Rub rails for 712 - time to replace

[Jorgo]

My original wood rub rails are beginning to deteriorate and I need to replace them.
• CWR has a set of "extruded rubber" rails for 375.00 -http://coldwarremarketing.com/images/rubbersiderail.JPG
Do any of you have a set of these or have any second hand info on them?
I've searched the forum and found many of you have created your own with some
very nice alternatives and options, but I am more in the buy it now than DIY category, mechanically speaking.
My hesitation with the CWR rubber is that on the pictures
they show, the rails look a bit wavy, when looking down the body. are these too soft to
consider? I would like to replace them with either wood or an engineered wood rail ala
trex. at this point i'm open to whichever option is easiest to acquire. I'm in San Diego.
If anyone has gone through the exercise of putting these into CAD, I could have them made locally
on a CNC router. Happy to hit the forum tip jar again if I could get that file...
thank you for your knowledge

jorgo

[krick3tt]

I would be willing to bet you could have a local carpenter make them for you in Trex for a lot less than $375.
You buy the stuff, take the old ones to them for pattern type and come back in a few days. This time of year
there are folks that need money. Put an ad in Penny saver or look up Angies' list for carpenter. There are some
cabinet shops over by the sports arena behind Chuckie Cheese.

[crcpinz]

Have them made from wood, a good hardwood like fir or redwood, then either varnish them or paint them green. There is no substitute, except maybe something trex-like. Then again, there are many guys here who would recommend C channel steel and they are right too, especially if you go out into the wilderness and need to support a hi-lift or want a cage or roof rack for an M.

[undysworld]

I've seen the rubber ones, and they look way more wavy in person.

I've made them up out of well-seasoned green-treated lumber. I was lucky enough to find used lumber from a deck. The 2x12 joists were knot-free. Being old, they took paint well.

[TechMOGogy]

I like the look of the original rails (profile etc) but like the strength of the C channel and the way some have made the C channel stand off by a 1/16-1/8"
Would be cool to see C channel with the channel filled with the original profile wood - best of both??

[pcolette]

Would be cool to see C channel with the channel filled with the original profile wood - best of both??

Interesting idea! I may have to give that a try. I already have the C channel rails so I'm part way there.

[bonefish635]

I had a replacement set cut from a flat 35mm sheet of Delrin. There's plenty of so called 'engineering plastics' out there that cut and drill beautifully; last for ever; and slide well when rubbing. You lose the organic look of wood but everything else is positive.

Hope you like black though.

If you have access to CNC then Delrin or similar would work beautifully.

Tony

[TechMOGogy]

I had a replacement set cut from a flat 35mm sheet of Delrin. There's plenty of so called 'engineering plastics' out there that cut and drill beautifully; last for ever; and slide well when rubbing. You lose the organic look of wood but everything else is positive.

Hope you like black though.

If you have access to CNC then Delrin or similar would work beautifully.

Tony

That is a great idea - I was thinking Corian but Delrin is pretty bullet proof stuff!
Do you have or can you post a close-up picture of your rails?
Do you need a CNC? Why can't you just cut? Or am I reading that wrong?

[djw]

I had a replacement set cut from a flat 35mm sheet of Delrin. There's plenty of so called 'engineering plastics' out there that cut and drill beautifully; last for ever; and slide well when rubbing. You lose the organic look of wood but everything else is positive.

Hope you like black though.

If you have access to CNC then Delrin or similar would work beautifully.

Tony

Exactly what I have been looking for for my 710K, black Delrin, but I have no access to CNC and have looked around for stock and not found anything so far. If you get a chance a photo of your rails would be appreciated. Are they the same profile as the originals?

Thanks

[TechMOGogy]

http://www.plasticsintl.com/index_other ... th=1_14_15

When you say CNC what are you guys referring to? A CNC mill?
If so - why would you not just cut it (slowly) on a carbide tipped table saw or a regular band saw?
What am I missing here
Thanks,

[bonefish635]

Mine were in fact done with a table saw. I'll post pics of the cut surface later on. It cuts easily but leaves a marked surface which needed work to finish off. I have some of the off cuts which I'll post shortly.

If you were a few thousand miles closer I have at least half the slab of Delrin left and you'd be welcome to it.

Tony

[djw]

I'd go in on part of a sheet of black delrin thick enough to do original profile 710K rails if anyone finds a good source. From what I have found a sheet is fairly expensive. But it looks the perfect material if you want black that stays black and looks 100% original as my wood ones came painted black as it came from the military.

[krick3tt]

Made mine from channel.

http://s400.beta.photobucket.com/user/m ... ort=3&o=23

See the next five shots as well for more views. Had a shelf made to fit on the rail for holding coffee maker for quick stops.

[TechMOGogy]

Made mine from channel.

http://s400.beta.photobucket.com/user/m ... ort=3&o=23

See the next five shots as well for more views. Had a shelf made to fit on the rail for holding coffee maker for quick stops.

It was yours that had the standoff and shelf - very cool
So I think it would be cool to then fill the channel with wood or the delrin
What is that handle/tie down attached to the top of your channel?

[krick3tt]

Quote: What is that handle/tie down attached to the top of your channel?

There are three of them on each side. I put them there (one on each end and one in the middle) to secure a tarp or cover when I camp. I used them in WA to secure a tarp as a sort of garage
as I could not get in the real house garage cause the tires were too high and the garage was where my wife kept her Porsche.

Thanks for noticing.