T Slot Aluminum Extrusion Track Lowe's
Cutting wood with accuracy is an important part of making sure the project turns out just right. The inaccuracy of pencil marks on a board can then be compounded by the need to follow that mark precisely with the saw blade. Our Precision Trak and Stop Kit is designed to take the guesswork out of cutting wood to length. This kit contains 8’ (4 – 2’ sections) of anodized aluminum trak (also available separately that can be mounted to a shop made support wing built to the height of your miter saw. A ½” self-adhesive tape is then applied to the top of the fence. Finally, slide the Flipstop and Production Stop onto the top of the trak and you have a precision cutting station that eliminates the need for a tape measure and pencil. Simply place the precision lens cursor over the board length desired, press the board against the stop, and cut away! Precise, repeatable cuts could not be any easier.
T-slot Nuts can be inserted into the aluminium profile groove. T-slot nuts are useful for securing components onto aluminium profiles, as well as joining two profiles together, by creating a clamping force for a screw in the groove. M3, M4, M5, M6 and M8 screws can be used depending on which T-slot Nut you choose. Fastenal offers same-day service on thousands of construction and industrial supplies. Local source for millions of MRO, OEM, and Safety items. Vending and managed inventory solutions provider. Shop angles and a variety of hardware products online at Lowes.com. 1-1/2-in W x 1-1/2-in H x 3-ft L Zinc-Plated Steel Perforated-Slotted Angle.
Kit Includes:
- 4 ea. 2' pieces of Trak
- 1 ea. Swing Stop
- 1 ea. Production Stop
- 1 ea. 12' length of L-R reading sel-adhesive tape
- 1 ea. 12' length of R-L reading self adhesive tape
- Detailed instructions
- Mounting hardware.
Many of the woodworking jigs and fixtures I make have at least one length of t-track built into them.
A t-slot aluminum extrusion provides an easy way to make jigs usable for different size workpieces as well as adding an adjustable clamping point for jig accessories such as stop blocks and toggle clamps.
This 1/4' t-slot track has a groove down the middle to keep the drill bit from wandering off center when drilling mounting holes.
A t-slot extrusion can be used in other places besides jigs. Use a pair on a router table to make an adjustable fence. Or use one on the fence to hold a featherboard or two.
Use them whenever you need to clamp anything anywhere along a straight line.
The two most common t-slot sizes are 1/4' and 5/16'. These two sizes will cover most every woodworking application. In fact, I use 1/4' most of the time because it's cheaper and plenty strong for what I use it for.
These t nuts and t bolts make it easy to attach clamps and other accessories to the t-track.
It is best to use t-nuts and t-bolts when attaching accessories to the track. Regular nuts and bolts can wreck the slot if overtightened.
If you have to use a regular hex bolt, use a small washer to prevent the head of the bolt from digging into the soft aluminum.
I like to get my t-bolts extra long and cut them down to the length needed for each application. This way I only need to keep one length in each size on hand.
Mounting the t track
No matter what your application, you'll have to cut a dado with either a table saw or router to mount the track flush with it's neighboring surface.
A 3/4' x 3/8' deep dado is cut to keep this t track level with the top of the workpiece. I cut this dado with the table saw.
The 1/4' track that I use requires a dado that is 3/8' deep and 3/4' wide. The 5/16' track needs a dado 7/16' deep by 7/8' wide. I think these are fairly standard sizes, but always measure first before cutting.
Some t-track comes with pre-drilled mounting holes, but the version I like to use requires you to drill your own holes. They do however, provide a small groove in the center to help keep the drill bit from wandering.
Drilling your own holes takes a little extra time, but allows me to place them where it's convenient or necessary. I found with the other stuff, I was drilling extra holes where I needed them anyway.
Where to buy
80/20 T Slot Aluminum Extrusion
I live in a small city of 35,000 people with only two major building supply centers. Trying to find stuff like this is maddening, so for years I've been ordering hard to find items online.
I get a lot of my jig parts from Lee Valley here in Canada. Look under hardware -- Jig & Fixture Parts. They have a very nice selection of top quality goodies, even if they are a bit pricey.
With the Canadian dollar hanging pretty close with the US dollar these days, I find myself hopping across the virtual border more often when I find great deals online. Online stores like Amazon carry a large assortment of t-track and related hardware.
One of the advantages of living in a large city is selection and availability of products. For those of us that prefer to live in smaller centers, the internet has evened the playing field. We can often get things shipped to our door cheaply and quickly for the same price a guy in the city might pay for gas running around to collect the things he needs. No white knuckle driving or one finger salutes... I love it.
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