A true Gentleman! Thank you so much for sharing all the information, James! Truly appreciated!!
It was my pleasure, Brother PERDIGAO; as I wrote, I learned A LOT from doing the research; but, I only became interested in doing the research because your dilemma in trying to identify what your preferred alternative cloth might be, as this will eventually become everyone's dilemma - at least until Simonis get's their production back up to full stream again.
So we - being long-time Simonis Cult Members,
like myself - are either going to be forced to embrace an alternative cloth; or, as we become exposed to acceptable alternative cloths from various cloth suppliers as we play on other people's tables, who have already answered that question for themselves (
Such as it was with me being exposed to Andy Cloth, which I never would have been, had I not gone into that pool hall which had to answer the Simonis-shortage question for their tables.)
Before you posted your problem to solve, and for many decades before that, I only knew how to religiously chant:
"Simonis... Simonis... Simonis..." while bowing from the ankles; and yet, because of their flood (
a real shame) and being inspired by your post, my eyes have been opened, my view widened, and, although I am not in need of a recover at this time (
I'm a Simonis 760 man, myself), I will eventually know the alternative cloth I will be going to, IF I need to; as an alternative to that weight, blend, and weave pattern specs (
once I can add the weave information the cloth profile).
Remember, that
weave pattern is absolutely critical to the feel, durability, and performance of a cloth - and yet, it is the hardest information to learn. Why these billiard cloth manufacturers don't automatically include the weave pattern spec in their sales specifications -
it's no secret, and any other textile description includes it's weave pattern along with it's name, weight blend, etc. - escapes me completely.
Here's two other thing your post helped me become aware of with the research:
1. There are companies out there who offer an 90% Wool, 10% Nylon, 23oz (Simonis 860 profile) cloth,
BUT, if you investigate further, you discover it is
NOT Worsted (long staple) but rather, Woolen (short staple), and therefore, while sharing the basic blend and weight profile of Simonis 860, this 'non-worsted' wool, is going to be 'nappy' and play heavier and slower - think typical coin-op bar box in an arcade - and hence, the lower price.
and,
2. There are companies like Champion, and, Andy who offer perfectly acceptable alternatives to Simonis - something I never would have even allowed in my mind, before reading your post and doing the research.
When I eventually end-up in need of recover, will I stick with Simonis 760?
Maybe; however, I now know how to select a truly accurate alternate cloth based on more than just Wool/Nylon blend ratio, weight, and the personal preference of friends (
which I may or may not share in); and, avoid buying an unworkable choice which simply shares the same numbers.
So, again, thanks to you, I learned a lot because of your post. - GJ