Question. Restoring this table for myself - much sentimental value. Stripping and sanding and repairing. First piece done shown. It is three coats of Tung Oil after stripping and 320 sand. i do not plan on any topcoat on the sides, however the top rails are rosewood (different wood) and i wan5vto topcoat for all the obvious wear reasons.Do not want a gloss or even semi gloss finish. Thoughts?
1916 Brunswick Kling 6 Leg w/ Ball Return Restoration
- Thread starter OC Skip
- Start date
I have taken part in restoring several antique pool tables, because rosewood is practically bullet proof we only waxed them. Paste wax is easy to recoat, won't chip and offers a very natural look.
I love the Kling... Please share more photos in the future. Ball return makes this extra special, we always coated tubes with fiberglass and epoxy resin.
How good of shape are the leather pockets in? It's hard to find quality replacement these days.
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Table is complete. All leather pockets are in ine piece but hard and somewhat brittle. How can I recondition them. Traditional leather conditioner has no effect. Soak in an oil? Leave hard?
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just 3 legs? lol
Great table. Please post updates as you complete the restoration!
lol I love how the third picture resembles an early days baseball glove.
Most, but not all, tung oil finishes now days actually are just a blend of oil and varnish. There is not much varnish in them, but most do have some varnish as part of the ingredients, and quite honestly, for your use that would be a good thing. The varnish in tung oil would probably be of the matte variety so that you would still have that oil finish look but actually have some protection. You really don't want just a pure oil as a final finish as that would be a maintenance nightmare. You could, for a little more protection on your top rail, do your three coats of tung oil like on your sides, then after those cure, a week or so, spray a coat or two of matte polyurethane and wait 5 days or so for that to cure, and rub out with some 0000 steel wool and wax such as Johnsons paste wax. You just take a small wad of steel wool and load it with some paste wax and rub it out. it goes quick. Without any varnish, your wood will remain porous, and just collect wax and dirt.
Some really beautiful wood there.
Some really beautiful wood there.
PracticeChampion
Well-known member
Is that frame solid wood?
We would have replaced the leather up until a few years ago. Hood Leather Goods was our go to until they went out of business. Perhaps Classic Billiards can point you in the right direction if you choose to replace. If it were me I'd do a little internet search on leather restoration and stitch them babies up and be done with it.
I see you have the trough style return system so disregard what I said about the tubes. FYI all of the hardware is antique thread, modern bolts will not work.
1.5 inch slate?
Here's a beauty that lives at the Morro Bay, California Senior Center where it was donated. It's used everyday.I sure do hope there are more pictures from you in the future!!!
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Absolutely outstanding! If that picture does not bring tears to your eyes, nothing will. Do you know the date of manufacture?
Thank you.
I saw a Kling for sale about 10 years ago for $30k was a “brand new” 3C table in a men’s club in NorCal somewhere. It had sat there since new and wasn’t really played on for 80? Years at the time. Was so nice wow!
With this table in the OP, I’d do all the homework possible and talk to the smartest guys in the wood refinishing biz and restore it to what ever was original to a Kling in its period. If it’s gloss-then gloss, if it’s something-then figure out what the something else is. Butchering a historical table like this is not good. I’d just make sure you are doing the correct process and using the correct materials. Then full blast-fun restoration project.
Getting the table historically accurate would be my goal.
Enjoy the process and congrats. Wonderful table, they play good too. I’ve played on many of them over the years.
Best
Fatboy
One of my all time favorite tables
With this table in the OP, I’d do all the homework possible and talk to the smartest guys in the wood refinishing biz and restore it to what ever was original to a Kling in its period. If it’s gloss-then gloss, if it’s something-then figure out what the something else is. Butchering a historical table like this is not good. I’d just make sure you are doing the correct process and using the correct materials. Then full blast-fun restoration project.
Getting the table historically accurate would be my goal.
Enjoy the process and congrats. Wonderful table, they play good too. I’ve played on many of them over the years.
Best
Fatboy
One of my all time favorite tables
Yes. Love t discuss as I move forward. Played on this table Almost 50 yrs ago as a young brat. Now i own it. Sat in damp basement for 5 years.
No, I don't have any further infomation on it. I found pictures of similar tables in a 1915 (I think) Brunswick catalog. From those pictures, I figured that it must be a Kling.
It was one of the Klings that was at Klein’s Billiards Academy in Baltimore. Opened between 1904 and 1906 As best as i can find. Bought by prev owner in 1965ish. Kleins closed at that time. This is what i have so far. Should anyone else have anything else rlated to Klein’s please let me know.I saw a Kling for sale about 10 years ago for $30k was a “brand new” 3C table in a men’s club in NorCal somewhere. It had sat there since new and wasn’t really played on for 80? Years at the time. Was so nice wow!
With this table in the OP, I’d do all the homework possible and talk to the smartest guys in the wood refinishing biz and restore it to what ever was original to a Kling in its period. If it’s gloss-then gloss, if it’s something-then figure out what the something else is. Butchering a historical table like this is not good. I’d just make sure you are doing the correct process and using the correct materials. Then full blast-fun restoration project.
Getting the table historically accurate would be my goal.
Enjoy the process and congrats. Wonderful table, they play good too. I’ve played on many of them over the years.
Best
Fatboy
One of my all time favorite tables
yes with circasian walnut veneer and pearl inlay
Far from expert but many thin applications of saddle soap, which isn't a soap, might be the ticket for that old leather. Don't try to saturate the leather! I did with some saddles long ago, big mess!
Still saddle shops around. If you don't find a shop that can provide pool table leather I would locate some saddle building and restoration shops. Boot making shops are probably second choice.
Hu
Still saddle shops around. If you don't find a shop that can provide pool table leather I would locate some saddle building and restoration shops. Boot making shops are probably second choice.
Hu