Aluminum T track vs routed t-track...

[Sominus]

I was messing around on Youtube when I came across someone extolling the virtues of using a routed t-track (using a t-track router bit) over inlaying an aluminum t-track.

The video I saw was

Does anyone have any ideas on this topic?

-M

[Stick486]

Routed in wood T track is short term...
A close tolerance track gets sloppy after a while and subject to movement pending weather conditions...

Better than aluminum is UHMW in sheet or bar stock.......

[Sominus]

Routed in wood T track is short term...
A close tolerance track gets sloppy after a while and subject to movement pending weather conditions...

Better than aluminum is UHMW in sheet or bar stock.......

So… route/dado a channel in plywood, rote t-track shaped channel in UHMW, put UHMW in routed/dado channel in plywood?

[Stick486]

So… route/dado a channel in plywood, rote t-track shaped channel in UHMW, put UHMW in routed/dado channel in plywood?

You done yet?...

[Cherryville Chuck]

I can't think of any applications where I would want to use it unless it is the bit for the multifunction table clamps. As Stick said they'd wear out with very much use. The aluminum ones will too but they are easily replaceable back to new clearances. Aluminum is much, more durable and isn't prone to tear out.

If you decide to use one I can make a suggestion to extend their longevity. I worked in a fireplace mantle factory for a while and we used a slotting bit for a special clip that held kickboards on. We were wearing them out quickly (proprietary bit) because they got really hot from the chips trapped in the T slot so I started dadoing most of the open slot with a table saw to reduce chip load and allow more air to keep bits cool and we tripled the life of the bits doing that.