Normal Rail As Extension Rail

[BasementDweller]

I'm 99% sure this has been covered on here before, but after some searching I can't find it. I know the WTK comes with 47" rails and the stock rails are only 41". I have a few questions:

1. If I buy extra 41" rails - Could I use them as extensions? Does T-Nuts or someone carry the parts I need to mount it properly?

2. If I buy the WTK and get the 47" rails. Can I use the 47" rails as my only rails. Saving the 41" rails for when I have a bigger shop. For now I'd have an extra 6" of rip.

3. What happens to my measurement markings on the rails when I add an extension? Do I have to pull the stock ones off and buy a third party measuring tape to glue in place?


Thanks for any help...


- BD

[LCHIEN]

i think both the BT3000 and BT3100 stock rails are 41" as well as the WTK rails sold for those saws. In any case the extrusions are identical in function. The stock saw comes with ruler decals, they are only decals and you can get new ones, or similar ones or whatever. I don't think you can pull them off and reuse them easily but I've never tried.

I've heard the 21829 rails are a bit longer, 47 inches?

hardware there's some parties on ebay that sell the hardware, of go to T-nuts.com which has specialty BT3 t-nuts for the different rails or just be inventive and come up with your own.

[steve-norrell]

If "WTK" means "Wide Table Kit", then it has 41 inch rails, at least the kit I bought did. I have the BT3100 and I made sure I got the appropriate rails (I do not know if the BT3000 have different extrusions, or only different colors. Loren?)

IMHO, you would be better off getting the attachment kits that have four holes and using the T-nuts from T-Nuts.com. IMHO, the two-hole hardware allows pivoting. I would also use the hardward on two surfaces of the rails, usually the bottom and inside slots.

Four-hole rail extension kits are available on E-Bay from 'Komatoast', an excellent dealer. You can also make your own from common steel bar available from HD and Lowe's.

Regards, Steve