Trimming Track

[NHSP759]

so....being naive....no just an idiot, I saw a deal on eBay for a 55" track. It said new and had some stickers on it. I bought it, I think I paid about $80. It looked beat to heck but the splinter guard was clearly unused. It looked great then yesterday I got to use it and my connectors for the first time. Pretty stoked as I'm a hobbyist and moving my shop to a larger area in the basement. Anyways I digress..noticed there was a pinch in the upper receiver where you slide the connector. About five inches from the edge. It was suggested that I cut the track. So that being said with limited resources any suggestions on a good cut?

 

[nclemmons]

You can cut it with your Kapex easily.  Standard Kapex blade will work fine in aluminum.  Suggest you clamp it down just to be sure it does not move when you cut it.

Or just move the nicked end to the other end and use the connector on the good end and keep it at 55" as an alternative.

 

[Sparktrician]

Do you think that a spreader would open it enough to be useful?  Might eliminate the need to cut the track.  Got any buddies that are machinists? 

 

[nclemmons]

Can you slide a festool clamp into the T-track and rock it side to side, or use a screwdriver to open up the pinched area against the clamp for leverage?  Optionally use a wooden handscrew to hold the aluminum an inch or so away from the defect while you try to pry it open and adjust to prevent deforming it too much?

 

[SMJoinery]

How about sliding connector bar in from other end and then ease it through the defect by chapping on its end with hardwood block or similar?

 

[NHSP759]

Wow guys. Thank you so much for these ideas. I am going to try SMJoinery's idea first, then Nelics. I don't know anybody that is a machinist unfortunately and lastly, thanks for the Kapex idea. I truthfully was nervous about using "Viera" (that is my baby's name.... ) to cut the track but if that will do the trick I'll try it out last. I have these two 55's and a holey rail too so....