Track cutting 101

[smokindave]

I just want to give anyone trimming a 16"wide track down to a 15" wide.

1st-Buy new 174 x 16 x 3 Challenger Extreme @ 1300.00

2nd-Buy 2 different saw blades,one fine,one a bit more aggressive@190.00

3rd-Buy beer and lunch for the our friends to help with the job@100.00

4th-estimated power and gas to heat the shop up(its cold outside)@20.00 est.

what it costs to cut a track down=1610.00

 

[smokindave]

So we start cutting the track,its going slow....very slow.
We are having a rough time keeping the cut strait as the blade is getting hot and warping....so the cut is getting to be all over the place.
We start spraying water,WD-40 and a couple of other lubricants.
Does not help....blade is warping....grrrr
And then the neighbors from the bays on both sides of my shop are banging on the walls.
Apparently I have shut their business's down for the day because of the cancer causing smoke that has filled their shops.

 

[smokindave]

Finished one side of the track....it is far from straight!
Why does Camoplast not build a 15"wide?
Start cutting the other side.
Landlord shows up as neighbors have all phoned and complained.
I am now starting to get stressed....NOT
Was all stressed after about a foot of cutting...yelled at my buddy!
He went home....
Now I am stressed and MAD!!!!
Here is a picture of the effed up track

 

[smokindave]

If you look around the track you can see the notches...they are out around a half inch in the worst spots

 

[smokindave]

AS this was the first of three tracks that I am cutting we got ready to start on the next one....

 

[smokindave]

Not!!!

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

So as we stood there staring at the worthless track sitting on the floor of my shop we all put our heads together and really thought hard on this....



















I called Curtis at Tracks Canada

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

Curtis calls me two days later and I go pick up my tracks

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

WOW....big difference from my messed up cut and Curtis's factory looking cut.
Just look how well these fit in the tunnel.

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

So....theres my track cutting adventure.
The one that I ruined is going to Curtis now too get fixed......so if you have a F Series Cat that you are making into a mountain sled I may have a 14" wide for you...lol

 

[smokindave]

So if you are thinking about adding a CE #9115 or the #9116 to your Cat you may want to call Curtis @ Tracks Canada!
Rant over!

 

[ferniesnow]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

So....theres my track cutting adventure.
The one that I ruined is going to Curtis now too get fixed......so if you have a F Series Cat that you are making into a mountain sled I may have a 14" wide for you...lol

after all that and you still can put some humor in it......great write up Dave!

 

[tukernater]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

Cutting a track is not fun,don't matter how much beer you have, somebodies getting yelled at Lol,I found dish soap and a bit of water worked the best .

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

Ohhhhh yea I nearly forgot......THANKS Curtis

 

[sirkdev]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

Good write up, I heard this was a miserable job, funny to see this crazy stuff happens to other people as well. Glad to see your neighbours joined in the fun as well.....

 

[POWDERSLUT]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

were u running the blade forwards or backwards?

 

[hypnotoad]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

nothing like a good 11 post story

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

were u running the blade forwards or backwards?

We tried both ways with the same result,the blade that would get hot and then warp real bad.After the blade cooled down it would go back to a perfect blade.

 

[overkill131313]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

there is a water cutter in Salmon Arm......this would be the cats a$$ to cut a track! no blade to warp....just make a jig to hold it and clamp the two sides together..... just my two cents!

 

[smokindave]

Re: Track cutting 101 The FIX

there is a water cutter in Salmon Arm......this would be the cats a$$ to cut a track! no blade to warp....just make a jig to hold it and clamp the two sides together..... just my two cents!

Oh there is a easy stress free way of cutting a track down with no chance of ruining a track........























Curtis @ Tracks Canada.....I will NEVER try to cut a track again.
I will stick too just building sleds and leave that job too the pros!