Space balls

[jgrobler]

Hi All,
A long time ago I saw something called space balls. These are small (1/4") rubber balls to keep raised panels centered in raised panel doors. My google search only pointed me to the spaceballs movie, and 1 link to blankridgeonline.com, which I couldn't reach by phone. Does any one know where else I can get these, or a reasonable substitute?

Thanks in advance.
Johan

[Brian G]

www.spaceballs.com

Space balls through Rockler

Space balls through Woodcraft

Those are just a few sites.

[jgrobler]

Why didn't I think of rocker & woodcraft?

Thanks!

Johan

[Brian G]

I can't help you with that one.

[RHunter]

Spaceballs

Spaceballs at Pricecutter

These things work great. You have to be careful to leave them room or your panels will pop out or fly apart if you have a glue failure.

[Holbren]

I picked mine up at McFeely's.

www.mcfeelys.com

[beetee3]

Some frugal types have been know to use up near empty tubes of silicone caulk by 'spooging' out a couple of lines onto a peice of wax paper. When the caulk has cured it can be cut into small bits and used in place of spaceballs.

[JimD]

I have seen these and even used them once but I think they are pretty much a gimick. If my panels are of solid wood, they will typically warp enough to keep themselves in place. In the rare cases where I've made the panel edges so thin that the panel would rattle, I put a little glue in the middle while glueing up (my panels are finished before glueup so the glue only sticks to the frame but it keeps the panel from rattling). I have also spaced undersized panels with little wooden shims in the grooves.

If you like them, then use them but IMHO you do not need space balls. Most of the time I do not use anything. If I need something, I make it of wood. I've made dozens of raised panel doors.

Jim

[Jon The Buddha]

"I'm a Mog....part man and part dog. I'm my own best-friend!"

Sorry...you knew someone was going to do it sooner or later.







For those of you not in-the-know, Spaceballs was a Mel Brooks movie that parodied Star Wars. Very Funny!!!!! Go rent it!

[SCBob]

"a reasonable substitute" -- window screen spline

[drumpriest]

I love space balls, both in woodworking and the film. The woodworking type do a great job. They also help me in assembly, as they put outward pressure on the glue-up. I then pull the assembly together spanning the joints, and everything always winds up square.

[jgrobler]

The movie was all that came up while I was searching. Thanks for all the tips.