Boys and Girls,

 

A few of yazall may have realised by now that I am an avid fan of the Fe$tool MFT style workbench layout.

To support my fetish, I have chosen to migrate my review of the UJK Parf Guide System over from Lumberjocks that I published back in 18th. July, 2021.

 

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I have used it extensively to customise workbenches, mini-benches and tool bases.

So... FYI.
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UJK - Parf Guide System Mk.II (Rating: 5)
 
 Boys and Girls,

Many of you may have heard of the UJK Parf Guide System reviewed by Bobmedic and for those that haven't, you belong to the, other many "have not heard of", category.
Now I'm sure many of the have heard (and nearly all of the "not heard") will belong to the new "have not heard", of the revised Mk.II upgrade… and if you found that hard to follow, try writing it 3 times quickly.

All you purists out there would classify this as a false review as I haven't physically used this upgrade, however, I have used the downgrade (Mk.I) xtensively. Upon closer examination of the upgrade and a few trial setup runs, concluded that it is definitely an improvement on the old system, earning it an additional 2 stars (raising it to 7)... if you think this is false journalism, unread the above and go away.

Hope that the C19 lockup wasn't your sole motivator to continue and get to this paragraph… though I directly blame C19 for this purchase… more on this justification later.

While I'm a Fe$tool tragic, I never had any inclination to get one of their MFT tables, however, after viewing Dave Stanton's MFT style tabletop (I do recommend you check out his range of, what he affectionately calls the Stanton Workbench, videos)…
I was inspired to make one similar… my concept was not primarily based on accuracy, though that played an important part, but I found that my original mini-bench was a tad too small for bigger jobs and this type of "mini-bench" could expand my horizons… albeit to bring that glass of vino closer from my standard bench.

Using the original UJK Parf Guide system, I built the following to give my 71 year old back some badly needed rest..,

that has been "permanently" fixed to my normal workbench with 3/8" threaded rods and is only temporarily removed when I must have a solid working surface… you may have noticed this item in some of my posts if you look really close.

with quite a number of extra litters of dogs.

which usually has so much ******************** on top of the box that it has only been opened when I first built it and then laboured to clear it when something small and important has fallen inside, down one of the dog holes (that's why it's nearly clear, during the photo shoot).

I have (actually, now… had) a lot of friends that were too cheap to buy innovations, but quite ready to "borrow" them. Unfortunately I've found far too many eager to borrow, but very hesitant to return. My UJK Parf MK.I system went out on loan over 9 months ago and after countless request for its return it is still AWOL.
A few attempts of pickup, following an each way, 160km drive to Melbourne, resulted in a visit to an empty residence or unanswered knock on the door, after a prior phone confirmation they would be home… and not to mention,found their workshop very securely locked and all my lock-breaking tool back home… my level of tolerance began to diminish at an exponential rate.

I am a pragmatist when it comes to C19… or more so about the forecasted duration, and started getting somewhat concerned about the return of my Mk.I system in case I actually needed it… which has been exacerbated with travel restrictions, curfews and lock-ups.
I came across this Mk.II system upgrade while investigating cortes's New Parf Revision Dogs.
Rather than risk a potential $1,600 C19 regulation fine from another trip to Melbourne, I decided to place an order for the Mk.II system when ordering a couple of revision dogs and anchor dogs from Axminster.
 
It arrived a few days ago and while I was initially upset that one of the rulers was shipped upside down,

I chose to disregard that as an inconsequential upgrade design flaw.
 
 I went through a dry run and immediately noticed the improvement to Mk.I… though this is no way demeaning it… Just goes to prove you can make something perfect, perfecter. 
The 3mm pilot hole mechanism has been significantly improved

 
Mk.I used a similar steel bush to this below as a perpendicular guide with a 3mm hole (non-threaded) for the 3mm drill bit,

(naturally I don't have the bloody original in my possession to take an exact picture). 
One downside is that the supplied 20mm TCT bit has been revamped to fit those pissant generic (left) cordless hex drills

and no longer solely dedicated to the Fe$tool Centrotec (right) only holders… bleeding poms bowed to peer group pressure and turned them bi.

While I'm spruiking the guide, I might as well toss in a few other complimentary Parf goodies…

 

much lower profile (zero) to the "standard" anchor dogs,

better controlled than a big countersink bit.

… That TCT bit makes a bloody big mess when making a fully perforated "MFT" top.

Let me leave you with these words of wisdom… Don't even contemplate begging me to borrow this new Mk.II jig… even if you bought the house next door… actually that's one good thing about C19… my neighbours don't seem to be as eager to move as normal, since downtown Churchill has zero cases, touch wood³,

Keep safe, jocks... and your jocks, safe!