8' Brunswick Hawthorn Cushions/Tighten Pockets?

[PocketPoolsy]

I have an early 2000s model 8' Brunswick Hawthorn that I've started to redo the cloth and cushions since moving recently. The table was a floor model that was bought in 2006. Still has the original superspeed cushions which aren't in terrible shape but have lost their bounce compared to the 8' diamond blue labels at league. I don't have the funds to do everything how I'd like but my son enjoys playing and would like to find a decent quality/budget friendly solution.

I'm leaning towards the CPBA Competition worsted cloth ($188) from reviews and recommendations I've read. Appears to be fast and a decent alternative for half the price of Simonis.

For cushions, I've heard the MBS ($70) from Ken's Classic Billiards are good but I'm wondering if I should fork out the extra $75 and go with the Diamond Blacks ($145)? Other option, I go MBS and when more funds become available upgrade back to superspeeds and possibly extend rails?

I plan to use Ken's 3/8" Cushion facings to tighten the 5" pockets to somewhere in the 4 3/8" range (minus the original cushion facings). My question is, should I go MBS with the 3/8" facings and extend the rails properly down the line? Or would the Diamond Blacks/Brunswick Superspeeds paired with Ken's 3/8" 50 durometer cushions suffice?

Sorry for the long post. I wanted to provide as much information my first time around. Thank you for reading and for any comments/information!

 

[efred]

I just did an extension on a hawthorn, I suspect it was an '80s or '90s model though. Used the black diamond cushions with 860HR and it plays awesome (if you like how diamond tables play).

Honestly if you're going to do cushions just extend the rails, then you're not buying the cushions twice, and trimming the rubber is harder than the woodwork in my opinion. Where are you located?

 

[tomatoshooter]

Would the 3/8" pocket facings play okay? I think 3/16" is considered the upper limit. And are tighter pockets really necessary? They will certainly encourage precise and disciplined shooting, but you can still develop the skills on larger pockets. If the pockets play funny from thick facings, that my cancel out gains from tighter pockets.

 

[garczar]

Are you a wood worker? If not doing a subrail mod is gonna run at least a grand, probably more. I'd just use Ken's thick facing. It will more than tight enough to challenge you.

 

[boogieman]

I have an early 2000s model 8' Brunswick Hawthorn that I've started to redo the cloth and cushions since moving recently. The table was a floor model that was bought in 2006. Still has the original superspeed cushions which aren't in terrible shape but have lost their bounce compared to the 8' diamond blue labels at league. I don't have the funds to do everything how I'd like but my son enjoys playing and would like to find a decent quality/budget friendly solution.

I'm leaning towards the CPBA Competition worsted cloth ($188) from reviews and recommendations I've read. Appears to be fast and a decent alternative for half the price of Simonis.

For cushions, I've heard the MBS ($70) from Ken's Classic Billiards are good but I'm wondering if I should fork out the extra $75 and go with the Diamond Blacks ($145)? Other option, I go MBS and when more funds become available upgrade back to superspeeds and possibly extend rails?

I plan to use Ken's 3/8" Cushion facings to tighten the 5" pockets to somewhere in the 4 3/8" range (minus the original cushion facings). My question is, should I go MBS with the 3/8" facings and extend the rails properly down the line? Or would the Diamond Blacks/Brunswick Superspeeds paired with Ken's 3/8" 50 durometer cushions suffice?

Sorry for the long post. I wanted to provide as much information my first time around. Thank you for reading and for any comments/information!

To be completely honest you probably don't want to invest a ton of money into a furniture grade table. I'd NEVER go through the work of extending subrails unless it was on either a Brunswick GC or a Diamond.

If you enjoy using tools and woodworking/making fixtures you could DIY but I'd personally have a hard time paying someone to do the job correctly. Last I heard it was around $1-1.5K.

It's absolutely worth that price as it takes real precision and knowledge to do it right. But how much do you want to invest in a table where you lose 60% of the retail value as soon as it leaves the showroom?

If you like the Diamond rails at league then put them on that table. It won't play like a diamond but the knowledge you gain from practicing on them will apply to the tables at league.

I had an oversized 8 (8.5'X4.25') Olhausen 30th Anniversary Edition that I did some pocket modifications to and that is completely doable to someone who is handy and can focus on precise work.

 

[efred]

As long as you're handy I really don't think the subrail extension was that hard, totally worth doing IMO. I wouldn't pay to have it done on an old brunswick like that but if you're confident doing the cushions I expect you won't have a hard time extending the sub rails. Here are photos of the extension I did on a hawthorn. It was my first time and have a couple things I would have done different, but it turned out well and the table plays nicely.