Extending rails

[big tim]

I've laid my hands on an extra set of rails for my BT3000 and plan to extend the current rails by roughly half.
I know many forum members have done this. Are there commercially available joining devices to attach the extensions to the current rail.
If so, it would save me from having to invent the wheel again?
Thanks everyone!

Tim

[JSCOOK]

There is a fellow member and ebay seller by the name of "Komatoast" (or something to that effect) that sells a joining kit for this ... I personally don't have any experience with his kit.

Check Ebay.

[Hoover]

Here is Komatoast's ebay page: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkomatoast69

Although he is not currently listing the joining hardware, send him an email, he might have it in stock.

[Popeye]

Do a search, this has been done at least a zillion times. But an easy way to do it with two pieces of 1 1/2" angle aluminum about 6-7" long. Can't find my pictures right now but I'm sure someone has some. Pat

[LCHIEN]

...But an easy way to do it with two pieces of 1 1/2" angle aluminum about 6-7" long. ...

And 8 T-nuts plus some appropriate length bolts. 1/4-20 works fine.

[WoodButcher26]

I bought the joining kit, biggest waste of money I've ever made. You can do the same thing by taking a couple of pieces of 1/4" steel and drilling a hole through each end. That's the extent of it. Sure, they're very precisely drilled, but not really any help in joining the rails.

I went a different route. I spent about 10 hours gluing up and milling 24" wooden inserts that exactly fit the rail cores. A lot of sawing on angles, router work and some hand sanding, but got them very close. A serious pain, but when I slid the rails together with the help of a rubber mallet, they were rock solid. No movement at all. Set the other ends on some homemade t-nuts, and the whole thing is nearly perfect.


Kim

[big tim]

Thanks everyone for the help!
Kim, I don't understand your last sentence: "Set the other ends on some homemade T-nuts, etc., etc.,"

Tim

[Otter]

I've laid my hands on an extra set of rails for my BT3000 and plan to extend the current rails by roughly half.
I know many forum members have done this. Are there commercially available joining devices to attach the extensions to the current rail.
If so, it would save me from having to invent the wheel again?
Thanks everyone!

Tim

When I did my extentions here is what I did, I stole from this artical. Scroll down to almost the last page. You will find the diagrams for the home made version. I think Rod K has a different aproch that is also home made

http://www.bt3central.com/articles/files/browning.pdf

[WoodButcher26]

Sorry about the confusion.

I made some t-nuts from steel bar stock with attached hex nuts (tack welded by a buddy), then slid them down the back slot. I have a large base with a solid table between the rails, so I was able to mount the homemade t-nuts to the table and then slide the rails into place. With the solid wooden cores on the other end, the whole thing is very solid. I had to stand on it tonight to do some work on my DC ducting, and it didn't even creak.

Hope that's a little more clear.


Kim

[LowerUnit]

Sorry about the confusion.

I made some t-nuts from steel bar stock with attached hex nuts (tack welded by a buddy), then slid them down the back slot. I have a large base with a solid table between the rails, so I was able to mount the homemade t-nuts to the table and then slide the rails into place. With the solid wooden cores on the other end, the whole thing is very solid. I had to stand on it tonight to do some work on my DC ducting, and it didn't even creak.

Hope that's a little more clear.


Kim

how much do you weigh?

[KomaToast]

So WoodButcher, this is your way of dealing with the situation?
First you leave negative feedback for the seller without contacting them first for a resolve then you discredit and slander them on a public forum.

I tried to call you and also emailed you about it but you have invalid contact info listed with ebay.
The phone number you have listed with them has been disconnected and you don't reply to my emails offering you a refund or a resolve.

If you had actually read the listing you would have known exactly what it was you were buying but obviously you didn't.
There was no reason in the world to leave negative feedback for something that could have been easily resolved if given the opportunity to do so.
The packing slip sent with each item contains my correct phone number and email address so you had my valid contact info and elected not to use it.

The negative feedback comment left a few hours after delivery "Item misrepresented, was homemade. Don't buy from this ripoff artist"

In my opinion your actions are extremely irresponsible and very ignoble.

KomaToast

[JR]

Komatoast has been a member here a long time. His products, while never showing high-tech wiz-bang complicated technology, have always done exactly what he said they would do.

I mean, "I spent about 10 hours gluing up and milling 24" wooden inserts" and "I made some t-nuts from steel bar stock with attached hex nuts (tack welded by a buddy)"! That's shows admirable resourcefulness, but is a pretty complicated way to go.

If that's what floats your boat, fine, but it doesn't make Komatoast's products a "ripoff".

JR

[LCHIEN]

While $29.95 is a bit more than I'd pay, it's not exactly what I'd call a ripoff. KT's kit contains 8 T-nuts which have to be ordered from a unique source, and four metal plates custom cut and drilled, plus the other hardware all gathered neatly and based on knowledge of the proper dimensions. It's also important to have the correct length bolts or they will bottom out before they clamp. For someone who is not plugged into the knowledge this would be worthwhile. Pic attached of the $29.95 solution.

Certainly spending 10 hours milling wood parts and having a welder tack-weld some nuts to another cut plate, lets assume it took 1 hour to find the nuts and cut the plates and tack weld them. Total of 11 hours at a minimum wage of $5 = $55, almost twice the kit price. I venture to say for most of us our time is worth more than $5/hr.

Maybe the wood cores fit perfectly but the kit should be quite solid.
I would not call it a ripoff. That's a little harsh.

I've no connections to Komatoast. I stole his pic for this post.

[JSCOOK]

KT's kit contains 8 T-nuts which have to be ordered from a unique source ...

Note that the listing for this kit does NOT include any T-Nuts just to be clear ... they are not part of the auction item as listed ... but can be ordered for extra $$$.

FWIW, I've looked at this kit in the past and I'd say it's quite clear what you are getting ... hence the reason I opted for getting my shop at work to make some for free out of scrap cuts ... however, as Loring mentioned for someone who hasn't got the option of getting them made elsewhere or they don't have the tools to DIY, I'd say that $25 is worth it ...

I wish I had 10 hours to do nothing more than whittling a piece of wood down until it fit for a set of rails ... IMO 10 hours of my time at the moment is worth many time the $25 just to buy it and be done ...

[LCHIEN]

Note that the listing for this kit does NOT include any T-Nuts just to be clear ... they are not part of the auction item as listed ... but can be ordered for extra $$$.

FWIW, I've looked at this kit in the past and I'd say it's quite clear what you are getting ... hence the reason I opted for getting my shop at work to make some for free out of scrap cuts ... however, as Loring mentioned for someone who hasn't got the option of getting them made elsewhere or they don't have the tools to DIY, I'd say that $25 is worth it ...

I wish I had 10 hours to do nothing more than whittling a piece of wood down until it fit for a set of rails ... IMO 10 hours of my time at the moment is worth many time the $25 just to buy it and be done ...

Apparently he offers more than one kit.
the listing currently on eBay for $29.95 includes 8 t-nuts from t-nuts.com
(adds the 8 t-nuts for $5 to make a full kit)