STOP USING CORNER BRACKETS! // E09 How to 8020

[@KenLeonard]

Good stuff but wear frigging eye protection when drilling! Having pulled aluminum shavings from my own eye with tweezers, it’s not fun.

[@Fancifulflyfisherman]

I’ve done the same with feet in only flip flops.

[@IntoTheMystery13]

eye injuries are so painful.

[@leo169]

Good to have a helping hand for all the repetitive tasks. If you find yourself out of WD40 at any stage, kerosene is an excellent cutting fluid for aluminium.

[@GotMountains]

Interesting, never heard that before but it makes sense. I always have lots of it around!

[@davidterrie7661]

I'm following your lead on using end connectors. Maybe it's just the bit I bought, but I found I have to hand turn it on 15 series. I use vice grips to get leverage. Does the job. I had my extrusions pre-tapped but have changed my mind on a few design elements, so I'm tapping and using a jig to drill access holes. Works.

[@GotMountains]

Oh yeah, I've never tapped the 15 series but it would definitely take more effort. If you get an expensive tap but they cut much better and easier than the cheaper ones, but because bits bigger it might just need more oompf than the 10 series does. Are you posting any videos on it?

[@davidterrie7661]

@@GotMountains No videos. Turning the Dewalt 5/16-18 thread bit with the vice grips at 90 degrees is fairly easy. Just turn in and turn out. Using WD40. Good results. Same with access hole tap.

[@GotMountains]

@@davidterrie7661 you have more patience than me haha, I would go nuts doing them all by hand. I guess if most of them are already done for you then it wouldn't be too bad to do a few.

[@curlymaple42]

Oh my head¡!! I'm ordering that jig today!!! Thank you!!!!

[@GotMountains]

It's soooo worth it!

[@mattg8787]

that Drilling Jig is know 61$

[@turfnsurf9367]

I looked on Kijiji to find someone that does this. No luck and I live in a condo. So I bought a $30 coffee table to use as bed frame and yellow top bins as storage. It worked just fine.

[@GotMountains]

Sometimes the cheapest solution is the best 😉

[@warphillips]

One of the key benefits of aluminum extrusion in my mind is the ability to change and move things based on a redesign or discovery from your plan. With this method of fastening, you are stuck in the planned configuration with little ability to move anything a few inches or a few millimeters.

[@GotMountains]

Not at all. I have a video where I show how fast it is. Literally 10 seconds to drill a new access hole and it's done. I've made many adjustments this way after the design was done.

[@warphillips]

@@GotMountains true. If using a face mounted bracket no need to remove and drill. Simply loosen the bracket and reposition then tighten. Your method does make finishing simpler because there are no exposed brackets.

[@avidmisreader]

Yeah access holes are great on ends or where very committed. For adjustment, reusability there’s T-matic etc but would expect even worst ‘hidden corners’ to work much better as less structural ‘placeholders’ to join ‘(cripple) studs’, etc (less comparable load and can spread over additional fastener/s.

[@ric8361]

Very useful tips! this is probably even cheaper than T-nuts and gusset connectors! Can you put links to the little washer you use for M6X20 button head bolt and the threading bit you use? thanks.

[@GotMountains]

Good idea, I should add these to the description. Titanium Plated Hex Shank HSS Screw Thread Metric Tap a.aliexpress.com/_mt3eplu 2020 end fastener a.aliexpress.com/_mrN3G6w

[@ric8361]

@@GotMountains what is that rectangular washer-like stuff you put on the M6X20 screw at 5'34 in the video?

[@ric8361]

catalogs.8020.net/data/uni19flx/011/html/export/80-20%20Inc.%20University%20Booklet.pdf here is the 80/20 specs for the strength of each type of fastener. The L shape corner bracket for 10 series does like a toy at force point B. it might be good enough for cabinet stuff.

[@GotMountains]

@@ric8361 yeah, that's the end fastener

[@billwaiblinger7324]

​@@GotMountainsyour links both go to the tap

[@erictheredwood3715]

Very informative video. I’m planning on using the1010 as well, and the thoughts on strength capacity was helpful. Question: I’m putting a shelf over my sink, 19x 13 made from 3/4 inch Baltic birch plywood. I have folding ss Brackets. Would the 8020 be able to support a 5 gallon water jug?47 lbs.

[@GotMountains]

Easily, as long as the brackets can hold it, the 10 series is easily strong enough.

[@AlternativeTongue]

Can you share the link where you bought your drill jig guide. Thank you.

[@GotMountains]

Yeah, you can get them here: 8020.net/tools/access-hole-drills-jigs/accessholedrilljigs.html

[@thomasfreedy]

Great video! How did you deburr the ends?

[@GotMountains]

Thanks! The blade I use cuts it smooth, so there aren't any burrs to worry about.

[@MikeBabsBC]

Love 8020! Building my camper topper out of 15 series. I tried to use threaded end connections as much as possible as I think that's the most secure possible for 8020. Where did you get that drill Jig from? They are like $60 from the places I have tried to source it from. Your build is coming along nicely!!

[@GotMountains]

Thank you! I'd love to see your build! I just got the jig from 8020 but I don't think it was very much.

[@MikeBabsBC]

@@GotMountains I just started a few videos on my channel, nowhere near the production value of your videos, but figured I'd capture the process regardless. 😬 The closest 8020 distributor to me is in Abbotsford, BC and they want $71+tax for it! It's crazy, I can get a 6-foot length on 15-series for that price lol I actually ended up getting my "8020" from Faztek out of Quebec as it was substantially less expensive.

[@GotMountains]

@@MikeBabsBC good to know... Abbotsford is where I got everything. I'll check Fastech out!

[@MikeBabsBC]

@@GotMountains I ended up pricing out both Rocky Mountain and Faztek, even with shopping from across the country, they were still cheaper. Plus they cut to length and machine the ends if desired. I was pretty impressed. From what I have researched, the quality is par if not a little better than 8020.

[@GotMountains]

Ah, I also see you used the larger profile. That's probably why it's more expensive...I found that everything above 10 series got crazy expensive pretty fast. I wonder if you could build one? Either way, it looks like you're moving along! Just need some new cylinders 😜

[@TroyD-vo1bz]

Was there an aliexpess link for the end fastener? I won't deal with 8020 due to their crazy shipping rates to Alaska. And is there a metric version as well?

[@GotMountains]

Yeah, I get them here. It's actually the 2020 end fastener size I use, so the 20mm one and it fits in the 10 Series. a.aliexpress.com/_mKJJI8e I'd also check out Rocky Mountain Motion Control in Abbotsford BC... They deal in 8020 and have decent rates to Edmonton. Maybe they can do better to Alaska?

[@TroyD-vo1bz]

Thank you! I appreciate the link.

[@koalafan1576]

Which connectors are you using exactly. I’m trying to learn so I can make a build for my truck.

[@GotMountains]

It's called an end fastener. You use an M6x25 tap, an M6x20 bolt (round head hex) and this fastener:a.aliexpress.com/_msvKhWq

[@koalafan1576]

@@GotMountains ah ok, I’ve seen those in the 80/20 catalog I request. I just know there are so many ways to connect to pieces of extrusion.

[@GotMountains]

@@koalafan1576 this is by far the strongest for the effort. The only one stronger is the end anchor but you need to kill a hole for the assembly. Brackets are expensive and not as strong.

[@mathalwaysii]

When you say the 10 series (1inch) can support 1000 lbs, how long is it we are talking about to support 1000lb? I can see the longer it is, the less weight it can support. I'm wonfering in a length of 5 feet, can you put 400 lbs of weight at an point/small area. Thanks.

[@GotMountains]

They have a really good calculator on their website that lets you calculate all that. It tells you deflection as well as break point. Remember though, as soon as you add other connections (ie: a square assembly) the strength increases.

[@mathalwaysii]

Thanks. I do see the deflector calculator but did not see one for the break point. Can you guide me with the link to the break point calculator? With a deflection of 1-2 inches for the length a 48 inch at the worst case scenario I want to see if that's ok or not ... Thanks.

[@theoforand432]

soooo, what happens if I just screw the bolt into the tapped end without using the connector/fastener? I ended up doing this just while learning but everything is square and the item I made is not really load bearing? Thanks for posting this btw, really cutting down on the price of this build

[@GotMountains]

It has less purchase on the 2 parallel flanges without the end fastener, but it's probably ok if it's not getting a lot of stress...only one way to find out I guess...haha.

[@jamesdean9198]

Are you just using standard T-nuts for these end connections?

[@GotMountains]

No, the end fastener is different. It looks like a bow tie and is much wider than the t-nuts. This is the 8020 part. 8020.net/3381.html

[@jamesdean9198]

@@GotMountains Thank you

[@GotMountains]

@@jamesdean9198 no problem. There's also a jig that helps you drill the access holes. It's worth every

[@huddleshuddles7360]

Gr3eat video! What saw bade is that you are using...as in who makes it?

[@GotMountains]

Oshlun on Amazon...it's a 100 too carbide saw blade!

[@TroyD-vo1bz]

Is this the 6120 jig?

[@GotMountains]

Yep, that's the one! Super handy.

[@dacam63]

Where did you get your aluminum from?

[@GotMountains]

Rocky Mountain Metals in Abbotsford BC, but I find tnutz.com has some of the best prices these days.

[@dattack1970]

What kind of blade are you using to cut the aluminum?

[@GotMountains]

Good question... I used this one. Cuts beautifully smooth ends. amzn.to/3SCOgne

[@ZaneAhmed89]

are the bow-tie slide in t-nuts necessary, they are a little expensive at 2.14 cents on the 80/20 wesbite. Can you just use the basic economy t nuts that you would use for a corner bracket connection?

[@GotMountains]

No, they need the bow tie ones to work well. I actually find them on AliExpress for very cheap but use the 2020 size as they don't have an imperial match for 10 series there. These are the ones I bought last: www.aliexpress.com/item/32983492910.html

[@ZaneAhmed89]

@@GotMountains does the 2020 bow tie slide in t-nuts fit into the 10 series extruded aluminum? I’m using the 10 series as seen in the video

[@GotMountains]

@@ZaneAhmed89 yes, they fit well. Just get these ones: a.aliexpress.com/_mOqjTMe and not these ones as they break easily: a.aliexpress.com/_mKGThXc. I'd also recommend using M5 over M4 with 10 series.

[@hike2bhuman110]

Aluminum shavings and sandaled feet, yikes! Do you use some sort of CAD software?

[@GotMountains]

I also run with scissors...I'm a guy that lives on the edge 😏 Yes, I use SketchUp free online. Super simple and free is always good!

[@alex6ylk]

Can't find it selling. How it's named?)

[@GotMountains]

You mean the end fastener? Or the Aluminum material?

[@alex6ylk]

@@GotMountains aluminium

[@GotMountains]

@@alex6ylk 8020.net is the big name brand but companies like T Nuts also make knock offs. If you search 'extruded aluminum t track" you should find a lot of it. It might be hard to get in Ukraine, but it's common in the EU.

[@Tysto]

TNUTZ prices are much better than 8020, and they'll do end taps and counterbores for you for cheap.

[@GotMountains]

I've heard that, but my supplier has pretty good prices on the 145" extrusions even with shipping. Their labour price for taps and counterbores are crazy though. I might have to try them for fasteners next time.

[@bluegorillacookies]

Tnitz shipping prices are crazy...over $100 for several 48" long pieces

[@volksbugly]

Get some Tap Magic put a couple of drops on the tap. :)