the mistake of sliding the leg braces down before flipping it on its' feet - bent on of the braces. Annoying. This is going to take a wee bit different work flow than my MFT.
I have the Festool track flippy thing. Not that impressed. Got the DashBoard version - much better. After kicking the idea around I opted for Benchdog's Quad Hinge and I think that is going to be the bees knees. Not as flexible in locating them as you are stuck with the holes in the top. But once installed there is no fiddling - it's square. Huge plus.
I like Peter but recently the videos seem to be based on advertising which is a bit of a put off. Getting back to basics would be great, but I understand the financing and the need to make money. I would too.
Thanks; it's a balancing act - I've featured Benchdogs twice in the previous ten videos which is unusual, and ironically came about because of a sponsor commitment - I have an agent now and I've agreed to do one ad-read in one video per month this year. The thing is, 'getting back to basics' means different things to different people; I have an entire playlist of 'basic builds' that simply weren't as popular as I'd expected so I'm not likely to be doing any more, and in all honestly you can probably pick a build of any kind and find it - or a variation of it - in my back catalogue.
I'll list the previous ten videos below - I'd be genuinely interested to hear which of them you think are 'advertising' given that I've purchased every product I've featured. 🤷♂️ 👍
Previous ten videos:- Wrong Rail, Offset cabinet markup, MFT-alike makeovers, How to avoid mark-up mistakes, Benchdogs shop tour, Benchdogs big base, Rutlands cordless plunge saw, Bad stool design, Excel Workbench, Metabo workbench.
Why do you keep saying far east? Is China a trigger word for youtube demonitisation now?
Because I can't say for sure that they're all made in China... 🤷♂️
Benchdogs stuff is certainly good quality but way to expensive, you wouldn't want to leave it unattended on site
100% see where you’re coming from, but I’ve had messages from people asking if they could join three together, so clearly not too expensive for everyone. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop bit of a weird flex? 😆
@@10MinuteWorkshopquality precision products will always sell, great videos by the way
Costs what it does because you’re paying for quality built in the UK. If you want to pay staff a fair salary you can’t compete with Chinese prices.
So sick of these companies charging 500 and 600 and more for a work table. It's absurd.
So don’t buy them. 🤷♂️ As I say in the video there are decent portable bench options out there from ~£60 or so. Or you can make your own - there’s freely available videos linked in the description if you need some inspiration, or plans available for a tenner or so if you prefer someone else to have done the maths. But there are also folks who are happy to pay for a quality product that plays nicely with others. This is one of a few options for them. 👍
@10MinuteWorkshop I definitely won't buy them. I'll also definitely continue to voice my opinion about these absolutely predatory pricing schemes. I have more money than sense and even I see the greed here. A fool and his money are easily parted. Just because some people are "happy to pay" the price doesn't make it reasonable or fair.
@@6BlackWingsso how much do you think this table cost to make. And how much profit do you think is a reasonable profit margin to make on a product. What would your hourly rate be? I’ll be interested in hearing you voice your opinion on this subject.
Scott Brown ask me to come here and check you out! Subbed!
Thanks, and welcome! 👍