After the slate is on...

[foxygary]

I've just put on the 3 pieces of slate on my Olhausen Americana. I lined them up, and installed all the lag screws thru the slate. I have a few questions related to what's next:

1) Should I tighten the slate lag screws all the way, or back them off a half turn?
2) There is still wax on the slate seams from the previous install. They didn't do a good job making it flat. What's the best way to deal with existing excess wax? can it be sanded?
3) Do I need to fill the outside screw holes with Bondo, or can I leave the open? it appears that they are not on the playing surface.
4) When I was removing the felt at the sellers home, I noticed that some of the edges had a small spot of glue or adhesive on them. Should I be glueing the felt when I go to install it?

Thanks for the help.

Gary

 

[Cuephoric]

I've just put on the 3 pieces of slate on my Olhausen Americana. I lined them up, and installed all the lag screws thru the slate. I have a few questions related to what's next:

1) Should I tighten the slate lag screws all the way, or back them off a half turn?Don't over tighten them, but keeping them snugly locked in keeps it locked in-
2) There is still wax on the slate seams from the previous install. They didn't do a good job making it flat. What's the best way to deal with existing excess wax? can it be sanded?Run a razorblade scraper over the wax, it will get rid of the excess, and you can heat up the remainder to help in the removal- heat guns work but they will also blow it around- put something down for it to land on or you'll end up with it on or in your floor. If you plan on using Bondo or pretty much anything else, you'll have to get rid of all of it. Not much sticks to wax.
3) Do I need to fill the outside screw holes with Bondo, or can I leave the open? it appears that they are not on the playing surface.Olhausen slate screw holes are generally ALMOST out of the playing area, you'll catch an edge which will outline on your felt and start wearing through. Fill it in and smooth it out, no problem after that.
4) When I was removing the felt at the sellers home, I noticed that some of the edges had a small spot of glue or adhesive on them. Should I be glueing the felt when I go to install it? Glueing is the best way if you know how to do it, and can stretch about as much as King Kong, which most glues won't withstand.

Thanks for the help.

Gary

Easy shortened/condensed answer to all of the questions....pick up the phone. One of us will be happy to assist you.:wink:

 

[Club Billiards]

I've just put on the 3 pieces of slate on my Olhausen Americana. I lined them up, and installed all the lag screws thru the slate. I have a few questions related to what's next:

1) Should I tighten the slate lag screws all the way, or back them off a half turn?
2) There is still wax on the slate seams from the previous install. They didn't do a good job making it flat. What's the best way to deal with existing excess wax? can it be sanded?
3) Do I need to fill the outside screw holes with Bondo, or can I leave the open? it appears that they are not on the playing surface.
4) When I was removing the felt at the sellers home, I noticed that some of the edges had a small spot of glue or adhesive on them. Should I be glueing the felt when I go to install it?

Thanks for the help.

Gary

You'll want to get the slate screws snug at first. You'll probably need to loosen and tighten as you go when you do the levelling. Be careful not to overitghten the screws and strip out the holes.

For the wax, you'll want to scrape the excess off the top of the slate with a putty knife or razor scraper. Any that is still on it, a propane torch will soften it without blowing it all over the place.

The slate screw holes on the sides of the table won't need to be filled if you make sure you push the rails in snug before you bolt them down. You may need to take a rubber mallet to the corner pockets to draw everything in a little. The screws under the END rails, however, probably DO need to be filled in. For some reason those have more of a tendency to show up in the playing surface. Just remember to use a plug so you can get the screws back out later if you need to.

As far as the cloth, if you know the gluing method and have the right glue, it's the nuts. If not though, and especially since you're using the old cloth, I would honestly just staple it. You can use the rail bolt holes and the line in the cloth where it was stretched over the edge of the slate as a guide to put it back in the same place.

Good luck with everything, and I'm sure if you get into trouble, one of us is somewhat nearby and could help you out.

Good luck!