Some advice on gluing new rubber

doitforthegame

doitforthegame

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm finally getting around to replacing my rail cushions. I have read every thread on how to do it. I am nervous about making sure the cushion is on evenly. I have never done this, or even seen this being done. I have stripped all of the old glue. One of the threads mentioned rolling the rail after it was glued with a wallpaper roller. Stupid question, but do you do both sides with the roller or just the top? How quickly will the glue set? I am using Barge. I am a confessed hack and I am not a perfectionist.
 
rubber

doitforthegame said:
I'm finally getting around to replacing my rail cushions. I have read every thread on how to do it. I am nervous about making sure the cushion is on evenly. I have never done this, or even seen this being done. I have stripped all of the old glue. One of the threads mentioned rolling the rail after it was glued with a wallpaper roller. Stupid question, but do you do both sides with the roller or just the top? How quickly will the glue set? I am using Barge. I am a confessed hack and I am not a perfectionist.
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If you are a confessed hack and are still nervous after reading all the post, then let somebody help you that has done it before. Or you can send them to one of us and we can take care of it for you and send it back.
Ron
 
Too late for this now! Everything is sitting on the basement floor! Besides, when I first asked the question, the guys on here said..."Live a little...try it yourself!" I'll figure it out I guess...I would feel better if I actually tried one in the past....

Here is another question. I see some reference to cutting the cushion with the pocket angles and THEN gluing. And others that say DON"T cut the cushion until it is in place. That's what I planned on doing. So, hmmmmmm????
 
Always glue then cut. Get 48'' cushions that way if your table is less than 9' the cushion can be taken off and reapplyed if you mess up the cut and you will have more cushion to work with.
 
OK, cushions went on without a hitch. Had some issues with cutting the rails. Could have done much better. I learned a lot. Tops on the list, next time, pay an expert. Thank goodness facings can camouflage some imperfections.

Tommorow the cloth comes in. By tomorrow night....I'll know how crappy a job I did......

Bob
 
doitforthegame said:
OK, cushions went on without a hitch. Had some issues with cutting the rails. Could have done much better. I learned a lot. Tops on the list, next time, pay an expert. Thank goodness facings can camouflage some imperfections.

Tommorow the cloth comes in. By tomorrow night....I'll know how crappy a job I did......

Bob
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Makes me wonder why the cushions and cloth didn't come together. :grin:
 
Dartman said:
Makes me wonder why the cushions and cloth didn't come together. :grin:
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I had access to the cushions. And I didn't know how long it would take me to do the job. But.....you also sent the cloth here a day earlier than I expected...covered a couple of rails last night. Even though I know evil lies underneath that cloth, they look pretty decent. I'm finishing the job today. This is big pressure because I have been telling everyone in my league that I suck because I can't practice because my table needed new rails and cloth. Now that excuse will disappear....

Bob
 
doitforthegame said:
I had access to the cushions. And I didn't know how long it would take me to do the job. But.....you also sent the cloth here a day earlier than I expected...covered a couple of rails last night. Even though I know evil lies underneath that cloth, they look pretty decent. I'm finishing the job today. This is big pressure because I have been telling everyone in my league that I suck because I can't practice because my table needed new rails and cloth. Now that excuse will disappear....

Bob
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Yep, no more excuses for you, LOL
If you followed all the advice and tips I'd bet you did a good job.
Post up a few pics if you can when it's all done.
 
Just finished up. Table plays great. Like I said there were some cutting issues with the cushions but it is all hidden. Get 4 1/2- 5 rails back and forth and 8 rails around the table. Pockets are nice and tight. Can't get two in at once. So, not too bad for a hack. Overall happy. Would I do it again? I'm slow at this stuff. Like it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to recover the rails. So, I invested a fair amount of time in the project. But it did save me big bucks. I did the whole project for less than what it would cost to have the table recovered with me supplying the cloth. So, I guess I would. Would I do it for someone else? NFW!!! You couldn't pay me enough!

Thanks for the help. I'm going to bed!

Bob
 
Cutting Rails

I learned from reading this forum that one of the best things to use to cut the rails is an electric knife (like for carving a turkey or a roast) I tried it last time I replaced rails and it worked like a charm. Perfect cut.
 
kevpull said:
I learned from reading this forum that one of the best things to use to cut the rails is an electric knife (like for carving a turkey or a roast) I tried it last time I replaced rails and it worked like a charm. Perfect cut.
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Yikes! I missed that one. I wish I had seen it. The table though does play well. I do have an issue with one of the corner pockets that I did kind of hack up. Balls hit down the rail with draw spit out. But since I really don't have the room for the table it isn't a big problem. I just use it for practice drills.

Bob
 
kevpull said:
I learned from reading this forum that one of the best things to use to cut the rails is an electric knife (like for carving a turkey or a roast) I tried it last time I replaced rails and it worked like a charm. Perfect cut.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen this idea posted for cutting rubber cushion angles, so I will add my two cents, for whatever it's worth. I hand cut a lot of dovetails when I make furniture, so I have quite a few different "dovetail" saws. I tested some scrap pieces using a very fine tooth dovetail saw and found that it beat everything else I had tried up to that point. It is far superior to trying to use an exacto knife or box cutter. I used the dovetail saw for all of my cushions and they came out flat and true. I used a Japanese saw that cuts on the back stroke and has EXTREMELY fine teeth. The other key point is that you must use a saw that has teeth on only one edge, with the opposite edge reinforced (backing) for rigidity. Don't try a Japanese saw with teeth on both edges or a saw that doesn't have very fine teeth. I experimented with them and they don't work.
 
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