A word to the wise.

[realkingcobra]

Thanks for your information.How much of a price reduction would you recommend for a used Diamond, Brunswick etc due to the inherent defect?Based on what you have described the depreciation of a used table and the eventual cost of repair is a hidden item. Specifically , what is the cost of a tear down to replace the worn out "mdf" backing on the slates.If I have understood your post correctly the associated costs of replacing the "mdf" backing on the slates should be considered when purchasing a used Table.
Brian

Hmmmm....if, and I say IF, I were to replace the backing on a set of slates that were already set up and leveled on the frame of a table, which would mean I'd have to break down the table completely, take the slates off the frame, flip them over so I could remove the old backing, install the new backing, then re-install the slates back on the frame of the table and level the slates again....you'd be looking at about $500.00 for the labor and materials, not including recovering the rest of the table, that's in addition to the slate backing cost.

If the table is already broke down, then changing the backing is not nearly as much of a pain in the ass, providing the used table you're talking about...needs the backing replaced at the time of purchase....big difference. And I don't think you're going to get some kind of a discount for a down the road cost to replace the backing on the slates...if at the time you buy the used table....the backing is fine to start with.

Glen

 

[Brian]

Hmmmm....if, and I say IF, I were to replace the backing on a set of slates that were already set up and leveled on the frame of a table, which would mean I'd have to break down the table completely, take the slates off the frame, flip them over so I could remove the old backing, install the new backing, then re-install the slates back on the frame of the table and level the slates again....you'd be looking at about $500.00 for the labor and materials, not including recovering the rest of the table, that's in addition to the slate backing cost.

If the table is already broke down, then changing the backing is not nearly as much of a pain in the ass, providing the used table you're talking about...needs the backing replaced at the time of purchase....big difference. And I don't think you're going to get some kind of a discount for a down the road cost to replace the backing on the slates...if at the time you buy the used table....the backing is fine to start with.

Glen

Thank you for your response. How would it the condition of the backing be determined at the time of purchase? What you have pointed out is a manufacturer's defect that is just a matter of time.Any advise is appreciated.
Brian

 

[realkingcobra]

Thank you for your response. How would it the condition of the backing be determined at the time of purchase? What you have pointed out is a manufacturer's defect that is just a matter of time.Any advise is appreciated.
Brian

Ask for pictures of the slates, both sides

Glen

 

[Brian]

Ask for pictures of the slates, both sides

Glen

No way to determine unless the felt is off?

 

[realkingcobra]

No way to determine unless the felt is off?

In most cases.....no

Glen

 

[mechanic/player]

I don't want anyone to think I am knocking Glen's style of applying the cloth. All I am saying is when his tables play better than when the last guy did them is because he is just that much better at what he does than the last guy that did the table.

No matter how he puts on the cloth the table will play better than before because of his wealth of knowledge and problem solving ability
that he has obtained over his 20+ years of doing this.

 

[realkingcobra]

I don't want anyone to think I am knocking Glen's style of applying the cloth. All I am saying is when his tables play better than when the last guy did them is because he is just that much better at what he does than the last guy that did the table.

No matter how he puts on the cloth the table will play better than before because of his wealth of knowledge and problem solving ability
that he has obtained over his 20+ years of doing this.

You might just be right about that which is why I'd love spending time with as many mechanics as I can so I can pass on my knowledge to as many as possible in the hopes that WE all can take playing on GOOD pool tables to the highest level possible as a group, not as individuals

Glen

 

[Bishop]

Obviously cheap sawdust backing isn't the best way to back slate but a good portion of the problem lies with the mechanics that feel the need to use gigantic staples and proceed to use 9,000 of them. I never had a problem with pine or oak backed tables.

If I remember correctly (and its been a good 8 years) Olhausen used flat top frames rather than back their slate. I didn't mind this at all.

I don't know what your "glue" is but I agree that I haven't found a suitable spray on glue either.

 

[realkingcobra]

Obviously cheap sawdust backing isn't the best way to back slate but a good portion of the problem lies with the mechanics that feel the need to use gigantic staples and proceed to use 9,000 of them. I never had a problem with pine or oak backed tables.

If I remember correctly (and its been a good 8 years) Olhausen used flat top frames rather than back their slate. I didn't mind this at all.

I don't know what your "glue" is but I agree that I haven't found a suitable spray on glue either.

I can tell you right now, the hardest person I ever had to convence that my gluing the cloth on the slates was much better than stapling the cloth....was Greg Sullivan with Diamond because he was dead against it. It only took me ONE slate to change his mind forever

Glen

 

[Bigtruck]

S.i.b.

I can tell you right now, the hardest person I ever had to convence that my gluing the cloth on the slates was much better than stapling the cloth....was Greg Sullivan with Diamond because he was dead against it. It only took me ONE slate to change his mind forever

Glen

Seeing IS believing! I could tell from the accolades of your customers that your install method was good, but once I saw for myself and played on the table I was a believer!

Give me a call Glen, I have some ideas to share.

Ray
254-379-2569

 

[realkingcobra]

Obviously cheap sawdust backing isn't the best way to back slate but a good portion of the problem lies with the mechanics that feel the need to use gigantic staples and proceed to use 9,000 of them. I never had a problem with pine or oak backed tables.

If I remember correctly (and its been a good 8 years) Olhausen used flat top frames rather than back their slate. I didn't mind this at all.

I don't know what your "glue" is but I agree that I haven't found a suitable spray on glue either.

Even with good mechanic's taking great care to be careful with the backing on the slates, attaching and re-attaching leather drop pockets and stapling the sides of the particle board or MDF, over time, it's still going to fall apart no matter what, and when that happens, and for all them tables that it's already happened to, it's a nightmare to fix, unless the mechanic resorts to gluing the bed cloth on, and it's THAT gluing method that I have the problem with, because NO spray glue in use today will hold as strong as stapling the cloth, yet just about everyone uses it, because they haven't been trained or shown how to do it any other way. I'm not bragging when I say I install bed cloths better than anyone else does, what I AM saying...is "YOU" can learn how to do it the same why I do, and get the same results, then you judge for yourself as to which is better, my gluing....or your stapling/spray gluing

Glen