DIY T-Track Hold Downs

[DerbyDad03]

I finally got around to putting some T-Track in my drill press table. I had some knobs and bolts left over from a T-Track kit that I had bought previously, so I didn't want to spend money on hold down sets that came with knobs and bolts.

I found this design on the Lumberjocks site and since I had some aluminum stock lying around, I made a couple. Quick and easy. The part that took the longest was letting the Plasti Dip dry between coats.

The aluminum stock is 1/4" x 1" x ~6"

Next task is to upgrade my fence to work with the T-Track.

[Meanie]

The only minor issue I see is drilling through and hitting the table or the track. Thus, a piece of scrap wood under the project piece would suffice.

I have a two track set-up with a fence and a square opening through the table for the bit to pass through the main piece. Works well.

[Leon]

Mine is similar except instead of the center track I have a 3" wide slot, front to back, that holds a piece of sacrificial MDF. I can slide the MDF out a bit to renew the spot where the bit makes contact. Additionally I use the 2 side slots to hold a fence in place.

[DerbyDad03]

Well, since it's 34 and snowing sideways today, I decided to spend the day in the shop.

I made a fence that mounts in the side T-Tracks and also routed out a 3" x 3" pocket to hold the sacrificial MDF.

The square is off-center so I can rotate the MDF 4 times as I need a new landing spot. I made the pocket 1/2" deep and stacked two 1/4" MDF squares. That way I have an on-site spare. I also cut a couple of extra squares which I'll store in a place that will be perfect for them and that I'll never forget. ;-)

I looked at a bunch of different lay outs for tracks on a DP table. 2, 3, front to back, cross-ways, plus fences that swivel, etc. I thought about how I use the DP and I think the current set-up will work. If not, I'll add to it. I've lived with just a bare table for years, figuring out clamping strategies and fences as needed. Today's mods will be a huge improvement.

If the weather is as sucky tomorrow as it is today, I may make one of these:

[Sonny]

Might it be better to mount/attach the dust collection to the table (somehow), rather than on the DP column? It would adjust with the table's adjustment, rather than being adjusted separately.

Sonny

[DerbyDad03]

The table is installed as needed for larger items. Small shop, benchtop DP.

IOW, dust collection is always needed, the table...not so much.