Skip & Jan's Billiards is getting all the 9ft's rebuilt.

realkingcobra

realkingcobra

Well-known member
Silver Member
Well, I'm kind of doing it again at Skip & Jan's Billiards in Tempe, AZ...only this time Zack from Mesa, AZ and Gordon, from Las Vegas, NV. are the certified table mechanic's doing all the work.

Robert, the location league operator contacted me a while back about the tables at Skip & Jan's...and how bad they were...and would be interested in hiring Zach to fix the tables up once he finished training under me, so...once Zach and I got back to Vegas, Zach went home a few days ahead of me heading to Mesa...so he could get re-acquainted with his gf...after being gone for so long:grin: while I stayed behind in Vegas to meet up with Gordon...and get some work done on Fatboy's 9ft Diamond ProAm...and Mark Griffin's 9ft Diamond Professional...and start Gordon's training to certification level. Got done with all that, then took off for Mesa, AZ. With Zach and Gordon both working together, they took on the job of fixing up one of the tables at Skip & Jan's...an older Oak Diamond 9ft Professional from the Camel Pro Tour days.

I have to tell you...it's not a good feeling to sit back and watch someone else doing the work as good as I do....kind of makes me feel old...like I'm ready for grazing out in the pasture or something:o

But...I guess at sometime I have to learn to pass the torch or something like that...so anyway, Zach & Gordon rebuilt the rails on the first Diamond, replacing the cloth relief wood, correcting the thickness of the rails, modified the bevel for the cushions to be remounted to play right...of which I have to add...were SPRAY GLUED on by the last table mechanic. They've re-leveled the slates, changed the pockets to Pro Cut, 4 1/2" corners, 141 miters with a 15 degree down angle, and the side pockets are now 5" with the same 15 degree down and 102 miter opening. So, in other words...turned the table into todays Diamond being built.

The project at Skip & Jan's...is to take it to the very top level of play when it comes to the tables, so when they're finished, they'll have 7 Diamond 9ft Professionals and 5 Brunswick Gold Crown 3's...completely rebuilt...calibrated...all playing exactly the same...same Simonis 860HR Tour Blue cloth, same Diamond K55 black cushions, same pocket opening...and the Gold Crowns will even have the feet and pocket castings powder coated to look new.

So, bottom line...an old but new place to play on 9ft tables...that no other room in AZ can match...when it comes to being exactly the same in the way they play. I'd challenge any other room owner in AZ to have 12 better playing...or even tied in the play ability of these 12 tables....but somehow I don't think I'd get any takers on a bet;)

Once they're done with the 9ft's...then it's what to do with the 12 Eagle 7ft bar tables. What do you people think....should Natalie get rid of them and replace them all with Diamond 7ft Smart Tables?...Would anyone show up to play on them?

This is your area...some feed back would be nice...as this is a very expensive turn around for her;)

Skip & Jan's Billiards

Full bar, great...and I mean GREAT food, off track betting, outside smoking area...WITH SERVICE:grin: and a huge parking lot.

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The room is right down the street 5 minutes from me but I did not enjoy playing there because the equipment was not so great, I will check it out again and hit some there. I am a big Kolby's fan though since its my home base but the equipment could use some help, the local top table mechanic or should I say former top local table mechanic did some crap to the Diamond because he just did not know how to work on it.

I do hope Zach will make his way to Kolby's and start working on tables there, I am sure if they see his work on just one table (The Diamond) they will be sold on having him as there main man. What is the cost per table to redo them like at Skip and Jans?
 
Oh and as for the bar boxes, they are terrible and I think they should be sold off and get some Diamonds in there but we are talking in a perfect world where I would be driving a Ferrari. :grin-square:

I am just curious if the investment of say 15 Diamond bar tables would be worthwhile since a good deal of rec players go in there to hit balls around on them. I am not sure many serious players will appreciate them there but I know I for one will appreciate those 9 footers and when I get a late night urge to hit some balls I will swing by there once a week. Glad to see this room getting freshened up.
 
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I think they should go with the Diamonds...That room will be the nuts when they get all the tables done.....too bad it is not on "The West Side"

I do know of one pool room on the West Side that will have a table that plays at least "as good" as the 12 S&Js tables.....at least 1 anyway...:wink:.
 
BRKNRUN said:
I think they should go with the Diamonds...That room will be the nuts when they get all the tables done.....too bad it is not on "The West Side"

I do know of one pool room on the West Side that will have a table that plays at least "as good" as the 12 S&Js tables.....at least 1 anyway...:wink:.
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It'll tie the GC3's at this room for sure:grin:

Glen
 
Is this really the kind of work table mechanics do in AZ?...because this is how these tables were finished by the last table mechanic...WOW:angry:

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If this is the case, I'll put a $500 challenge to any room owner in AZ to produce 12 9ft tables that all play the same...that better than the finished tables at Skip & Jan's when Zach is done with them;)
 
realkingcobra said:
Is this really the kind of work table mechanics do in AZ
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Until now....sorry to say.....Yup

I had to look twice at the pics....That is pretty much how my table looked before I took it apart to take the rails to Zach.

Only $500????..... In the poker world that would be considered a "value bet".........just low enough that some sucker may actually call you...:wink:
 
BRKNRUN said:
Until now....sorry to say.....Yup

I had to look twice at the pics....That is pretty much how my table looked before I took it apart to take the rails to Zach.

Only $500????..... In the poker world that would be considered a "value bet".........just low enough that some sucker may actually call you...:wink:
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shhhhhhh...;):D:D
 
JimS said:
Get out the slippers Glen. You're toast. :groucho:
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I'll tell you Jim...it's not easy passing the torch...to anyone:o It's a wierd feeling to see a table rebuilt and recovered/leveled...just like I did it...but...I didn't really do it. It's like looking into a mirror...but seeing someone else in the reflection:( this is going to take a while to get use to:(

Glen
 
Zack and Gordon both are like these 18/19 year old pool players out there today...no fear...just jump right in with both feet...and ask questions later. I can't honestly say that I've ever had the pleasure of training 2 top table mechanic's any more than I've had the pleasure of working with these 2 students. I mean...watching them putting the Diamond Professional together at Skip & Jan's from a distance...is WEIRD. THEY were the ones doing what "I" was suppose to be doing...THEY were the ones that EVERYONE was going up to....to ask questions about the job...and being asked for THEIR business cards...THEY BOTH...were up on that stage...in the bright lights....while "I"...sat in a seat...on the sideline...it's just WRONG I tell ya:grin:

Glen
 
WOW! this is great news. this is a big shock to me in the past skip and jans would do anything to cut corners and save some money.

The bar boxes they have in there now are the worst in Az.

If they got all new diamond 7ft smart tables. i would go out on a limb. and say they would have the best pool hall not only in Arizona but the surrounding states to.
 
MIC FLY AZ said:
WOW! this is great news. this is a big shock to me in the past skip and jans would do anything to cut corners and save some money.

The bar boxes they have in there now are the worst in Az.

If they got all new diamond 7ft smart tables. i would go out on a limb. and say they would have the best pool hall not only in Arizona but the surrounding states to.
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hmmm...that's kind of what I was thinking too:wink:
 
Hey, while you are standing around doing nothing :rolleyes: Maybe you could take a little stroll over to Stingers and check out their Diamond Barboxes ?? :grin:
 
Please post some finished product photo's.

I'll also create a full story about the work being done and post it up on AZPoolScene.com for those people that don't frequent AZBilliards. (I know, it's hard to believe, but still so many people don't come on here.)
 
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