BT3K rail connector needed, cheapskates trick...

[dbhost]

Okay so I went to install the extended rails yesterday, and guess what? It would appear that either I didn't get one of the rail connectors, or I lost it... Sooo a quick perusal of Ebay shows the rail connectors going for HOW MUCH?! Okay maybe not that route... What to do?

Hey, what's that sitting in the back corner of the workbench?

1/8" galvanized plate.... Hmmm.

Out came the Dremel, broke the arbor, okay out came the HACKSAW, the bench grinder, and the drill. (Why didn't I do this on the drill press?)

Well, the finished result could have used a coat of paint, but I am feeling lazy today...

And yes, I should have used 1/4" but the washers make up the difference for now. I will run to Ace Hardware this weekend for some 1/4" steel stock.



Now I need to fab up some legs...

[Hellrazor]

I used t-nuts and some 1.5" aluminum angle on the inside of the tracks.

[ejpotter]

Mike,

I'd love to see a picture or two. I'm getting ready to add the extension rails to my saw soon, I hope. Seems like I also read on this forum a couple of years ago about someone who added the extension rails with hinges so they could fold down. If anyone could help point me to that thread it'd be much appreciated.

----
Eric

[dbhost]

That angle aluminum is intriguing... I hadn't thought of that... I can see lining your holes up, so that you get the bottom and the side locked down at the same time. That would make for a MUCH stronger joint I would think...

I guess it is angle stock this weekend then...

[Sawatzky]

Aluminum angle works great. I just cut mine about 7 inches long and used sheet metal screws to attatch it to the rails. It worked great. I don't have it anymore because I sold the saw to a friend, otherwise I would post a picture.

[Hellrazor]

Ok, I will try to get a pic when I get home from work tomorrow.

[dbhost]

Aluminum angle works great. I just cut mine about 7 inches long and used sheet metal screws to attatch it to the rails. It worked great. I don't have it anymore because I sold the saw to a friend, otherwise I would post a picture.

I am trying to avoid perforating the rails if at all possible... I am pretty sure I can drill a hole accurate enough to be able to use T-nuts...

And I will post pics when I am done. I just got back in from the shop. Been doing a lot of cleaning, and rerouted the wiring for the BT power switch move, stuck it in split loom. I need to come up with a blank outlet cover that I can drill into and pass the split loom / wire through to finish this off.

Not sure how, but it appears I am out of 2x4s now, so the legs are gonna have to wait until I can get to the borg...