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!
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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:
William says
I’m going to get this one, it’s pretty much a uni-tasker for me, but it will make life easier.
Garrick says
As with all measuring/layout tools, I am looking for the accuracy specifications. For angle measurements, I like to know how many thousandths of an inch per inch it is accurate to. My ultimate goal has always been 1/1000 inch per foot, but to date, I have always had to make my own modifications to anything I bought… just to get close to that spec.
I also wonder how stable phenolic is.
Stuart says
Phenolic is usually extremely stable. It’s what Woodpeckers’ higher-end router table is made from.
Ken says
Phenolic is what the old time black telephones from Ma Bell were made of. Virtually indestructible.
Hilton says
Stu, do you think the entire square is Phenolic or just Phenolic covered plywood?
Paul says
Hilton: The woodpeckers website product description reads:
“And being machined from a single slab of American made phenolic, this tool is virtually indestructible. Drop it, hit it or soak it in water and it’ll still be rock solid and perfectly accurate.”
My reading of that is that it looks to be solid product, not covered ply.
Stuart says
Solid phenolic.
Hilton says
Thanks Paul and Stuart!
John S says
I can’t help but feel frustrated and a little jerked around at Woodpeckers One Time business model and stuff lately. I was all set to pull the trigger on this from an email this morning until I saw the delay date; May? Geez thats a long time to wait for a phenolic triangle where I have to make the decision in 2 weeks 🙁
John S says
I guess my last attempt got flagged with too many external links heh, but I’ll try this again.
To make this comment more than just negative and help people who need a solution today, I have been eying some alternative solutions which are available today. I had been kinda hoping for the return of the MFT squaring tool here from WoodPeckers ‘OneTIME Tool – MFT Square’.
But TSO Products makes a great kit in both basic ‘MTR-18 Precision System Triangle’ and full kit ‘MTR-18 Precision System Triangle Set’ (albeit much more expensive but consider its also full aluminum)
You can also use the guide rail squares the ‘GRS-16 Guide Rail Square’ ‘GRS-16 PE Parallel Edge Guide Rail Square’ to perform the same line up work on the table.
As well ToolNut has the similar Insta-RailSquare variant of the two above mentioned rail squares.
Stuart says
I cannot defend the practice, but I can tell you that this is just the way it is in certain industries, and especially premium woodworking tools.
Sometimes, you just have to wait.
ktash says
Woodworkers are supposed to be patient ;), waiting for the glue to dry, interminable sanding, waiting for many coats of the finish to dry for 24 hours each, sanding again, measuring twice, or more, etc.
I think that this is because it’s a very small shop making specialized tools.
ktash says
One of the things that peeves me is that it is not easy to find the dimensions of this. Did I somehow overlook the obvious? I went to their website, too.
That said, it looks like a reasonable price for a good tool if you have the MFT. I’m thinking of making an MFT style top in the summer when I can work the MDF outside, and can see the usefulness of something like this.
For a comparison, here’s another square for the same purpose that’s phenolic plywood for $25. The two 90-degree sides are 18″ each. Good product, but not as good as the woodpecker version, and doesn’t include the two bench dogs.
I don’t have many of Woodpecker’s products, but have always been very happy with the ones I do have. Had I known, the large 24″ t square and the 1851(?) square would have been among my first purchases in buying woodworking tools. These aren’t one-time tools, fortunately, for it took some years to bite the bullet.
ktash says
https://www.andersonplywood.com/square-for-festool-mft-square/
forgot the link to that phenolic ply square
Stuart says
Sorry, I thought it was visible in my post.
“The square is made from a slab of USA-made phenolic and measures 15″ x 15″ x 3/4″ thick.”
It is buried on their site, you have to look all the way at the bottom at the “order” button.