T-Track suggestions?

[John Miliunas]

I'm starting to see some light at the end of my DC system tunnel. After that, it's the Hot Dawg, but close to follow is router station and miter saw tables. Any suggestions for decent quality T-Tracks at a reasonable price out there? For the router table, I'm even thinking about putting in a miter slot to easier accomodate routing stile ends, but will still need regular T-Tracks for general fence adjustments. Same goes for the miter tables. What have the more learned here at the Creek used? I'm not entirely against paying the higher buck for good quality, but some I've seen appear to carry a real premium price tag with them and I'll be needing quite a few. :cool:

[EliotMason]

John:

Buying the FastTrack from Woodcraft seems waaay too expensive - it also has an annoying extrusion on the base that makes it really hard to fit into your slot (I'm sure it has a reason - I haven't found it yet). I've found the anodized track from WoodPeckers to be of good quality and to be slightly thicker too.

I've eyed the "Titer Miter" from BenchDog for a miter table - combines t track and miter slot in one big'ol extrusion. Pricey, but it is a space spaver.

EM

[David Rose]

John, I've bought track from several places. The track I like the best, and likely the most expensive, is flared outward at the uprights. As you tighten it down the sides pull in for a "custom" fit to your miter gauge or whatever rides in it. I can't remember where I got it, but advertisers will list that feature.

After my router table experiences I would have second thoughts about miter track on a router table. I left it out of mine and really miss it at times though there are ways to do the same jobs without it. Several people said the thinning of the table could allow sag. Mine sagged anyway after a couple of years and quite a bit. It is two 3/4" layers of good plywood with plastic laminate top and pl backer on the bottom. I barely cut room for the router base to fit through. It seemed well supported and is the Bill Hylton exact Tilting Table. I may hang a miter track off the front edge someday.

David




I'm starting to see some light at the end of my DC system tunnel. After that, it's the Hot Dawg, but close to follow is router station and miter saw tables. Any suggestions for decent quality T-Tracks at a reasonable price out there? For the router table, I'm even thinking about putting in a miter slot to easier accomodate routing stile ends, but will still need regular T-Tracks for general fence adjustments. Same goes for the miter tables. What have the more learned here at the Creek used? I'm not entirely against paying the higher buck for good quality, but some I've seen appear to carry a real premium price tag with them and I'll be needing quite a few. :cool:

[Bob Lasley]

John,

No suggestions on T-track, all I've seen was more expensive than I thought it should be.

As for the miter slot in the router table, I put one in mine and currently only use it with one jig. For coping cuts and other narrow end grain cuts I use a sled that rides against the fence. I tried the miter slot sleds and like the fence type much, much better. If I were building another router table, I don't know it I would even bother putting the miter slot in it.

Bob

[JayStPeter]

The t-track from woodpeck.com is good stuff and reasonably priced.

Jay

[Jim Becker]

You can almost pick your color first and then buy from the vendor that features that color...Hartville Tool has red, Rockler has blue, Woodpeckers has gold, Woodcraft has silver, A&I Supply has green...etc There is also Mighty T Track who specializes in it...silver I believe.

But do check the size as some T-track is designed for 1/4" bolt heads and toilet bolts and some will work with 5/16" or 3/8" bolts (I forget which). I have a bunch of the Woodpeckers version in "inventory" and it's a nice product...I think I got it on an overstock sale.

[Don Abele]

I have used, and still have the blue variety from Rockler. Can't remember the price, but it does everything that I want a T-track and miter track to do. I use toilet bolts for all my jigs (MUCH cheaper).

As for the miter track, I had one in my original router table (in the extension of my old TS) and used it occasionally. I too was worried about warpage due to it and just made sure that I place a lengthwise support directly under it. After almost 5 years there was no appreciable sag. When I build my next table (soon), I'll have the track as well, with support under it. It's better to put it in and never need it, then not have it there and find that you do (IMHO).

Be well,

Doc

[Lawrence See]

John, I was recently looking for slots and tracks. Here is a Word doc with some URL's that you might try.

Regards, Larry

[Mike Sweat]

Hi John,

I used the track from Woodpeckers that Jay mentioned.

http://www.woodpeck.com/tmiterchannel.html

Worked out well for me.

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