Advice...

[Zims Rack]

I run an 8-Ball League, Zim's Rack APT, set up for cue repairs at many different bars, pool rooms, etc. I'm always getting asked by players and bar owners if I recover tables. My normal response is that I can sell you the cloth and recommend some people to recover it.

Well, after talking to a few "reliable & trustworthy" friends, we are going to start offering table recovering. I've help set up one 7' drop pocket and one 8' drop pocket, both 3 piece slate and also took them down myself when I sold them. I've watched about 8-10 tables get recovered, but no experience with bar boxes. I, along with the few friends (3) are completely capable of doing this, if taught how or given the correct guidance.

What tools are a must, at a minimum, that I would need to get started? I can think of spray adhesive, box knife, drill, drill bits, screwdrivers or bits for the drill, beeswax, hand torch, staple gun and staples, 6' level, socket and wrench sets, shims, center spots (dots); I'm sure there's more, but anything major I'm missing?

Any advice at this point?
Thanks,
Zim

 

[JZMechanix]

A machinist level is a must have tool if you plan on doing any table leveling. You can find them used on EBAY and save a few bucks, or a new one will cost you around $100. Also plan on a portable air compressor and a mechanic's creeper comes in handy too!

 

[Donny Wessels]

Zim, don't you think becoming Jack of all trades, you become master of none. Personally, I will repair house cues only. I don't work on my own cue and I won't work on any decent cue. I send my stuff and customers to Kerry Zeiler. He tells me I should get a lathe, but I rather buy tools and equipment for maintaining pool tables.

 

[Zims Rack]

I'm going to assume the air compressor is for a pneumatic stapler? I was going to use a manual stapler for the first few jobs to help build some income to use for tools, supplies.

Realkingcobra- Are you going to be in the St. Louis/Metro East area anytime? I'd like to meet you and BS for a few minutes.

Thanks for the input,
Zim

 

[realkingcobra]

I'm going to assume the air compressor is for a pneumatic stapler? I was going to use a manual stapler for the first few jobs to help build some income to use for tools, supplies.

Realkingcobra- Are you going to be in the St. Louis/Metro East area anytime? I'd like to meet you and BS for a few minutes.

Thanks for the input,
Zim

I think I'm passing through there on my way to Tulsa, OK when I leave the factory in Indiana late next week.

Glen

 

[cajunbarboxplyr]

Most Barboxes that I've seen are jsut Slate..... no need for stapler cept for Rails............Recovering a simple barbox is easy as pie......

 

[Cuephoric]

couple of 2x4's to set the slate on....
Something to cleanout the ball returns and stuff-
Can never go wrong with a machinist level on a table.
One of the Diamond Ball polishers from RKC to add to the service list! (since he's going to be around anyway. Those are the nutz!)

 

[Zims Rack]

Zim, don't you think becoming Jack of all trades, you become master of none. Personally, I will repair house cues only. I don't work on my own cue and I won't work on any decent cue. I send my stuff and customers to Kerry Zeiler. He tells me I should get a lathe, but I rather buy tools and equipment for maintaining pool tables.

Eventually the cookie jar will run out of cookies and you have to wait until you can refill the cookie jar. Well, if you have your hands in several cookie jars, you'll always have a cookie available.

Jack of all trades... yes I am (I think). I started out selling production cues, cases and accessories. I then started repairing cues, which eventually led to building cues. I needed repair business, so I started a tour with monthly events. I got tired of sandbaggers in league and league operators taking most of my money, so I started my own league. While playing pool I seemed to always help out the less skilled players, I really enjoyed this and noticed that my game improved when helping others, so I got my instructor certification. With the league players and bar owners getting to know me, they are always asking me to recover tables and I refer them elsewhere; well now I'm ready to get a team together and start recovering tables.

Now I'm able to build you a playing cue, a break cue and a jump cue, sell you a case and accessories, teach you how to use your cues and improve your game, give you a league to play in every week, a tour to play on every month, and recover your favorite table.

Time and dedication will eventually turn all "jacks" into "masters"! You're not going to make a lot of money in our industry, but if you have have your hands in multiple fields of the business, the chances of survival greatly increase.

Thanks,
Zim

 

[Donny Wessels]

Eventually the cookie jar will run out of cookies and you have to wait until you can refill the cookie jar. Well, if you have your hands in several cookie jars, you'll always have a cookie available.

Jack of all trades... yes I am (I think). I started out selling production cues, cases and accessories. I then started repairing cues, which eventually led to building cues. I needed repair business, so I started a tour with monthly events. I got tired of sandbaggers in league and league operators taking most of my money, so I started my own league. While playing pool I seemed to always help out the less skilled players, I really enjoyed this and noticed that my game improved when helping others, so I got my instructor certification. With the league players and bar owners getting to know me, they are always asking me to recover tables and I refer them elsewhere; well now I'm ready to get a team together and start recovering tables.

Now I'm able to build you a playing cue, a break cue and a jump cue, sell you a case and accessories, teach you how to use your cues and improve your game, give you a league to play in every week, a tour to play on every month, and recover your favorite table.

Time and dedication will eventually turn all "jacks" into "masters"! You're not going to make a lot of money in our industry, but if you have have your hands in multiple fields of the business, the chances of survival greatly increase.

Thanks,
Zim

There's a bartender in my area. Also does bar tables on the side. He does a Simonis recovery for $190 which means he makes $50 per table. How can I compete with this guy and pay for licensing, insurance, decent pay for a helper, provide health insurance for my helper (which any decent employer should) and provide for a family of 5. Are you going to be this guy in your area? if so, why should we help you take food off the plate of a real billiard tech. Like you said there isn't alot of money in this industry. My point is if your going to do this line of work, make sure you have adn get respect from the people already in it. And for those of you that think bar tables are so easy, my guess is your standards for tables are low.

 

[Zims Rack]

There's a bartender in my area. Also does bar tables on the side. He does a Simonis recovery for $190 which means he makes $50 per table. How can I compete with this guy and pay for licensing, insurance, decent pay for a helper, provide health insurance for my helper (which any decent employer should) and provide for a family of 5. Are you going to be this guy in your area? if so, why should we help you take food off the plate of a real billiard tech. Like you said there isn't alot of money in this industry. My point is if your going to do this line of work, make sure you have adn get respect from the people already in it. And for those of you that think bar tables are so easy, my guess is your standards for tables are low.

With all do respect... I have 4 kids and am a single parent at this time and need to feed my family also!
I don't think I EVER degraded any of the "masters" of this subject, nor did I say anything about charging $190 for Simonis recover job! I came on here asking for advice, not pricing! If you ask people that play in my league, on my tour, with my cues, have taken lessons from me and know me... you would know that I don't do things half ass, I take pride in producing quality products and haveing quality customer service and have much respect from people... likewise I have much respect for others as well!
If you don't care to share info or help a fellow billiards enthusiast out (that is in no competition with you), then please keep don't respond in this thread. I DO give respect to ANYONE that is working in our industry, no matter what they do. It's not easy and no one is getting rich doing it, it's mainly for the love of the sport.

If I misread your post above, then I apologize if I came off the wrong way! Best of luck in your area! Maybe someday we'll talk and get to know each other and be able to help one another out.

Thanks,
Zim

 

[n10spool]

One tool for all mechanics to have and most dont is a brace and bit. If you dont know what it is ask your grandpa he should have one or two lying around.

You can find the brace at Orchard hardware stores but the bits are hard to find especialy the large flat head which is perfect for removing old flat head screws that a drill or standard screwdriver cant. If you like striping heads and holes use a drill or an impact gun easy to use hard to control the proper way for a rookie.


You need a fork bit for Brunswick tables and it only fits in a brace unless you weld one to a socket.

A top notch mechanics uses a torque wrench to make sure all bolts are torqued properly. Very helpfull for rail bolts, cant stripout a hole or crack a slate if if you use a torque wrench.

list goes on if you send me a list of what you have so far or a picture I can make out a proper list of things to have and send some pictures to you of what I have and alot you can get at the local store or on a website.

Craig Herman

cherman@surewest.net

916-825-2036

 

[realkingcobra]

As I've said before, no one chooses this line of work, the work will choose who stays with it. If one does not do a good job of being a mechanic, then someone else is going to come along and get the work. It's hard to take work from someone that has a reputation for doing "GOOD" work. And the customer that is just looking for a price break, gets what they pay for in the long run

Glen

 

[MECHANIC101]

Props to you for looking out for yourself...If your friends know what they are doing and you can learn from them then go ahead!! All these people want to play like it's about the " love of the game" and "respect" for quality worksmanship...like they are the only people who are quailified....how dare you be a jack of all trades! Take all you want to eat...I hope your kids get fat from all the recover jobs you do!! LOL

 

[Donny Wessels]

With all do respect... I have 4 kids and am a single parent at this time and need to feed my family also!
I don't think I EVER degraded any of the "masters" of this subject, nor did I say anything about charging $190 for Simonis recover job! I came on here asking for advice, not pricing! If you ask people that play in my league, on my tour, with my cues, have taken lessons from me and know me... you would know that I don't do things half ass, I take pride in producing quality products and haveing quality customer service and have much respect from people... likewise I have much respect for others as well!
If you don't care to share info or help a fellow billiards enthusiast out (that is in no competition with you), then please keep don't respond in this thread. I DO give respect to ANYONE that is working in our industry, no matter what they do. It's not easy and no one is getting rich doing it, it's mainly for the love of the sport.


Don't get me wrong Zim. There's alot more to recovering tables than a few tips online. Make sure you scrap the glue, it builds up underneath the slates and raise the ends causing it to sag in the middle, if you don't scrap the glue on top it will build up causing the cushion to sit to high. Here's some photo of my work. Take what you can from them. My employer doesn't want me to post them but I will anyways.

 

[realkingcobra]

With all do respect... I have 4 kids and am a single parent at this time and need to feed my family also!
I don't think I EVER degraded any of the "masters" of this subject, nor did I say anything about charging $190 for Simonis recover job! I came on here asking for advice, not pricing! If you ask people that play in my league, on my tour, with my cues, have taken lessons from me and know me... you would know that I don't do things half ass, I take pride in producing quality products and haveing quality customer service and have much respect from people... likewise I have much respect for others as well!
If you don't care to share info or help a fellow billiards enthusiast out (that is in no competition with you), then please keep don't respond in this thread. I DO give respect to ANYONE that is working in our industry, no matter what they do. It's not easy and no one is getting rich doing it, it's mainly for the love of the sport.


Don't get me wrong Zim. There's alot more to recovering tables than a few tips online. Make sure you scrap the glue, it builds up underneath the slates and raise the ends causing it to sag in the middle, if you don't scrap the glue on top it will build up causing the cushion to sit to high. Here's some photo of my work. Take what you can from them. My employer doesn't want me to post them but I will anyways.

Good looking work there Donny:grin:

Glen

 

[realkingcobra]

Props to you for looking out for yourself...If your friends know what they are doing and you can learn from them then go ahead!! All these people want to play like it's about the " love of the game" and "respect" for quality worksmanship...like they are the only people who are quailified....how dare you be a jack of all trades! Take all you want to eat...I hope your kids get fat from all the recover jobs you do!! LOL

Got any pictures of some real pool tables you've worked on yet kid? Other wise, you're just becoming more of a big mouth. I'd be careful if I were you, least you start pissing more people off on AZ with your attitude to-wards other mechanics, with your greater than thou outlook as claiming to be a mechanic yourself.

Glen

 

[Cuephoric]

One tool for all mechanics to have and most dont is a brace and bit. If you dont know what it is ask your grandpa he should have one or two lying around.

You can find the brace at Orchard hardware stores but the bits are hard to find especialy the large flat head which is perfect for removing old flat head screws that a drill or standard screwdriver cant. If you like striping heads and holes use a drill or an impact gun easy to use hard to control the proper way for a rookie.


You need a fork bit for Brunswick tables and it only fits in a brace unless you weld one to a socket.

A top notch mechanics uses a torque wrench to make sure all bolts are torqued properly. Very helpfull for rail bolts, cant stripout a hole or crack a slate if if you use a torque wrench.

list goes on if you send me a list of what you have so far or a picture I can make out a proper list of things to have and send some pictures to you of what I have and alot you can get at the local store or on a website.

Craig Herman


Classic billiards is also selling them on their webpage, individual and as a ratchet setup.
Not sure who else has them off the top of my head at the moment.


Don't forget to trim the felt around the slate where it meets the cross braces on your barboxes.
Haven't seen that posted yet.

 

[Donny Wessels]

Good looking work there Donny:grin:

Glen

For any of you mechanics that get the oppurtunity to work with Glen on bar tables. He just as good there too. I been doing tables for 17 years and still learned alot about bar tables from Glen.

 

[realkingcobra]

For any of you mechanics that get the oppurtunity to work with Glen on bar tables. He just as good there too. I been doing tables for 17 years and still learned alot about bar tables from Glen.

Looking at the work you did on that Valley set of rails, and slate, I have to tell you Donny, it's like looking at my own work

Glen

 

[Zims Rack]

Side Pocket Folds...
I see in the photos that the side pockets have folds! How difficult is it to do the rails w/out the folds? Wouldn't it be better to have the folds to the opposite way (folding up or towards the back of the pocket)? Rookie question, but I've seen tables around here with no folds, what's the trick?

Thanks,
Zim