Woodpeckers has announced a new One Time Tool, a new version MFT square, which can be useful for Festool MFT table use, as well as other layout and assembly tasks.
Woodpeckers has previously offered products of similar functionality, including a large layout square, and an all-metal MFT Square. That last MFT Square One Time Tool sold for $270!
This new MFT Square is a bit different. It’s made from phenolic, a rigid and heavy duty plastic composite material. (Phenolic really is a super-tough material.)
Read Also: Festool MFT/3 Table – What and Why?
The MFT Square is centered around MFT guide rail and fence calibration, and how it makes setup tasks quicker and easier to do. It comes with (2) layout pegs, and also features large cutouts for use with clamps.
Here are some ways you could use it. The square is made from a slab of USA-made phenolic and measures 15″ x 15″ x 3/4″ thick.
Its price is actually fairly reasonable, especially when compared to the previous metallic version. While perhaps not quite as versatile for other uses as Woodpeckers’ previous large One Time Tool squares, the thickness of this version might give it some other benefits.
The thickness of this square might, for instance, make it easier for “at a glance” saw blade calibrations.
Price: $70
Buy Now(via Tool Nut)
More Info(via Woodpeckers)
Order Deadline: 1/29/2018
Shipping ETA: May 2018
First Thoughts
I’m probably going to order one, from Tool Nut. Shipping there is $8, or free on orders over $100. I’m going to double-check that something else ordered now will ship now, as opposed to later in the year when this tool is released. If everything will ship together, there are a few “good to have” items from my shopping list that I can add to my order and wait on.
Update: If ordering the One Time Tool as part of a $100+ order, you get free shipping, and in-stock items ship immediately with no split-order fees.
I like the price of this new MFT Square, at least compared to Woodpeckers’ previous versions. And as mentioned, I see some advantages to its size. It’s a pretty big square, in all dimensions. But I also don’t have illusions as to this being a multi-trick pony. It’s not a single-use tool, but it’s pretty specialized.
If you own a Festool MFT table, I should also point out that Veritas Parf Dogs, available in a 4pc 2-size set or in pairs, is even more affordable. It can do some of the same things, but differently. It has very limited functionality outside of MFT table use, but is almost an MFT table must-have.
I wonder if the pegs included with the MFT Square can be used in the same manner as Parf Dogs…
Here’s a promo video of the new Woodpeckers MFT Square: