Topic: Help! How to replace Bonzini plastic rails?

[kgstewar]

I am making good progress on my table restoration and am now getting ready to put on the red plastic side strips (these go alone the top edges of the table). I know I need to heat them up first to make them more pliable, and I can use a heat gun, but I was wondering if anyone has ever tried heating them by immersing them in very hot (or boiling) water?  This seems like a potentially good way to get them uniformly warm and soft but I didn't want to do this if the hot water might discolor or damage the strips in any way. Any insights or techniques that others have used would be greatly appreciated!

Kevin

[Alan Cribbs]

Kevin,

I like to set my rails inside my car sitting outside to soften up them up before installing. The trick is to move fast. In the wintertime, I use a heat gun. You can use the warm water methos also. I know of people that have done that method and it has worked well.

[kgstewar]

Alan,

Thanks for the tips! I think I'll try the hot-water method and then use the heat gun if it starts to cool off.

Kevin