Sometimes you feel like a nut and some times you don't....... Sometimes you need a special stock t-slot and sometimes you don't. Today we are going to look at making what I am calling a special t-slot. First up you need a special bit and for that you need to order from Axminster in the UK. The bit is called, wait for it a t-slot cutter. Now it is possible that someone else makes and sells a bit like this but I did not find one.
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The first thing I wanted to do is figure out the placement of the slot in the work piece. I would not normally do this but for today's post I mounted the bit and then "centered" where the slot was going to be. I marked the work piece with the maximum depth that would be cut.
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Then I wanted to cut away the center of the T. I had an 8mm bit to do that but for the router mounted I needed to have either a 1/4" or 1/2" bit. The simple fix is to use an 8mm to 1/2" adapter, which of course I had.
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Using the general rule of going no deeper then diameter of the bit I made my first pass. No I did not measure, just visual cue as to about half way.
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This was followed by a second pass to full depth.
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Now with out moving the fence I changed back to the other cutter. I'm not even sure why but I learned to leave a bit of gap on the bottom of the slot which can be seen here.
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In the next post I will show the reason for the "special" t-slot.
Ed
