Before & After

[realkingcobra]

When you get done with doing the work like this, the customer can really see the difference in the finish, and appreciates the extra effort to make the table play right....for a long time to come. And yes, I did have to change the cushions and modify the sub-rails to use todays Brunswick Super-speed cushions because at the time this table was built, the cushions were different compared to todays cushions.

 

[Club Billiards]

American Heritage Factory hack?

Here's one we encountered recently. The customer called and said his table wasn't quite right. Said the pockets were too tight since it was new and it was too hard to play on. I thought that didn't sound right for an American Heritage, so I went to check it out. Here's what I found:

The corners apparently USED to measure 3-3/4" and were cut almost parallel but were "fixed" by a local installer who I probably shouldn't call out by name, but who I've posted plenty of pictures of his hackwork on here before.

The side pockets were HUGE at about 6" wide at the points and cut very wide as you can see...

Apparently the local hack had tried to fix the problem by cutting the rubber back a little to open up the pockets:

You can see the quality of his work here in the corners:

And on the bottom of the sides:

And also in his pocket work on the slate:

Anyway, measuring the angles, we find that besides the hack job on the rubber, the wood rails were cut bad from the factory!

Here's one that the rail itself has a 126 degree angle on the corner pocket and the rubber is obvious not close to where it belongs:

Another at 130 deg:

So...back to the shop we go...

 

[Club Billiards]

American Heritage fix

So we measured out the angles in the corners to 141 degrees and taped them off. Bolted on a set of pockets and measured out the width to widen them back out to 4-1/2" when re-assembled.

We sanded the ends down with a disc sander on the table saw.

The side pockets we a little more difficult, since they needed rail extensions built to tighten the pocket. We built and trimmed the extensions to fit:

Then angled them back to 102 degrees with a 12 degree down angle.

Then installed the new rubber and facings:

And now we're ready for cloth!

 

[Club Billiards]

American Heritage all better

Ready for cloth on the rails... while we're changing everything, I thought we might put the cloth on with no wrinkles too. Oh, and I guess we'll sink all of the staples instead of leaving them with one bent leg that didn't sink into the wood!

We gave the table a quick relevel using the Spirit Level App on my new HTC Hero:

Just kidding, we use a Starrett 98-8 to get it rolling nuts.

So now the corner pockets are cut to the same angles as a Diamond and bolted back on:

Look better?

So with the corners trimmed back and the sides extended, now the pockets measure 4-1/2" and the sides 5" and the angles are all cut right, with the rubber coming all the way to flush at the end of the rail. More important, all of the angles and widths are consistent!!!

It's playing good, and ready to go!

 

[realkingcobra]

Ready for cloth on the rails... while we're changing everything, I thought we might put the cloth on with no wrinkles too. Oh, and I guess we'll sink all of the staples instead of leaving them with one bent leg that didn't sink into the wood!

It's playing good, and ready to go!
QUOTE]

Very good Josh & Don, once I get back east again...the real mechanic training starts...on Diamonds Enjoy the easy work while you still can

Glen

 

[clovis]

Before & After WOW

Hey Josh & Don
We all want to thank you guys for providing what is most likely the sweetest playing 8' table in the entire Miami Valley. Although an incredible number of games were played on this table in its previous condition, there was also an incredible amount of high level b****ing taking place at the same time. Balls simply would not drop in the corners. Night/Day, Black/White, etc, etc.

Thanks again,
Terry, Mark Josh, Rick, Scott, Leesa, Scott, Steve, Lonnie, Rusty, Bucky, Jack, Lance and everyone else I've forgotten.

 

[Club Billiards]

Hey Josh & Don
We all want to thank you guys for providing what is most likely the sweetest playing 8' table in the entire Miami Valley. Although an incredible number of games were played on this table in its previous condition, there was also an incredible amount of high level b****ing taking place at the same time. Balls simply would not drop in the corners. Night/Day, Black/White, etc, etc.

Thanks again,
Terry, Mark Josh, Rick, Scott, Leesa, Scott, Steve, Lonnie, Rusty, Bucky, Jack, Lance and everyone else I've forgotten.

Wow...all those happy people with just one table?! Glad you guys like it!

 

[realkingcobra]

When we get together for a while, I'll show you a few tricks about doing sub-rail extentions that will help your game quite a bit, but overall you did a pretty good job Josh...not bad buddy

Glen

 

[Club Billiards]

When we get together for a while, I'll show you a few tricks about doing sub-rail extentions that will help your game quite a bit, but overall you did a pretty good job Josh...not bad buddy

Glen

Thanks, Glen. I look forward to it!

 

[Hammy]

Hall of shame! I bought it

Hi all,

My name is Marv and Ive wanted a table for many years like when I was a kid.The family treasurer approved a few bucks for one and I started reading and shopping.I wound up fixing a roof less than 2 miles from where this one was for sale on craigslist. It was within the budget and I knew from lurking here that anniversarys are one of the coolest all time so I took the plunge.

 

[Hammy]

Holy crap! The whole thing is painted not just the legs and castings

I didnt know enough to notice the walnut was painted over with brown paint

The felt,pockets and cushions are all bad and the rail sights are gone

 

[Hammy]

In my mind it's christmas morning anyway so I start stripping and sanding

Im in the garage every night till midnite,then reading till 1 or 2

 

[Hammy]

Im staining and sanding and applying finish all weekend(s)

I bought simonis,brunswick superspeed,feather strips,pockets,and centenial balls.I keep reading and rereading.Im 500 over the budget but lie my ass off without even flinching.

After 3 weeks of late nites its worse than christmas morning, Im doing the pee pee dance wanting to play pool right now!

Too bad Marv! you gotta move a wall in the basement, install some steel so you can move the stupid pole thats in the way

 

[Marie's husband]

Glen,

Thought I would only ever get to play on one of the tables that you worked on was if I made the two hour drive to Malarky's, but looking at the pics on post #121. I realized that was a gentlemen's house on Whidbey Island that I played at a couple of months ago and wow, you do a great job.

I really just want to say thank you for the attention to detail and quality product you give to the customer. Keep up the great work.

Thank You
Paul

 

[Hammy]

I finally gather everything needed to try to put this baby together.I had been rereading everything I could find on the subject(most of it here) and had the confidence to give it a good try.

I spent all day saturday on assembly and leveling.By 3am i had the felt on.Sunday I covered the rails and (10 more hours) finished!

I think it spent some time in a pool hall, look at all the cigarette burns.Also the #s on the frame dont match the slate.

 

[Hammy]

Im in heaven and owe the members here who share their expertise a huge debt of gratitude.The main lesson of attention to detail really helped me do the best job I could.The old girl rolls straight and plays great.

Marv Swanson

 

[realkingcobra]

Glen,

Thought I would only ever get to play on one of the tables that you worked on was if I made the two hour drive to Malarky's, but looking at the pics on post #121. I realized that was a gentlemen's house on Whidbey Island that I played at a couple of months ago and wow, you do a great job.

I really just want to say thank you for the attention to detail and quality product you give to the customer. Keep up the great work.

Thank You
Paul

You know Brad?...it's a small world buddy, glad you liked it

Glen

 

[realkingcobra]

Im in heaven and owe the members here who share their expertise a huge debt of gratitude.The main lesson of attention to detail really helped me do the best job I could.The old girl rolls straight and plays great.

Marv Swanson

Marv, you did a great job buddy...now go back and take all them shims out from under the feet of the table and place them between the frame and pedistal where they're bolted down to the leg stand...frame level from there and you won't see any shims under the feet

Good job otherwise...I'll give turn you green for that one


Glen

 

[Hammy]

Ty for the compliment.This is such difficult work I cant imagine how hard it would be to do for a living and Im a roofer! Im glad I did it but doubt I could ever do it again.

I originaly tried to shim the way you suggest but the floor dropped so far that the frame to leg bolts wouldnt reach. I had made new feet while working on the legs,but wound up adding 2 of the old ones back underneath in addition to the shims.This was when I was really wishing for some real experience.

Thanks again for sharing knowledge and beers on me if any of you are in the northwest pennsylvania area.

Marv

 

[Marie's husband]

Glen,

I met Brad through this forum and he is a heck of a nice guy to invite me to his home to play. A real nice guy that just loves the game of one pocket so we spent 4-5 hours playing and I can tell you, he really loves his table and takes care of it very well in which I don't blame him one bit.

And Yes, its surprising how small of a world it actually is.

As for the table that was refinished in the photos above, Nice Job!

Thanks
Paul