Thread: Makita track saw

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

with a PARF system, one can literally whip up a new top, with a custom hole pattern of their choice in very short order.

Is that the case though? I've watched his videos and the process looks quite slow. Unless you're chewing through MFT tops or you want an odd size, the CNC shop looks like the go. And if you're handy with CAD you could draw up a plan for any size top you want.

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

I have been following up an earlier forum member's recommendation of the Bora Centipede as a support for the MFT top and notice they now sell their own MFT style tops for $90 (at Carbatec anyway).

I see the Bora top is hinged in the middle. I don't see how it would remain accurate with a hinge. The CNC option looks like the go.

Good point.

But in any case the ability to use moisture resistant MDF is important to me given the condensation in my shed and I'd prefer to support a local business right now rather than buy the import.

The parts of the system have started to arrive now. I've had a great experience with Precision Dogs US (for the parallel guides), Bench Dogs UK (for the rail dogs) Axminster (for the rail square) Timbecon (for T-track bits clamps). Unfortunately Aus Dogs have been completely uncommunicative so far, not really sure what's happening there but we do have a lockdown on.

I'm not surprised you've heard nothing from the Aussie business. Most Australian woodworking/metalworking suppliers I've dealt with recently have been hopeless. It's not lockdown. That's a reason to have low stocks and slow postage. It's not an excuse for poor communications.

Maybe. I guess it's striking that I can get a specialist part arrive ony doorstep from a microbusiness in regional California before I get even an email acknowledgement of having handed over a hundred bucks or whatever it was from an Australian business selling the same thing. But I intensely dislike my own cranky and demanding clients (I don't understand why they won't just give me money for free) so I'm being a hypocrite on this one. And my experience with some Aussie firms has been great.

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

.... And my experience with some Aussie firms has been great.

Amen, to that.

I have had consistently good service from a lot of (usually) small businesses, and some absolutely appalling "non-service" from some others. The latter were usually larger chains, but sometimes quite small businesses. It does not take a genius to realise that a business needs customers, and that their job depends on those annoying customers.

The situation is exacerbated because I am in Hobart, and increasingly we are told the stocks are in Sydney or Melbourne.

An example: a while back I ripped a sailing jacket and needed an (expensive) replacement.

• The first chandlery had a suitable offshore sailing jacket and pants for $1,200 (OUCH) but the only example in my size was mismatched - different colour pants and jacket. "We can get it down from Sydney in 7 to 10 days. Courier fee of $35." Yep, they wanted to charge me for their stock shortage. [small company]
• Second chandlery didn't have anything suitable. [Large chain]
• Third chandlery after ignoring me for 10 minutes: "We are about to close, can you come back tomorrow?" [national chain]

Irrate me did some googling that night and found an identical product in Scotland. Sent email at 10pm Friday asking for VAT-free quote and shipping to Tasmania. Got reply 30 minutes later, and confirmed order at 11pm that night. Quote, including freight was $410, and the courier delivered the Henri Lloyd sailing jacket and pants at lunch time on Tuesday.

Why does it take 3.5 days to deliver something from Scotland and 10 days from Sydney? Plus the price differential.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Why does it take 3.5 days to deliver something from Scotland and 10 days from Sydney? Plus the price differential.

Graeme,
With my recent three purchases the postage wasn't the reason for the delay. It was the ridiculous amount of time it took the business to dispatch my order. In every case the website said the item was in stock, but in each case I either know or suspect the item wasn't in stock.

I'm currently waiting for four sanding belts to be dispatched from a seller that is often recommended on this forum. It's 11 days since I ordered the belts. I rang them today to enquire. They are "flat out" apparently. They promised to call me back today with an update. I'm not holding my breath. I mean, Scotland has COVID too. As does the USA. How are they managing to get orders out when Aussie sellers can't?

I didn't mention that I bought the Makita setup from Sydney tools and they forgot to post the dust extractor at all.

(Edit: AusDogs did get back to me.)

Anyway before we get completely side tracked on this one, is there any meaningful advantage in the fancier locking versions of the dogs versus the single piece versions?

I have the Festool as well and I agree it is very impressive. It is a shame we don’t get the Mafel here as it seems to come out number one in European tests. But if for some reason the Festool dies I will just import one from the Uk.

Originally Posted by jack620

Is that the case though? I've watched his videos and the process looks quite slow. Unless you're chewing through MFT tops or you want an odd size, the CNC shop looks like the go. And if you're handy with CAD you could draw up a plan for any size top you want.

Yes. I made a 1.2m x 2.4m worktop in one afternoon. Yes, it's too big. Yes, it's temporary. But once you understand and the penny drops on the PARF system, it's fun, easy, and the possibilities are nearly endless.

I was sitting on the fence too - I bit the bullet and bought one. I made the top below. It opens up a huge option just knowing you can make what and when you want, no fuss. So I could "afford" to make this temporary one - it's boosted a whole-of-shed upgrade. In time I will make some MFSC carts, and other worktops. And I will still know I can make more whenever I want. Yes, I have a thing about being self-sufficient where possible.

MFT Top.jpg

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

Anyway before we get completely side tracked on this one, is there any meaningful advantage in the fancier locking versions of the dogs versus the single piece versions?

I find dogs are a bit of a personal choice (others may disagree, and that's respected). Some of it comes down to how you want to operate, and what you do.

Might I suggest a cup of coffee and a browse through Peter Parfitt's channel on Youtube: New Brit Workshop - YouTube

He will cover many of the different types of dogs available, and show the features of each. From this, you can make a short list of what you want/appealing features etc.

Originally Posted by jack620

Graeme,
With my recent three purchases the postage wasn't the reason for the delay. It was the ridiculous amount of time it took the business to dispatch my order. ....

I have had both experiences, Jack, and more:

* Inordinate delays by the supplier while he gets around to actually packing my order, and

* Inexplicable delays by Post Office and couriers in actually delivering my package.

* Example: One courier who used to prominently advertise overnight delivery from Victoria commonly took 3 or 4 days for deliveries, often longer. Apparently they used to chuck the packages into a container, and when that container was full, it became overnight delivery.
That courier is no more!

* Couriers ringing and saying that they have a package waiting for me to pick up from their depot. Then me reminding them that door to door delivery means to my door, not to their shed door 15 kms away.

It seems that the main difference is that the locking dogs can be used with rail clips (rather than rail dogs), they will be potentially be a fraction of a millimetre more accurate, and they won't tip over if you're using them as a fence for multiple sheets at the same time. And they cost heaps more.

How does one rip narrow pieces with the MFT set-up? I assume you could just make a dead square bit of wood or plastic, butt that against the back fence and mark against the rail as a story board?

Anyone want one of the MFT tops? The total cost was about $160 per piece in the end, I had three made. One is already spoken for. They're MRMDF. The holes are 20.1mm and the pattern otherwise matches Festool. I'll post in the marketplace if no takers in this thread.

I'm in Ringwood Melbourne, so locked down for now (but hopefully we're nearing the end of that). I'll hold onto it for as long as needed.

A postscript - I purchased a selection of dogs and they all work well enough but the tall Parf Super Dogs together with the rail clips really transform the system - it's extremely easy to adjust the rail between cuts and it stays at whatever height you put it.

An easily removable fence with a scale and stop - consisting of the Incra T-Track with fence dogs on the bottom - and a digital protractor makes it very quick to set up repeatable cuts at most angles without a tape measure. I also made a ripping sled for narrow stock and small pieces, which also works great and references to the track scale too.

All in all, amazed how well this thing works. It's a bit small so I'm minded to build the second top into a longer bench.