Diamond 1 piece slate...pocket broke off...now what to do?

reverend

reverend

Table Mechanic
Silver Member
Well fix it of course.

This is what I am starting with. Someone had tried to fix it before by super gluing it and using bees wax to try and hide the cracks...well lets just say that didn't work out too well.
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After scraping off the old wax and chipping out the loose slate that was still there, I used some JB Weld to attach the pieces together. I clamped it and let it dry over night. The next day I filled the rest or the cracks with some jell super glue.
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After the super glue dried, I cut 2 channels in the slate across the crack with a 4" diamond blade in a tile cutter.
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Next some aluminum was cut and shaped to fit in the channels.
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Mix up a good amount of JB Weld, smear it in the channels and push the aluminum in. Make sure you scrape off the majority of the squeezed out JB Weld before it dries.
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more to come...
 
Looks like you are on the right track.

Finish it where the slate is smooth and the joint is smooth and you should be ok. Just make sure the piece is 100% level with the other slate. Also a backer on the bottom is a good idea for extra stability.

Good luck, that is a damn shame!
 
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Bondo Time

Now its time for some Bondo.
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After a quick sanding.
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There are a few low spots that need to be filled.
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The final layer of Bondo.
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After it is all sanded I hit it with a little grey primer, and its just like new.
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more to come...
 
All done.

Here is the final product. There is no gap under a straight edge, and when a 8" level is set on there it shows no different than on the slate right out in front of the crack. The slate at that corner is just as strong as it ever was. After I put the aluminum strips in there and the JB Welded dried, I smashed it with a hammer a few times harder than I thought I should, and it did not budge.
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Looks like you are just taking the piss with us... You really have everything under control.

Nice one!:cool:
 
bankshotbo said:
Looks like you are on the right track.

Finish it where the slate is smooth and the joint is smooth and you should be ok. Just make sure the piece is 100% level with the other slate. Also a backer on the bottom is a good idea for extra stability.

Good luck, that is a damn shame!
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No where for a backer to go. Its a Diamond 1 piece slate. It will sit right on the plywood frame. Also, no need for a backer with the aluminum in there. That is where all the strength comes from.
 
In the name of due diligence... how the eff did that happen? I'd like to avoid the breaking off of a large section of my GC's slate.

Looks like good work!
 
Zach,...you never cease to amaze me buddy, so young in AGE, yet so old school SMART, you're on your way to being one of the best "table mechanic's" in this country, keep it up and you'll be passing me in no time....but it won't be a fair race unless you're in a wheelchair too:D:D

Glen
 
reverend said:
No where for a backer to go. Its a Diamond 1 piece slate. It will sit right on the plywood frame. Also, no need for a backer with the aluminum in there. That is where all the strength comes from.
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Then why did you ask?

Just showing off your skills?
 
I LOVE the sweet smell of Bondo! You can do so many wonderful things with it. It is amazing stuff, just before it sets up you can shave it so there is less sanding, you can make it set up at the speed you need by just adding more or less hardner, just terrific stuff. Great repair job and wonderful pics of the magic that a master craftsman is capable of!
 
realkingcobra said:
Zach,...you never cease to amaze me buddy, so young in AGE, yet so old school SMART, you're on your way to being one of the best "table mechanic's" in this country, keep it up and you'll be passing me in no time....but it won't be a fair race unless you're in a wheelchair too:D:D

Glen
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High praise indeed!
 
bankshotbo said:
Then why did you ask?

Just showing off your skills?
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Because I told Zach to post up pictures of his work...that OTHERS might see how to correctly fix broken slates, and to help elevate Zach's status as a very GOOD table mechanic, and because I'm very proud of the work Zach does....as he's NOT your everyday installer/table mechanic...and I want people to know and regonize that when they live in the AZ area...so they know there's someone to call...when they want their pool table(s) worked on right...so, yes...showing off his skills would be the correct answer...at MY request;)

Glen, the "Realkingcobra"
 
Zach...Simply amazing repair job on broken slate. It never even would have occured to me to use metal strips (inserted like that) to hold the pieces together. As Glen said..."Youse got some SKILLS!" :thumbup: It's very cool that there seems to be a developing list of highly skilled installers/repair persons all over the country. That's great to see, and a long time coming!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
reverend said:
No where for a backer to go. Its a Diamond 1 piece slate. It will sit right on the plywood frame. Also, no need for a backer with the aluminum in there. That is where all the strength comes from.
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A real man would have used duct tape.:cool:

...seriously, we have that problem with a GC..same place.
the original repair wasn't so good, wish I had known about this.
...great job.
 
DallasHopps said:
In the name of due diligence... how the eff did that happen? I'd like to avoid the breaking off of a large section of my GC's slate.

Looks like good work!
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I am not real sure how it happened. It was in a Pro-Am in Texas. The guy that recovered the table a year before said he found it that way and tried to fix it with what he had with him. If I were to guess, I would think there was a weak spot in the slate and during shipping the slate cracked. When the guys went to recover the table they tried to pick up on the slate to get it off the frame and the piece came off in their hand. But who knows. Now that slate is ready to be put back in service again.
 
I LOVE the sweet smell of Bondo!
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One afternoon, I was working on an old car. I was mixing and using a lot of bondo. I wasn't using a respirator like a big dummy. All of a sudden, I felt very light headed and the next thing I knew, I was floating up by the rafters and I could see myself working on the vehicle.

The next day, I told this story to a friend of mine, thinking that he would think I'm crazy.

He looked at me and said, " I know what happened, you had an Auto Body Experience".
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
One afternoon, I was working on an old car. I was mixing and using a lot of bondo. I wasn't using a respirator like a big dummy. All of a sudden, I felt very light headed and the next thing I knew, I was floating up by the rafters and I could see myself working on the vehicle.

The next day, I told this story to a friend of mine, thinking that he would think I'm crazy.

He looked at me and said, " I know what happened, you had an Auto Body Experience".
Click to expand...

That's Funny! :grin:
 
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