Metal curtain track?

In message , Tim Watts writes

Go to it Tonto

My bay is 135 degrees about 2 and a bit metres and the rail has just broken out of the clips (heavy curtains)

So I'm looking for the same thing

I was going to ask why it needs to be metal but then I see you have two 90 Degree Bends ( does that count as being a bend ?) and wondered if you mean you want the curtains to go right in to the corners or bend smoothly round the corners ? If the former then I can see why you would want metal to get a tighter bend ( which will probably mean the curtains will stick at the bends ) but if the latter then no reason why plastic can't be used . What you do need tho is brackets at the right distances ,closer than probably recommended . I have heavy lined curtains with a 134" drop and 142" total width and use plastic Swish rail and brackets without any problem but you do need to buy the correct rail for heavy curtains .

That second rail you linked to .It says it can be bent but I'm puzzled as to how as it is an H shape .

You realise that first link is in America?

I have a similar setup. Had a Harrison Drape setup which eventually gave up the ghost. Have just fitted a B&Q HD plastic corded set which on thevtrack being sprayed with polish works perfectly - dont knock the plastic track.

Malcolm

Usenet Nutter wibbled on Sunday 14 February 2010 22:55

Hi,

Smooth bend, about 10-15cm radius at a guess.

No, I really want metal. The curtains *will* get abused by tugging (I just know...) and if I put extra fixings in, they'll only go into PB which I've always had variable results with. If I can span 40cm with metal mounted direct to wood it'll be rock solid :)

It may be possible to mix top and back fixings - the window frame is wood, but it's full of profiles so that depends on the exact geometry of the brackets...

It is ali - I guess it isn't that hard. I'd certainly set up a former though, to get a nice regular bend - like a full tin of paint (have plenty of those!) or a bit of soil pipe.

The first one might be harder and if it collapses slightly, perhaps the runners might bind. That's less of an issue with the second one - which IIRC was a popular rail decades (centuries?) ago - in brass with brass wheeled runners. I liked those - always very free running and made a lovely sound when operated :)

Battersea USA?

In message , Tim Watts writes

I replaced some plastic track recently.

I replaced it with some Harrison Drape metal track - the standard one, not the ultra' one or whatever it's called. Where the hooks lip over the track, like your standard plastic track.

Mine was just a straight run, but it says (and should be fine)in can bent it for bays.

Is very nice and smooth, and feels like a much better job than plastic, which hopefully will wear better long term. None of the plastic tracks in this house - which are probably all some years old now work esp smoothly now- even with cleaning and polish/silicone spray

Like the look of the first link though.

chris French wibbled on Monday 15 February 2010 00:13

Ah - didn't realise they did that stuff in metal - could be an option. Thanks!

Tim Watts wibbled on Sunday 14 February 2010 21:02

Thanks for all the suggestions. Did look at the Harrison wotsit stuff - looked good. But in the end, I found this:

Did ring the suppliers of the first rail - 3 suppliers on google seem to lead to different arms of the same company - rang 2 different numbers. Neither seemed very sure (don;t know their products???), but decided it wouldn't bend, probably...

This ali I beam stuff will let me get an almost flush fit to the ceiling in the bays.

We are doing a steampunk. Any sources for cheap brass I track? 8-)

Andy Dingley wibbled on Wednesday 17 February 2010 15:34

Not so much cheap, but cheaper than the first place I found: