Cloth Reversal?

Das Cue-Boot

Das Cue-Boot

Active member
I’m working with a non profit to get a donated table set up. I’ve gotten it pretty level, within about unit on my engineers level which is about all that makes sense on a floor that isn’t as stable as you would like. Did a demonstration with my 0.05 mm/m EDA level showing that two people standing near the corner of the table noticeably threw off the level, so it didn’t make sense to get it absolutely perfect.

Anyway, they are short on funds and want to use the back side of the original cloth. Has anyone seen this done? Is it an acceptable idea or should I just spring for a Championship Mercury class cloth for them? I would appreciate some experienced opinions. Thanks.
 
Simonis isn't designed to be used on both sides and I have flipped it head to foot. No issues at all.

Your duty of care is admirable. Given your description of the situation, fuggit.

Flip it and don't rip it!
 
I've heard talk of one pool hall that did this. It was a thread here on AZ somewhere. Try it. What do you have to lose except your time?

The Mercury Ultra isn't a bad choice. It's pretty good stuff for the money... it's only $125 for a 7 foot.
 
Das Cue-Boot said:
I’m working with a non profit to get a donated table set up. I’ve gotten it pretty level, within about unit on my engineers level which is about all that makes sense on a floor that isn’t as stable as you would like. Did a demonstration with my 0.05 mm/m EDA level showing that two people standing near the corner of the table noticeably threw off the level, so it didn’t make sense to get it absolutely perfect.

Anyway, they are short on funds and want to use the back side of the original cloth. Has anyone seen this done? Is it an acceptable idea or should I just spring for a Championship Mercury class cloth for them? I would appreciate some experienced opinions. Thanks.
Click to expand...
To ask this question, I’m assuming the level of players that will be playing on this table won’t really notice or care, so if you can’t afford the new cloth and the used cloth is in decent condition, go ahead and try it.

For tables that have not been cleaned and vacuumed regularly, the underside of the cloth is usually filthy with chalk dust, so I’d highly suggest taking it outside and with one person holding it on each end, shake it out as good as you can.

Whenever we recover our tables in our pool room, there is almost always someone that sees what’s going on and asks us what we do with our used cloth and if they can have it.
 
Thanks to JimMorrisson and muskyed. I’m going to go in tomorrow morning and finish up the job with one of the other guys, then plan on playing a couple racks to see how it works. I’ve already offered to buy new cloth if it doesn’t, so we’ll decide then.

To ChrisinNC’s point, they probably won’t notice or care if they do. I’ll keep everyone posted.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and support.
 
I used to play (10-odd years ago) with the ex-coach of the UoT billiards. He said that during the semester break, they would remove the cloth, wash it, and then redo the tables for the spring semester.

I do not know what kind of cloth it was.
 
I played at Pearl City Cue Hawaii back in the 90s and I remember them flipping the cloth 1 time and the table played fine but it took some getting used to mentally. After a couple months they flipped it to the proper side that was when we realized that the installer put it on upside down.
 
Thanks to everyone for their help, and especially to those who offered to donate toward new cloth. This was, by the way, for the local VFW hall. As it turned out, the cloth on the donated table we set up was very lightly used and a little faded, so we went with keeping it on the same side, and kept the same rails so that the colors matched. I had a little problem with some of the previous installation cuts around pockets, had to do a minor super glue job to repair a small rip at the mouth of a corner pocket and take an unscheduled trip to Ace Hardware to pick up replacement bolts that somehow got lost on disassembly, but came out fine. Leveled pretty well in spite of a slightly slanted and not absolutely solid floor, within one marking on my Starrett 98 equivalent level. Plays much better than the old 7 foot coin op, so the manager is thrilled with it all. Saved them a ton of money since the neared outfit that does these is over an hour away down the Venison Highway, and would have charged them the cost of new cloth just for transportation.

And they covered my beer tab, so it was all worth it.
 
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