Black smudges on pool balls on a Diamond table?

K

kryptonite9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
We just installed a Diamond Pro-Am in a pool club. The table plays great but as the play increases the balls pick up large black smudges that I am assuming are coming from the leather backs of the pockets. The table gets a ton of play. We polish the balls every week or so but it seems the amount of the smudges is getting larger and is becoming more of an annoyance. I have also noticed at Valley forge on the Diamond smart tables the same thing happens by the end of the week.

Is there anything that can be done to the balls/pockets to prevent the large black smudges?
 
It may not be the Diamond pockets that are causing the problem. Take a look at the tips of the players. Some tips like Kamui black leave the same marks on the CB. When some new tips depending on who is doing the install will put a dressing on the side of tip which will leave these marks. If it is only on the CB then that will rule out the pockets.
 
It is definitely not the cueball, only the object balls.

How often for the application of the mink oil or saddle soap? Will continued use of these damage the leather. Sorry for all the questions, the club made a big investment for the players by getting this and I just want to do the right thing.
 
No it won't ruin the leather, it was made to condition it. If after you rub some in and it comes back just use some more on it.
 
Been all thru this in another thread... No way to fix it... just live with it or get rid of it and get a Gold Crown:grin-square:
 
Chi2dxa said:
Some tips like Kamui black leave the same marks on the CB. When some new tips depending on who is doing the install will put a dressing on the side of tip which will leave these marks.
Click to expand...

I have a Kamui Black medium installed and have never seen it leave a mark on either the cue ball or cloth. In addition my cue installer used to "dress" the sides of tios with a black sharpie (other than the Kamui Black of course) and this never came off either or I would not have let him do it.

I have seen leather pockets leave marks on object balls. (Not specifically Diamond pockets but on other furniture-style tables.)
 
To the OP and others with the same issue, follow Craig's advice.

Based on earlier threads and the info posted there, I use mink oil and I apply it with an old sock every couple of weeks. And make sure that you apply it to the "tips" of the pockets (not just to the back of the cups). The "tips" are where the leather pockets meet the cushions.
 
Try taking a scrap piece of the table cloth and attach it to the back of the pocket with double back tape. All you will need to do is cover the area where the ball hits. You can do this with a just a piece across the top and let the rest of the cloth hang like a curtain.

The other alternative to tell the players not to bang the balls. Make them clean the balls before returning. They don't have to slam them into the pockets.
 
I have heard of players putting a piece of the clear packing tape on the inside of the leather, just where the balls hit it. Because it's clear, the marks don't happen and you can't see the tape.

I have not seen this myself, just heard about it.
 
ball marks

is all the balls getting marks or is mainly the {1} one ball and cue ball we would clean the balls the marks kept coming back fould out it was coming from black spot from where you rack th best way to tell take a ball rub it across the spot kinda hard to see if it is the spot if not do the same to the pockets
 
Mink Oil is the way to go!

I know RealKingCobra talked about this in length a long time ago on the forum.

I've heard many use the Mink Oil and were pleased!
 
Diamond has to know about the problem by now. I've known about it for a few years at least and I don't own one, though I wish I did. Why not fix it at the factory or instruct the mechanic that sets it up to fix it? Johnnyt
 
I get the same black smudges on my Kim Steel table at home. It became so annoying that I went and bought a Ball Star ball cleaner and throw the balls in there every few days.
 
Here is what worked for me.

I also have a Diamond that leaves marks on balls. Before the Diamond I had a Olhausen and it also left brown marks from the dye on the leather pockets. This may not be what you want to do but it helps allot. I took a clean rag and bought a quart of denatured alcohol and started removing dye from the leather by rubbing hard and rotating the rag often. At first the dye seems like it will never stop leaving the rag black but after awhile you win. The inside of my pockets are still plenty dark, if you look close enough you can tell that I removed some of the dye but its hard to see because of the way the leading edge of the pocket extends. It takes awhile and a little elbow grease but you will get enough dye off that you will hardly get the marks on the balls any more. You may even have to do it a second time but it is much faster on number 2. I have been meaning to post this for awhile and will get to it soon. I have done this on 2 tables now and have seen no ill effects on the leather. I hope this helps. Jim.
 
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