Janet Wilburn

Thank you for your post. I was quilting last week and noticed my plastic tracks were shredding as i quilted. I was near the end of the quilt so I finished. Then came to quilting board to find my answer about the tracks. I had looked online to buy them but shipping cost was more than the tracks. After reading your post I called our local machine shop and took them pictures of my frame and took my IPad with me to read them these posts. They mostly do oilfield welding but were willing to help me. They ordered the 1/4” stainless steel rods for me, got them in and cut them to 99 1/2” and I set them on the Gracie II frame tracks and it works so smoothly. I appreciate all of the posts from everyone.

RebeccaG

I'm glad it helped. I'm still using it on my frame and doing great.

Snooze2978

When I had my Grace Pro frame I also replaced with metal tracking. I replaced or actually covered my poles with galvanized poles as they would bow when I tightened the quilt. The galvanized poles are fairly soft metal so I screwed them into the original aluminium poles. Worked great for me. No more bowing. Never had issues with the metal tracking either. You'd think after all these years Grace Frame Co. would change their parts to something that would last and work better.

RebeccaG

I agree with you. I'm very surprised about the quality of their product. I don't see how they can be happy with it. Especially for the price they charge.

RebeccaG

My frame has worked wonderful since the modifications of the steel rods and the nylon chord underneath. Very happy with those changes.

Snooze2978

My 1st quilt frame was their Grace Pro frame and I also replaced the tracking with the metal rods. Looks like a "T" right? Worked great for me. I also added conduit or galvanized pipes over the rollers as they tend to bow. The conduit piping is soft enough metal that you can screw it to the original rollers. I had to go to our local metal shop to have them cut to fit the 10ft frame but it was a godsend.

RedGarnet222

What a great thread! Thank you all for the information. I was wondering how to upgrade my grace frame. You are so clever.

WVRegina

Hello. I am new to this blog, and found this thread because I am having to replace my tracks due to divets that have developed, causing great difficulty. I really like the idea of the metal tracks; however, my Grace Inspira frame carriage rides on one flat track and one "A" shaped track where the rollers rest at 45degrees on the track. When I replace all, it is 3 tracks rather than 2 because of this feature. This, I think , would prevent me from using the metal rods unless I could get ones that were only half-circle shaped. Id be interested to know if anyone has used this method with an Inspira frame and carriage. Thanks.

Snooze2978

My 1st quilt frame was the Grace Pro 10ft. Had issues with the poles bowing and the tracks cracking. Added conduit over the original poles and screwed them together and they worked great. The track I changed out to a metal "T" shape tracking I think I found at Home Depot or some place like that. Also worked great. I've since given the frame away and I also had a stretched Juki 98Q on that frame that worked great with it.

juliasb

I did this several years ago and it has been well worth the investment. I have the OGF and it is going on 15+ year old. Till recently it was working great. It started having trouble a year or so ago. It is not level anymore and the machine is jumping the tracks. I have been able to rig it to work, then the machine started having trouble and I took it in for repair. Now the darn thing (frame) is giving me trouble so for now it is time to take it down and built a good solid base for the legs so they cannot come of of level and not have any slack or movement. Once I get all this done I will put the machine back up but until then I must save my sanity and take it down. Glad you decided on the metal rods you will really like how smooth the ride will be.