buying a GC II need advice

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firehawk

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I'm getting ready to buy my first pool table. I've located a Brunswick Gold Crown II. The seller said he had "The Billiard Factory" installed new cushions (longer rails with 4.5" pockets) and cloth (Simonis 860) about 5 years ago. He doesn't know which brand cushions. Since I'm new to pool, the seller said I might want to have the pockets opened up a bit. What size pockets would you recommend for a complete beginner?

My local dealer, who sells Olhausen, would be setting up the table for me so I'm not sure if he is familiar with Gold Crowns. He mentioned accu-fast? cushions. I just don't want my GC to end up having the "Olhausen Rattle" that I've heard about... LOL. What brand cushions would you recommend?

Thanks!
 
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I'll be interested in hearing what the experts say about this also because I'm not sure Accufast rubber is the correct profile for a Gold Crown. And if it isn't then you might want to question anything this guy tells you. But like I said, I don't know for sure. But I play on "O"s at league and they seem different. For one thing, the cushion height seems different.
 
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firehawk said:
I'm getting ready to buy my first pool table. I've located a Brunswick Gold Crown II. The seller said he had "The Billiard Factory" installed new cushions (longer rails with 4.5" pockets) and cloth (Simonis 860) about 5 years ago. He doesn't know which brand cushions. Since I'm new to pool, the seller said I might want to have the pockets opened up a bit. What size pockets would you recommend for a complete beginner?

My local dealer, who sells Olhausen, would be setting up the table for me so I'm not sure if he is familiar with Gold Crowns. He mentioned accu-fast? cushions. I just don't want my GC to end up having the "Olhausen Rattle" that I've heard about... LOL. What brand cushions would you recommend?

Thanks!
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First of all, Accufast cushions have no business being installed on a Brunswick Gold Crown of ANY year or model. Second, the Billiard Factory has no idea what they're doing when working on rails, pockets or anything else besides installing pool tables....and even that is marginal at best;)
 
My research found the absolute best cushions for the GC is the Artemis Intercontinental #66, which is a K55 profile, the proper cushion for the Gold Crown. But if money is tight, there are a couple of other options. And you may not have to buy new rubber to make the pockets a little bigger. But again, you need guys that knows what he is doing to advise you on all this, and you can get that information here.

Where do you live? My advice if you want someone qualified to work on pockets, is to get some suggestions on here of who these guys would recommend to do that kind of work in your area.

I firmly believe you cannot underestimate the value of a good mechanic in having a table that plays correctly, especially if you are having pocket work done.
 
realkingcobra said:
First of all, Accufast cushions have no business being installed on a Brunswick Gold Crown of ANY year or model. Second, the Billiard Factory has no idea what they're doing when working on rails, pockets or anything else besides installing pool tables....and even that is marginal at best;)
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That's what I was afraid of. I might just order a new Diamond table and not have to worry.
 
Where are you located? There are several guys on here that can do makeovers on Gold Crown rails and make them play better than the day they left the factory. If no one is within driving distance the rails can be shipped!

We can tweak pocket angles and make pocket openings any dimension you desire. :thumbup:

If the Gold crown you are looking at already has 4.5" pockets, chances are it is double or triple shimmed :nono: and will play like crap. The subrails need to be extended and new cushions installed for it to be done the right way.

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JZMechanix said:
Where are you located? There are several guys on here that can do makeovers on Gold Crown rails and make them play better than the day they left the factory. If no one is within driving distance the rails can be shipped!

We can tweak pocket angles and make pocket openings any dimension you desire. :thumbup:

If the Gold crown you are looking at already has 4.5" pockets, chances are it is double or triple shimmed :nono: and will play like crap. The subrails need to be extended and new cushions installed for it to be done the right way.
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Although the OP did say the seller had longer rails installed.

But in any event, the OP is considering enlarging the pockets, not reducing them. Why would he need new rubber and have the subrails extended? If the table is indeed triple shimmed, can't he just have the installer take off all the existing shims and shim the table right? That way he ends up with 4 3/4 to 5" pockets without the extra cost of new rubber and labor for the rail work.

Thanks. I always learn something in these threads.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
Although the OP did say the seller had longer rails installed.

But in any event, the OP is considering enlarging the pockets, not reducing them. Why would he need new rubber and have the subrails extended? If the table is indeed triple shimmed, can't he just have the installer take off all the existing shims and shim the table right? That way he ends up with 4 3/4 to 5" pockets without the extra cost of new rubber and labor for the rail work.

Thanks. I always learn something in these threads.
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I agree, but he also mentioned maybe replacing the cushions. If by chance he wanted to stay with the 4.5" pocket, the right way to do it is to add subrail extensions, and not stack facings. 5" pockets are OK for a beginner, but he'll probably want them tightened up down the road. Might as well learn on 4.5" pockets. It will do nothing but improve his shotmaking.
 
JZMechanix said:
Where are you located? There are several guys on here that can do makeovers on Gold Crown rails and make them play better than the day they left the factory. If no one is within driving distance the rails can be shipped!

We can tweak pocket angles and make pocket openings any dimension you desire. :thumbup:

If the Gold crown you are looking at already has 4.5" pockets, chances are it is double or triple shimmed :nono: and will play like crap. The subrails need to be extended and new cushions installed for it to be done the right way.

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Thanks for the pics. The table I looked at must have been double/triple shimmed....I could actually see and feel the extensions through the cloth. I'm in Louisiana, btw.

For other reasons, I've decided to not buy that table.
 
JZMechanix said:
I agree, but he also mentioned maybe replacing the cushions. If by chance he wanted to stay with the 4.5" pocket, the right way to do it is to add subrail extensions, and not stack facings. 5" pockets are OK for a beginner, but he'll probably want them tightened up down the road. Might as well learn on 4.5" pockets. It will do nothing but improve his shotmaking.
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Thanks for the confirmation, I thought I might have been missing something. :thumbup:

BTW, I agree on keeping the 4.5" pockets. Especially since the OP said he might just buy a Diamond instead.

In any event, the OP passed.
 
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