Knot in Rail

S

Squirrel9

Registered
Hello,

I am trying to re-felt my own pool table and have run into a snag. I have finished 4 rails already and they look great. The snag is a knotted area in the rail where I am to staple the felt to the underside of the rail. The area is about 4"-5" long. The staples will not penetrate the wood in this area because it is too hard. Was looking for some suggestions on how to proceed. Thanks for all the replies in advance.
Cheers
 
Squirrel9 said:
Hello,

I am trying to re-felt my own pool table and have run into a snag. I have finished 4 rails already and they look great. The snag is a knotted area in the rail where I am to staple the felt to the underside of the rail. The area is about 4"-5" long. The staples will not penetrate the wood in this area because it is too hard. Was looking for some suggestions on how to proceed. Thanks for all the replies in advance.
Cheers
Click to expand...

You must be using a real cheap staple gun, or the staples would go in. What kind of table are we talking about here?
 
It is a oversize 8' Dufferin, 3 piece floating slate. I am using an Arrow Electric Stapler. Would I be best to just show up at a local billiards shop and ask them to staple the 5" section?
 
Squirrel9 said:
It is a oversize 8' Dufferin, 3 piece floating slate. I am using an Arrow Electric Stapler. Would I be best to just show up at a local billiards shop and ask them to staple the 5" section?
Click to expand...

No, just go to a Sears store and buy some 1/4" staples, you must be using longer than that now. I know the Arrow stapler you're talking about, and though it's cheap...(I started out in business with one...LOL) it'll work with shorter staples.

Glen
 
I am using 5/16" staples and they are a no-go. I have tried both electric and hand Arrow T-50 stapler. I am not sure if 1/16" shorter will help.
 
The problem you're having is the quality of the staples, not the stapler. Cheaper made staples bend the legs over real easy when trying to set them. Yours is a 1/2" wide crown right? Still to this day, if I can't get Duofast staples somewhere...I'll go to Sears in a NY second to buy theirs.
 
And, make sure you keep plenty of pressure on the nose of the stapler to hold it down when you pull the trigger, if not the nose will jump a little bit, and not allow for a full power hit to drive the staple in all the way...bending the legs over.
 
I am using the 1/2" Arrow Crown Staples, and yes, they bend all over the place. I will try to go to sears and buy a pack of staples from them and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the help.
 
At that location, drill some small holes and champher them.... use some small flat head wood screws.....

Kim
 
whammo57 said:
At that location, drill some small holes and champher them.... use some small flat head wood screws.....

Kim
Click to expand...

Well, before I went that route, I'd get out my tacks and tack hammer and just tack the rail cloth on like I use to do in the old days....before staple guns were even around...LOL
 
I thought of the small screw idea, but wanted to avoid drilling the rail. I am going to buy some better staples and see how that goes. Then I will try some small gauge nails with possibly some tiny pre-drilled holes. Thanks for the ideas guys. I will let you know how I make out.
Cheers
 
Squirrel9 said:
I thought of the small screw idea, but wanted to avoid drilling the rail. I am going to buy some better staples and see how that goes. Then I will try some small gauge nails with possibly some tiny pre-drilled holes. Thanks for the ideas guys. I will let you know how I make out.
Cheers
Click to expand...

I would not drill holes in the rail. Upholstery tacks could be used in the problem area.

Years ago tacks were used to attach the cloth, using a small magnetic faced hammer.
 
Hello All,

I ended up using some tacks I removed from some carpet tack strips I had lying abound and hailed them in with a small hammer. Thanks for all help.
Cheers
 
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