This one was a joke, but the general thing to avoid is ANYTHING getting between the cloth and the slate or the rails. The last table mechanic I had left a little tiny piece of wood between the cloth and the rails. It wouldn't have affected play, but I would have felt it bridging there. No good. Had to remove the rail, the cloth, the bit of wood and redo. Triple check the slate and the cloth before you put it down. Rub your hand over the entire surface to check for debris. The pros do this little cloth sweep back and forth maneuver. Just check it out carefully before you start stapling (or gluing).
Biggest mistakes made when reclothing a table
- Thread starter ktrepal85
- Start date
This one was a joke, but the general thing to avoid is ANYTHING getting between the cloth and the slate or the rails. The last table mechanic I had left a little tiny piece of wood between the cloth and the rails. It wouldn't have affected play, but I would have felt it bridging there. No good. Had to remove the rail, the cloth, the bit of wood and redo. Triple check the slate and the cloth before you put it down. Rub your hand over the entire surface to check for debris. The pros do this little cloth sweep back and forth maneuver. Just check it out carefully before you start stapling (or gluing).
The biggest mistake you can make is probably not hiring a professional to do it. I can't believe that someone can do it great the first time out. Maybe good, or adequate, but near perfect, that might be tough.
Hire the pro, watch him a like a hawk, pick up a few tips and give it a go next time
Hire the pro, watch him a like a hawk, pick up a few tips and give it a go next time
I would hire a mechanic if I had any faith in them. The one person around here screwed up the last 6 tables he did. The other person I know nothing about. It's not rocket science and I have faith in myself so I'm gonna give it a shot. You can't walk around being a pussy all the time even if it does cost you a few hundred dollars to redo it, I'd be glad I had the balls to try it!
I was just reading through this thread and planned on posting info needed...But you are correct....It is not rocket science...Glad your not a "pussy"....Best of luck :welcome:
HiJack on board....if I when I need my table serviced I'm calling you. You have a great rep for your quality workmanship.
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Next time I see him which should be in a couple weeks I will ask for more detail as I do plan on putting the 860 on my table when I redo it. He could have said "after" he put it on there initially and he just said wet it, not soak it.
When doing tables without stapling boards where contact cement is being used, I apply contact cement to the end and one side of the slate edges and to the corresponding areas of the cloth and let the cement get sticky first, (about twenty minutes) before applying and stretching the cloth. After it dries for several hours, I then apply contact cement to the other end and side of slate and cloth and stretch sideways and lengthwise after those areas have become sticky (another 20 minutes or so).
If you try it too soon, (not allowing the cement to stiffen up and get gooey) it will not hold the pressure and will let loose after a while.
After reading my directions I'm sure glad I don't have a job writing directions for installing anything. :sorry:
If you try it too soon, (not allowing the cement to stiffen up and get gooey) it will not hold the pressure and will let loose after a while.
After reading my directions I'm sure glad I don't have a job writing directions for installing anything. :sorry:
Who ever told you cloth shrinks up after being wet is full of BS, since when does wool, which is sheep hair, and nylon, like fishing string. ...shrink up after being wet?....heat shrinks wool and nylon, not moisture:rotflmao1:
you should have seen one of local mechs spraying the table surface with water all over, right after the cloth is stapled! He did that again just about a week ago in a local pool hall.
I recall there was an advice for Sardo rack (and a rack template) users who needed to redo the divots in the rack once they got loose - to add a drop of water into every divot and leave overnight, then when the cloth dried one could tap the template agin to have a tight rack back.
Makes me think water can return the cloth back to the original state (flat back from tapped). But probably not add to stretching, like you already noted
