Hey Peter, a great introduction to our hinge system. Once the final finished product is available, I will have this sent out to you for a comparison video with others on the market. All systems have their place and are all great systems, and all have their pros and cons. It’s fantastic feedback from everyone. It’s also great to hear the comments about our products. As you mentioned, we have a different take on the mounting part which may have its downsides, but looking at it, the benchdogs route and thought process, I’ll try to explain. The plate sites on the top but set back further so it’s not getting in the way of the first set of holes you would use for either a fence or dogs that you place your workpiece against, so in theory, you haven’t lost any space on your workbench. The front support is also set forward doing the same. If you were using either guide rail dogs or our B dogs, you would lose the first hole for this dog to go into, so technically, this system gains you some space If using the dog method. As for the 6mm height of the plate that sits on top, we kept it at this height for a few reasons. 1. Our under rail is at 9mm or 7.1mm if using the MK2.1 fence. So it sits below this. 2. If you are using our benchtop protectors, it will raise the workpiece above this height. We can make the overhang a lot less to about 60mm by turning the top plate around, but this has its downside that the plate then raises the min-height to 9mm, but the thumbscrew method would not work. We would need to use countersink screws for the fixing of the tracks. We did try this method, and we can also offer this method if required. The hole jig can also be used to offset the fence system. Use the 32mm offset if the hinge has used the 48mm offset. This will also help you gain some more space on your MFT. Also, having our jig will allow you to make additional holes when you need other holes for possible future products in the pipeline. So it’s not a one-time-only product. We will also look at alternate materials to help reduce the cost. I hope this explication of our thought process helps.
Thanks Ralph. I dont see those as downsides exactly, more things that potential buyers need to be aware of, and thanks so much for the detailed explanation. Much appreciated! 🙌
Thanks Ralph. I'm on the 3rd batch run and can't wait. I'm back to being a kitchen fitter after many years out of it. I love all of these innovations that have come about in recent years. Enjoying using the rail square and the fence system. What I would appreciate, is that you add some good comebacks in your FAQS for what to tell the missus when making a purchase. I've worn out the one that says "i''ll be much quicker after investing in this". I'm never home any earlier ☺️
Hi Ralph, have you considered a hire service for the jig? for a small fee users could hire a jig and return. You would probably need to charge the full price, in case the person didnt return it, and then return the price paid less a small charge.
@@rayroulstone3565 I’m sure we could look into it. I’m also going to look into other options and uses to make it a more worthwhile product. Also reduce the cost for people who have the quad bases.
Thanks for the review, the quality of benchdogs stuff is invariably top notch but can be a bit pricey. I find their rail dogs do pretty much 90% of all my work but I’m still tempted by the hinge
For the heck of it, I have the system on order but couldn't wait to try to drill the holes. I just used the parf system, put the dogs in the two 20mm holes in the jig and into holes already in the top. and put the drill in the guide that is used first when drilling hole the holes, the one nearest the single 20mm hole guide on the jig. Seems perfect to me
Hi Peter, since I decided to stump up for the genuine Festool extrusions and parts for my DIY MFT, in order to fit a rail hinge, all these great alternatives have turned up! Thank you very much for your review of the benchdogs system.
Looks like a good piece of kit. I’m currently using their fence with a pair of quad dogs for the rail. This works great but I would love the convenience of throwing the rail up and out of the way. Thanks for the overview 😊
I use the Parf system to make my tops and it has the capability to add an extra row at 32mm or 46mm spacing from the grid - so it would be a good fit with this rail hinge.
@@maxbrap Hi, New to carpentry- hobbyist- seeking advice from professionals- I want to make an MFT table and I have acquired the Parf Mk 2 system. I have also bought the benchdogs quad rail hinge and want to fit it to the MFT table. I have a 25mm workbench top measuring 1500 x 900 on which to construct an MFT and later fit a router table at other end. Advice on how I should start with my Parf system. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards Paul
@@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts Peter Parfit (sp ?) Does a great demo on the part guide system here on UA-cam. I'm editing a short video showing how I did the offset holes using the Parf Guides. I will publish by Monday if you check my channel
Yes, on a round up of the router bits. And please include model numbers in the description if you do the video. I’m in the US, and metric things can be a bit hard to track down. Luckily, I did track down the metric collets for my venerable Porter Cable routers when they were still available, and have a bit more flexibility in what shanks I can use.
For those who have the UJK parfdog system, you can drill offset holes, you don't really need the template plate. Unfortunately, you need to plan ahead, and drill the pin holes first, once enlarged, you cannot reference the offset holes. For those who wants to build their own MFTs, you can buy the UJK parfdog system, the benchdog hinge, and the benchdog fence. I think this combination is better than Festool's MFT, plus you make your own top and save beer tokens on the long run.
Yeah, with the UJK system, some benchdogs, and tracks, you almost don't need a tablesaw. In fact, for square cuts, I think this is faster than using miter gauges. Although you could also just put the track against the benchdogs for square cuts.
@@prduguid Yes as you say Axminster have UJK PARF ALUMINIUM REVISION DOGS available to slot in the 20mm hole that have a 3mm hole to allow setting up for additional holes and they come as a set of 3. Great idea
Great review (pre-prod. of course!) Peter - thank you. I've used the UJK Parf-Guide Mk2 to drill my MFT top, and that has a built-in ability to drill at 48mm centres so no 3rd component required! I pre-ordered mine as soon as they came out - must be patient!
I have just received mine!! Looks great and I will be installing it in the next day or two. I did purchase the guide hole jig. and I purchased the fence system also. I'm going to be installing it the long way as I have 3 MFTs side by side. wish me luck 😁
Excellent video!! Your years of doing these really shows in this one. The camera angles are perfect, the timing, the script, all first class!! The product looks almost too good to be true. In production, you may see non metallic knobs, and other cost cutting techniques. The fit and finish on this first prototype are really from a truly first rate custom machine shop, not production. I hope that the production product is close however. The squareness of the MFT top is one of it's primary functions. I depend on this every day I use it. I hope Benchdogs maintains that squareness over time of usage. Stay safe and take care.
Looks great! Solid, stout, accurate, etc... I don't have my diy mft put together yet and my plan has been to fabricate my own guide rail hinge system, but.. This one looks like a contender for a store bought version for me. Will anxiously await your official review. Thanks for the sneak peek!
Peter. You could glue and pin a piece of would at either end of the hing on the underside. So that you could route the hing flush on the top side. All you would need to do is bore the holes through the would underneath. A small rebate in the apron of the MFT would then accommodate the modified MFT top… hope that makes sense…
Very interesting Peter, another lovely bench dogs product, beautiful quality but not cheap. I did particularly like the way it's been designed as a universal hinge for different manufacturerers rails, that really is a unique product feature. The template jig for drilling the MFT holes seems a lot of money for something that most people are only going to use a couple of times, I'd be very tempted to make my own jig. Maybe someone entrepreneurial will set up a jig rental service? With regards to insetting the rail and stop in the MFT and then reducing the quad dog grip with only one set of grommets, you could simply screw a small additional panel underneath the rail square holes to increase the MFT thickness and drill through to provide the full depth that the quad dog wants. Cheers
During lockdown i had this same idea. Mounting the hinge to the table top. Designed a version in sketchup but never got round to sending it to Benchdogs. Looks like great minds think alike. If the bench rail was allowed to pivot, perhaps with additional holes set on a arc or with an adaptor you could use the saw guide to cut accurate mitres.
I've been waiting for this as I've got one ordered on Batch 1 so this is a reassuring initial review Peter, thank you. I've bought it to help board up the inside my my new workshop and, more importantly, help to accurately build my cabinets and benches.
Peter, I've been wanting a rail hinge ever since you talked me into buying the TS55 :-) so will be looking forward to your comparison video. Your take on the various router bit for this job will be very welcome. A excellent presentation, as always. Thank you!
A great, well explained review and teaching session as usual, Peter. You have such a wonderful delivery. This new hinge system from Benchdogs looks like a very useful addition. Benchdogs products are always quality.
Looks really nice. I’m using a bora centipede with 2 tops with 20mm @ 96mm. This will solve a few problems because there is no side rails for clamping other systems
This looks like a nice sturdy unit. I feel the weekness in the festool mft table is the other side of the fence fixture. Over time there may be a little play as the aluminium fence underside is very soft so cuts may become slightly out. The fixture side also looks more strong than the festool. I like the fact you have the back support so you can place stopper for different sizes when placing ruler. You are an expert and everything looks easy to you because you are the Djokovic in the woodworking industry.
Looks a fantastic system and when fully finished will be pretty slick like all BD products 👍. I needed to add a couple of extra holes in my top to fit a couple of quad dogs so, once again put my 3D printer to work to produce a jig which worked very well, I was only let down by the 20mm Trend router bit that gave a slightly sloppy hole, which isn't a major problem as the quad dogs expand into it, but a roundup of bits would be most welcome. Thanks Peter.
Good to see the Bench Dogs hinge in action. Many thanks for the informative video. I'm very keen to get either the Bench Dogs or Dashboard hinge. The one misgiving I have is the amount of track/rail they use, primarily on the hinge side. I'd like to maximise the cross cut capacity on my custom made MFT bench and both hinges take up quite a percentage (with Dashboard being slightly less from dimensions I've seen). I'm not an engineer, but I can't quite see why such a large amount of the track should be required - particularly since the non-hinged side is going to register into a pin on the other end. The DIY solutions I've seen using a "Z" type hinge arrangement take up far less room and I'm wondering why no manufacturers have looked at that as an option. And another vote for a rundown on available 20mm plunge router bits. It looks like the Festool one you had machined to a better tolerance has been discontinued (at least in Australia and from what I see in the UK).
There's a LOT of leverage acting on the pivoting end and a fairly large contact area is needed to control it, as well as to just generally keep a rail well-secured to the plate. It's also useful to consider that not all users will be gentle with the device.
Peter, Thank you for your videos, I really gain so much information from them. I intend in buying the bench dog model and will recess both ends but will also add material to the bottom , (gluing) before drilling the holes. I am building my first MFT workbench. Up to now have been using the Bora system but that has no hinge system
Great use of existing resources.. so I can make use of this on my tool box 📦 without drilling additional machine screws on the front side of my bench. I presume the eliminates the need for the front secure rail (using your IKEA hack suggestion now)
Good morning Peter. I love well engineered kit and this looks exactly like that and as you say with a couple of talking points but all in all IMOFWIW this is a more positive location solution than the Festool one which I have and a lot less expensive than the Dashboard solution so I am in no doubt Benchdogs have a viable, marketable solution. Thanks for a great video, again.👍
I'm still slightly reluctant to go for the jig, but I can now see how much easier it would make things. I've got an MFT 3 style top so I'm going to have to do something....
Would love to see the fence adapted to use the 6mm hinge plate as the under rail support for the fence. The drill jig used to add more holes for the fence, set back to align everything up. etch up the plate with the scale. This would be amazing!
I would prefer a hinge that allows the MFT to be closer to the wall. One that lifts up then drops down would save lots of back board space. Some home made ones I have seen allow the rail to drop down behind the bench as well to keep it stored in a safer position. Love your videos. Very informative.
Great video and can't wait to see them on the market. I'm in the process of making a new MFT workstation integrated to my outfeed table and will consider this system. I'd be inclined to recess the MFT and glue a 40mm strip of 6mm mdf on the underside to extend the depth of the holes to allow a better fixing.
Hi Peter. I know it would need a small mod to your table top, less for a jobbing carpenter, but if the dogs on the front guide pointed upwards the plate would then not get in the way. This would also remove the need for the adaptor and boring extra holes. The same could also apply to the hinge plate. Great show keep it up please. Lesli
Thanks! Sorry, I understand mounting the plate on the underside of the top (my guess is that it would put additional stresses on the dogs on the front rail support, and far too much on the dogs on the hinge side) but I don't see how it would remove the need to bore the extra holes?? 🤔
As always, excellent overview of the Benchdogs hinge set! Having said that, I’d like to see the video about building the boxes on the shelving above your MFT.
Yes Peter, please do a video on 20mm router bits. I've just spent £45 on the Festool spiral upcut bit. I hope I didn't waste my money! I'm planning to use it to make a replacement mft top with my LR32 jig, using the method you showed in another of your videos. A video comparing Benchdog Quad dogs and UJK expanding dogs, would also be useful. Cheers.
You could stick a small piece of board underneith just where the new MFT hinge goes, rather than a thicker board for the whole table - this way not inhibitting the use of the rest of the holes for general clamping.
If routing these in, just glue a small piece of 18mm ply / mdf on the underside of the bench top, under the two mounting holes, then drill through the existing top holes to create enough depth for both of the dog rubber washers to expand under the routed in hinges /locating plate. Ralph, if you read this, you could supply at a set price an mdf bush template to route out using customers own dogs which could be designed to be glued / screwed under, once used for routing, using dogs to line up perfectly underneath. Peter in Leeds who you had a chat with on the phone regarding the prototype Mafell parallel guides you sent to me and then sent the completed version to.
Hi Peter. We did think about the jig but will look in to the response to it. We are looking at making a thinner quad dog 12mm version but will test this and send a set to Peter for his opinion. This will be available when Peter gets the final finish product.
Peter M, as the hinge will be flush with the top and the rail slides over it, the 2 plates could be moved further inboard to clear the frame as there won’t be any width restriction for cutting as both flush. Ralph, yes, I think there would be a market for it, worth looking into. I’m on the 4th prod run for the hinge and will play around with it, recessed maybe inboard, once received.
I like the router option setting it into the bench then just glue on a 6mm board under the bench in those two areas so the 2 Orings can grip. I’m guessing the 2 rings are used to ensure the dogs stay perpendicular to the table.
Great video as normal Peter, I personally see that the 6mm raised plate as a benefit as by using a sacrificial 6mm scrap under the workpiece you are then not cutting into the MFT table top.
I do hope you produce the video on the 20mm router bit comparison; they are hard to come by (at least in the US) & I’m keen to hear your thoughts on the various offerings.
I abandoned the idea; I bought all the 20mm bits on the market and had an engineer pal chuck them in his mill. They all bored a perfect 20mm hole; the issue is with the routers, not the bits. I’m working on it. 👍
Can you think of any other uses for the hole jig? Adding a fence perhaps? Can the bases of the two supplied dogs be used with anything else? Really trying to find the value in the jig 😄
would be nice to have the template made into the baseplate. to have more space to cut, recessing the plates is matter of minutes 😉 edit: oh, now mentioned it
Hi Peter I’ve ordered mine but was interested in the router guide that you used on the track. I have a Makita track but haven’t been able to track anything down here in oz to use the router on the track. Could you please tell me what you are using. Thanks
Thanks! It's a standard Festool rail adapter - amzn.to/3xzqT5l (cheaper elsewhere) - you need to use the rods that come with the router, but it works great. 👍
Hi Peter, I would like to add a few holes and add an extension piece to my MFT table and would be very interested to see a review of the various router bits available. Like many woodworkers I want to spend wisely, not cheaply as this often leads to frustration due to problems and inaccuracies.
Can you please do a video on how to calibrate the parallel guide in IMPERIAL scale. I calibrate using the method post for METRIC scale did not come out accurate. Thanks, Damon
Ive got a QH on backorder but wanting to finish building my MFT. Can you suggest a rough distance to leave open between the MFT and the wall for the hinge to operate correctly (festool track)? You mentioned 185mm, but wasnt sure if that was with a track installed or not. Thank you for your time and great content.
I've always run teh cut line over the third column of holes, but the benchdogs hinge put the cut-line between the columns so I opted for the cut to be between 3 & 4 as I though between 2 & 3 was a bit close to the end. Don't read too much into it though howard - this was first a test of a pre-production sample on a DIY MFT that the hinge will never actually be used on. 🤷♂️ 👍
Certainly better than Festool's take on the hinge and props to them for coming up with a different way to do the hinge. As a Dashboard hinge owner I don't see anything here that makes me want to switch, nor any features I wish I had (a nod to Dashboard for doing so much right in their version I guess). If was in the market, being in the States (as I write this they are also out of stock, with more due in mid-April) I'd lean towards the Dashboard simply because I could get it faster. It also has the "advantage" of not needing any more hole drilling. But I can see some use cases that would steer one either unit. For MY use case I'd rate the Dashboard a half star better than the Benchdog and both a good two to three stars better than Festool's.
Is there a way to make the additional holes with the jig but without using a 20mm cutter and a guide bush in a big router? I only have a Makita trim router with a plunge base and I'm not sure I can even find a 20mm cutter for it plus the extra expense. I was wondering if you could drill a close-sized hole and then flush trim it using the jig as a template guide? Sorry, newb question :-)
You’d have to do a bit of maths to get it right, but the template takes a 30mm guidebush, so a smaller guidebush in combination with a smaller cutter should be able to do the job. 👍
Why did Benchdog wait so long to develop this? I recently purchased the Dashboard hinge system for my MFT. I still have the orginal Festool hinge plate I hated having to re-square the track after lifting the fence more than ten times or bumping into the table. Who knows maybe I add this plate to my other MFT
We started on this project about a year ago but we just didn’t have the space and manpower to proceed. Since we moved to our new location and we’re settled in, it was one of my many new products to release.
Hi Peter, Enjoy your videos. New to carpentry. Just acquired Parf Mk 2 system and benchdogs rail hinge. I have a 1500 x 900 x 25mm MR Mdf top on which I intend to build an MFT table and also to accommodate a router table at some stage.Advice on positioning the dog holes for quad rail hinge. What areas would you recommend for each area. Greatly appreciate your advice. Regards Paul
Hi and thanks! I wouldn't use 25mm for the top as you won't be able to get regular rail clamps through the holes - not without a fairly hefty chamfer on the underside of the holes. As for the layout, I've only ever used tops with a full grid of holes; if you're making your own with the parf guide, then you could drill out the full grid with just the 3mm bit, and add in the 20mm holes where you need them? The quad hinge is designed to fit into the regular grid of holes, just closer to the edge of the benchtop - the jig that Benchdogs sells makes this very easy to do, but as I show in this video it's do-able without it. Hope that helps! P
LOL, you mentioned thicker MFT tops, I made mine from 25mm - and yes, had to heavily chamfer every bluddy hole at the back :-) And BTW, paint/varnish the top BEFORE cutting the holes or the paint goes in every hole which you have to clear or the dogs wont fit - arghhh :-) Still far better than a tablesaw 'though!
Hi Peter Great review my Mate Iv never really thought of getting one to be honest, But after seeing this I think Iv changed my mind nice bit of kit Just have to hide it from the wife lol 😝
Don't think so, not as the hinge is currently designed; also the stresses would be much higher on the quad dogs in that arrangement, as the hinge plates would only be supported by the dogs. 🤷♂️👍
Hi Peter, superb vid as ever. Been keeping up with this on Patreon though you’ve brought it altogether with aplomb, as evs. Defo interested in a 20mm router bit video. (Rock and Roll 😉)
I have quite a few of Benchdogs products. However since the brexit it has become very expensive to "import" to the EU. Latest thing I bought almost doubled the price after shipping and taxes😢.
Looks like a great bit of kit but the jig is a bit rich for something you'll barely use. Seems like something that should be 3d printed or injection moulded and included in the box to me at this price.
if i were building my own mft top id inset the hinges and stop and thicken the mdf under the holes so both rubbers contact the mdf, you could also 3d print a template for setting the hinge, or cut it on a cnc if you have one. an expensive, but nice product .
Yes, please on the 20mm router bit round-up. Would love to see ideal “pairings” of brand of bit and which brand / model of benchdog (UJK, benchdogs.co.uk, etc.) fits best in the holes created by a given router bit.
Great video, thanks Peter. Apologise if someone has asked already, I have a 'walk around' MFT workbench that is 2M x 1M. If I wanted to fit the hinge and hinge support inboard as much as possible to reduce overhang what distance should I make the hole centres from the edge for both parts? Thanks
Thanks. I did a quick video on Instagram to show how far to notch them in to use the regular MFT holes here - instagram.com/tv/Ccmj_WSD2wb/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= If you wanted to notch them in so there’s no overhang, I’d have to check when I’m next in the workshop. 👍
Would it be possible to make the hinge plate (with the quad dogs) also be the template? I.e. the hinge plate has the guide holes in it, you use that to bore the extra mft holes and then attach the hinge assembled to the plate? Or do similar with the front rail support plate…
Don’t think there’s enough space on the plates to do that, and if they made the plates bigger just to enable that, then I guess it’d be self-defeating. 🤷♂️👍
I should probably have a piece of cheese to go with this whine but I really wish BD had called out the need for the 30mm guide bushing so I could have started earlier to track them down. The bit was easy but the guide bushing has been a problem and won't arrive until the end of August! Better still would have been a option from BD to purchase these (bit/bushing) with the template.
Sorry to hear Michael, and while I don’t work for BenchgogsUK, I’ll say that a 30mm guide bush is the most common size imaginable - many routers come with a 30mm guide bush as standard. End of August is quite the lead-time though! Plenty of opportunity for a couple of slices of Emmental - unless you’re more of a Jarlsberg type?? 🤷♂️ Cheers! P🍷👍
All those proprietary knurled knobs, t-track fixings and other gadgetry and you never once uttered the word 'dingus'. I cry 'shame' for this serious lapse in presentation!
I already have holes at 32 and 64 mm from the edge of my table, will I need to drill additional holes ? Or will the hinge fit in either set of these holes ?
You should be fine with the 32, but check with benchdogs as this was a 'first look' at a pre-production example, and I know the Mk2 346 jig/template was released recently. 👍
If there is someone who has made their grid using the UJK Parf Guide MK 2 system it has support for making some offset holes that I believe could fit this hinge 😊
Perhaps it would solve the offset height problem (flexing of rail and renders rubber strips ineffective, plus dust under rail now) if the hinge mounted UNDERNEATH the MFT, provided quad dogs didn't protrude, then rotate the hinge all the way around, even more flexible if it mounted either way, on top or underneath? Would that work?
Thank you Mr. Millard for your great UA-cam Chanal and thank you for this video. I've got only two questions, because I don't understand this product exactly. How far away is the maximum distance in millimeters from the edge of the MFT-table to the center of the 20-mm-holes for mounting the MFT Hinge System? How deep reach the bases of the "Quad Dogs" for mounting the MFT Hinge System into the plate of the MFT-table? Thank you very much and sorry for my "rusty, old" english. Yours sincerely Simon S.
Hello Peter I have used the parf jig to make my table 20 mm holes at 96 mm centres with the Mk 2 fence system I have also bought quad hinge rail system after much tooing and froing. I just can't seem to get a square cut it is aprox 1mm out is there a way to adjust this error out?
Is the MFT top square? Assuming you’re using the benchdogs Mk2 fence with fencedogs, then they’re referencing off the top row of holes, and the benchdogs quad hinge references off the column of holes, so provided the grid of holes is square, then no adjustment should be necessary. I believe there is some adjustment in the hinge to allow for a certain amount of tweaking, but you’d need to consult the manual on that one. My first task would be to check the grid of holes in the MFT top is truly square though, as everything else references that. HTH P
@@10MinuteWorkshop thank you have just ordered the precision triangle will do more checks when I get it also ordered the repeat stop for the mk2 rail square, using your promo code saved a few Bob too thank you. Regards Mick
@@10MinuteWorkshopHello Peter just got my precision square and checked for square and is spot on mind idid use the opposite end and the other reference edge. However one of the corners of the square has been dinged will have to take a file to it as the bur is marking up my top if I slide the square across the top. One more enquiry and that is what kind of mdf are the black mf tops. Sirry to have bugged you again Kinnd regards Mick.
It’s a standard Festool 20mm MFT bit that I had a precision engineer pal grind down to fit. The stock bit makes an oversize hole, which is why I don’t link to it. I’m working with another company to make a bit that allows for router run-out. Watch this space. 👍
i feel like this hinge thing is not suited for a permanent shop where your table is against a wall. If you think about it you are loosing about a 1/4 square meter of shop just so the rail can swing. I have a small shop just like you and for me that 1/4 square meter can and should be much more useful. Festool came with that for artisan who set up on site, so they typically set up some saw horse in the middle of the room eventually placing an old door to make a worktable, MFT was ment as an improvement of that and it certainly is a huge improvement on that.
I don't disagree, and I mention this when I bought the dashboard hinge as well. In truth though, while the MFT may have been conceived as a portable worktable, I know very few people who use them out of the workshop as they're simply too heavy. The Festool hinge has an impressively short rear overhang - half that of the Benchdogs and Dashboard hinges - and it's something that I'm making a priority wasI design my own DIY hinge. 👍
I must be missing something fundament here but why did you not use the routing template for the front rail stop as you did for the hinge assembly? Surely, the holes would have aligned correctly.
Yep, definitely missing the point on this one. 🤦♂️ The template is £36 on top of the price if the hinge. So, could you do without the template? Yes, you can, but the template is easier. 🤷♂️
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Hey Peter, a great introduction to our hinge system. Once the final finished product is available, I will have this sent out to you for a comparison video with others on the market. All systems have their place and are all great systems, and all have their pros and cons. It’s fantastic feedback from everyone. It’s also great to hear the comments about our products.
As you mentioned, we have a different take on the mounting part which may have its downsides, but looking at it, the benchdogs route and thought process, I’ll try to explain. The plate sites on the top but set back further so it’s not getting in the way of the first set of holes you would use for either a fence or dogs that you place your workpiece against, so in theory, you haven’t lost any space on your workbench. The front support is also set forward doing the same. If you were using either guide rail dogs or our B dogs, you would lose the first hole for this dog to go into, so technically, this system gains you some space If using the dog method. As for the 6mm height of the plate that sits on top, we kept it at this height for a few reasons.
1. Our under rail is at 9mm or 7.1mm if using the MK2.1 fence. So it sits below this.
2. If you are using our benchtop protectors, it will raise the workpiece above this height.
We can make the overhang a lot less to about 60mm by turning the top plate around, but this has its downside that the plate then raises the min-height to 9mm, but the thumbscrew method would not work. We would need to use countersink screws for the fixing of the tracks. We did try this method, and we can also offer this method if required.
The hole jig can also be used to offset the fence system. Use the 32mm offset if the hinge has used the 48mm offset. This will also help you gain some more space on your MFT.
Also, having our jig will allow you to make additional holes when you need other holes for possible future products in the pipeline. So it’s not a one-time-only product. We will also look at alternate materials to help reduce the cost.
I hope this explication of our thought process helps.
Thanks Ralph. I dont see those as downsides exactly, more things that potential buyers need to be aware of, and thanks so much for the detailed explanation. Much appreciated! 🙌
Absolutely appreciated.. all these innovative tools 🧰 . Looking forward to all of them for my workshop here in California USA 🇺🇸
Thanks Ralph. I'm on the 3rd batch run and can't wait. I'm back to being a kitchen fitter after many years out of it. I love all of these innovations that have come about in recent years. Enjoying using the rail square and the fence system.
What I would appreciate, is that you add some good comebacks in your FAQS for what to tell the missus when making a purchase. I've worn out the one that says "i''ll be much quicker after investing in this". I'm never home any earlier ☺️
Hi Ralph, have you considered a hire service for the jig? for a small fee users could hire a jig and return. You would probably need to charge the full price, in case the person didnt return it, and then return the price paid less a small charge.
@@rayroulstone3565 I’m sure we could look into it. I’m also going to look into other options and uses to make it a more worthwhile product. Also reduce the cost for people who have the quad bases.
If you just need a thicker MFT where the hinge is, you could always just glue in a bit where the hinge is before boring.
My thoughts exactly.
Yes I was going to mention that. Would be the way I'd go.
Sorry just seen this!
Thanks for the review, the quality of benchdogs stuff is invariably top notch but can be a bit pricey. I find their rail dogs do pretty much 90% of all my work but I’m still tempted by the hinge
Ahhhh yes. Been waiting for this ever since Ralph announced it in his channel
For the heck of it, I have the system on order but couldn't wait to try to drill the holes. I just used the parf system, put the dogs in the two 20mm holes in the jig and into holes already in the top. and put the drill in the guide that is used first when drilling hole the holes, the one nearest the single 20mm hole guide on the jig. Seems perfect to me
Hi Peter, since I decided to stump up for the genuine Festool extrusions and parts for my DIY MFT, in order to fit a rail hinge, all these great alternatives have turned up! Thank you very much for your review of the benchdogs system.
And you haven’t seen mine yet Dawn! 😯👍
Looks like a good piece of kit. I’m currently using their fence with a pair of quad dogs for the rail. This works great but I would love the convenience of throwing the rail up and out of the way. Thanks for the overview 😊
This is brilliant. Been waiting for a long time for something as well made, right price and universally useful as this, preordered!
Amazing how the market is evolving.
I use the Parf system to make my tops and it has the capability to add an extra row at 32mm or 46mm spacing from the grid - so it would be a good fit with this rail hinge.
This is what I ended up doing even though I bought the template. 20mm router bits are harder to find in the US than I thought so I used the Parf guide
@@maxbrap
Hi,
New to carpentry- hobbyist- seeking advice from professionals- I want to make an MFT table and I have acquired the Parf Mk 2 system. I have also bought the benchdogs quad rail hinge and want to fit it to the MFT table. I have a 25mm workbench top measuring 1500 x 900 on which to construct an MFT and later fit a router table at other end.
Advice on how I should start with my Parf system.
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Paul
@@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts Peter Parfit (sp ?) Does a great demo on the part guide system here on UA-cam. I'm editing a short video showing how I did the offset holes using the Parf Guides. I will publish by Monday if you check my channel
@@maxbrap many thanks and much appreciated- will watch out for that on Monday
Regards
Paul
@@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts BTW. Your Shed videos were very helpful
Yes, on a round up of the router bits. And please include model numbers in the description if you do the video. I’m in the US, and metric things can be a bit hard to track down. Luckily, I did track down the metric collets for my venerable Porter Cable routers when they were still available, and have a bit more flexibility in what shanks I can use.
For those who have the UJK parfdog system, you can drill offset holes, you don't really need the template plate. Unfortunately, you need to plan ahead, and drill the pin holes first, once enlarged, you cannot reference the offset holes. For those who wants to build their own MFTs, you can buy the UJK parfdog system, the benchdog hinge, and the benchdog fence. I think this combination is better than Festool's MFT, plus you make your own top and save beer tokens on the long run.
UJK do now have adapters, to centre the pin in the enlarged 20mm holes
Yeah, with the UJK system, some benchdogs, and tracks, you almost don't need a tablesaw. In fact, for square cuts, I think this is faster than using miter gauges. Although you could also just put the track against the benchdogs for square cuts.
@@prduguid Yes as you say Axminster have UJK PARF ALUMINIUM REVISION DOGS available to slot in the 20mm hole that have a 3mm hole to allow setting up for additional holes and they come as a set of 3. Great idea
I have the Parf system and the quad rail hinge and intend to make my own MFT table- advice on where to start.
New to carpentry
Great review (pre-prod. of course!) Peter - thank you. I've used the UJK Parf-Guide Mk2 to drill my MFT top, and that has a built-in ability to drill at 48mm centres so no 3rd component required! I pre-ordered mine as soon as they came out - must be patient!
I have just received mine!! Looks great and I will be installing it in the next day or two. I did purchase the guide hole jig. and I purchased the fence system also. I'm going to be installing it the long way as I have 3 MFTs side by side. wish me luck 😁
Excellent video!! Your years of doing these really shows in this one. The camera angles are perfect, the timing, the script, all first class!! The product looks almost too good to be true. In production, you may see non metallic knobs, and other cost cutting techniques. The fit and finish on this first prototype are really from a truly first rate custom machine shop, not production. I hope that the production product is close however. The squareness of the MFT top is one of it's primary functions. I depend on this every day I use it. I hope Benchdogs maintains that squareness over time of usage. Stay safe and take care.
Thank you! Yes, it's a lovely product, and the tactile feel of the knobs, in particular, really help to set it apart. 👍
Looks great! Solid, stout, accurate, etc...
I don't have my diy mft put together yet and my plan has been to fabricate my own guide rail hinge system, but.. This one looks like a contender for a store bought version for me.
Will anxiously await your official review.
Thanks for the sneak peek!
Thanks! I have my own take on a DIY hinge coming soon. 👍
Peter. You could glue and pin a piece of would at either end of the hing on the underside. So that you could route the hing flush on the top side. All you would need to do is bore the holes through the would underneath.
A small rebate in the apron of the MFT would then accommodate the modified MFT top… hope that makes sense…
Very interesting Peter, another lovely bench dogs product, beautiful quality but not cheap. I did particularly like the way it's been designed as a universal hinge for different manufacturerers rails, that really is a unique product feature.
The template jig for drilling the MFT holes seems a lot of money for something that most people are only going to use a couple of times, I'd be very tempted to make my own jig. Maybe someone entrepreneurial will set up a jig rental service?
With regards to insetting the rail and stop in the MFT and then reducing the quad dog grip with only one set of grommets, you could simply screw a small additional panel underneath the rail square holes to increase the MFT thickness and drill through to provide the full depth that the quad dog wants. Cheers
During lockdown i had this same idea. Mounting the hinge to the table top. Designed a version in sketchup but never got round to sending it to Benchdogs. Looks like great minds think alike. If the bench rail was allowed to pivot, perhaps with additional holes set on a arc or with an adaptor you could use the saw guide to cut accurate mitres.
Now that would fit nicely on my conventional workbench, just four holes and ready to go (or 6 adding two for a fence).
I've been waiting for this as I've got one ordered on Batch 1 so this is a reassuring initial review Peter, thank you. I've bought it to help board up the inside my my new workshop and, more importantly, help to accurately build my cabinets and benches.
Peter, I've been wanting a rail hinge ever since you talked me into buying the TS55 :-) so will be looking forward to your comparison video.
Your take on the various router bit for this job will be very welcome.
A excellent presentation, as always. Thank you!
Thanks Clive! Keep you posted! 👍
Looks similar to my custom hardwood brackets I've made to fit the Festool/Parf kit I have, so should be good for most cuts needed.
A great, well explained review and teaching session as usual, Peter. You have such a wonderful delivery. This new hinge system from Benchdogs looks like a very useful addition. Benchdogs products are always quality.
Thank you! And yes, they are. 👌
Looks really nice. I’m using a bora centipede with 2 tops with 20mm @ 96mm. This will solve a few problems because there is no side rails for clamping other systems
👍👍
This looks like a nice sturdy unit.
I feel the weekness in the festool mft table is the other side of the fence fixture. Over time there may be a little play as the aluminium fence underside is very soft so cuts may become slightly out.
The fixture side also looks more strong than the festool. I like the fact you have the back support so you can place stopper for different sizes when placing ruler.
You are an expert and everything looks easy to you because you are the Djokovic in the woodworking industry.
Great video, glad I got on the first order run can’t wait to try it out.
Nice look mate looks like a great hinge kit looking forward too seeing the final product
Cheers Dan! 👍
Looks a fantastic system and when fully finished will be pretty slick like all BD products 👍. I needed to add a couple of extra holes in my top to fit a couple of quad dogs so, once again put my 3D printer to work to produce a jig which worked very well, I was only let down by the 20mm Trend router bit that gave a slightly sloppy hole, which isn't a major problem as the quad dogs expand into it, but a roundup of bits would be most welcome. Thanks Peter.
Thanks! Yes, it's an all-too-common occurrence, unfortunately, bits that don't produce a 20mm hole. I'll put a roundup together before too long. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop thanks Peter, you would’ve thought by now someone would be making a slightly undersized bit specifically for this application 🤷♂️.
Good to see the Bench Dogs hinge in action. Many thanks for the informative video. I'm very keen to get either the Bench Dogs or Dashboard hinge. The one misgiving I have is the amount of track/rail they use, primarily on the hinge side. I'd like to maximise the cross cut capacity on my custom made MFT bench and both hinges take up quite a percentage (with Dashboard being slightly less from dimensions I've seen). I'm not an engineer, but I can't quite see why such a large amount of the track should be required - particularly since the non-hinged side is going to register into a pin on the other end. The DIY solutions I've seen using a "Z" type hinge arrangement take up far less room and I'm wondering why no manufacturers have looked at that as an option.
And another vote for a rundown on available 20mm plunge router bits. It looks like the Festool one you had machined to a better tolerance has been discontinued (at least in Australia and from what I see in the UK).
There's a LOT of leverage acting on the pivoting end and a fairly large contact area is needed to control it, as well as to just generally keep a rail well-secured to the plate. It's also useful to consider that not all users will be gentle with the device.
Peter, Thank you for your videos, I really gain so much information from them. I intend in buying the bench dog model and will recess both ends but will also add material to the bottom , (gluing) before drilling the holes. I am building my first MFT workbench. Up to now have been using the Bora system but that has no hinge system
Thanks for the video.. A 20mm router bit round up would be much appreciated.. thanks again for a first rate content.
Great use of existing resources.. so I can make use of this on my tool box 📦 without drilling additional machine screws on the front side of my bench.
I presume the eliminates the need for the front secure rail (using your IKEA hack suggestion now)
Front securing rails are still very useful for clamping. 👍👍
I think this is the one for me Peter. Using the rail dogs at the minute which are fine, but lifting the rail out isn't the easiest tbh.
Cheers Leo! And no, I struggle with rail dogs using both hands! 😯👍👍
Good morning Peter. I love well engineered kit and this looks exactly like that and as you say with a couple of talking points but all in all IMOFWIW this is a more positive location solution than the Festool one which I have and a lot less expensive than the Dashboard solution so I am in no doubt Benchdogs have a viable, marketable solution. Thanks for a great video, again.👍
Thanks David! 👍
I'm still slightly reluctant to go for the jig, but I can now see how much easier it would make things. I've got an MFT 3 style top so I'm going to have to do something....
Would love to see the fence adapted to use the 6mm hinge plate as the under rail support for the fence. The drill jig used to add more holes for the fence, set back to align everything up. etch up the plate with the scale. This would be amazing!
I would prefer a hinge that allows the MFT to be closer to the wall. One that lifts up then drops down would save lots of back board space. Some home made ones I have seen allow the rail to drop down behind the bench as well to keep it stored in a safer position. Love your videos. Very informative.
I’m making a DIY version; minimal overhang at the back is a priority. 👍
Great video!! I have to say, you look so much like the Canadian actor Victor Garber from the show "Legends of Tomorrow." 😁
You think so? That's never come up before... 🤔 👍
Yes Peter I would like to hear what you think of various router bits.
Great video and can't wait to see them on the market. I'm in the process of making a new MFT workstation integrated to my outfeed table and will consider this system. I'd be inclined to recess the MFT and glue a 40mm strip of 6mm mdf on the underside to extend the depth of the holes to allow a better fixing.
Thanks Peter a great video 👍.
Hi Peter. I know it would need a small mod to your table top, less for a jobbing carpenter, but if the dogs on the front guide pointed upwards the plate would then not get in the way. This would also remove the need for the adaptor and boring extra holes. The same could also apply to the hinge plate. Great show keep it up please. Lesli
Thanks! Sorry, I understand mounting the plate on the underside of the top (my guess is that it would put additional stresses on the dogs on the front rail support, and far too much on the dogs on the hinge side) but I don't see how it would remove the need to bore the extra holes?? 🤔
As always, excellent overview of the Benchdogs hinge set! Having said that, I’d like to see the video about building the boxes on the shelving above your MFT.
Thanks. The boxes are just box fronts at the moment - there’ll be a build along very soon. 👍
Yes Peter, please do a video on 20mm router bits. I've just spent £45 on the Festool spiral upcut bit. I hope I didn't waste my money! I'm planning to use it to make a replacement mft top with my LR32 jig, using the method you showed in another of your videos. A video comparing Benchdog Quad dogs and UJK expanding dogs, would also be useful. Cheers.
Really useful demo! Would love to see your thoughts on their precision triangle too!
Around 13:00, if you recess the hinge, you could also reinforce the other side, after removing any wax etc (Dave's approach).
Very nice product
Great video, as always! Yes please, it would be very interesting to hear your thoughts on 20 mm hole boring router bits.
Thanks! It’s coming… 👍
You could stick a small piece of board underneith just where the new MFT hinge goes, rather than a thicker board for the whole table - this way not inhibitting the use of the rest of the holes for general clamping.
Great video as usual. Please do a video on the 20mm router bits!!!!
If routing these in, just glue a small piece of 18mm ply / mdf on the underside of the bench top, under the two mounting holes, then drill through the existing top holes to create enough depth for both of the dog rubber washers to expand under the routed in hinges /locating plate. Ralph, if you read this, you could supply at a set price an mdf bush template to route out using customers own dogs which could be designed to be glued / screwed under, once used for routing, using dogs to line up perfectly underneath. Peter in Leeds who you had a chat with on the phone regarding the prototype Mafell parallel guides you sent to me and then sent the completed version to.
Depends what’s already under the bench top eg the frame the top is sitting on, but yes, even a piece of 6mm glued to the underside would do the job.
Hi Peter. We did think about the jig but will look in to the response to it. We are looking at making a thinner quad dog 12mm version but will test this and send a set to Peter for his opinion. This will be available when Peter gets the final finish product.
Peter M, as the hinge will be flush with the top and the rail slides over it, the 2 plates could be moved further inboard to clear the frame as there won’t be any width restriction for cutting as both flush.
Ralph, yes, I think there would be a market for it, worth looking into.
I’m on the 4th prod run for the hinge and will play around with it, recessed maybe inboard, once received.
I like the router option setting it into the bench then just glue on a 6mm board under the bench in those two areas so the 2 Orings can grip. I’m guessing the 2 rings are used to ensure the dogs stay perpendicular to the table.
Great video as normal Peter, I personally see that the 6mm raised plate as a benefit as by using a sacrificial 6mm scrap under the workpiece you are then not cutting into the MFT table top.
Exactly! 👍
I do hope you produce the video on the 20mm router bit comparison; they are hard to come by (at least in the US) & I’m keen to hear your thoughts on the various offerings.
I abandoned the idea; I bought all the 20mm bits on the market and had an engineer pal chuck them in his mill. They all bored a perfect 20mm hole; the issue is with the routers, not the bits. I’m working on it. 👍
Can you think of any other uses for the hole jig? Adding a fence perhaps? Can the bases of the two supplied dogs be used with anything else? Really trying to find the value in the jig 😄
Apparently there are other applications planned for additional benchdogs products, so it's not a one-trick template.👍
Ah ha, I see. Well at the very least I could also use it for measuring spaghetti or just as a coaster
would be nice to have the template made into the baseplate.
to have more space to cut, recessing the plates is matter of minutes 😉 edit: oh, now mentioned it
Hi Peter I’ve ordered mine but was interested in the router guide that you used on the track. I have a Makita track but haven’t been able to track anything down here in oz to use the router on the track. Could you please tell me what you are using. Thanks
Thanks! It's a standard Festool rail adapter - amzn.to/3xzqT5l (cheaper elsewhere) - you need to use the rods that come with the router, but it works great. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop Thanks
Possibly rebate the front & back and locally thicken the MFT with 6mm mdf below the table so that the full dog sits in it.
🎯 what a pleasant surprise 🤣
Hi Peter, I would like to add a few holes and add an extension piece to my MFT table and would be very interested to see a review of the various router bits available. Like many woodworkers I want to spend wisely, not cheaply as this often leads to frustration due to problems and inaccuracies.
Can you please do a video on how to calibrate the parallel guide in IMPERIAL scale.
I calibrate using the method post for METRIC scale did not come out accurate.
Thanks,
Damon
Ive got a QH on backorder but wanting to finish building my MFT. Can you suggest a rough distance to leave open between the MFT and the wall for the hinge to operate correctly (festool track)? You mentioned 185mm, but wasnt sure if that was with a track installed or not. Thank you for your time and great content.
Thanks! Yes, 185mm will cover it with the track attached. 👍
About to do the same Peter. Why place the hinge at 4/5 holes in? Don't you normally run with the cutting line much nearer the end of the MFT?
I've always run teh cut line over the third column of holes, but the benchdogs hinge put the cut-line between the columns so I opted for the cut to be between 3 & 4 as I though between 2 & 3 was a bit close to the end. Don't read too much into it though howard - this was first a test of a pre-production sample on a DIY MFT that the hinge will never actually be used on. 🤷♂️ 👍
Certainly better than Festool's take on the hinge and props to them for coming up with a different way to do the hinge. As a Dashboard hinge owner I don't see anything here that makes me want to switch, nor any features I wish I had (a nod to Dashboard for doing so much right in their version I guess). If was in the market, being in the States (as I write this they are also out of stock, with more due in mid-April) I'd lean towards the Dashboard simply because I could get it faster. It also has the "advantage" of not needing any more hole drilling. But I can see some use cases that would steer one either unit. For MY use case I'd rate the Dashboard a half star better than the Benchdog and both a good two to three stars better than Festool's.
Yes, I'm a happy Dashboard hinge owner too, but unfortunately not everyone can ignore the shipping costs and import taxes that we get hit for. 👍
Very good
Is there a way to make the additional holes with the jig but without using a 20mm cutter and a guide bush in a big router? I only have a Makita trim router with a plunge base and I'm not sure I can even find a 20mm cutter for it plus the extra expense. I was wondering if you could drill a close-sized hole and then flush trim it using the jig as a template guide? Sorry, newb question :-)
You’d have to do a bit of maths to get it right, but the template takes a 30mm guidebush, so a smaller guidebush in combination with a smaller cutter should be able to do the job. 👍
Ah, so the hole in the jig is of course bigger than 20mm to accommodate a guide bush so it would not work as pattern template.
Thanks for the great presentation. I am curious, does the hinge system auto adjust for board thickness?
No, you adjust the height manually. 👍
Why did Benchdog wait so long to develop this? I recently purchased the Dashboard hinge system for my MFT. I still have the orginal Festool hinge plate I hated having to re-square the track after lifting the fence more than ten times or bumping into the table. Who knows maybe I add this plate to my other MFT
We started on this project about a year ago but we just didn’t have the space and manpower to proceed. Since we moved to our new location and we’re settled in, it was one of my many new products to release.
Hi Peter,
Enjoy your videos. New to carpentry.
Just acquired Parf Mk 2 system and benchdogs rail hinge.
I have a 1500 x 900 x 25mm MR Mdf top on which I intend to build an MFT table and also to accommodate a router table at some stage.Advice on positioning the dog holes for quad rail hinge. What areas would you recommend for each area.
Greatly appreciate your advice.
Regards
Paul
Hi and thanks! I wouldn't use 25mm for the top as you won't be able to get regular rail clamps through the holes - not without a fairly hefty chamfer on the underside of the holes. As for the layout, I've only ever used tops with a full grid of holes; if you're making your own with the parf guide, then you could drill out the full grid with just the 3mm bit, and add in the 20mm holes where you need them? The quad hinge is designed to fit into the regular grid of holes, just closer to the edge of the benchtop - the jig that Benchdogs sells makes this very easy to do, but as I show in this video it's do-able without it.
Hope that helps! P
Looks suitable for the wolfcraft mft which I have.
LOL, you mentioned thicker MFT tops, I made mine from 25mm - and yes, had to heavily chamfer every bluddy hole at the back :-) And BTW, paint/varnish the top BEFORE cutting the holes or the paint goes in every hole which you have to clear or the dogs wont fit - arghhh :-) Still far better than a tablesaw 'though!
Hi Peter
Great review my Mate
Iv never really thought of getting one to be honest,
But after seeing this I think Iv changed my mind nice bit of kit
Just have to hide it from the wife lol 😝
Cheers Carl! 👍
Would ist be possible to mount the benchdogs so they are facing upwards so that the hinge attaches from underneath?
Don't think so, not as the hinge is currently designed; also the stresses would be much higher on the quad dogs in that arrangement, as the hinge plates would only be supported by the dogs. 🤷♂️👍
Of course I would use the dogs only for alignment and fix the angle bracket with an extra knurled screw and a threaded insert.
Hi Peter, superb vid as ever. Been keeping up with this on Patreon though you’ve brought it altogether with aplomb, as evs. Defo interested in a 20mm router bit video. (Rock and Roll 😉)
Haha, thanks Philip! Yeah, we know how to live, right? 😂👍
Yes to the roundup of 20mm router bits please
excellent invention made in England far to advanced for me being a humble handy man
too
@@ltandrepants three four five six i can count lol
I have quite a few of Benchdogs products. However since the brexit it has become very expensive to "import" to the EU. Latest thing I bought almost doubled the price after shipping and taxes😢.
We have started to ship to the Netherlands hub now so won’t be to long before the eu site is open.
Looks like a great bit of kit but the jig is a bit rich for something you'll barely use. Seems like something that should be 3d printed or injection moulded and included in the box to me at this price.
if i were building my own mft top id inset the hinges and stop and thicken the mdf under the holes so both rubbers contact the mdf, you could also 3d print a template for setting the hinge, or cut it on a cnc if you have one. an expensive, but nice product .
you could put a reenforcement under the bench to get it flush without losing grip or strength.
Yes, please on the 20mm router bit round-up. Would love to see ideal “pairings” of brand of bit and which brand / model of benchdog (UJK, benchdogs.co.uk, etc.) fits best in the holes created by a given router bit.
Yes, please, a roundup of 20mm boring bits.
@Peter Millard , can you tell which holes on the mft do you regularly use? Are there some you don't use at all, or could easily do without?
No, I pretty much use them all. And you can guarantee that if you left a few out, they’d be the ones you need most for the next project! 🤦♂️👍
Great video, thanks Peter. Apologise if someone has asked already, I have a 'walk around' MFT workbench that is 2M x 1M. If I wanted to fit the hinge and hinge support inboard as much as possible to reduce overhang what distance should I make the hole centres from the edge for both parts? Thanks
Thanks. I did a quick video on Instagram to show how far to notch them in to use the regular MFT holes here - instagram.com/tv/Ccmj_WSD2wb/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
If you wanted to notch them in so there’s no overhang, I’d have to check when I’m next in the workshop. 👍
Does the front part have any lateral adjustment in case the holes in the bench aren’t square to each other? Cheers Pete
There’s a little bit of adjustment in it, yes. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop thanks for the reply buddy 👍
Would it be possible to make the hinge plate (with the quad dogs) also be the template? I.e. the hinge plate has the guide holes in it, you use that to bore the extra mft holes and then attach the hinge assembled to the plate? Or do similar with the front rail support plate…
Don’t think there’s enough space on the plates to do that, and if they made the plates bigger just to enable that, then I guess it’d be self-defeating. 🤷♂️👍
I should probably have a piece of cheese to go with this whine but
I really wish BD had called out the need for the 30mm guide bushing so I could have started earlier to track them down. The bit was easy but the guide bushing has been a problem and won't arrive until the end of August! Better still would have been a option from BD to purchase these (bit/bushing) with the template.
Sorry to hear Michael, and while I don’t work for BenchgogsUK, I’ll say that a 30mm guide bush is the most common size imaginable - many routers come with a 30mm guide bush as standard. End of August is quite the lead-time though! Plenty of opportunity for a couple of slices of Emmental - unless you’re more of a Jarlsberg type?? 🤷♂️ Cheers! P🍷👍
All those proprietary knurled knobs, t-track fixings and other gadgetry and you never once uttered the word 'dingus'. I cry 'shame' for this serious lapse in presentation!
I already have holes at 32 and 64 mm from the edge of my table, will I need to drill additional holes ? Or will the hinge fit in either set of these holes ?
You should be fine with the 32, but check with benchdogs as this was a 'first look' at a pre-production example, and I know the Mk2 346 jig/template was released recently. 👍
If there is someone who has made their grid using the UJK Parf Guide MK 2 system it has support for making some offset holes that I believe could fit this hinge 😊
Perhaps it would solve the offset height problem (flexing of rail and renders rubber strips ineffective, plus dust under rail now) if the hinge mounted UNDERNEATH the MFT, provided quad dogs didn't protrude, then rotate the hinge all the way around, even more flexible if it mounted either way, on top or underneath? Would that work?
No, the stresses are all transferred into the quad dogs if you try to mount the hinge plate underneath. Not good.
Thank you Mr. Millard for your great UA-cam Chanal and thank you for this video. I've got only two questions, because I don't understand this product exactly.
How far away is the maximum distance in millimeters from the edge of the MFT-table to the center of the 20-mm-holes for mounting the MFT Hinge System? How deep reach the bases of the "Quad Dogs" for mounting the MFT Hinge System into the plate of the MFT-table?
Thank you very much and sorry for my "rusty, old" english. Yours sincerely Simon S.
Thanks Simon. The full specs are on the BenchdogsUK website, but from memory it’s 35mm from the hole centre to the edge of the top. HTH P
Hello Peter I have used the parf jig to make my table 20 mm holes at 96 mm centres with the Mk 2 fence system I have also bought quad hinge rail system after much tooing and froing. I just can't seem to get a square cut it is aprox 1mm out is there a way to adjust this error out?
Is the MFT top square? Assuming you’re using the benchdogs Mk2 fence with fencedogs, then they’re referencing off the top row of holes, and the benchdogs quad hinge references off the column of holes, so provided the grid of holes is square, then no adjustment should be necessary. I believe there is some adjustment in the hinge to allow for a certain amount of tweaking, but you’d need to consult the manual on that one. My first task would be to check the grid of holes in the MFT top is truly square though, as everything else references that. HTH P
@@10MinuteWorkshop thank you have just ordered the precision triangle will do more checks when I get it also ordered the repeat stop for the mk2 rail square, using your promo code saved a few Bob too thank you.
Regards Mick
@@10MinuteWorkshopHello Peter just got my precision square and checked for square and is spot on mind idid use the opposite end and the other reference edge. However one of the corners of the square has been dinged will have to take a file to it as the bur is marking up my top if I slide the square across the top. One more enquiry and that is what kind of mdf are the black mf tops.
Sirry to have bugged you again Kinnd regards Mick.
Love your work 👍
Thank you! 🙌
Peter, have I missed the link for the router bit? 🤣
Cheers
Hi Peter, what routerbit you use to make the holes ?
The Festool one, but it’s been doctored to make perfect hikes. I’ll have a video out before too long about MFT router bits. 👍👍
Can you provide a link to the router bit that you used to bore out the hole in the MFT for the mounting plate?
It’s a standard Festool 20mm MFT bit that I had a precision engineer pal grind down to fit. The stock bit makes an oversize hole, which is why I don’t link to it. I’m working with another company to make a bit that allows for router run-out. Watch this space. 👍
@@10MinuteWorkshop I'll definitely be on the lookout. I'm really shocked there isn't something already out there that's perfectly made for this
i feel like this hinge thing is not suited for a permanent shop where your table is against a wall. If you think about it you are loosing about a 1/4 square meter of shop just so the rail can swing. I have a small shop just like you and for me that 1/4 square meter can and should be much more useful. Festool came with that for artisan who set up on site, so they typically set up some saw horse in the middle of the room eventually placing an old door to make a worktable, MFT was ment as an improvement of that and it certainly is a huge improvement on that.
I don't disagree, and I mention this when I bought the dashboard hinge as well. In truth though, while the MFT may have been conceived as a portable worktable, I know very few people who use them out of the workshop as they're simply too heavy. The Festool hinge has an impressively short rear overhang - half that of the Benchdogs and Dashboard hinges - and it's something that I'm making a priority wasI design my own DIY hinge. 👍
I must be missing something fundament here but why did you not use the routing template for the front rail stop as you did for the hinge assembly? Surely, the holes would have aligned correctly.
Yep, definitely missing the point on this one. 🤦♂️ The template is £36 on top of the price if the hinge. So, could you do without the template? Yes, you can, but the template is easier. 🤷♂️
Peter was demonstrating that the hole jig was not the only way to make the additional holes.
@@10MinuteWorkshop doh!