CURTAIN RAIL TRACK BRACKET TO FIT SWISH SOLOGLIDE SOLOGLYDE ( pack of 12 )

I was unable to find this product locally therefore very glad to find it here. It was not easy to fit the brackets to the track because the dovetail is smaller than the profile on the track. I had to file a chamfer onto the end of the track. The small screws which were supposed to clamp brackets to track profile were unfit for purpose. I had to use the screws from the old broken brackets which were being replaced. This was a nuisance as I'd already thrown them in the kitchen bin! No rating given for sturdiness as they have only just been installed and it is too soon to tell.

As described

Not the strongest on the market but they have done the job.

I purchased these as replacements for the old broken brackets when refurbishing some older design Sologlyde curtain rail tracks – ones that have a cord-pull accessory fitted. After reading the useful critical reviews, I purchased some from several different sources to see if they were the same product: although unbranded and devoid of any markings, they do all appear to be identical.First impressions. They look OK, but when compared with the originals the differences are obvious: the plastic looks softer and more rounded, especially the jaws that grab the back of the track; they are slightly smaller and I was concerned that the jaws would not open enough to grab the track and that they might break when fitted, or break or pop-off when under load. Most noticeable is that all the brackets I have obtained come with jaw clamping screws that are much too short. See photo.Just to complicate things, both the old tracks that I am working on have obviously come from different batches because they are very slightly different profiles. Using the screws from the old brackets was a possibility, but they are still a little shorter than I would have liked because they do not fill the hole on the jaws when mounted, perhaps weakening the connection. Finding longer screws proved to be challenging!The original Swish screws are pan-head stainless blunt self-tapping screws size No 6, 3.5x9.5mm; the ones that come with these new brackets are 3.5x7.7mm. However, I reckoned that a length of 10-12mm would be better; over about 12mm and they would stop the cord-glider assemblies from sliding by the brackets. Main problem was that I couldn’t find any suitable screws that were 10-12 mm long. And, unfortunately, all those in the big popular shops have sharp points – which are to be avoided if they protrude from the bracket jaw.Blunt end screws seem to only be available at 9.5mm and 13mm lengths. Having tried both lengths, I decided on the longer ones and then filed them down so they left clearance for the cord gliders; 11mm seemed to be about right. Tip: drill a small hole in some thin hardwood, insert screw, hold the assembly firmly, then it is easier to file down the ends of the screws with a fine metal file.Photo 1: Old bracket below new one; screws bottom to top are: old bracket screw, new bracket screw, my new custom length screw.Photo 2: new bracket fitted on old track using custom length screw.The brackets proved to be well-nigh impossible to clip or slide onto the old tracks. Since the old tracks are likely to be a bit brittle, my tip is to first heat them in hot water (not boiling) which softens the plastic a little, then open the jaws slightly with a thin screwdriver before sliding them on from the end of the track.I have completed the refurbishment – which included re-constructing the cord-gliders because replacements are unobtainable (I used some thin uPVC plastic strips attached using baking soda and super-glue, then shaped). Extra brackets were attached and the result seems to be quite sturdy. Time will tell!

It could be that my rail is quite old and when the old brackets snapped probably due to age, I ordered these. I did manage to fit them with a struggle and they are holding so far. I could not slide them on to the back slide bar and had to lever them on close to the wall brackets, with tightening screws out which then were re inserted to fasten to the slide bar.

Screws which tighten the dovetail too short. If you've got the original scews off your old brackets use them .

These are a decent replacement for the old Swish items, although the plastic is a slightly different grade so possibly not quite as strong. They are as others have mentioned a bit of a tighter tolerance than the originals, but once the screw is loosened (or removed) the tracks can easily go on by just opening up the jaws a little. I has one break on me when I did this so some care is required. The provided screw is plenty long enough to tighten them up again. Once tight they do exactly the same job as the originals. Very pleased as it saved me having to replace the whole rail.

The dovetail female on the bracket isn't an easy fit for the male dovetail on the existing swish curtain rail. It wasnecessary to prise the F/M open with a screwdriver to accommodate the male on the rail, also the self tapping screws used to tighten the bracket onto the rail were not long enough to pinch closed the F/M dovetail .I used the longer selftappers from the original brackets,these original brackets had gone brittle and broken probably due to U/V exposure . Anyway got the job done, now OK, but be prepared for a bit of jiggery pokery if using to repair an existing installation . No serious worries its good to have components available online, my local retailers are a dead loss !!! Thank you.