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Post by aas on Feb 5, 2017 5:52:59 GMT -5
Has anyone cut down any of the F rails?
I want to shorten my Aerofix. Just like the standard F rails, the non-slip silicon rubber seems to be held in place at the ends by the aluminium having been crimped a bit. I'm concerned that this will then come loose or fall out if cut.
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Post by arvid on Feb 5, 2017 10:00:30 GMT -5
Has anyone cut down any of the F rails? I want to shorten my Aerofix. Just like the standard F rails, the non-slip silicon rubber seems to be held in place at the ends by the aluminium having been crimped a bit. I'm concerned that this will then come loose or fall out if cut. Simply cut to desired length then take pliers and crimp
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Post by aas on Feb 5, 2017 14:43:00 GMT -5
Have you done this?.. if so, I'm not quite sure how you crimped the back of the rail with pliers.
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Post by holmz on Feb 6, 2017 2:50:39 GMT -5
I used the jig saw and just cut my one I put onto the MFT. I did not consider the rubber strip, but I have not noticed it having moved either.
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Post by aas on Feb 6, 2017 13:24:08 GMT -5
I'll have to bite the bullet and just go for it... worse case scenario, I'll need to silicon them back in.
Jigsaw though... I'll be cutting it on a mitre saw with TCT blade, cuts aluminium very well - often trim spirit levels to custom sizes (or just to cut off a vial that's had it!)
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Post by arvid on Feb 6, 2017 17:19:31 GMT -5
I'll have to bite the bullet and just go for it... worse case scenario, I'll need to silicon them back in. Jigsaw though... I'll be cutting it on a mitre saw with TCT blade, cuts aluminium very well - often trim spirit levels to custom sizes (or just to cut off a vial that's had it!) i cut mine on the miter saw. the rubber strips did not come lose but if they had i would just pinch the end of the channel at the end of the rail with a plier or tap with ball peen hammer. but do not think it is needed. i didn't have to anyway.
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Post by aas on Feb 7, 2017 2:12:03 GMT -5
Thanks Arvid, I'll have a go.
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Post by holmz on Feb 7, 2017 2:58:39 GMT -5
I do not have a mitre saw so I just went hard at with the jig saw, and then 1/2-minute with a bastard file.
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Post by aas on Feb 22, 2017 13:53:01 GMT -5
All done - Aerofix shortened by 250mm - much more manageable size.
While I was at it, I cut my Bosch RA32 1600 down to about 1150 and 450 - can still use as a 1600 by joining the factory finished ends and maintain the 32mm hole spacing.
None of my rails are longer than 1200mm now - easier for transporting and storing.
About 3m of Mafell rails and 2.4m of Bosch holey rails - should cover most situations!
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Post by kraftt on Mar 8, 2017 18:36:51 GMT -5
Might be edumacational to hear what non-stock length people are cutting to and to meet what need (?)
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Post by holmz on Mar 9, 2017 8:42:46 GMT -5
~1150 to mount on an MFT.
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Post by mafelluser on Jun 28, 2017 15:08:55 GMT -5
When I cut mine, I'll be using a mitre/chop saw, as others have done.
If I want to make the cut even more accurate, I'll happily rout it! Router cutters get TCT tips, just the same as mitre/chop saw blades. Just need to dial-down the router to a sensible speed, and go slow with the feed rate.
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Post by holmz on Jun 28, 2017 15:44:09 GMT -5
Right... Because the end at the hinge, or the end hanging off the front needs to be all pretty before the black plastic end goes on it? How accurate does it need to be?
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Post by mafelluser on Jun 28, 2017 16:14:39 GMT -5
LOL - of course it's not strictly necessary, but it's nice to get it as close-to-square as reasonably possible, even though the rail connector is what truly dictates the alignment of 2 connected rails with one another, and even though some folks prefer to deliberately join rails with a mm or so gap between rail ends, in case there is saw dust trying to interfere with the alignment of the join.
TCT mitre/chop saw blades can often do a rather rough job of cutting aluminium, with lots of radial marks being evident.
Routing the end square is absurdly quck and easy, using an MFT worktop and 4 bench dogs. Literally just a few seconds, which is easily as quick and easy as nicely filing it would be.
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Post by holmz on Jun 29, 2017 5:18:04 GMT -5
Yeah mafelluser I was actually surprised that the jig saw and a quick brush up with the bastard file looked as good as it did.
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