lead inserts in slate

[Pompey Nipper]

Hi
Anyone any ideas how to get over stripped thread in lead inserts in the slate for cushion rail bolts ???????????

[itsnoteasy]

Can you re tap them and get a slightly bigger bolt?

[tetricky]

If a thread is knackered, you can use a threaded insert (if you can get one of the right size). Internal thread what you require, external thread to screw into the existing hole re-tapped with a bigger size thread.

...it depends on the sizes and whats available....don't know for this size hole.

[Geoff Large]

Slate wants turning upside down , drill the lead out drill down the sides of the lug if a bolt has been snapped off and remove with magnet all metal drill swarf

vac out hole , fit new bolt lug ( nut ) tighten bolt in , melt candle wax around the thread to protect it then car body filler over , when hard sand flat

these are the new bolts and lugs that are used today http://www.peradon.co.uk/table-parts...s.aspx#product
the smaller bolt is the one used with its nut lug .


if you have lead inserted then it is an old table as most modern tables use car body filler , I melt wax onto the showing thread before I fill because if you did not you will foul the thread and you will have the same problem again

I do this with the slate upside down , it is almost impossible to do it from under the table although I have done it in the past , slate linings are in the way , even if you removed bed cloth and slate lining you have to work upside down so best turn slate over it is easier to work this way

I often rub candle wax over threads on bolts when re-covering tables this lubricates them and makes snagging threads not possible , if every Billiards fitter did this 99% of broken slate bolts would be a thing of the past , why candle wax and not oil ?

because oil will leach up through the slate and into the cloth staining the slate and cloth


If you have lead this is not threaded it is the lug nut that has the thread in it , the lead is just poured in over the nut lug and bolt and left to set to bolt the nut lug in place

[Pompey Nipper]

Brilliant,
thank you for that very good information

[philip in china]

PN, we are very proud of Geoff, here at TSF.

[itsnoteasy]

PN, we are very proud of Geoff, here at TSF.

+1 to that, love reading Geoffs posts about all things snooker and table related, some of the best stuff on here.

[Pompey Nipper]

hi just out of interest what size thread are they?

[Geoff Large]

All tables bolt threads are not the same , some Riley tables had thin modern thread which I think where Whitworth and others had different coarser threads very similar to older table threads of 1900 circa , due to two manufacturers of Italian slate biggoio and Adressio many modern slates out there have these mix of threads depending on who the manufacturer of the table bought their slates from so some had the fime thread others had coarse thread .
The old bolt threads vary , a very good upgrade is to replace every bolt / lug nut to take 17mm hex bolt heads as you can get a good torque up of cushions with a socket rather than a brace and large screwdriver bit as the bolts over time wear the slot out
Coarser threads are much better than fine thin threads , these tables fitted with thin threads often have problems with bolts breaking or cross threading .

[Pompey Nipper]

Hi Geoff,
Once again thank you