Cushion Rails

[Chris_Sav]

As some will know the L shaped extruded half inch rubber we use has gone out of production, many of the bar billiard tables that have come up for recover here have rubber in terrible condition, often perished and stapled on.

The only direct replacement I have found is quarter by three eights, gluing the narrow side on. I have rejected this for my used as it will be too easy for the rubber to become unattached in my view.

Northern rubber do a high quality L shaped rubber with a 25 year guarantee but it is five eighths. This means routing a groove in the existing cushions to maintain the same playing width. The problem is existing rails are softwood, full of holes and tacks etc from previous half century of use. I'm not using my plane on them!

I am looking to have some new rails made up. These would be a light hardwood, with the groove cut ready. This would help considerably in rubber attachment and support. It would also help toward the perpetual problem of screwing the  rails tightly to the side of the table.

Cost is the problem at £30 a table for the few I need, but I may be able to discount this on a larger order.

Is anyone else interested or can anyone else supply, more cheaply, a light hardwood (eg Meranti) soft enough to staple into but better than softwood. Size is six foot lengths 25mm by 30mm with a 6mm deep groove 16mm wide cut along the edge of the 30mm face? (sets of five do two tables).

Sav

[Chris_Sav]

Had another quote through £25 a set inc VAT for four sets, an improvement.

[nipper]

Sav I can help with cushion timbers not a problem

Sent from my D6503 using proboards

[Chris_Sav]

Hi and thanks for the offer,

If you can get under the £100 for ten six foot lengths I'd be much happier for someone who knows the importance of them being straight doing them. I can do the mitres to each table I recover as they do vary slightly.

The problem obviously is getting them to me and additional cost.

Sav

[Chris_Sav]

Hi again Nipper,

I'm going to order half a dozen sets as I need some quickly to prepare a table for the Amsterdam trip. I can't see an easy, cost effective, way of getting them from you prior to the AGM.

Thanks for the offer as others are likely to need them. I have plenty of the new rubber to go with them.

Sav

[nipper]

Ok sav no problem. Next time I see you we'll arrange something to get a load run out for future needs.

Sent from my D6503 using proboards

[Chris_Sav]

I have ordered eight sets of rebated rails for local use from the more expensive quote as they talked more sense. I pick them up Friday and should have them on a table with the new rubber shortly after, will advise.

[Chris_Sav]

New hardwood rails arrived, same size 30mm by 25mm but with 6mm rebate to accommodate the heavier rubber. Looks good and almost exactly the same size with the rubber just resting in the rebate. crap it's replacing alongside.

Will finish the table on Monday.

[Chris_Sav]

Pleased to say that the new rails/rubber bounce beautifully, if anything slightly more responsive than the old rubber.

Only problem I encountered was screw size where I had moved to 2¼ inch screws. 2 inch were not long enough in the old mullered softwood rails to get a grip, but are fine in my new hardwood rails. The 2¼ inch screws press slightly into the rebated  rubber and risk a small bulge.

With three time the life expectancy of the old cheaper extruded rubber I'm not expecting to have to do it again on this table!!

Sav 

[Chris_Sav]

Have just bulk ordered cloth for AEBBA from Hainsworth (supplied at cost price) on my account.


Hainsworth have informed me that they are ceasing production and supply of the 5/8th Northern Rubber when  current stocks run out as it is not a good seller.


It also turns out that all the rubber I bought was supplied to me at 50% of the true actual cost so those of you who have had rubber have done well!!


I have no more spare rubber.