T-Tracks

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:51 pm

How many different T-Tracks do we jointly know about.

I went to TheWoodWorkingShow here in Tucson yesterday; today marks the end of a three day show. It was interesting and held my attention well for about 5 hours and got a few of my "not to be spent frivolously" dollars but the vendors have left me with a question for the forum.

Just how many different Standard T-Track configurations are there?

I know of Shopsmith's, Incra's and one sold by Woodline. Not one of these is compatible with the others.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:40 pm

dusty wrote:How many different T-Tracks do we jointly know about.

I went to TheWoodWorkingShow here in Tucson yesterday]Just how many different Standard T-Track configurations are there?[/B]

I know of Shopsmith's, Incra's and one sold by Woodline. Not one of these is compatible with the others.

As for quantity, I do knot think anyone could answer that. It will always be possible that there are some "T" track configurations available that none of us know about. For the users sake, it wood be convenient for all the "T" tracks to be compatable with each other, but why should the suppliers care about that? They each want you to buy "their" product, in it's entirety. I wood even guess that, if there are some that ARE compatible, they are made by the same manufacturer, and the suppliers get that particular item from the same manufacturer.

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:58 pm

Dusty, I wonder every time I see T-Tracks listed on a web site or catalog.
Will they work with the accessory or Jig that I want to make?
Price certainly makes it inhibiting to try mixing and matching through trial & error or hording a good supply.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:12 pm

pinkiewerewolf wrote:Dusty, I wonder every time I see T-Tracks listed on a web site or catalog.
Will they work with the accessory or Jig that I want to make?
Price certainly makes it inhibiting to try mixing and matching through trial & error or hording a good supply.

It is confusing. At least that's my excuse. I bought two t-track accessories this past weekend only to find that they don't fit either of the t-track configurations I already have in my shop.

I have, of course, the Shopsmith which is 11/16" wide and the Incra which is smaller (I don't know it's exact dimension).

However, if you are making an accessory or jig, I believe you can make any one of the many work so long as you remain consistent - which I have not done. I have jigs that work on the Incra fence but won't fit on the Shopsmith and vice versa.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:16 pm

a1gutterman wrote:As for quantity, I do knot think anyone could answer that. It will always be possible that there are some "T" track configurations available that none of us know about. For the users sake, it wood be convenient for all the "T" tracks to be compatable with each other, but why should the suppliers care about that? They each want you to buy "their" product, in it's entirety. I wood even guess that, if there are some that ARE compatible, they are made by the same manufacturer, and the suppliers get that particular item from the same manufacturer.

The question, Chris, was not how many different configurations there are but rather how many do we jointly know about.

I know for certain that you know about at least one, I think!

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:44 pm

Hi Dusty,

I think the answer is that there is no standard "T-track". Even if the inside is designed for say a 1/4" nut or 5/16" nut many many other dimensions can change. Some are labled "heavy duty" which could mean a thicker channel to a different grade of material. Width varys even in odd ways as does the surfaces of the material depending on how you might want to mount it or if you want a ruler slot too or not.

This is for the most part an AL extrusion. Anyone with a die can get as many feet they want made and the cost is low enough that they don't have to worry about having to buy it from one or two supplies... almost any place that does extusions can do this. As a result anyone can get in the game of making and selling it... using their own design or farming the design out to the extrusion house that will be making it.

So even if we found a dozen today next week it could be 20 or in todays economy 6. This moving target makes answering this question difficult... I don't even know if the stuff I got at Rocklers a few years ago is the same as the stuff they sell today. For the most part I don't care until I have a reason why I have to have the "same" piece for some reason. Other wise I buy new and or work with what I have on hand.

For some reason I guess I would see the classifications would be on what the track fits. In that respect I have seen #10, 1/4, 5/16, shopsmith and a couple more I would have to measure. Even these have depth issue where some take a bolt/nut while others have special slot bolts/nuts.

Ed

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:54 pm

dusty wrote:
Originally Posted by a1gutterman
As for quantity, I do knot think anyone could answer that. It will always be possible that there are some "T" track configurations available that none of us know about. For the users sake, it wood be convenient for all the "T" tracks to be compatable with each other, but why should the suppliers care about that? They each want you to buy "their" product, in it's entirety. I wood even guess that, if there are some that ARE compatible, they are made by the same manufacturer, and the suppliers get that particular item from the same manufacturer.
The question, Chris, was not how many different configurations there are but rather how many do we jointly know about.

I know for certain that you know about at least one, I think!

Who is this Chris guy? And oh! My mistake]

Just how many different Standard T-Track configurations are there?

[/B]

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:47 pm

[quote="a1gutterman"]Who is this Chris guy? And oh! My mistake]

Sorry about that, Tim.

BigSky · Post by **BigSky** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:05 pm

Technically, there is no standard but a lot of different companies who manufacture t-bars refer to the "standard 3/4" track".

Different companies do different sizes so as to differentiate their products from from the others. Shopsmith has certainly done an excellent job of differentiating the Shopsmith miter track. I don't believe anyone else uses an 11/16" track. I also do not know of anyone who sells 11/16" bar stock except as a special order - at least not here in the Big Sky Country.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:13 am

Dusty
I think your at the same place I was at a few weeks ago. When I asked about t-track and you gave me the SS number of a piece that was 30 inches long.

I was looking for a piece that I could use and I was finding everyone made a piece 4 foot long but none would work on SS but also none would work together with another manufactures t-track fixtures either.

In many cases you have to buy the manufactures t-track and the manufactures fixtures used in the t-track. Even some that say 1/4" bolt or 3/8 bolt in many cases the manufacture has a special fixture that goes into the t-track that will not fit in another manufactures t-track even though they both say 1/4 or 3/8.

Here is what I decided. Since I found the longer lenght of SS t-track (I really fail to understand why they don't produce a 4 foot long section and price and sell it at competive priceing) I will use SS. For smaller needs and much cheaper I might add I will use the t-track sold by Woodcraft since they have a store near me.

To answer your question I know that Shopsmith, Rockler, Kreg, Woodcraft, Incra, Benchdog, manufacture or sell t-track. Most except SS and Kreg offer various sizes but again a 1/4" from Rockler may or may not be compatible to a 1/4' one sold by Woodcraft. To me it is turkey shoot.
Ed