T-Nuts

[jonmulzer]

I am going to place an order with our sponsor at the top of the forum page and wanted some advice since I have no idea which ones are most handy. I am also going to pick up a couple of ZCTPs, one for my combination blade and one for my dado stack.

Which t-nuts fit the SMT fence best to use for an adjustable stop? What others has everyone found handy and for what purposes? Which ones could you absolutely not do without? Is there a guide out there for which ones fit which groove? (apologies to Loring if this is in the FAQ, hehe) Any other must-haves from T-Nuts?

[pelligrini]

There's a guide on his site.

I ended up getting a selection of all of the sizes. I use the big and medium ones the most.

[JR]

I ended up getting a selection of all of the sizes. I use the big and medium ones the most.

I'm guessing that a mixed bag is what you need. It'll get you going. If you need more of something specific, you can order it at that time.

[jonmulzer]

I had never noticed that guide, and it was not clearly marked. That is handy enough it should have a link more prominently displayed. I knew they sold mixed bags, what I was looking for though was something like, "I wish I had gotten more of x size because I use them a lot" or "I don't use y size at all, so only get a couple just in case". Stuff like that. How many of each size do you think I should pick up? Or would the t-bolts be better than the t-nuts?

[RodKirby]

I had never noticed that guide, and it was not clearly marked. That is handy enough it should have a link more prominently displayed. I knew they sold mixed bags, what I was looking for though was something like, "I wish I had gotten more of x size because I use them a lot" or "I don't use y size at all, so only get a couple just in case". Stuff like that. How many of each size do you think I should pick up? Or would the t-bolts be better than the t-nuts?

It's the old story - what do YOU want to do with them?

A mixed bag will get you started (like most of us), and then you'll find out which ones you really want to use.

[pelligrini]

A lot of it depends on what you want to do with them.

Rail extensions, outfeed tables, custom miter slots, will use the medium and large ones, also depending where you fasten them.

T-bolts are handy, but the nut and stud kits are more versatile. Grab a tube of locktight. I find it easier to have a big assorted selection. I hate having to wait for a delivery.

The ones I use the least are the square small ones, but I haven't really made too many items that will fasten to the fence faces or rear rail outside face yet.

While your at it you might order some knobs too, you're going to want them as well.

[pelligrini]

Oh yea, I don't use the small ones very much at all. If I remember correctly, they just fit on the top of the front rail. A couple are handy for some fence stops, but I like to keep the top of the rail clear for easier fence movement.

[cgallery]

I overcame the "didn't get enough x" by getting two mixed bags.

[cwithboat]

I bought the assortment and have used some of each size. I do use a lot of the small square ones for attaching auxiliary fences to the SMT fence as I have done several jigs for finger joints.

[LCHIEN]

I had never noticed that guide, and it was not clearly marked. That is handy enough it should have a link more prominently displayed. I knew they sold mixed bags, what I was looking for though was something like, "I wish I had gotten more of x size because I use them a lot" or "I don't use y size at all, so only get a couple just in case". Stuff like that. How many of each size do you think I should pick up? Or would the t-bolts be better than the t-nuts?

I think that he lists the places where they are used, ie. "left side, rip fence" or "bottom, front & back rail".
So the thing to do is think about where youo have or might want to in the future attach stuff...
If you want to build fence attachments (miter or rip) then you need some of those. If you want to build table extensions, outfeed table, etc then you want the nuts that fit inside or the bottom of the rails.

If cutting the bolts to length is OK by you, get the nuts (or can gets bolts to 1/4" increments). If you have trouble cutting bolts to length then the T-bolts work but you have the issues of knobs or ends of bolts sticking out, possibly in the way (think sacrificial fences). If you get the T-nuts, you can always make them into T-bolts by cutting some all-thread to length and threadlocking (epoxy, CA glue, Loc-tite) them in the nut.