Wooden T slots

[Marmotjr]

Just fleshing out an idea.

Instead of investing in extruded T slot track, I have a T slot router bit that is the right size to drop 1/4" bolts with 7/16" heads into.    As long as whatever I am tightening down to these slots are providing a decent surface area on top that is also pushing down on the T slot, it should hold up, right?    As in, instead of just the bolt pulling up on the wood, it will put the wood into compression.  Obviously it won't have the same longevity as metal tracks, but it should work for quite a while as long as I'm careful. 

 

 

[wtnhighlander]

Lots of jigs made this way.

[gee-dub]

I do this often.  The trick is to have a tongue that is 1/32" or so shy of the narrow slots depth.  That way if you over tighten, the bolt head compresses the wooden t-slot only so far before hitting the tongue.  I have t-slots cut into MDF that have been in use for a decade without failure..

I am away from my own computer but, you can sort of see what I am talking about in this pic.

 

[wdwerker]

I'm with gee-dub on the tongue. Use a hard dense wood. Route or saw a 1/4" groove before you cut with the tee slot bit and use as much dust collection as possible. Some times it's worth running the slot bit twice to clean up the cut from packed chips.

[gee-dub]

Here's a better look at some of mine.

 

[Marmotjr]

Excellent news. 

[Pondhockey]

Nice thread, guys!

[ben_r_]

Great idea! Never would have thought of doing it that way. Thanks for posting this guys!