Help with T-Nuts /T-Bolts

Bill L. said:
I peen the bottom threads on my t-nuts with a punch to make it easier to put the nut on and so the stud can't hit the bottom of the slot and jack the nut.
Bill L.
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Many new guys may miss the importance of what you said above. The "T" slot can be broken easily by the nut being jacked. Don't break your table.
 
Guys, if my table has a 1/2" t-slot (upper narrower portion) then I guess my options are 3/8" or 7/16" bolt diameter? I picked up some 3/8" threaded B7 rod to make my own studs but 3/8" just seems so darn small ..... it seems like 1/2" studs/rods should be more appropriate.... but the slot is only 1/2". Am I making too much of this? :thinking:
 
Don't undersell the B-7, it's 4140 ht. I forgot to tell you to get 2H Hvy Hex Nuts with it, or flange nuts. Regular Finished Hex Nuts are only mild steel. If that's all you have, use flat washers, for sure. But try to get some proper nuts.
 
Tony Wells said:
Don't undersell the B-7, it's 4140 ht. I forgot to tell you to get 2H Hvy Hex Nuts with it, or flange nuts. Regular Finished Hex Nuts are only mild steel. If that's all you have, use flat washers, for sure. But try to get some proper nuts.
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Thanks T! I did get 3/8" Te-co hardened flanged nuts. It's just the 3/8" looks so puny, if you know what I mean. I just walked the dogs and now it's time to work on the vise and cut me up some studs.
 
Just to make yourself more comfortable, set up a rig to see what it takes to stretch/strip/break a stud. I'm not saying you can't do it, but I think you may be surprised. You have the right nuts for it, in the Teco. Good stuff.
 
For emphasis....mitsue and bill L. You are right on. You don't want to drive the stud through the nut and into the bottom of the slot. That is a sure way to break the cast T slot.

Yout better T-nuts come pre staked so the threaded rod can't go past the nut bottom.

Btw, aren't T-nuts measured by the widest part of the T slot? Granted the stud has to fit too.
Ignore the above statement. Brain check.

I believe 3/8" studs are the norm for T slots that have the narrow portion at 1/2"

Realize you can also get metric sized T nuts.

I have 3/8 studs and it's hard to imagine them failing in my home shop environment.. Now if you are doing something the size of v8 cylinder heads or a v8 block in a commercial setting I'd be all for bigger studs.
 
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Yep Dave,
Just to confuse things more, T-slots are measured by the width of the throat, and T-bolts are measured by the shank that will pass through the throat, so a 1/2" slot accepts a 1/2" T-bolt, and a 1/2" slot accepts a 1/2" T-nut, but a 1/2" T-nut is only tapped for a 3/8" stud:nuts:

Cheers Phil
 
In my days (yes, days :o ) of researching t-slot nuts and bolts it appears a t-slot nut is designated/named for the top/narrow portion of the T-slot. There are standard sizes, true, but you can have a 1/2" nut but with varying sizes of the widest/bottom part. You can have 3 different, more if metric, bolt/stud sizes to choose from for a 1/2" t-slot nut. 5/16", 3/8", and 7/16". Take a look at Te-co's site and you'll see what I mean.
 
Hey guys = I stumbled onto this thread via google and saw the references to TE-CO - when I go their web site it appears tey don't sell direct. Where do you buy their products?

Thanks
Rick
 
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