Tweet
11-30-2023, 04:00 PM
I have found a perfect T-nut for the front of the BT3 miter fence and for the left side of the rip fence (same extrusion used both places)
Its actually a weld nut, but fits the T-slot described above.
Weld Nut: #10-24 Thread, Tab, 1/32 in Base Ht, 3/8 in Base Wd, 5/8 in Base Lg, Steel, 50 PK
Item 1LAJ3 Mfr. Model 1LAJ3 (WW Graingers)
The fence slot is .400" high and .200 deep. The T-nuts are 0.375" high so they fit nicely with an adequate but not sloppy clearance. About .1" thick and the protrusion fits in the slot on the fence. The hole is threaded 10-24 a common screw size (10-32 is also common but this is 10-24).
The closed back of the slot means that the screw length is limited.
I use it for attaching a sacrificial rip fence face or a tall fence or a long rip fence. and for the miter fence you can attach a long miter fence with stops.
If you use a 3/4" thick 1x2 or 1x3 or 1x4 board then a counter sunk 3/4 or even 1/2" screw will work nicely.
A countersink of 1/2" depth and a 1/2" screw will bury the head in the fence out of the way. Best to try and adjust deeper if needed.
Final note, I drill the hole for the bolt and nut 15/16ths up from the bottom of the fence being installed. This leaves 1/16th clearance so the fence does not drag.
I bought a pack of 50 of these which is way more than I need, but they're kind of hard to find except at the specialty industrial stores and shipping tends to be high.
If you want 2 or 4 of these, drop me a PM with your address and I'll mail you some in the interest of promoting the saw.
A pair of these nuts should easily hold a auxiliary fence as I described above.
Attached Files
T-nuts and some 10-24 x 1/2" screws I had
T-nut backside
Screw 1/2" long countersunk 1/2"
End-on view of T-nut entering rip fence; note I have one of the metal roller holder replacing the original roller holder. I found it was easiest to take the rip fence off the saw to install the T-nut rather than install in position where you were kind of blindly feeling for the slot.
Mounted sacrificial fence
At the hardware store today I picked up these 10-24 x 3/4" set screws. With a spot of super glue (or even blue loctite) they will turn into true T-bolts.
This will be much easier to thread into the slot in the fence then locate the mounting holes in the auxiliary fence over the jutting out stud. A half inch deep recess maybe 3/4" or 1" diameter will allow me to put a 10-24 nut over it easily.