Wood Rack with Inlays (Pics). Work in Progress...

[Cue Guru]

These are really classy.

I'm surprised, with all the other cue sport accouterments which have come and gone over the years that this has not been done before. (maybe is has?)

I foresee several requests for 'custom' racks in your future...

Keep up the good work!:thumbup:

 

[Buster8001]

I'll say it again........I WANT ONE!

Josh

 

[NaturalEnglish]

One more feature to add

We have all seen the wear in the area where the balls are racked. This is due to 2 things...dirt from the balls and rubing of the rack on the cloth. The slides will help reduce that wear and a felt UNDER the rack will help also.

You can attach a piece of table felt to the back of the rack. The shape should be triangular and a little larger than the rack. When racking the balls the felt is placed under the rack. After the balls are placed in the rack, the rack is pushed forward to the spot and slides off the felt. I got the idea from the table mechanics forum. There might be some pics in the forum....but I suspect you get the idea.

Just another idea for creating the Ultimate Rack.

 

[i4pool]

These are really classy.

I'm surprised, with all the other cue sport accouterments which have come and gone over the years that this has not been done before. (maybe is has?)

I foresee several requests for 'custom' racks in your future...

Keep up the good work!:thumbup:

Cue Guru-- Thanks for the words of encouragement!

I'll say it again........I WANT ONE!

Josh

Buster8001-- Lol... I'll contact you in a week or so. Thanks!

We have all seen the wear in the area where the balls are racked. This is due to 2 things...dirt from the balls and rubing of the rack on the cloth. The slides will help reduce that wear and a felt UNDER the rack will help also.

You can attach a piece of table felt to the back of the rack. The shape should be triangular and a little larger than the rack. When racking the balls the felt is placed under the rack. After the balls are placed in the rack, the rack is pushed forward to the spot and slides off the felt. I got the idea from the table mechanics forum. There might be some pics in the forum....but I suspect you get the idea.

Just another idea for creating the Ultimate Rack.

NaturalEnglish-- Great input and interesting idea.

But won't the dirt from the balls left on the attached piece of felt just end up on the table felt once the rack is pushed forward. So when u first start off the felt piece is UP... but when you push forward the felt piece stays in place until the rack drags it forward. As it drags it forward doesn't the UP side now end up DOWN? Maybe I'm not completely understanding it.

Btw, "Ultimate Rack" doesn't sound bad... I like it!

 

[i4pool]

Acrylic gliders work well

Tested out the gliders and they work well. I may have them recess in a little more. I don't think I need more than 1/8" clearance between felt & rack.

Here's a couple more pics at the local hall...

 

[NaturalEnglish]

Yeah I suspect some of the dirt will transfer back to the table...but some will stay on the felt. Just the act of placing the balls on the table on top of something other than the table...will reduce the felt wear thats so typical in that area. The felt attached to the rack is under the balls for about 1/2 the distance as its rolled to the spot...that also reduces the wear.

I first saw something similar to this in the Philippines. There they attach a large piece of felt to the back side of the table. The felt is flopped onto the table when racking...then dropped back down after the rack is rolled forward.

Take note of any table and you see that typical wear where balls are racked, then slide forward.

 

[i4pool]

Yeah I suspect some of the dirt will transfer back to the table...but some will stay on the felt. Just the act of placing the balls on the table on top of something other than the table...will reduce the felt wear thats so typical in that area. The felt attached to the rack is under the balls for about 1/2 the distance as its rolled to the spot...that also reduces the wear.

NaturalEnglish-

I could definitely see how this would reduce wear on the table felt. I just might have to incorporate this idea. Thanks again!

 

[PMS]

I wonder how long before you begin to decorate your racks the way Meucci decorates his cues :thumbup2:
ie: Road Agent, Cameo, Gambler ect ect

 

[i4pool]

3 more inlay designs

Got a few more inlays with varying diamond designs. Here's how they look on the American Maple stain. Will see how they look on the mahogany & cherry stained racks this weekend.

First:

Second:

Third:

 

[i4pool]

I wonder how long before you begin to decorate your racks the way Meucci decorates his cues :thumbup2:
ie: Road Agent, Cameo, Gambler ect ect

Thanks PMS!

 

[Shapechaser]

You got man-racks...

Those racks look nice. Not too fancy for a pool hall and alot better than plain jane for in home. Youre on to something..Custom racks. Keep it up.

 

[John Biddle]

Very nice work. If you do decide to go commercial, I wish you the very best.

One idea I had was to put an inlay, like a long pointed diamond or even just a vertical line, on the inside of each piece of wood in the exact center. That way, when you rack, you can make sure the inlay lines up with the centerline usually drawn on table from the foot spot toward the foot rail. If the head ball is on the spot, and the marks line up, you're centered and ready to go. No additional marks are required on the table, but that assumes that the center line segment I referred to is already there.

I like the ideas put forth to get the rack up off the cloth to avoid the spot, but I just have a couple extra spots for that purpose.

 

[i4pool]

Those racks look nice. Not too fancy for a pool hall and alot better than plain jane for in home. Youre on to something..Custom racks. Keep it up.

Thanks Shapechaser! :thumbup:

Very nice work. If you do decide to go commercial, I wish you the very best.

One idea I had was to put an inlay, like a long pointed diamond or even just a vertical line, on the inside of each piece of wood in the exact center. That way, when you rack, you can make sure the inlay lines up with the centerline usually drawn on table from the foot spot toward the foot rail. If the head ball is on the spot, and the marks line up, you're centered and ready to go. No additional marks are required on the table, but that assumes that the center line segment I referred to is already there....

Thank you too John! I like your suggestion about the center alignment mark. Not only does it add to the looks/design but would be functional too! :thumbup: Thanks!

 

[i4pool]

2 choices offered... which one did he choose?

Hi again All,

So I finally gave my buddy 2 designs to choose from: (1) the original maple stain with black diamonds and; (2) the mahogany stain with white diamonds. Guess which he chose? [answer below after the pics]

So my buddy Marty chose the maple stain with black diamonds.

The mahogany stain with white diamonds will be offered for sale on the "classifieds section" soon. Need to come up with a price first.

Thank you all for looking! Especially for the AZers who've given me valuable feedback and great suggestions! :thumbup2:

Oh... and the question has been asked if I'm going to start selling these custom designed wood racks? The answer is "yes". More details to follow. Please PM me if interested. Thanks!

Regards,
Abe, i4pool