Angle of the cuts on bumpers at the corner pocket mouths

T

Tom ruben

New member
First time posting.
The angle on the corner pocket bumpers should be 142 degrees plus or minus 2 degrees, right? It would be ridiculous that AMF cut their openings 7 degrees different on opposing sides of the mouth, correct? Had my bumpers redone on my AMF Advantage table and the installer claimed they cut the angles to follow the construction of the table. The result is shots with pace not placed in the center of the pocket often rattle out. Plus the face of the opening across both materials should be in a single plane, I would think. Comments please.
 
All sounds valid.

Following the construction of the table likely means the cushions were chopped where the subrails supported the cut, not general table specs

Gold crowns are notorious for having different pocket angles and those tables werre the pinnacle of table tech for a loong time.

I'd think to have your table specs what you indicate, you'd likely need to have subrails extended to support the measurements and your desire (142°) wasn't stated to installer up front.

A subrail extension is more involved than just new rubber and that is more expensive than new rubber and cloth.

I know it isn't what you want to hear and remember: any pool is better than no pool.
 
Ok, disappointing and surprising but makes sense. Still, sliding your hand across the face of the opening from front to back should be a flat plane, shouldn't it. It isn't, it's concave.
 
Tom ruben said:
Ok, disappointing and surprising but makes sense. Still, sliding your hand across the face of the opening from front to back should be a flat plane, shouldn't it. It isn't, it's concave.
Click to expand...
And all 6 are further different too, if you look hard enough!

Pics might help us, and the concave facings-lame but not uncommon.

Could be the mechanics you used lack care-about or skill, or the table they worked with had issues they were restricted by...or they were afraid what you'd say when they told you it would be 2k more for perfection...and it still wouldnt be a gold crown or diamond experience.

Prob a combo of all the above though, honestly.

No mercy on those balls. Go get um!

Enjoy.
 
Ok, disappointing and surprising but makes sense. Still, sliding your hand across the face of the opening from front to back should be a flat plane, shouldn't it. It isn't, it's concave.
 
On looking at the pockets carefully and using a bevel square, what you both say makes sense. Its probably a combination of manufacturer error and technician being less experienced. It's likely the store owner didn't want to go into detail on the quality control of the pocket angles. It would be confusing and potentially kill a sale to a less knowledgable buyer like myself. Although might be a good way for an upsale to a new table.
 
Tom ruben said:
First time posting.
The angle on the corner pocket bumpers should be 142 degrees plus or minus 2 degrees, right? It would be ridiculous that AMF cut their openings 7 degrees different on opposing sides of the mouth, correct? Had my bumpers redone on my AMF Advantage table and the installer claimed they cut the angles to follow the construction of the table. The result is shots with pace not placed in the center of the pocket often rattle out. Plus the face of the opening across both materials should be in a single plane, I would think. Comments please.
Click to expand...
Welcome to AzB! Unfortunately, your table was not built with specs catering to the serious player and was meant to be a home table for casual/recreational use. I recommend not dropping any money into having the subrails extended and the pockets recut. This will run you around $1,500 which is more than you could sell your table for. If you are a serious player, I would consider getting a commercial grade table like a Brunswick Gold Crown or the like.
 
Points well taken. You folks know your stuff.

Sometimes an old dog does better with not knowing what he doesn't know. Lesson here, you get what you pay for.
 
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Update, the installer removed the rails and folded back the felt on a corner of the cushions to reveal that the schleps from AMF actually did make the pocket mouth cuts 7 degrees different.
Interestingly, the fools managed to make the left side of each corner pocket the correct angle and the right side at a consistent 135+- degrees. Would not have believed it til I saw it. Apparently older is not always better, except in my case.
 
And beating those damn balls around on your table will be much the same experience as it would be if the table were 'perfect'.

Enjoy it and remember: things can always get worse!
Tom ruben said:
Points well taken. You folks know your stuff.

Sometimes an old dog does better with not knowing what he doesn't know. Lesson here, you get what you pay for.
Click to expand...
 
4.125" @ 141

I've since out the 4.5" top back on.
1000001629.jpg
 
Tom ruben said:
Points well taken. You folks know your stuff.

Sometimes an old dog does better with not knowing what he doesn't know. Lesson here, you get what you pay for.
Click to expand...
I remember in the 90s amfs were used for pro tournaments for a bit, seemed to remember they kind of looked like gold crowns. It would be interesting to see some pics.
 
Sometimes with old commercial tables with the thinner facings the miters of the subrails will get hammered so bad from dudes shooting break speed on every shot that the angles will be way off after 60 years of pounding. So it may not be AMF miscutting those miters by 7 degrees. The good mechanics can certainly take care of that easy enough though.
 
Tom ruben said:
Ok, disappointing and surprising but makes sense. Still, sliding your hand across the face of the opening from front to back should be a flat plane, shouldn't it. It isn't, it's concave.
Click to expand...
Table probably had a lot of use and the wood behind the facings is dented. The gold crowns did this in the pool rooms. Makes them spit.out balls.

Can replace the facings...get the neoprene ones.
 
Tom ruben said:
Update, the installer removed the rails and folded back the felt on a corner of the cushions to reveal that the schleps from AMF actually did make the pocket mouth cuts 7 degrees different.
Interestingly, the fools managed to make the left side of each corner pocket the correct angle and the right side at a consistent 135+- degrees. Would not have believed it til I saw it. Apparently older is not always better, except in my case.
Click to expand...
Everything now is CNC so it is all the same.
 
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