Opinions on rails
Steve B
I bought this pool table a few years ago new for $1800. With a CueTec
fiberglass six stick package with balls and all, it was $2,000. I like the
table. It's time to recover it.
I was wondering about the rails. They seem to be a little dead, and have a
thunk sound when hit. All the bolts are tight enough underneath. How does
one assess the springiness of the rails?
Also is this a decent table? I like it. I moved it once, and it is a heavy
mofo. Everything fit, and construction seems decent.
I once had a neighbor who had an Olhausen table. He said he paid $3500 for
it, but he was the type who just bought high priced stuff even if it was
crud. He wanted to sell it for $2500. I looked under it, and it was all
particle board. I didn't buy it. This one at least has real wood.
Comments appreciated.
Steve
Ron Shepard
"Steve B" <desert...@dishmail.net> wrote:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/deserttraveler/
>
> I bought this pool table a few years ago new for $1800. With a CueTec
> fiberglass six stick package with balls and all, it was $2,000. I like the
> table. It's time to recover it.
>
> I was wondering about the rails. They seem to be a little dead, and have a
> thunk sound when hit. All the bolts are tight enough underneath. How does
> one assess the springiness of the rails?
A simple test is that you should be able to shoot end-to-end and have
the ball travel at least four table lengths without the ball hopping
after hitting any of the cushions. Of course, this just tests the end
cushions, but the rest of the cushions should all play the same.
There is also a "standard" way of running the ball around the table to
hit eight (or with a little extra distance, nine) rails. If you can do
that, then the cushions should also be acceptable for regular play.
I don't know about the thunk sound. That might indicate that the rubber
is a little loose from the rail, or that the cushion nose is a little
too high or low. If you set things (like laundry or groceries) on the
table, or if people set on the table, then this can cause the rubber
cushions to separate from the rails. Do you get the sound everywhere
along the cushion, or just at particular places?
> Also is this a decent table? I like it. I moved it once, and it is a heavy
> mofo. Everything fit, and construction seems decent.
Do you know what kind it is? Is it a Gandy? It looks alright to me
from your pictures, particularly for $1800 it looks like a good home
table.
> I once had a neighbor who had an Olhausen table. He said he paid $3500 for
> it, but he was the type who just bought high priced stuff even if it was
> crud. He wanted to sell it for $2500. I looked under it, and it was all
> particle board. I didn't buy it. This one at least has real wood.
Olhausen tables have a good reputation. The only parts that really
matters to the play are the table frame and supports. Those should be
either solid wood or thick plywood. If the skirts and the other
decorative parts of the table are particle board, that doesn't matter as
far as how the table plays. It is important if you move the table
several times, then the particle board may start to fail, or it may stop
holding the screws tight or something, but as long as it it just the
skirts then it doesn't really affect how it plays, only how it looks.
Are you planning to recover it yourself or hire someone to do it? Do
you know what kind of cloth will be used? That is also important to
determine how the table plays.
$.02 -Ron Shepard
Steve B
"Ron Shepard" <ron-s...@NOSPAM.comcast.net> wrote
> Are you planning to recover it yourself or hire someone to do it? Do
> you know what kind of cloth will be used? That is also important to
> determine how the table plays.
>
> $.02 -Ron Shepard
Been discussing having it recovered. Simonis has been suggested.
Steve
Steve B
"Fast Larry" <fast...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:8c071b2c-57b8-45ed...@z35g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 9, 7:40 pm, "Steve B" <deserttra...@dishmail.net> wrote:
> "Ron Shepard" <ron-shep...@NOSPAM.comcast.net> wrote
Put new high quality rubber back on with simonis 860, and you will be
happy.
reply: That's the one I have priced from Simonis. Does this make us even
for my dumbass cue ball comments? Am I now a genius again? Or just one of
the boys? It's so important what you think of me, dontcha know?
Steve
Jack Stein
> "Ron Shepard" <ron-s...@NOSPAM.comcast.net> wrote
>
>> Are you planning to recover it yourself or hire someone to do it? Do
>> you know what kind of cloth will be used? That is also important to
>> determine how the table plays.
>
I always liked Simonis 860 but we just recovered my buddies very old 9
footer with Granito Basalt. We replaced the Simonis 860 we put on
several years ago. For some reason, the Simonis was not drawing well.
I kept accusing him of having a heavy CB, but turns of it was the cloth.
The cloth on my table is much older, much more worn, and it still
draws fine. The Granito draws fine also, just like the Simonis did
originally. I have no clue if the Granito will last or not, but I was
not impressed with the longevity of the Simonis we installed. It still
looks good, plays good except for draw... Have no clue why, or if it was
just this particular piece of cloth. I thought it was me, the ball, or
my imagination until we changed the cloth.
--
Jack
Got Change: General Motors =====> Government Motors!
http://jbstein.com
Ron Shepard
Jack Stein <jbst...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I always liked Simonis 860 but we just recovered my buddies very old 9
> footer with Granito Basalt. We replaced the Simonis 860 we put on
> several years ago. For some reason, the Simonis was not drawing well.
> I kept accusing him of having a heavy CB, but turns of it was the cloth.
> The cloth on my table is much older, much more worn, and it still
> draws fine. The Granito draws fine also, just like the Simonis did
> originally. I have no clue if the Granito will last or not, but I was
> not impressed with the longevity of the Simonis we installed. It still
> looks good, plays good except for draw... Have no clue why, or if it was
> just this particular piece of cloth. I thought it was me, the ball, or
> my imagination until we changed the cloth.
It might have been installed a little loose, or it might have gotten
dirty over time. Maintenance is important for the cloth, and that
includes how the cloth behaves over time. The table should be
covered when not in use. It should be brushed often, perhaps after
every use, or as often as once a day. It should be vacuumed too in
order to remove as much chalk dust as possible (once a week to once
a month, depending on how often it is used).
After the vacuum session, mist the cloth with water, brush the cloth
(from head to foot is the traditional direction), and then let the
cloth dry before playing on it. This also helps the cloth play like
new.
I'm not sure whether or not the vacuum cleaner should have a
rotating beater brush. The brush seems to keep the cloth cleaner,
but it may also cause the cloth to wear out faster. This issue is a
little different for a home table than for a commercial table. On a
commercial table that is used, say 8 hours per day or more, it is
fine to use a vacuum with a brush, because the cloth will be
replaced once a year or so. But on a home table, the cloth might
last 8 or 10 years, so the brush has more time to do damage. You
will probably hear different opinions on this point.
$.02 -Ron Shepard
Mark0
If the bolts are tight the thunk is from the cushion(s) coming unglued.
You will see it when you recover the rails. Get some contact cement, open
the gap between the rail "liner" and the cushion and put something in
there to hold it that way (nails, small dowels, golf tees, sideways
popsicle sticks, whatever). Smear some contact cement in the space, let
it dry and carefully press it back where it goes. Viola (miss you Doug).
--Mark0
Author of Secrets to a Perfect Pool Table Recovering Job
http://www.mccauleyweb.com/secrets.htm
____________________________________________________________________�
RecGroups : the community-oriented newsreader : www.recgroups.com
Mark0
Granito Basalt is one of the best cloths woven. Don't be afraid to use it
(Steve).
--Mark0
Author of Secrets to a Perfect Pool Table Recovering Job
http://www.mccauleyweb.com/secrets.htm
--------�
John Black
she...@NOSPAM.comcast.net says...
> Maintenance is important for the cloth, and that
> includes how the cloth behaves over time.
Ok, let me see how I'm doing with my table at home.
> The table should be
> covered when not in use.
I did this for the first month or so. Now it rarely gets covered.
> It should be brushed often, perhaps after
> every use, or as often as once a day.
About once every few months.
> It should be vacuumed too in
> order to remove as much chalk dust as possible (once a week to once
> a month, depending on how often it is used).
Vacuumed it once in 2 years.
> After the vacuum session, mist the cloth with water, brush the cloth
> (from head to foot is the traditional direction), and then let the
> cloth dry before playing on it. This also helps the cloth play like
> new.
I've misted it with quick clean every few months and take up the chalk with
paper towel, followed by brushing.
I should probably get a C-. Maybe a new year resolution can be at least to
keep it covered.
John Black
Ron Shepard
John Black <jbl...@texas.net> wrote:
> I've misted it with quick clean every few months and take up the chalk with
> paper towel, followed by brushing.
I don't have any opinion about Quick-Clean (foam cleaners). This might
be better than what I suggested, or it might be worse.
$.02 -Ron Shepard
Steve B
causing counter rotation, I was able to get eight rails, as someone
suggested, without really hitting the ball hard. Will still look for loose
bumpers when I recover. Maybe that's just the way it sounds.
Steve
Jack Stein
> In article <hfr3mc$ogu$1...@news.eternal-september.org>,
> Jack Stein <jbst...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I always liked Simonis 860 but we just recovered my buddies very old 9
>> footer with Granito Basalt. We replaced the Simonis 860 we put on
>> several years ago. For some reason, the Simonis was not drawing well.
>> I kept accusing him of having a heavy CB, but turns of it was the cloth.
>> The cloth on my table is much older, much more worn, and it still
>> draws fine.
> It might have been installed a little loose, or it might have gotten
> dirty over time.
The problem with both those supposition's is the cloth on my table is
really old, really dirty, and really loose. His cloth was tight as a
drum compared to my table. In fact I wonder if his cloth was too tight,
and mine draws well because it is loose? I know, it makes no sense to me
either, but the issues you mention are exactly opposite of what is going on.
Not sure about the dirt, but his could not be dirtier than my cloth.
My table still has the original cloth installed when I bought it. No
clue what kind it is, but it is definitely not Simonis or Granito, more
of a standard, slower cloth. It needs replaced as it is worn through in
some of the pockets where the balls hit from millions of near misses, my
favorite shot. It's so loose I sometimes have to smooth the wrinkles
out of it.
Maintenance is important for the cloth, and that
> includes how the cloth behaves over time. The table should be
> covered when not in use. It should be brushed often, perhaps after
> every use, or as often as once a day. It should be vacuumed too in
> order to remove as much chalk dust as possible (once a week to once
> a month, depending on how often it is used).
All this makes perfect sense, but I do none of it and my cloth still
draws easily while his cloth didn't.
> After the vacuum session, mist the cloth with water, brush the cloth
> (from head to foot is the traditional direction), and then let the
> cloth dry before playing on it. This also helps the cloth play like
> new.
> I'm not sure whether or not the vacuum cleaner should have a
> rotating beater brush. The brush seems to keep the cloth cleaner,
> but it may also cause the cloth to wear out faster. This issue is a
> little different for a home table than for a commercial table. On a
> commercial table that is used, say 8 hours per day or more, it is
> fine to use a vacuum with a brush, because the cloth will be
> replaced once a year or so. But on a home table, the cloth might
> last 8 or 10 years, so the brush has more time to do damage.
I use a vacuum with a brush, a Dirt Devil (http://tinyurl.com/yaqyu9l),
it seems made for pool tables. I don't use it enough to wear out
anything, but I would not hesitate to use it daily with little fear of
wearing out the cloth, but I'm not that clean of a guy so little to no
chance of me wearing out the cloth by cleaning... My bridge hand is
usually pool hall blue as proof. My logic tells me cloth has a better
chance of wearing out from chalk grit than from a cleaning brush on a
vacuum, but thats just a guess.
--
Jack
Got Change: Global Warming =====> Global Fraud!
http://jbstein.com
Hustlin' Hank
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/deserttraveler/
>
> I bought this pool table a few years ago new for $1800. �With a CueTec
> fiberglass six stick package with balls and all, it was $2,000. �I like the
> table. �It's time to recover it.
>
> I was wondering about the rails. �They seem to be a little dead, and have a
> thunk sound when hit. �All the bolts are tight enough underneath. �How does
> one assess the springiness of the rails?
>
> Steve
In regards to the rails, the rubber could be bad. To check this, press
hard against the rubber edge where a ball would contact. Then see if
you left an impression in the rubber. If you did, the rubber is bad.
Hank <~~~~hates it when I get a bad rubber
Steve B
"Hustlin' Hank" <nineb...@aol.com> wrote
Hank <~~~~hates it when I get a bad rubber
Been taking a closer look at it, and all the rails are tight, both bolt wise
and glue wise. I can get 8 or nine rails without shooting hard, just have
to try many times because going into a pocket or getting a counter rotation
off a rail slows it down. I think they are what they are, and they're okay.
Maybe not as lively as some, but nothing mechanically defective. Will know
once I pull the cloth off and see a little closer.
Steve
Mark0
Eight or nine rails? What cloth is this, a bed sheet?
--Mark0
Author of Secrets to a Perfect Pool Table Recovering Job
http://www.mccauleyweb.com/secrets.htm
---�
Steve B
"Mark0" <markmc...@charter.net> wrote
> Eight or nine rails? What cloth is this, a bed sheet?
>
> --Mark0
Whatever came on the table.
Ron Shepard
"Steve B" <desert...@dishmail.net> wrote:
BTW, here is the "standard" shot that I was talking about.
http://CueTable.com/P/?@1PTok1kTok1kbeA4kOSk4kOKl2kayX2kMfl1kbNO3kUnk
3kbBo1kbXW1kIOk2kFKN@
The number of rails you can hit depends on both the cushions and the
cloth speed (and the table size). On some tables, you can get the
9th cushion pretty easily, while on other tables you have to work to
get the 8th cushion. Note that the cue ball only travels up and
back four table lengths on this shot, although the total length of
the shot is larger because it also travels back and forth 4+ times.
$.02 -Ron Shepard