Well...I've been working on a number of sleds and jigs lately. I ended up using some Woodcraft T-Track+Miter Track rails, because as far as I can tell Rockler does not offer anything like that, and the "miter track" that Rockler offers seems to be incompatible with most of the miter track things I need to use (which have a flange on one end, that slips into this small "T" in the miter that I have on my table saw, holding things like my miter gauge into the track unless you fully slide it out. The rockler miter track also seemed to be deeper than the T-track, which, presented an annoying problem for routing a groove in the sleds for it all. In the end, the combination Woodcraft Miter+T-Track won out.
WELL...I am not facing a problem. All of my various clamping tools, are Rockler, and apparently use the 5/16" standard. So not one single one of the T-bolts used on any of them, actually fit into the Woodcraft T-track. I went out and picked up some 1/4"x20 hex bolts, aaaand, they work in the Woodcraft T-Track, but they are too small for the threads of the Rockler clamps. So I have a fair amount of money invested in Rockler hold downs, clamps of various kinds, etc. I had normally used Rockler T-Track in the past (kind of like the blue), and never thought that there would be this key discrepancy between the two brands (maybe I am too used to standards for cross-brand compatibility??)
In any case....I am wondering, has anyone ever tried to convert the Rockler threads on their T-Track utilities, to work with 1/4x20 threads? The difference between 5/16" and 1/4" is pretty darn small, and I don't know if there is any way a simple adapter thread exists that would actually work with just a 1/16" discrepancy... Or, for that matter, be cost effective enough that its worth going that route, rather than buy a whole new set of Woodcraft brand T-Track tools for their 1/4-Hex tracks? I also used some Incra T-track stuff, as I couldn't find anything from either Rockler or Woodcraft that supported a ruler that could be threaded in. Incra had a 2' wide double T-Track that included a ruler already, and while it was a little expensive, it seemed easier buying that than trying to jury-rig something of my own that might possibly work.
Finally, I purchased a Rockler micro-adjustable flip-stop block for my new table saw sled. It was actually a pretty good price, I thought, for a finely adjustable stop block that allowed adjustment just with a simple thumb nut. The adjustable stop plates on either side of the block, include an angled pointer on the top, which works perfectly with the Incra ruler... However, once again, the included bolt was one of Rocklers huge 5/16" T-bolts, whereas apparently Incra also uses the 1/4" track. I managed to find a small 1/4x20 bolt that worked in the stop, however the stop's flip hynge where the bolt inserts, is clearly designed to work ONLY with Rockler T-Track.
Gah!! I find that kind of thing, in a world full of useful standards, to be rather despicable. Its engineered lockin, and I see no reason for Rockler to have done that. The problem now, is, either return the Rockler block, and spend something more like $150 or so for a high end block that might have something similar (micro-adjust wise), or....maybe try and file down the nubs on the flip hinge so they fit into the 1/4" track? The difference is pretty darn small...I suspect I could probably file them down, but at that point I'm locking myself into that block, as it wouldn't be returnable. Dunno if there might be any other alternative to get these two systems to be compatible with each other?
WELL...I am not facing a problem. All of my various clamping tools, are Rockler, and apparently use the 5/16" standard. So not one single one of the T-bolts used on any of them, actually fit into the Woodcraft T-track. I went out and picked up some 1/4"x20 hex bolts, aaaand, they work in the Woodcraft T-Track, but they are too small for the threads of the Rockler clamps. So I have a fair amount of money invested in Rockler hold downs, clamps of various kinds, etc. I had normally used Rockler T-Track in the past (kind of like the blue), and never thought that there would be this key discrepancy between the two brands (maybe I am too used to standards for cross-brand compatibility??)
In any case....I am wondering, has anyone ever tried to convert the Rockler threads on their T-Track utilities, to work with 1/4x20 threads? The difference between 5/16" and 1/4" is pretty darn small, and I don't know if there is any way a simple adapter thread exists that would actually work with just a 1/16" discrepancy... Or, for that matter, be cost effective enough that its worth going that route, rather than buy a whole new set of Woodcraft brand T-Track tools for their 1/4-Hex tracks? I also used some Incra T-track stuff, as I couldn't find anything from either Rockler or Woodcraft that supported a ruler that could be threaded in. Incra had a 2' wide double T-Track that included a ruler already, and while it was a little expensive, it seemed easier buying that than trying to jury-rig something of my own that might possibly work.
Finally, I purchased a Rockler micro-adjustable flip-stop block for my new table saw sled. It was actually a pretty good price, I thought, for a finely adjustable stop block that allowed adjustment just with a simple thumb nut. The adjustable stop plates on either side of the block, include an angled pointer on the top, which works perfectly with the Incra ruler... However, once again, the included bolt was one of Rocklers huge 5/16" T-bolts, whereas apparently Incra also uses the 1/4" track. I managed to find a small 1/4x20 bolt that worked in the stop, however the stop's flip hynge where the bolt inserts, is clearly designed to work ONLY with Rockler T-Track.
Gah!! I find that kind of thing, in a world full of useful standards, to be rather despicable. Its engineered lockin, and I see no reason for Rockler to have done that. The problem now, is, either return the Rockler block, and spend something more like $150 or so for a high end block that might have something similar (micro-adjust wise), or....maybe try and file down the nubs on the flip hinge so they fit into the 1/4" track? The difference is pretty darn small...I suspect I could probably file them down, but at that point I'm locking myself into that block, as it wouldn't be returnable. Dunno if there might be any other alternative to get these two systems to be compatible with each other?
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