T-molding through the years

Phetishboy

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3/4 inch textured T-molding. Why doesn't it fit 3/4 inch games anymore? I bought some a while back that had a 1/8" overhang on both sides. Contacted TMDC, realized that they accidentally shipped me 7/8" stock, promptly got 3/4" replacement stuff. Now the replacement was closer, but still had a slight overhang which I chose to ignore. This past weekend, I used the same replacement stuff on my newly restored Joust, and while the inside lip seems flush, the outside overhangs by 3/32". What gives? Both of these were 3/4 plywood. Has T-molding dot com increased the width of the "3/4" t-molding to make up for all the water swelled 3/4 particle board cabs in the world? This stuff used to fit 3/4 plywood cabs perfectly, now, no. As proof this stuff used to fit, I bought the same thing from the same place last Spring and it fits my Moon Patrol, also a 3/4" plywood Williams cab, like a glove. This year, not once has the 3/4 inch textured t-molding fit like it's supposed to. Am I the only one noticing this?
 
I will add that new T-Molding is more "rounded" than the old stuff that was on Williams or Atari games. That old stuff feels more dense and seems to be shinier as well.
I don't change it unless it is really bad.
 
Yeah...I've always wondered if anyone would reproduce the Atari style t-molding. It's much flatter than the current stuff and is made with a different formulation that makes it harder and shinier. I've replaced the t-molding on a few Ataris, and while it looks nice, it doesn't look "right".

Phet, I've also noticed variation between different lots of t-molding as far as the width goes. I assumed that it's variation in the plastic formulation that causes more or less shrinkage after the extrusion process when the plastic cools. One of these days I'm going to cough up for the expensive T-molding "puck" trimmer that commercial places use to trim the edge of the t-molding on their furniture products, but $100 is a bit much for a single purpose tool.
 
Yeah...I've always wondered if anyone would reproduce the Atari style t-molding. It's much flatter than the current stuff and is made with a different formulation that makes it harder and shinier. I've replaced the t-molding on a few Ataris, and while it looks nice, it doesn't look "right".

Phet, I've also noticed variation between different lots of t-molding as far as the width goes. I assumed that it's variation in the plastic formulation that causes more or less shrinkage after the extrusion process when the plastic cools. One of these days I'm going to cough up for the expensive T-molding "puck" trimmer that commercial places use to trim the edge of the t-molding on their furniture products, but $100 is a bit much for a single purpose tool.

I actually tried a flat, brand new razor blade on the top 3 feet of one side to trim the excess. it worked well, but if you lose your edge and have to start over, you can see the uneven start/stop bump. I am scared shitless to run the razor all the way down the front edges on BOTH sides of the game for fear of making it look worse or catching the wood somewhere.
 
Lowe's sells these..haven't tried it, but would probably work well-

31F55wCIfDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
probably an aisle on the lumber side with the specialty/hobby plywood, they will be with the rolls of edge banding veneer - they probably will have birch and oak. That edge banding is slightly oversized and it's used for that. Not saying it will work, but I don't see why not. The t-molding plastic should cut easier than the wood, but I wonder if the edge banding cutter tools expect to ride against a square edge - like the wood use would be, where you have the flat side of the cabinet, like _____]

or if it will work with t-molding , where you have a edge, like _____)
 
The real problem is that the size of the king's foot has changed. He was probably wearing more restrictive footwear in the early 80s.
 
Sorry..I've tried the edge band trimmer. It doesn't have enough cutting power. It's made for wood veneer edging which is much thinner and easier to cut. It will get bogged down in the t-molding. I even tried a commercial version of that kind of trimmer that my neighbor had. No workey.
 
I think the 3/4 plywood has changed. I just installed t-molding on an MDF cabinet and it fit perfectly flush on both sides. Just a thought.
 
3/4" t-molding doesn't fit on my Joust cab either. I have some samples of 5/8" and that seemed to fit perfectly. Anyone else try 5/8" on their Joust cab???
 
I think the 3/4 plywood has changed. I just installed t-molding on an MDF cabinet and it fit perfectly flush on both sides. Just a thought.

The 3/4in plywood from the 80's has changed between last year and this year? Now that would be a strange thing to have suddenly happen after all these years.
 
The 3/4in plywood from the 80's has changed between last year and this year? Now that would be a strange thing to have suddenly happen after all these years.

Yeah, it's either 3/4" actual or not. I've gathered that if you buy materials from a 'woodworking' supplier, the stuff should be bang on. If you're buying from Lowe's/HD, best to double check before you leave with it. The dims are often close enough.

I'd think there'd be more people complaining about their old cabinet being too thick, but that's usually due to moisture related swelling.
 
I can tell you that if you go to the lumber yard and ask for 3/4" ply you will be sold 18mm (which is 11/16th) unless you are very clear that you want actual 3/4". The 18mm stuff is about half the cost of true 3/4". If you get the 18mm stuff I'm pretty sure you can find T-molding in 11/16th that will fit better.
 
I can tell you that if you go to the lumber yard and ask for 3/4" ply you will be sold 18mm (which is 11/16th) unless you are very clear that you want actual 3/4". The 18mm stuff is about half the cost of true 3/4". If you get the 18mm stuff I'm pretty sure you can find T-molding in 11/16th that will fit better.

Ah- maybe that sample I have is 11/16" t-molding. 5/8" just sounds too small. The 3/4" was just hanging over so bad. I'll re-measure and report back once I order.
 
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