Home DIY

I have the older brushed version of this with 2 batteries and it has served my DIY needs perfectly for 6yrs.

Idk which type of battery.

Anyone fancy making one of these in return for a) money and b) gratitude?

https://feskit.co.uk/mft/feskit-mft-2-workstation/

It would cost more effort to make one of these than the cost to buy one…

Oh yeah, glue+screw a 3x2 there was option 3. I was leaning towards structural ply as it would save a trip to the timber yard, but probably worth getting more timber.

I suspect the issue here is that it out of stock.

Of course - doesn't make what I said untrue...

Makes it somewhat irrelevant though- I can’t buy the pre-made one, I want one, therefore I’ll pay what it costs for someone to make one- as long as that’s not £!

as long as that’s not £

Honestly though, unless someone has a CNC machine, the effort it will take to evenly mark and drill the holes will mean no-one will want to make it. I have all the tools necessary and the MDF but even £100 isn't worth all the effort and time to get it right.

True, therefore I'd probably have to pay a bit more for a precise duplicate.

However I would say that the number of holes on the one in the link is overkill - what I really want from the worktop is someway of immobilising crank arms so I can undo the lock-ring, which is meant to be 40Nm but is often "haul on it as hard as you can" tight if a bike shop has done it up.

A plain wooden top with a channel in it and provision for a single clamp to hold the crank arm (or whatever) in place would likely do it.

Or a totally plain top and some kind of cunning vice that could be stowed inside a shallow box with the lid inverted, maybe.

Red stuff: faster and therefor betterer

What about one of these?

https://www.axminstertools.com/ujk-work-holding-top-for-t-loc-systainer-case-sys2-107069?glCountry=GB&gclid=CjwKCAjw0qOIBhBhEiwAyvVcf5XSq-dQe0u9Qeh1204FTnPZNeqSQif-YPZ1BM-giM8FvWR6C9uHnRoCgjoQAvD_BwE

Just ordered 8 sheets of 5.5mm ply to board out my daughter's room ahead of carpeting. Was going to go for 3mm hardboard but got the fear from tales of warping on other forums and the floorboards in there are not exactly glass smooth. If that goes well, I'll be doing the same in the living room.

Too small for my cases unfortunately

I think I have the thing you need but a quick look online seems to reveal they are not being manufactured any more. A mini workmate - top is a vice and the base is a tool box.
Another alternative could be a small vice mounted on a board - I think Screwfix do these. Again, I have one of these and i clamp it to my work bench when I need it and remove it for storage.

Edit - found a pic online

Further edit - available on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Black-Decker-B-D-Workmate-Workbox-WM450-With-Inner-Tray-12-PICS-/274886362765?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

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Can you not use one of these :-

https://www.powertool-supplies.co.uk/festool-systainer-sys-mft.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw0qOIBhBhEiwAyvVcf1_86dluzSVP0xrOc5IM40xyWoM6mAu9v3AHAL40-7pT4rl3v0rDFBoCUaIQAvD_BwE

My toolboxes are all SYS3-L, unfortunately the Festool Systainer worktop thing is M.

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They do still fit but your ocd wouldn't like it :)

It doesn't change the cost calculation much but there are jigs available for the 20mm hole pattern that's become common due to the MFT success story.

There's also the Parf guide (named after Peter Parfitt)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfxxjn85SRE&ab_channel=AxminsterTools

Parf guide

I was going to suggest this.

A while back I wondered if it'd be worth doing a group buy on one. Get say 4 people to chip in. Each one use it, then sell it and split the proceeds....

...or work out some complicated forum timeshare system and use the passive income to buy more tools.

Also, not being mean, but there's something very dammit about wanting a £30 worktop, but instead buying a £200 tool to make a better one that is designed exactly to the required spec.

That does look very satisfying.

Cheap one here :-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124655827651?hash=item1d0610fac3:g:ZkoAAOSwmCxgX4Ct

The Parf one is just for people who want to use dogs and need them perfectly lined up.

Any suggestions for black matt paint for the wooden staircase, has to be fairly hard wearing like a gloss paint.