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Repair Pool Table Cushions

Pool Table Felt Installation Guide - Part III

Pool Table Felt Installation Guide - Part I,
Covering pool table rails - Part II

Repair Pool Table Cushions

Preparing Old Rails:

1. After removing the rails from the table, remove the staples from the ends of the rails at the rear edge of the pocket facing.
   
   
   figure 1-A figure 1-B
    
2. Cut the old cushion cloth along the full length of feather strip on the cushion side (approximately 1/2" from the cloth line) as shown in figure 1A.
3. Peel the cloth down and insert a feather strip puller or flat blade screwdriver (not over 1/8" wide) beneath the feather strip (as shown in Figure 1B), and carefully pry the feather strip out of the groove. If the feather strip is undamaged save it for reuse. Turn rail face side down and remove the staples from the old cloth.
   
   
   figure b

Installing Feather strips:

1. If installing new feather strips, place the feather strip in the groove as shown in Figure B and trim one end flush with the angle of the pocket opening with a hacksaw. Be careful to keep the blade tilted at a sufficient angle so you don't cut into the rail pocket area behind the feather strip.
2. With one end trimmed, place that end down in to the feather strip groove and "butt" it flush against the pocket facing - then trim the other end in the same manner.
3. Place the new cloth over the feather strip groove and check to see if the feather strip will tap down into the groove. If the cloth is of heavier grade the feather strip may require planning as shown in Figure C.
   The groove in the top rail and the feather strip are cut for lighter grade cloth. To allow for a full range of cloth grades, removing material from the feather strip may be required.

Attaching Cloth - Pocket Tables Corner Pockets:

figure 1

1. Place the new cloth on the rail with the nap side down. With the nap of the cloth from the left to the right on the end rails, or from designated head to foot of the table on side rails. The cloth should have an equal amount of overhang at both ends of the rail and extend 1/2" over the feather strip groove on the cushion side as shown in Figure 1.
   
   
   figure 2
    
2. Except for approximately 3" at the end of the rail, tap the feather strip down with the fiber block and hammer as shown in Figure 2.
3. At each end of the rails pull the cloth toward the rubber cushion an additional 3/4" then tap the remainder of the feather strip down (Figure 2).
   
   
   figure 3
    
4. Trim the cloth on the cushion side of the feather strip along the total length of the feather strip as shown in Figure 3.
   
   
   figure 4
    
5. Fold the cloth down over the front of the rail then use your thumb and forefinger as a guide along the front edge of the cushion to keep the tapping block at the rear edge of the feather strip - tap the feather strip down flush with the rail surface as shown in Figure 4. Never try to tap a feather strip flush with just a hammer as it will certainly dent the rail surface behind the feather strip.
   
   
   figure 5
    
6. Turn the rail over and at the corner pockets fold the cloth over the mitered edge as shown in Figure 5. Stretch the cloth tightly, work out any wrinkles as you staple three places in the area shown in Figure 5.
   
   
   figure 6
    
7. Staple three places along the rear edge of the pocket facing ("X" in Figure 6), then trim off the superfluous cloth at the pocket area.
8. If the rail is an end rail repeat Step 7 at the other corner pocket then, starting at the center of the rail, stretch the cloth tightly over the cushion and staple at the bottom of the rail working toward each end (Figure 6).
   
   
   figure 7
    
9. Trim the excess cloth from the bottom of the rail as shown in Figure 7 flush with the edge of the cloth relief groove.
   
   Attaching Cloth - Pocket Tables Side Pockets:
    
10. At the side pocket stretch the cloth tightly over the nose of the cushion and staple in three places as shown in Figure A.
    
    
     
11. Slit the cloth up the edge of the cushion nose as shown in Figure B, then firmly pull the small strip (Figure B) to the rear of the cushion and staple at the rear of the facing.
    
    
     
12. Hold the small fold in place with your thumb and forefinger and firmly fold it down over the facing at the bottom of the rail as shown in Figure C.
    
    
     
13. Trim any excess cloth as required.

Pool Table Felt Installation Guide - Part I,
Covering pool table rails - Part II

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