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Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:26 pm
by edma194
Got the
Sliding T-Bolt System Kit to try out
this technique for mounting a shaper fence. Alas, the bolts are not long enough. That problem is on me.
However, the quality of the product is not great. Only 2 of the sliders will fit in Shopsmith miter slots, the other 2 will have to be ground down. Only half the knobs will thread on properly, the others need to have the threads cleaned up. Anyone else tried these and had these problems? I'll fix them and use them for something, no point in trying to return them, but curious if this was what to expect with the plain T-Nuts I'm going to order.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:43 pm
by RFGuy
Ed,
Sorry these are a problem for you. I was wondering if this issue was resolved or not for Shopsmith. I remember at least one thread in the past year where someone got brand new sliding t-nuts from Shopsmith and they were warped/bent making them unusable. I tried, but couldn't find the thread that I remembered, but here is another one reporting issues recently. Definitely contact Shopsmith CS and see what they will do.
viewtopic.php?p=278397#p278397
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:44 pm
by jsburger
FWIW, I have 12 or 15 (maybe more) mostly T nuts. I made some of them into T bolts using all thread and staking it into the T nut. I also have a few T bolts bought as such from SS. I have never had a problem with any of them. One thing to note is that mine were all purchased many years ago.
I would certainly contact SS. If they don't know there is a problem they can't fix it.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:46 pm
by BuckeyeDennis
I have quite a few of the plain T-nuts, and the quality is excellent on all of them. I ordered a 4-pack from the mothership several years ago, and the rest I accumulated from CL purchases.
That's odd about your quality problem on the sliding body. My SS T-nuts all appear to be die-cast, which should be a very repeatable process.
If there's room for a jam nut beneath whatever you're mounting, a threaded rod and a jam nut will convert a T-nut into a T-bolt very easily. I do that quite often when using hold-down clamps on my Mark V table in drill-press mode. If there isn't enough room for a jam nut, some threadlocker will do the same, but then it's harder to repurpose the hardware.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:40 pm
by edma194
I'll contact the mothership and let them know about the issue. I hadn't checked for warping as noted in another thread. Perhaps that is the problem and I need to get these replaced.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:20 pm
by edma194
Shopsmith provided me with an RMA number. They will examine and replace and T-bolts that not properly shaped. I have to check all the pieces for sliding all the way through main table slots. I have to consider the main table slots as the standard. The T slots on the Sawsmiths and Joint-Matic are the adjustable type so can't be relied on for the fit. This may let me find a way to get all those to a standard fit.
Oh great.. <head slap> I even commented on how bad the warp was in the thread linked above. I forgot all about that. I was considering making them with a piece of flat stock and a washer. I now have a complete shaper fence made from 2 partial fences and I wanted to quickly check out mounting it using those T-Bolts.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 4:50 pm
by edma194
Sent 4 jamming T-Bolts back to Shopsmith and received 4 new ones that slide through the slots without a problem. No explanation or comment on the problem units, nothing except the 4 pieces in a shipping envelope. So I don't know what was wrong with the ones that jammed. I think the position or thickness of the T protrusions was the problem but can't say for sure, don't have the problem pieces anymore. If you get any of these make sure to check them out when you get them.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 1:53 pm
by 49chevyman
I recently bought a four pack of these. I had no issues with any of them fitting the T-slots on my 520 table or fence. With my mix of things I wanted to use for fixtures plus my maxi-clamp system, I decided to modify them, by pressing out the 5/16 bolt. I then drilled the center hole out and tapped it for a 3/8-16 thread. One of the other two holes, I tapped 1/4-20 and the other one 5/16-18. That way, no matter what size hold down bolt I needed, the T-nut could be used.
Re: Sliding T-bolts
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 3:02 pm
by edma194
Might do that myself since I have plenty of these things. I should have ordered the plain nuts.