Rail Refinishing *AFTER* new cushions and cloth are Installed.

goldcrown4

goldcrown4

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Many forum readers have been reading the restoration progress of my old Anniversary table. It is nearing completion, but here is a dilemma of sorts that I'm hopeful some of you can help with, had experience with, successfully protected cushion cloth, etc. It may be that a little tiny amount of basically clear oil or poly wouldn't adversely impact the cloth, but once on there, it would likely be uncleanable.

Situation: Genuine black walnut rails are stripped and sanded. Mother-of-pearl sights have been removed. New sights are not ready. Rails are about to arrive at Jack Zimmerman's in Indiana for subrail extensions, Artemis rubber, and cushion cloth.

Concern: Keeping cloth clean during application of Watco Natural Danish Oil (it's not colored) and Minwax Satin Rub-On Polyurethane.

Solutions Considered Thus Far:

1. Blue painter's masking tape precisely applied to cushion cloth at time of finishing, or...
2. Insert thin, stiff-enough, long piece of plastic or similar between rail and featherstrip, again, at time of finishing (too tight to get in there???), or...
3. Place clear packing tape on the inside edge of the dado at time of featherstrip installation, folding it over so it sticks to top of rail, remove after finishing, or ...
4. Obtain (from somewhere), install perforated plastic at time of featherstrip installation that can tear away after finishing, or...
5. Determine how well wax paper would tear or lift out without leaving remnants that can't be reached, again, at time of featherstrip installation.

Other??? We have until the end of the week to come up with something, hopefully proven to protect the cloth. The reason the rails do not have a finish on yet is because of the potential for damage to be done to a finished surface during the installation of the new aiming sights ('diamonds'). Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
What I would suggest is to install the sights and finish the rails before doing the felt. The problem with putting something in the feather stripping groove is you can probably get it in there without hassle but removing it afterwards is gonna be tricky. If it sticks at all it may pull the felt up or out completely from the feather strip. Or even worse it doesn't come out at all. Then you'd have to cut whatever you put in there out without damaging the newly finished rails or felt. The idea with the blue painters tape is iffy at best. Any small gaps or lifting of the tape will result in the finish ruining the felt. Like i said I'd suggest doing the finishing prior to installing the felt. Better safe than sorry as the saying goes.
 
Jim Vondrell said:
I'm wondering why not install sights and finish rails before installing cloth?
Click to expand...

I would have, but I haven't finished them just yet. They're done, but not quite. I made new ones from translucent India Moss Agate with the intention of backlighting them. All 17 are sitting in a container, polished on one side, but they aren't all the same thickness and have to be custom-fit to each hole. Meanwhile, with my goal to get the rails done before Christmas (the whole table actually) and a surprise blank check from my wife last week, I had to scramble to get them out of my house before she changed her mind.
 
Very risky!

Any process that you do after re-clothing the rails will put the rail cloth a risk of staining. I would strongly suggest you finish at least the edge of the rail adjacent to the feather strip, an inch or so will do. Then cover that area along with the new rail cloth with painters tape and you'll reduce the risk of damaging the rail cloth.

The much better way is to finish your rails completly before covering them.

Good Luck
Jay
 
The other option, although not ideal, is to be as careful as possible, but not to worry too much about staining the cloth. After all, the cloth will wear out over time and be replaced eventually. The best way, like these guys said is to finish the rails before the cloth. Let us know what you end up with though. This is something we've likely all dealt with or wondered about. You do have some good ideas, BTW
 
Rail Cloth Before Finish

GC 4,

I've only worked on pool tables for a year, but I have built and finished woodwork and cabinetry since 1970. In my opinion, there are fundamental flaws with all of the ideas in your original post.

A big part of the beauty of a nicely finished rail is that laser straight line between the cloth and the woodwork. If you try to put Watco oil or poly on after the cloth is installed, you are certain to ruin that clean transition from cloth to rail.

If the rails are already shipped, perhaps Mr. Zimmerman would finish them for you. Watco and poly are easy.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Joe
 
jfred0826 said:
GC 4,

I've only worked on pool tables for a year, but I have built and finished woodwork and cabinetry since 1970. In my opinion, there are fundamental flaws with all of the ideas in your original post.

A big part of the beauty of a nicely finished rail is that laser straight line between the cloth and the woodwork. If you try to put Watco oil or poly on after the cloth is installed, you are certain to ruin that clean transition from cloth to rail.

If the rails are already shipped, perhaps Mr. Zimmerman would finish them for you. Watco and poly are easy.

Just my 2 cents worth

Joe
Click to expand...

I agree with Joe. It would be a shame to spoil the look of the table after so much effort to get it right. Talk to Jack, see if he can put a couple of coats of finish on for you before covering.

Jay
 
Thank you to all responders. So far, out of 170 views, it seems no one has put themselves in this position during a table refinishing project. I keep thinking a thin, slippery film of sorts, like mylar, could be inserted at the time the cloth is installed... something that theoretically would pull right out because it's slick enough, though pinched, while preventing oil from passing to the cloth.

Please keep the suggestions coming. Jack has an idea that seems sound, but if his experiment proves not to be the case, there's a good chance he'll send the cushions back nekkkkid.
 
I think out of all the solutions you posted, the packing tape inserted then folded over the rail would work the best. After the cushions/cloth are on take a razor blade and CAREFULLY slice the extra off.

I think the best option would be to have the cushions and extensions done, then send the rails back with no cloth on them...finish the rails then put the cloth on as the last step.
 
There are vendors who sell separate sets of rail cloth. If you end up with an unacceptable result following finishing, you could just recover the rails without having to buy bed cloth.
 
hmm

just have the rails covered after you finish them. anything else is gonna have a downside. not a big deal to have someone cloth the rails after they are done.
 
Rails

barking said:
just have the rails covered after you finish them. anything else is gonna have a downside. not a big deal to have someone cloth the rails after they are done.
Click to expand...

Personally, I'd agree with this. I would disregard any idea that involved sticking something in with the feather strips, only to be pulled out later. I don't picture you pulling those out, after putting finish on the rails right up to that edge, and not having problems-and the problems might not be apparent until later. The tape idea is, IMO, the best of your solutions if you HAVE to do it in this order. I've seen this done, and in that case it worked, but created an uneven and noticable edge along the feather strip. I'd have Jack do the rubber and pocket work and send them back 'nekkid', and then have them covered after you do your diamond and finish work.
 
Have Jack ship you the cloth and feather strips loose and cover the rails yourself. Acquire the simonis installation DVD's and you will lose all fear of this process. They are that good!! If you don't believe me, get the DVD's and watch them before making a decision. IMO finishing the rails with the cloth in place is not an option. There is no trick to use that will make it ok.

JC
 
I don't believe there's any way to refinish the rails correctly
after the cloth has been installed...the finish needs to go down inside of the dato featherstrip or it will pull off when you take the cloth out for a recovery.
I have yet to find a set of Anniversary or Centennial rails I've worked on that didn't need complete new sub-rails...and even 3 or 4 inches under the wood top.
Lot of work to calibrate those kind of tables to make superspeed or Artemis cushions
Play correctly. Wish you luck....I know how much hard work you put in to that table.
If you need some info on anything...you or Jack....feel free to call...

Mark Gregory
 
I'm sure you will all be pleased to know...

Though I'm pretty convinced I could have done a good job finishing the rails with a removable barrier installed, I'm putting this issue to rest. Jack is sending the rails back with no cloth on them. Shooting for end of December at this point to have it playable and leveled.

THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S INPUT! (You did a good job convincing me to play it safe.)

Merry Christmas to all and to all... wrackless nights!
 
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