Pre routed tracks

[Lotus25]

Does anyone do pre-routed tracks to the customers design any more? I'd love to do a routed tack but just don't have the tools or the time.

Tom

[slothead]

RaceMaxx video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1hLDf6ZESA

Don't know if they are still in business and available.

[PetesLightKits]

I know a guy in Mississauga, Ontario. Depending on where you live there may be some people on HRW who would be willing to help you make your own. Of course, once all this COVID-19 stuff goes away.

Peter

[War Eagle River]

Does anyone do pre-routed tracks to the customers design any more? I'd love to do a routed tack but just don't have the tools or the time.

Tom

Where are you located?

[Lotus25]

Where are you located?

I'm in Denver., Co.

[War Eagle River]

I'm in Denver., Co.

Bob Scott is in Arizona. Not sure if he's on here, but is on FB. Theres got to be someone local that will build though. Just reached out to a guy that used to live there. Maybe he’ll respond.

[Pappy]

Try to find a cabinet shop in the area with a CNC router big enough to handle a 4 x 8 sheet of MDF.

[Frank9129]

Tom,
shipping would be a killer.
What I did was make a drawing of the track I wanted. Went to Chesapeake Light Craft, in Annapolis, MD, with a section of track and a guide.
I took then three sheets of MDF , and discussed the use of their CNC Router. We came up with a price of $250.oo to Rout a Gypsy five lane track.
I am still working on it since racing has sort of died with the plague.
I'm praying that things will pick up with the summer.
Call around and find out who has a CNC Router. Give them a call, you may be surprised.

[gsnopoint]

Frank9129, I live very close to Annapolis and have been looking for a place that might do this for me. Looking for a smallish 3 lane track to replace my Artin plastic track on a 16x6 tabletop. Did you finally have them complete yours?

[waaytoomuchintothis]

By the way, Chesapeake Light Craft is a favorite of small boat designers and builders around the world. I have a long history of building wooden boats, so I am familiar with the care and surgical skill they are known for. If they took a job, you can bet its done right.

[RichD]

Brad Bowman is known for his HO tracks, but he does 1/32nd tracks as well. My local MakerPlace has a CNC router that can take a 4X8 foot sheet.

[chappyman66]

It's really all about your budget. As mentioned, having a track built and shipped is expensive. That's why most of us make our own, and it's pretty simple, actually.
The Denver area has (or had) several active folks with routers. Other than that tool, the rest of it is as expensive or inexpensive as you want to make it. A custom built track can run several thousand dollars but you get a very nice finish for that.

The recommendation to find a local CNC shop is a good one....$250 to get everything cut for you is a pretty reasonable price, in my book. You still have to build the benchwork, but that's not hard.

[Dogsbody]

Does anyone do pre-routed tracks to the customers design any more? I'd love to do a routed tack but just don't have the tools or the time.

Tom

Tom,
The guy that did mine in Colorado Springs charges $80 a sheet routed (that's routing it and the cost of a 4' x 8' sheet of MDF. You just have to come up with the design and convert it to a file that the CNC machine can work from.

[slothead]

As a guy with average home carpentry skills and tools I've been able to build 2 tracks on my own and get years of pleasure out of them. With business being slow these days I bet there are many people with the skill and tools to build the track for you at a fair price, you just have to find them. You don't need a master carpenter, just someone with competent woodworking skills.

Another idea is checking with wood shop teachers at local (vocational?) high schools. My local high school offers continuing education classes and one is always woodworking. After a class or two on tool use and safety everyone starts on a project with help from each other, use of the shop tools and equipment, and guidance from the teacher. Those classes would most likely be suspended now but a wood shop teacher who's not teaching might be a great resource.

I have no doubt a resource to build your track at a reasonable price is somewhere near you. Think creatively and make some calls or send some emails.

[WB2]

Viper Scale Racing is in Salt Lake City.
They did this track: https://www.slotcarillustrated.com/f...32-track-build .
Hardest part in dealing with a local sign or cabinet shop is converting your design to the proper type computer file. None of the shops around here will do that work for you.

[lance]

Colorado has couple of groups of racers with routed tracks. Try contacting them thru here or the hobby shops. I know one of them worked at Coplar hobbies just outside of denver.
They might be able to help you or know someone in the area that can .

[Lotus25]

Colorado has couple of groups of racers with routed tracks. Try contacting them thru here or the hobby shops. I know one of them worked at Coplar hobbies just outside of denver.
They might be able to help you or know someone in the area that can .

I'm the one who works at Colpar--I'm still there actually part time--semi retired.

Tom