Simple T-slot Covers

hvontres

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After getting inspired by oxtool and jkilroy on youtube, I finally got around to making a set of plywood t-slot covers for my mill. I used a piece of 11" prefinished drawer slide plywood from a local hardwood dealer (about $8) and cut off two pieces. After that, I traced the outside of my vise and cut the ends on my band saw. Finally I made some 5/8" delrin blocks that I screwed to the bottom of the wood. I placed the outside pieces close to the end of the slot so that the covers won't rattle around when in use.
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Table before the covers
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After covers
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Bottom view of cover
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Detail of mounting block
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Fit around the vise
 
That's a great idea for protecting the table from damage and making swarf cleanup easier.....I may need to consider something similar.....
-brino
 
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I made some out of rubber floor matt I had, some have use sheet metal.
 
I made mine from wood and attached 2 button magnets on the under side that way it prevents them from wandering
 
Yes more horizontal surface to accumulate stuff!;)

Sent from somewhere in East Texas Jake Parker
But at least it's easy to sweep clean :) And it was already accumuulating stuff... except it keept falling into the slots :)
 
Be careful with your wood covers and any water based coolant. The wood can absorb small amounts of water and in contact with your table, create an environment for surface rust. I changed to rubber covers because of that -- Jack
 
I actually like the open T-slots. Screwdrivers don't roll off and stores chips for later cleanup.
 
I made my table covers from scraps of white enameled Masonite, with some scrap wood glued to the underside. Sure, I bandsawed them to fit the vice, no cost involved in them, when they get beat up, I've got more Masonite and scrap wood.
 
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