Track Connectors

Track Connectors

We'll start with a track section that doesn't have any connectors yet and first build the female connector. Lay a piece of commercial track on your work piece and mark the center of the hole.

Use a 1/2" drill bit (9/16" is better if you can find one) to drill the hole. A drill press is very helpful but not absolutely necessary. I find that making a simple jig is very helpful. With the jig you can quickly drill holes for many pieces of track.

Again, lay a track template over your work piece and mark the the position of the channel. I use band saw to cut the channel.

Here's the completed female connection. This particular example is poorly done. I cut the channel too wide which makes it look ill fitting--but it still works fine.

Now to the male connection. I use these 1/2" round wood balls I pick up at Hobby Lobby for about $1.47 for 18. The trick is that the ball and the hole are both exactly 1/2" in diameter which means the fit is very tight. Too tight. But I find that the wood balls are not perfectly round and that I can manipulate the ball around until I eventually find an orientation that fits just loosely enough. Once you've got the ball in the ideal position, mark it.

Next drill a hole in the wood ball using a 1/4" brad point drill bit. The brad point is a big deal. It keeps the bit from wandering as you get started. I find this step is very challenging with a standard drill bit. If possible set the ball in a vice and use a drill press.

Glue a 1/4" wood dowel into the wood ball. Leave a good inch of the dowel sticking out. It's better to err on the side of leaving the dowel too long. This type of connector can have a tendency to pull out of the track. The longer the dowel the better the connection should be.

Drill a small hole hole in the track (again I prefer a brad point drill bit). I find that I get better on-center results by starting with a small hole and then enlarging it with a 1/4" bit. Even though I have a drill press I find that I can drill satisfactorily straight holes with a hand drill.

When gluing the dowel and ball into the track segment be sure to have another track piece on hand. The depth the connector is inserted is critical. If you insert it too deep the track piece wil be unusable. Leaving it extended slightly too much is preferable to inserting it too far but using another track piece should help you get the depth right.