Replacing figure 8 plates on a GC1

tjohnson

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a GC1 and noticed that the rails seemed loose in a couple of places. I checked and discovered that the incompetent installers must have inserted some of the rail bolts incorrectly, crossed the threads, and then stripped the threads when they used their power driver to drive the bolts, so now some of the bolts aren't even attached. Idiots.

So, a couple questions:

1. Am I correct that it is the "figure 8" plates that have now been stripped?

2. I know the figure 8 plates can be problematic for other reasons, so I'm thinking of filling the figure 8 mortise in the bottoms of the rails and replacing the plate with a threaded insert. Any reason to not go this route?

Many thanks in advance.
 
Inserts

I have a GC1 and noticed that the rails seemed loose in a couple of places. I checked and discovered that the incompetent installers must have inserted some of the rail bolts incorrectly, crossed the threads, and then stripped the threads when they used their power driver to drive the bolts, so now some of the bolts aren't even attached. Idiots.

So, a couple questions:

1. Am I correct that it is the "figure 8" plates that have now been stripped?

2. I know the figure 8 plates can be problematic for other reasons, so I'm thinking of filling the figure 8 mortise in the bottoms of the rails and replacing the plate with a threaded insert. Any reason to not go this route?

Many thanks in advance.

Here is a GC I rail that had Diamond Inserts put in. Courtesy of Mark Gregory.
 

Attachments

  • insert.jpg
    insert.jpg
    91.1 KB · Views: 786
  • insert2.jpg
    insert2.jpg
    83.2 KB · Views: 794
Thank you Pat and Jack, just the info I needed!

Everyone is using the steel inserts on the rails when the rails get work done right on them.

I don't recommend Artemis cushions on a Brunswick table....super speed cushions play better when done right by the right mechanic.

Artemis cushion on a Brunswick don't play like a diamond.....people thinking they do are giving a sales pitch.....for the mechanic to get the job and nothing more.

Brunswick tables and super speed cushions play different than a diamond table with Artemis cushions.

If you want a table that plays like a diamond....buy a diamond.....if you have a Brunswick table......get super speed cushions done the right way....and you will see the Brunswick table plays great.

I've worked with rails on Brunswick tables a long time......trying a lot of different angles....heights....and miters.....and I like they way I do them best today.

Rails are the play of the table.....Glen and I have talked about Brunswick rails for years......I don't know anyone one offering rail work doing the things we do.........period.

Mark Gregory
 
Everyone is using the steel inserts on the rails when the rails get work done right on them.

I don't recommend Artemis cushions on a Brunswick table....super speed cushions play better when done right by the right mechanic.

Artemis cushion on a Brunswick don't play like a diamond.....people thinking they do are giving a sales pitch.....for the mechanic to get the job and nothing more.

Brunswick tables and super speed cushions play different than a diamond table with Artemis cushions.

If you want a table that plays like a diamond....buy a diamond.....if you have a Brunswick table......get super speed cushions done the right way....and you will see the Brunswick table plays great.

I've worked with rails on Brunswick tables a long time......trying a lot of different angles....heights....and miters.....and I like they way I do them best today.

Rails are the play of the table.....Glen and I have talked about Brunswick rails for years......I don't know anyone one offering rail work doing the things we do.........period.

Mark Gregory

Uh, oh.
Pandora's box is open.
 
Everyone is using the steel inserts on the rails when the rails get work done right on them.

I don't recommend Artemis cushions on a Brunswick table....super speed cushions play better when done right by the right mechanic.

Artemis cushion on a Brunswick don't play like a diamond.....people thinking they do are giving a sales pitch.....for the mechanic to get the job and nothing more.

Brunswick tables and super speed cushions play different than a diamond table with Artemis cushions.

If you want a table that plays like a diamond....buy a diamond.....if you have a Brunswick table......get super speed cushions done the right way....and you will see the Brunswick table plays great.

I've worked with rails on Brunswick tables a long time......trying a lot of different angles....heights....and miters.....and I like they way I do them best today.

Rails are the play of the table.....Glen and I have talked about Brunswick rails for years......I don't know anyone one offering rail work doing the things we do.........period.

Mark Gregory

Thanks for that info Mark. Very helpful!
 
Everyone is using the steel inserts on the rails when the rails get work done right on them.

I don't recommend Artemis cushions on a Brunswick table....super speed cushions play better when done right by the right mechanic.

Artemis cushion on a Brunswick don't play like a diamond.....people thinking they do are giving a sales pitch.....for the mechanic to get the job and nothing more.

Brunswick tables and super speed cushions play different than a diamond table with Artemis cushions.

If you want a table that plays like a diamond....buy a diamond.....if you have a Brunswick table......get super speed cushions done the right way....and you will see the Brunswick table plays great.

I've worked with rails on Brunswick tables a long time......trying a lot of different angles....heights....and miters.....and I like they way I do them best today.

Rails are the play of the table.....Glen and I have talked about Brunswick rails for years......I don't know anyone one offering rail work doing the things we do.........period.

Mark Gregory

I dont want to hijack your thread Mr. tjohnson but since the cat is out of the bag I will ask.

Hey Mark, I had my GCI rails done up with updated sub-rail angles for correct nose height and rail thickness, 4 1/2" pockets, and Artemis cushions a few years ago. I was speaking with you at the time but you were very backed up, I think you getting ready to go out of town to do an Anniversary. Anyway, my table seems to play similar to a local Blue Label Diamond as far as speed and the diamond system (3 rail and 1 rail kicks) What kind of difference could I expect if I replaced my current cushions with Super Speeds, I am guessing many of us that had Artemis installed because "they were the cushion to use" for awhile are curious too. One thing I certainly would not want to do is slow the table down at all. I get 4 1/2 to 5 rails up and down the table depending on temperature and humidity.
 
I dont want to hijack your thread Mr. tjohnson but since the cat is out of the bag I will ask.

Hey Mark, I had my GCI rails done up with updated sub-rail angles for correct nose height and rail thickness, 4 1/2" pockets, and Artemis cushions a few years ago. I was speaking with you at the time but you were very backed up, I think you getting ready to go out of town to do an Anniversary. Anyway, my table seems to play similar to a local Blue Label Diamond as far as speed and the diamond system (3 rail and 1 rail kicks) What kind of difference could I expect if I replaced my current cushions with Super Speeds, I am guessing many of us that had Artemis installed because "they were the cushion to use" for awhile are curious too. One thing I certainly would not want to do is slow the table down at all. I get 4 1/2 to 5 rails up and down the table depending on temperature and humidity.

Hey bro
If the super speed are done right you will still get 4-1/2 to 5 rails with the super speed cushions.....the difference is the balls wont bank short and won't spring like Artemis.
I really don't want to knock Artemis.....but if you look back 7-8 years ago....I told everyone those cushion are for straight rail billiard tables....and they thought I was wrong......GUESS WHAT....LOL

There's a lot of variations why diamonds play different that Brunswick.....the cushions are just one reason.

I do Brunswick super speed on all my tables today......don't want anything else......and people love the play of them.
I play mostly one pocket anymore....when I have time to play.....which isn't much.....but the super speed play great with tight pockets.
Some say they love the speed of the tables with super speed....I'm not saying everyone should do as I say......this is just my opinion......but I've had a lot of great players play on my rails and they all say the same thing....they play great......and trust me.....there're not saying it cause they love me....LMAO

Hope this helps....just remember....that's me doing the rails....someone else doing them may never play the way mine do for sure.

Mark Gregory
 
No worries about the hijack Fastone, I'm really grateful that people like Mark, Jack, Pat, Glen, and others are so generous with their expertise. Love learning this stuff!
 
Hey bro
If the super speed are done right you will still get 4-1/2 to 5 rails with the super speed cushions.....the difference is the balls wont bank short and won't spring like Artemis.
I really don't want to knock Artemis.....but if you look back 7-8 years ago....I told everyone those cushion are for straight rail billiard tables....and they thought I was wrong......GUESS WHAT....LOL

There's a lot of variations why diamonds play different that Brunswick.....the cushions are just one reason.

I do Brunswick super speed on all my tables today......don't want anything else......and people love the play of them.
I play mostly one pocket anymore....when I have time to play.....which isn't much.....but the super speed play great with tight pockets.
Some say they love the speed of the tables with super speed....I'm not saying everyone should do as I say......this is just my opinion......but I've had a lot of great players play on my rails and they all say the same thing....they play great......and trust me.....there're not saying it cause they love me....LMAO

Hope this helps....just remember....that's me doing the rails....someone else doing them may never play the way mine do for sure.

Mark Gregory

No worries about the hijack Fastone, I'm really grateful that people like Mark, Jack, Pat, Glen, and others are so generous with their expertise. Love learning this stuff!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Mark, I really appreciate it, Im sure others do too!!
Thanks for allowing me to steer your thread around Mr. tjohnson, this is all probably good info for everyone to have access to now and in the future.
 
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions Mark, I really appreciate it, Im sure others do too!!
Thanks for allowing me to steer your thread around Mr. tjohnson, this is all probably good info for everyone to have access to now and in the future.

Is your cloth still fairly new ?
 
Back
Top