Can I pick your brains? How would you solve this puzzle....

[BillTodd]

Bill, the method you outlined I'd considered...I have no sliding rail though, so would have to contempate making one...but then I saw the cost of a pair of support rails @1.2mm long - gulp.

They don't have to be that strong, they just have to be straight.

[HankMcSpank]

They don't have to be that strong, they just have to be straight.

Yes I realised that (as there'd not be much deflection force operating downwards), but I'd imagine getting 'straight' at a length of about 1.2m might prove a little difficult (I'm also thinking bass guitars might be an option so now allowing up to 600mm - so 600mm drilling 'travel' + 600mm to retract the neck before/after drilling it = 1.2mm rails needed)...which is why I looked at supported rails...they be straight!

i'm open to siggestions though (I can feel a custom rig coming on!)

[Jonathan]

which is why I looked at supported rails...they be straight!

i'm open to siggestions though (I can feel a custom rig coming on!)

What about these ones? Maybe not the cheapest, but they are good with lots of wood dust around:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/linear...PSF_346163|cav

Apparently you can get them directly from the igus site in the size you want for a good price. It's probably worth exploring a cheaper option first.
I guess it all depends on how many you're making.

[HankMcSpank]

What about these ones? Maybe not the cheapest, but they are good with lots of wood dust around:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/linear...PSF_346163|cav

Apparently you can get them directly from the igus site in the size you want for a good price. It's probably worth exploring a cheaper option first.
I guess it all depends on how many you're making.

That's actually quite a nice system, it wasn't clear from the 3d piccie on RS, but this video shows that it could be a good contender...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv4I7YomE74

or a cheapskate's version...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Patio-Trac...item27b4161cb7 (an extra pair of wheels needed)