Thread: Woodpecker one time tool, MFT hole maker

Nice idea. The PARF guide system is GBP108.00 from Axminster - USD$141.00 at the time of writing this.

Assume shipping is equal (mind, I can attest to Axminster's shipping being very cost effective, have no experience with Woodpeckers).

It's a very interesting proposition - looks easier to use than the PARF Guide, but accuracy? Who knows?

the Parf MFT Drilling kit includes the bit and is $189 USD ex Lee Valley. Shipping is possibly on par with the Woodpeckers plate.

One main difference looks to be that the Woodpeckers plate can create 20 mm (MFT) or 3/4" holes.



as an aside, the mere existence of this jig suggests that Festool is making significant inroads in the US market.

Ive noticed that the US do quite a few jigs for Festool, and quality jigs i must add.

I can see why people have warmed towards Festool in a hobby handyman scenario.

Easy to use, easy to access options, and they work.

I came from a trade back ground, our reasons for Festool/Festo at the time, was that there tools reduced our time on site (Plunge saw with rail, Routers eta)

The Systainers helped a lot, for moving tools within thew van, between shops, at the time 20 years ago, i can't recall any of the other tool makers suppling sustainers.

Iver noticed that they all do now

I received the email too and thought it was a decent solution.

One thing that drew me to the Axminster Parf is the insane accuracy and repeatability of making both large and small MFT holes.

I've several boards now, one for inside and another huge one for outside, where I pre-cut all the MDF and ply before bringing it in for final sizing.

Can I say, without sounding like a zealot, that the Parf system is absolutely outstanding. It is dead easy to make an incredibly accurate and large holed surface that will give you perfect cuts and alignment. It has changed that way I work, for the better.

The guys at Bunnings and my local kitchen company (where I buy my MDF) has all marvelled over my trailer-trellis with an MFT top!

Originally Posted by woodPixel

The guys at Bunnings and my local kitchen company (where I buy my MDF) has all marvelled over my trailer-trellis with an MFT top!

pictures please

Yes please pics of the mft trailer!

It's not that amazing!

so I can move whole sheets without them bending, I made up a trellis of mgp10 pine that sits on top of the trailer. It simply slots over the edges and holds firm. On top of that I use an 18mm MDF sheet which was made into a giant MFT tabletop with the Axminster Parf.

i don't really need the MFT top, but it adds a lot of rigidity especially when carrying 26 sheets of MDF, which I did last week (!!! Pumped the tyres right up that morning!!!). The other advantage is one can hold the entire trailer load down with two fat ratchet clamps and get the trailer balance right.

when I get the sheets home, I can drag the Festool vac and circ saw out the front and precut everything to +5mm with incredible accuracy and squareness. Then I can carry it around the back and into the studio to pile up and finish-process later (my studio is a shoebox)

ill take a few photos, but it's pissing rain, so it will have to be later I'll do up a Sketchup for you instead and post it soon.

i saw the ad/email for the woodpecker plate and thought this was a good solution too, but if you look at the method behind the Parf you will see it will make giant cutting boards with unerring accuracy. I'm not sure how the woodpecker would go for big stuff, but for small things, like Systainer Tops or clamping-cubes it would be perfect. (The Parf can't do small jobs, unless you cut it up, of course).

WP,

The Woodpeck unit looks simple at first glance, but I have questions about routing deadly accurate holes with a smaller router bit - potentially too much room for error. Although Peter Parfitt’s system is more work I think I’d be more confident of its accuracy over a whole table. The Parfitt system gets sensational reviews on Axminster’s site - but then I know I’m preaching to the converted! I’m in the market for one of these soon, and it will be the Parfitt system even though I have many Woodpeck tools, router table etc and find them very good.
As to where to buy, for me there’s no question. Axminster’s price, service and the low UK shipping rates are way ahead of buying from Lee Valley even if you don’t allow for the fact that US mail services seem to be run by Bonnie and Clyde.

Brian