[steveo]

No he is making clamps..... see sketch attached for the general idea of the problem.....

WOOFMAN did you happen to use a Forstner bit in your drill press? If not that might help a lot on getting cleaner holes at the angles you need....

Ed

Ed, don't mean to be too critical, but you need to re-draw the side view for the folks... think about it.
steveo

 

[steveo]

I'm looking for an easy way to cut the slots in the wood for the rods in the clamp kits I have.

why not just make a simple mortise in each side the rods pass through, and a simple hole on the side 90 degrees from the mortise to insert the "threaded fitting", then insert the all thread through the mortise and engage the fitting.
I know it won't exactly look like the unit at the "big box". But as my best buddy, who passed away recently, used to say, "Its close enough for the girls we hang around with".
steveo