Originally Posted by
Buzz
Buggyman you are right. Opinions are a tough thing.
Keith- I'm not calling anybody greedy. I'm specifically comparing track styles and costs as I'm pretty familiar with both ofthese designs. It would be easy enough to build a much less expensive pro-style track and still make really good money. If you want to "budgetize" the "classic" style design. This tends to diminish the value of similar tracks like escargo. Everything has a different "value" to each of us. I don't see the pro-crosser taking $1100-1200 more machining time in addition to the $300-400 upgrade from 1" to 1.5" UHMW is made when compared to the classic design. It uses (2) fasteners per crosser vs. (4) on the classic. No mention no backer plates. You get more pro crossers from a sheet (unless maybe you're making really skinny classics?) so you still end up with extras even after using 4 or 5 more per side. Those extras roll over pretty quickly towards building another track.
I understand that a "bladed" track as you call it has already been made. I was told Adair was also working on a hybrid concept back when I first started posting videos of the Escargo Hybrid experiments we were playing around with. I also understood that that track was ultimately too "labor intensive." I get that- it's a bummer, but if time is worth anything, a bladed version should be quite a bit more expensive. I encourage anyone else to sell/offer that. I might actually feel like I accomplished something by pushing it. I know it's the only one I'd recommend for Alaska, and I've spent a lot of money on disappointment.
I also think that a bladed version needs to have thicker walls on either side of the steel flat bar, the insert needs to be deep and well supported, and sandwiched tight with through-and-through fasteners, not simply threaded screws that bite into the "remaining" wall thickness from an off-set insert. If somebody makes this style track at a fair price, I would absolutely recommend it. No problem. I don't care who makes it, but that style is the only one that I seeing working worth a damn up here.
For some of you guys down there in the marsh and mud, the standard "classic track" is going to work well. And if you want traction, you simply get a bladed version. I'm sure Tim would make it for you.