Suggestion: Tap holes in the aluminum rails for the Drag Chains

This is just a thought, but the double sided tape has left me concerned for long term use of the drag chains on the XL system I have (and I am sure others would benefit just the same).

Instead of the tape, I drilled small holes and tapped them into the aluminum rails to better secure the drag chains. The chains themselves already have 4 holes that fit flat head machine screws perfectly flush and drilling/tapping 2 small holes in each rail looks to cause no integrity issues to the overall function of the machine itself.

I am sure it is not something we would see implemented anytime soon, but if anyone has any experience at all with drill/tap efforts, it literally took me less than 10 minutes to secure both using this method. One could even make it easier by just drilling out a hole and using a self tapping metal screw if they do not have access to a drill/tap tool kit.

Hopefully this advice will be helpful to some, or anyone who has had issues with the two sided tape.

Cheers,

Ben

Yes, I had the same concern with the dbl-sided tape. Mine (Y-rail) came off in short order so I also mechanically fastened it on. They all have the same potential, just the Y-Rail is more susceptible to coming off.

Yeah, went looking for an M3 tap, but only found 'em in sets at Harbor Freight and Home Depot.

amazon has some amazing options.

6-Piece Set for your power drill.
http://amzn.to/2bUgyJU

5-Piece set if you have a tap wrench already.
http://amzn.to/2c7U7xK

The set I have, Irwin makes the best in my opinion, I have not broken a single bit yet and I have actively used it well over 3 years now. Everything from Aluminum to Steel.
http://amzn.to/2c4uvQn

I’ve a fondness for Vermont American, so have added this to my next Amazon order: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CD1MV6

they have been very hit and miss for me honestly. their router bits left so much to be desired for me and thus I switched to Freud and have never looked back.

If you can afford it, Irwin is 100% the way to go. You will not be upset, even though they are a bit pricier, you are getting tools that will last a VERY long time.

That’s sad — three decades ago, they were the best value at a local hardware store — sad that’s no longer the case.

Running around this weekend, I actually wound up w/ a N.O.S. Irwin M4 tap for $4.92 from the local True Value (when I couldn’t find M3, thought it might work — M4 heads won’t work too large) — in great shape aside from ~10–20? (or more?) years of dust on it.