olhausen t-nuts

[mohrt]

I have aquired a used 7' olhausen table and three of the rails have tnuts that just spin with the bolt. Is there a way to fix these (or at least make them tighten) without tearing apart the rail?

Also, is it acceptable if one of the bolts is missing? The guy that installed it tells me it won't matter, but common sense makes me think the rails are not as snug as they should be without all three rail bolts tight.

 

[Club Billiards]

I have aquired a used 7' olhausen table and three of the rails have tnuts that just spin with the bolt. Is there a way to fix these (or at least make them tighten) without tearing apart the rail?

Also, is it acceptable if one of the bolts is missing? The guy that installed it tells me it won't matter, but common sense makes me think the rails are not as snug as they should be without all three rail bolts tight.

It could make a difference in how tight the rail is to the slate and how solid it plays. It is possible to fix those, but there's definitely some work involved. Your installer is telling you it won't matter because he doesn't know how to or doesn't want to do the work to fix them.

Check out my gallery here:

Olhausen Rail repair

 

[mohrt]

I think I have an idea how I can fix them. What do you think:

1) get fast-dry (30 minute) epoxy with a syringe
2) fill outer parts of t-nut with epoxy. Use q-tip to clear any epoxy from inner threads of t-nut. let epoxy dry.
3) tap threads, make sure they are clean
4) ready to use again

In the event the bolts were cut off (as I have), I will have to drill and reverse tap them as well.

 

[Club Billiards]

I think I have an idea how I can fix them. What do you think:

1) get fast-dry (30 minute) epoxy with a syringe
2) fill outer parts of t-nut with epoxy. Use q-tip to clear any epoxy from inner threads of t-nut. let epoxy dry.
3) tap threads, make sure they are clean
4) ready to use again

In the event the bolts were cut off (as I have), I will have to drill and reverse tap them as well.

I'm of the opinion that if you're going to go to the trouble to fix them, you should fix them properly. They are spinning because they've been cross-threaded and the teeth on the t-nuts have been pulled out of the wood and flattened. Epoxy MAY work, and I guess you could try it before breaking down the rail, but it's a band-aid fix.