Cushion Install question

[bradsh98]

I have seen some hack-work where the cushions are installed with no consistency in height, leaving waves along the nose of the cushion. I am curious if any of you mechanics use a special tool or jig to aid in the installation of new rubber to the subrails or do you just make sure the top of the cushion meets up with the top surface of the subrail?

I just purchased some new Brunswick Superspeeds for my Gold Crown I and am doing some planning to make the installation easier than the last time that I did it with the cheap Mueller rubber. The last time I replaced the cushions, I remember that it took a very long time to install the rubber a couple inches at a time, making absolutely certain my nose height was 1 7/16". I just feel that it would be a lot easier if I had a jig of some sort to hold the rubber at the exact angle to meet the subrail, while maintaining the proper nose height, so that you could simply slide the jig across the top of the slate to attach the rubber to the subrail. The problem with this jig would be figuring out a way to hold the rubber. I was considering the possibility of using thin double-sided tape along the bottom side of the cushion (below the nose). The tape would hold the rubber in the jig, but might be a bit of a pain in the ass...

Any thoughts?

 

[LCCS]

Jig

I have seen some hack-work where the cushions are installed with no consistency in height, leaving waves along the nose of the cushion. I am curious if any of you mechanics use a special tool or jig to aid in the installation of new rubber to the subrails or do you just make sure the top of the cushion meets up with the top surface of the subrail?

I just purchased some new Brunswick Superspeeds for my Gold Crown I and am doing some planning to make the installation easier than the last time that I did it with the cheap Mueller rubber. The last time I replaced the cushions, I remember that it took a very long time to install the rubber a couple inches at a time, making absolutely certain my nose height was 1 7/16". I just feel that it would be a lot easier if I had a jig of some sort to hold the rubber at the exact angle to meet the subrail, while maintaining the proper nose height, so that you could simply slide the jig across the top of the slate to attach the rubber to the subrail. The problem with this jig would be figuring out a way to hold the rubber. I was considering the possibility of using thin double-sided tape along the bottom side of the cushion (below the nose). The tape would hold the rubber in the jig, but might be a bit of a pain in the ass...

Any thoughts?

No jig needed. Just take your time and it will come out fine.

 

[Club Billiards]

No jig needed. Just take your time and it will come out fine.

Agreed, and it really doesn't take THAT much time once you've done plenty of them. I just lay the rail with the surface facing up that the rubber will go on so I'm laying the rubber straight down onto the rail. Start at one end and use my thumb on the top of the rail as a guide as I lower the rubber onto it.

 

[speedi]

I have seen some hack-work where the cushions are installed with no consistency in height, leaving waves along the nose of the cushion. I am curious if any of you mechanics use a special tool or jig to aid in the installation of new rubber to the subrails or do you just make sure the top of the cushion meets up with the top surface of the subrail?

I just purchased some new Brunswick Superspeeds for my Gold Crown I and am doing some planning to make the installation easier than the last time that I did it with the cheap Mueller rubber. The last time I replaced the cushions, I remember that it took a very long time to install the rubber a couple inches at a time, making absolutely certain my nose height was 1 7/16". I just feel that it would be a lot easier if I had a jig of some sort to hold the rubber at the exact angle to meet the subrail, while maintaining the proper nose height, so that you could simply slide the jig across the top of the slate to attach the rubber to the subrail. The problem with this jig would be figuring out a way to hold the rubber. I was considering the possibility of using thin double-sided tape along the bottom side of the cushion (below the nose). The tape would hold the rubber in the jig, but might be a bit of a pain in the ass...

Any thoughts?

You can make a very simple height gauge from two pieces of wood which will not only help you set the correct height but will give you the confidence that you have done the job right. Here is how you do it.

You will need two pieces of wood, each one 4" long x 1 1/2" wide x 3/4" thick.

Cut a 1/8" wide groove x 3/16" deep in one piece of wood. Cut the groove exactly 1 7/16" from one end. On a uniform flat surface (your tablesaw table is excellent for this) stand this piece of wood on end
vertically on the table and butt it up against the second piece of wood laying horizontally on the saw table. Now you have a right angle height gage with the cut groove sitting exactly 1 7/16" high from the surface of the table. Glue these two pieces of wood together and you are finished.

Simply move this gage along the cushions as you glue them to the rail. The radius on the nose of the cushion will fit neatly into the 1/8" groove you have cut into the vertical piece of wood. If you have cut the groove exactly at 1 7/16" from the end of the wood you are guaranteed the proper height as you move along.

Speedi

 

[TableTek]

Cushion Installation Jig

Great question! This is something very high on my jigs and fixture list. My idea was to use a vacuum to hold the full profile of the cushion as it is slid on linear bearings into the opposing fixture holding the rail. This is a lot more complicated than you would think...

Subrail angle varies from 23-30 degrees depending on rail thickness and cushion profile, would need angular adjustment to compensate.

I use a fixture to machine the subrail angle precisely, and I shudder every time I hear someone doing it on a table saw. There are a couple cool new ways that will come into the daylight in the next months!

Once I find a way to take the human error out of cushion installation, you can bet I will post it.

 

[LCCS]

Jig

This would be fine if you were a pool hall with all the same tables. This is a lot of work every time you go to work on a different table. Also more to lug around in your vehicle.:thumbup: