Finally sold my pool table but kept a set of spots and stripes balls. Figured I'd have a go at making gear-knobs. Anyone done it? Any tips welcome. It's a lovely old patina set, going to keep a few (1, 8, 9 & 13) and pass on the rest.
I'd watch it when drilling them. Aren't they made of rock-hard celluloid? Likely to shatter, I'd think.
Yep, agreed, insert is the way to go and a half nut to lock it in position and get the number straight maybe. Just did a bit of googling and a mask seems a good idea when drilling as they say it smells nasty.
I can imagine it'll smell pretty nasty. Drilling Perspex has the same whiff. Wear your safety specs in case it explodes!
I don't think mine has a threaded insert, just a cut in thread. I could do with a locking nut though, as my Number 8 looks more like an infinity sign! I live with it.
When I made them, I drilled carefully and then tapped direct into the ball for the thread. Pretty sure no one has had any problems. Oh, and people want colours to match their vans aswell as particular numbers, I think I sold almost all of my ones. Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk
I think @snotty is stuck in the 1950's sometimes. Bowler hat, music hall jokes.. Celluloid stopped being used a long time ago because it got replaced by things that didnt tend to go up in flames like a BYD EV.. https://www.cuecave.com/high-quality-pool-balls-and-why-they-matter/ I expect the high quality ones to be smelly when drilled if they are phenolic resin.
I took a look at the ball on the top of my EMPI shifter. It has a moulded in brass thread insert, recessed to cover up a "messy" part of the gearstick with the ball overlapping the gearstick where a slot is machined in it for the reverse lock wire.
