Make A Valley Play Very Close To A Diamond

I shimmed the slate at the rails but the bed is still higher. And I had a really hard time getting the rails back on. I have seen some table here with holes drilled in the slate by the foot spot . It's a guy from Tokyo and he only works on certain people's tables . I have about 2 weeks till the rails get here to figure it out. I do appreciate any knowledge you guys can drop on me.

Just a thought here, but first of all, there's no where under the slate to drill through to screw the slate down. Second, even if your guy drilled through the slate and screwed it down to the main crossmembers...how do you plan on pulling the slate back out and installing the bed cloth, then drop it back in?...screws through the bed cloth?
 
Warped slate

There are a couple things that can be done for your valley table with warped slate.

First of all, it happens all the time.
If it is low in the center, you can kinda get it better by shimming up the center a little bit from the two crossmembers. It will work sometimes but there is not much structure to work from.

Yours is high in the center.
Only two ways: get some weight in the center and 'bend' the slate back. You need to elevate the slate all around - best to put it on 2x4 or similar.

The other way- flip over the slate! You will have to file the pocket openings or the cloth can get cut. Then you can shim the slate to raise the center.

DO NOT expect perfect results.
The name of thIs thread is to make a valley play like a diamond.
Bottom line is you Can't!

Mark griffin
 
The rails are extended, and the shelf is extended. If you only extend the rail, you have effectively shortened the shelf. You can actually make a table play easier just by narrowing the pocket opening (extending the rails) as long as the down angle is correct.

How so?

If i lengthen the the rail into the pocket by 1/4" it is going to make less opening to pocket a ball regardless of the shelf..?
 
How so?

If i lengthen the the rail into the pocket by 1/4" it is going to make less opening to pocket a ball regardless of the shelf..?

With no shelf, it is impossible to rattle a ball. If you get it between the points at all, it is down. No ball will ever spit back out.
 
There are a couple things that can be done for your valley table with warped slate.

First of all, it happens all the time.
If it is low in the center, you can kinda get it better by shimming up the center a little bit from the two crossmembers. It will work sometimes but there is not much structure to work from.

Yours is high in the center.
Only two ways: get some weight in the center and 'bend' the slate back. You need to elevate the slate all around - best to put it on 2x4 or similar.

The other way- flip over the slate! You will have to file the pocket openings or the cloth can get cut. Then you can shim the slate to raise the center.

DO NOT expect perfect results.
The name of thIs thread is to make a valley play like a diamond.
Bottom line is you Can't!

Mark griffin

Name of thread is CLOSE TO A DIAMOND. Johnnyt:)
 
Trade

I will trade my valley for a diamond at anytime. No comparison in my opinion. I absolutely love Diamond tables.
 
I will trade my valley for a diamond at anytime. No comparison in my opinion. I absolutely love Diamond tables.

Again, I said plays close to a Diamond BB if you do the three things I stated. And of course the slate has to be flat. Johnnyt
 
I think the best way to make it play close to a Diamond is get a few guys to help you pick one up and sit it down within a few feet of the Diamond. Now it's playing very close.
 
Again, I said plays close to a Diamond BB if you do the three things I stated. And of course the slate has to be flat. Johnnyt

I've got one of each. The only slate that I can see warping antime in the next 50 years are ones that sit on the valley. Just not much substance to their frame, not compared with other makers, especially so when compared to Diamond. But you can get your money's worth from a Valley...just make sure you don't pay very much for it. When I picked up mine for $100, i just kinda figured that it was disposable, kinda like a styrofoam cup. I can say for sure that whoever ends up buying my house years down the line will get a free complimentary valley 7' coin op table. No way I'm gonna go to the effort hoisting that one piece slate up my stairs...
 
Extend the shelf

How would you go about extending the shelf on the pockets? What kind of piece would you fabricate and how would you attach it?
 
Do they only make Ridgeback rails for Valley Tables, I have an older Brunswick BB, can you get Ridgeback rails for them?
 
Back
Top