Introduction and Covering Rails Question

JulioRice

Registered
Hello All. My name is Julio and feel it's time to introduce myself. I visit the form often and appreciate the wealth of knowledge offered here. I'm not sure I'll call myself a mechanic just yet, but I am an up and comer in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I learned the trade from one Kerry Rhodes, maker of Ridgeback Rails. I've been on my own for a couple of years now and feel I'm doing pretty good. I always want to get better though so I will be posting more questions as they arise. Here's the first.


How do you get rail cloth nice and tight and not deform the corner like in this pic? I think I should be able to put a straight edge on the nose of a rail and it be perfectly straight. Thanks and take it easy. Julio
 

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trentfromtoledo

8onthebreaktoledo
Silver Member
Hello All. My name is Julio and feel it's time to introduce myself. I visit the form often and appreciate the wealth of knowledge offered here. I'm not sure I'll call myself a mechanic just yet, but I am an up and comer in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I learned the trade from one Kerry Rhodes, maker of Ridgeback Rails. I've been on my own for a couple of years now and feel I'm doing pretty good. I always want to get better though so I will be posting more questions as they arise. Here's the first.


How do you get rail cloth nice and tight and not deform the corner like in this pic? I think I should be able to put a straight edge on the nose of a rail and it be perfectly straight. Thanks and take it easy. Julio

Hi Julio!

I am Trent from Toledo and welcome to Az!:thumbup: I am fairly confident that most people know who Kerry is!

Are the pocket facings new? Stretching the cloth should not manipulate the shape of the facings: I just finished these superspeed cushions, 3/16" 60 durometer neoprene facings and Simonis yesterday:

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P.s. My protractor works just fine RKC! It is good enough for machinist's, its good enough for me!

Trent from Toledo
 

JulioRice

Registered
Hello Trent. Yup. New facings. I did a sub-rail extension on a Gandy. New rubber, new facings. I think it might have something to do with bending the cloth a bit to not have so much to work with on the bottom. But your picture is what I'm looking for. How do you do it? Thanks.
 

trentfromtoledo

8onthebreaktoledo
Silver Member
Hello Trent. Yup. New facings. I did a sub-rail extension on a Gandy. New rubber, new facings. I think it might have something to do with bending the cloth a bit to not have so much to work with on the bottom. But your picture is what I'm looking for. How do you do it? Thanks.

Not sure why you would not get the same results. Have any pics before you covered them? I make sure to not shape the facing in that area and leave as much of a defined point as possible. As for the upholstery for the corners, do you pull the bit of extra when you install the feather strip to account for the bend and to stop the bunching on the bottom?

Trent from Toledo

p.s. what size facing are you using?
 
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bradsh98

Bradshaw Billiard Service
Silver Member
Not sure why you would not get the same results. Have any pics before you covered them? I make sure to not shape the facing in that area and leave as much of a defined point as possible. As for the upholstery for the corners, do you pull the bit of extra when you install the feather strip to account for the bend and to stop the bunching on the bottom?

Trent from Toledo

p.s. what size facing are you using?

Bingo! Assuming that the cushions are cut flush, and the facings installed properly, my guess is that he isn't pulling enough slack out of the pocket area when he installs the featherstrip. Consequently, you would have to use a lot of additional force to install the cloth without wrinkles.

Julio, have you watched the Simonis Cloth Installation DVDs? They will certainly set you in the right direction. From there, you can modify your practice as you see fit. There are certainly a few things that I do differently from the videos.
 

realkingcobra

Well-known member
Silver Member
Bingo! Assuming that the cushions are cut flush, and the facings installed properly, my guess is that he isn't pulling enough slack out of the pocket area when he installs the featherstrip. Consequently, you would have to use a lot of additional force to install the cloth without wrinkles.

Julio, have you watched the Simonis Cloth Installation DVDs? They will certainly set you in the right direction. From there, you can modify your practice as you see fit. There are certainly a few things that I do differently from the videos.

And what would you do differently?
 

bradsh98

Bradshaw Billiard Service
Silver Member
And what would you do differently?

To be honest, it's been a few years since I last watched the videos. I don't remember all of the differences, but I know there are a few. Staple placement, order of operations... Subtle differences.
 

realkingcobra

Well-known member
Silver Member
When you guys show your rail cloth work, show the bottom of your rails to, seeing the staple work says a lot.
 

realkingcobra

Well-known member
Silver Member
Your staple work says a lot about your level of experience.
 

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realkingcobra

Well-known member
Silver Member
More experience.
 

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bradsh98

Bradshaw Billiard Service
Silver Member
Never been one to show off my work on this site.. But, here are a few examples:

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realkingcobra

Well-known member
Silver Member
I don't consider it showing off, I believe it's more leading by example....like your pocket finishing trim, where do you think that came from....if I never showed anyone my work:D
 

SlateMate

Banned
When you guys show your rail cloth work, show the bottom of your rails to, seeing the staple work says a lot.

iz uze tawkin ta me?! it's not perfect but it's as good as i can do without going on a cursing rampage plus the guy who did the cushions didn't do a very good job. that's a water stain on the cloth because i soaked the cloth to get it to stretch.

included is a pic of the feather strips that i sanded on my belt-sander. i did all six strips like this and it worked surprisingly well. i don't have the patience to do it by hand. i had a mental lapse and installed one rail cloth upside down and had to remove the strip which was tight. i ripped the cloth and you could hear me cursing several blocks away. fortunately i had JUST ENOUGH to get the staples into it. it was very very close.....
 

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