* All Products are produced to order. The parts produced as Roll Formed Tracks, Ducts, Rails and Slides, may not seem to be different. As a matter of fact, there are similarities, but they can differ in many ways as well. This page will concentrate on differences and similarities involving mainly Metal Roll Formed Tracks. How a Roll Formed Part is used and how the most important criteria that assigns the part is the title of "Tracks". U-Channels, C-Channels, Hat Channels, Strut Channels, Open Seam Tubing and many other Profiles can all be used as, and called Tracks. The usage that labels a part as a Track is when something is riding inside or outside along the part used as a Track. Sorry, no railroad tracks here, except for tiny roll formed model train track profile sections. Railroad tracks do give a picture of the motion involved in the use of Tracks. A Roll Formed Metal Roller Track may be a Channel with rollers mounted inside it so something can move across it on those rollers.
Roller Tracks are very common. Another Roller Track use would be a Channel that Rollers, attached to something else, travel on and across it such as with many types of conveyors. A Curtain Track is another great use of a Channel. There are many different types of Curtains used with these Curtain Tracks. You may automatically think of a curtain where you live that may be mounted on rollers and hooks or plastic parts that ride inside of a track. Yes, this is a very common use. In the non-residential world the types of curtains that move back in forth, in Track assemblies are used as room separators. Typically a large area is divided up by curtains instead of walls in a factory or even Schools. Gymnasiums are a popular place that Curtain Tracks are used as well. Seat Tracks are used with most any vehicle that has a seat in it. The car you drive has them, as well as Trucks, Farm Vehicles, and more that use a Seat Track. Even aircraft have seat tracks but those are mainly used to slide seats in and slide seats out of the aircraft for different uses of that aircraft.
Chances are you have a chair where you live that has a metal Seat Track inside as well. Drawer Tracks are used when a drawer may be riding on a channel that stays motionless, unlike drawer slides that ride in and out of each other and telescope out. Another usage is as a Shelf Track. Shelf Tracks can obviously be Tracks used to slide Shelves into and out of. However one of the biggest uses of a Shelf Track is as the Channel Mounted on a wall with location slots for shelf brackets to fit into. Shelves are then placed on those brackets. The term Shelf Track is not the best way to identify this roll formed metal channel`s use. A Shelf Standard would be a much more appropriate usage term in this case. Ceiling Tracks are also widely used, however, in this case, of course, ceilings do not ride on or inside of these tracks. A Ceiling Track may be mounted so curtains can ride on fixtures or trolleys that slide inside the track. Very similar to Curtain Tracks, a Ceiling Track may be used with curtains or fixed wall partitions, lighting or a number of other uses.
The usage determines the type of metal used, how thick, what type of metal and how large this Ceiling Track will be. Another common use for Metal Roll Formed Channels as Tracks is in Door assemblies. Any door that moves up and down and side to side has a Door Track in use. Overhead Doors, Garage Doors, Emergency Doors, Ventilation Doors, Patio Doors, Clean Room Doors and more. Barn Door Tracks use mainly a side to side motion and in some cases an overhead Barn Door Track may be used as well with trolleys and rollers fixed above. Some Door tracks are not made with Roll Formed Channels. Some are made with extruded parts not available at Johnson Bros. Roll Formed Door Tracks are much more widely used than extruded tracks. When Extruded Track is used, Johnson Bros. makes a part that will fit over the portion of that extruded track called a Track Cap, Track Cover, or Cladding to repair the extruded track or build into a door to prevent wear because extruded tracks always wear out more due to being made from softer aluminum.
Please go to this page “Stainless Steel Sill Track Caps & Covers” if that is what you need or are looking for here in this page. You may also go to our Channels page to develop a part to be used as a Track. Stock Tracks: Unfortunately, Johnson Bros. manufactures tracks to order and does not keep any on a shelf ready to ship. There is a 2,000 lineal foot minimum order requirement for all at once or blanket order release totals. Track Caps and Covers can be from stock, however. Metal Thicknesses: can be from .005" thick through .125" thick. Lengths and Multiple Lengths: from 3" long through 40 feet long, are cut to length inline, accurately. Inline Fabricating accurately available for: Holes, Slots, Notches, Shear Forms, Identification Marks, Other Material Insertions, Cutouts, End Fabrications, Tabs, Miters, K/O’s, Perforating, Embossing, Knurling, Cladding and more.Stock Tracks: Unfortunately, Johnson Bros. manufactures tracks to order and does not keep any on a shelf ready to ship.
There is a 2,000 lineal foot minimum order requirement for all at once or blanket order release totals, except for prototype requirements. Metal Prefinishes provided: Prepainted, Preplated, Preanodized, Prepolished, Prelaquered, Strippable PVC Coated, Prelaminated Vinyl, Galvanized, Aluminized, Galvannealed, Clad, Bright Finishes, Satin Finishes, Dull, and Plain Finishes available and much more.Before the instructions, there are just a few things to keep in mind before beginning. 1. The door itself should be at least 1-2″ wider on the side of each opening. 2. Make sure the track is level during installation. 3. Are the holes pre-drilled? If not, you need to make sure to locate the studs and drill through the track. The standard set of hardware works with doors of 1 1/4”-2” thickness. 1. Place hanger on the top and front of the door. Insert 2 1/2” placeholder into the groove (use cardboard from box). 2. Position hanger desired distance from edge of door (we recommend 2” from side of door or centered in stile)
3. Place a square to the hanger, and mark the holes. 4. Remove strap, drill a 3/8” clearance hole through the door on the markings previously made. 5. Remove wood debris from door, and place the hanger over the mounting holes. 6. Insert 2 1/4” x 3/8” hex bolts through the strap and door, and loosely attach the washer and nuts. 7. Place a square to the hanger again, and tighten the nuts. *The location of the track is determined by the height of your door. 1. To locate the position of the mounting holes in the wall use the following formula. 2” + (Door Height) = Measurement the lags will enter into the wall 2. PRE-DRILLED TRACK – Hold the track at the previous measurement and mark locations of holes. 3. NO HOLES IN TRACK – At the measured height locate the position of the studs and make a mark. Hold the track above the opening as if installed, and mark the track at the same locations as the studs in the wall. With a 3/8“ drill bit, drill into the track at the markings, including holes on each end for stops if needed.
4. Drill a 1/4” pilot hole at each marking in the wall. 5. With the holes drilled, hold the track up at the determined height, and place the 1 1/ 2″ spacer between the track and the wall. *NOTE – The stops are usually placed on each end of the track. However, they can be placed anywhere along the track to stop the door at a different location than the track’s end. 1. If needed, drill a 3/8″ hole into the track at desired location to ensure door opens fully. 2. Select the 1 3/4″ tap bolts and place them through the stop and then the track – use washer and nut to tighten. (You may also use a lag and spacer if the hole location lines up with a stud or if you are going into backing). 3. The stop can be twisted 180° along the line of the track to either stop the door earlier or later. 4. A rubber track stop pad will be included to soften the slide of the door when the end of track is reached. 1. The bottom door guide includes (1) L-shaped piece of angled steel.