14” Bandsaw – Making the arm lock 1

The bearing guide arm slides up and down and needs to be locked at the desired height.

This is where we left the last session and we now need to make the arm lock.

Here are the parts for the arm lock:

The MDF piece with a T-nut on the inside will screw onto the clamp block. The threaded rod (with adjustment knob) screws in and bites on the arm, locking it at the desired height.

We are using a 3/8” T-nut which needs to be sunk into the MDF block, a 25mm Forstner bit will do nicely.

Drill depth is to have the T-nut just below the surface.

  

Now drill a hole for the body of the t-nut.

So far so good now we need to press in the T-nut, the four teeth bite in to prevent it from turning. In most cases epoxy glue is also used because they can pop out when the rod is turned in the opposite direction.

  

Now over to the vice to press in the T-nut. I want it just just below the surface so a nut held with tape will allow me to drop it into the vice jaws. Pinch up the jaws then apply pressure to fully embed the T-nut (and it’s teeth) into the MDF.

  

A standard item on the shelf is talcum power. Test fitted the lock plate.

  

The 3/8” threaded rod will have a homemade knob fitted.
I now need to remove all that and epoxy in the T-nut.