Diamond Pro - Loud Pockets & Replacement Pockets

Patrick Johnson

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day
Silver Member
I recently picked up a used Diamond Pro for my house. It's nice looking (refinished oak), but it has two problems:

1. It needs new pockets. The webbed leather pockets that came with it seem to be too small - they get stretched out of shape when the webbing is attached to the frame. They're also attached with threaded screw holes that are stripped out. Diamond answered my email question by saying a new set of pockets would cost $240.

Question: Can I trust that any replacement pockets from Diamond will fit (they say so) or do I have to specify the age/model of the table to be sure? Can they be replaced without removing the rails/skirts?

2. The pockets are too loud (yep, you heard me right). Pocketed balls slam into the wood skirts behind the leather and make a really loud bang so I don't want to play at night while others are sleeping. Is this normal with Diamonds? What can be done? I've tried taping some 1/8" sheet rubber between the pocket and the skirt, but that only helps some. Is thicker rubber the only way to solve this?

Thanks in advance,

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I recently picked up a used Diamond Pro for my house. It's nice looking (refinished oak), but it has two problems:

1. It needs new pockets. The webbed leather pockets that came with it seem to be too small - they get stretched out of shape when the webbing is attached to the frame. They're also attached with threaded screw holes that are stripped out. Diamond answered my email question by saying a new set of pockets would cost $240.

Question: Can I trust that any replacement pockets from Diamond will fit (they say so) or do I have to specify the age/model of the table to be sure? Can they be replaced without removing the rails/skirts?

2. The pockets are too loud (yep, you heard me right). Pocketed balls slam into the wood skirts behind the leather and make a really loud bang so I don't want to play at night while others are sleeping. Is this normal with Diamonds? What can be done? I've tried taping some 1/8" sheet rubber between the pocket and the skirt, but that only helps some. Is thicker rubber the only way to solve this?

Thanks in advance,

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
How old is the table? What ser# is the table? I'll answer all your questions when I get to Vegas in about 4 hrs.

Glen
 
JimS said:
I didn't know that a serial number existed. Where is it?
Click to expand...
On the bottom of the rails, and the inside of the side skirt/blinds.

Glen

PS. ALL Diamond tables have serial nbrs.
 
realkingcobra said:
How old is the table? What ser# is the table? I'll answer all your questions when I get to Vegas in about 4 hrs.

Glen
Click to expand...
I don't know how old it is, Glen, and the only number I find on the inside of the side skirts is a handpainted "208" near both side pockets. Is that what you're talking about?

Thanks,

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I recently picked up a used Diamond Pro for my house. It's nice looking (refinished oak), but it has two problems:

1. It needs new pockets. The webbed leather pockets that came with it seem to be too small - they get stretched out of shape when the webbing is attached to the frame. They're also attached with threaded screw holes that are stripped out. Diamond answered my email question by saying a new set of pockets would cost $240.

Question: Can I trust that any replacement pockets from Diamond will fit (they say so) or do I have to specify the age/model of the table to be sure? Can they be replaced without removing the rails/skirts?

2. The pockets are too loud (yep, you heard me right). Pocketed balls slam into the wood skirts behind the leather and make a really loud bang so I don't want to play at night while others are sleeping. Is this normal with Diamonds? What can be done? I've tried taping some 1/8" sheet rubber between the pocket and the skirt, but that only helps some. Is thicker rubber the only way to solve this?

Thanks in advance,

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
OK, first of all, yes...you have to remove the rails and separate them from the side skirts in order to remove the pockets. Because of the length and angle of the side skirts you can't remove the screws that attach the pockets very well.

Next, replacing the pockets. You'd be better off sending the pockets back to Diamond so they can either match up the new pockets with the old ones, or use your old pocket liners, and replace the leather webbing on them, then return them to you.

As far as dampening the sound of the balls going into the pockets, lining the pockets with rubber will dampen the sound a little, but not much, because solid rubber does little to absorb the hit of the ball so to speak, you'd be better off using some kind of sponge material, it has more of cushioning effect when the balls hit the back of the pockets. I'm sure that if you look in the cleaning area of your local supermarket, you'll find all kinds of sponges that'll work, you may have to experiment a little at first....but that's what I'd do.

Glen
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I don't know how old it is, Glen, and the only number I find on the inside of the side skirts is a handpainted "208" near both side pockets. Is that what you're talking about?

Thanks,

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
Yes, and #208 is old, back maybe 20 years or so. That's why you need to send the pockets back to Diamond and have them match them up. It'll save you many weeks, or months of frustration and confusion...trust me!

Glen
 
Quiet pockets

2. The pockets are too loud (yep, you heard me right). Pocketed balls slam into the wood skirts behind the leather and make a really loud bang so I don't want to play at night while others are sleeping. Is this normal with Diamonds? What can be done? I've tried taping some 1/8" sheet rubber between the pocket and the skirt, but that only helps some. Is thicker rubber the only way to solve this?

Had the same issue. I used appropriately sized squares cut from a thin, but densely woven commercial carpet. Problem solved.

_Rick
 
rikdee said:
2. The pockets are too loud (yep, you heard me right). Pocketed balls slam into the wood skirts behind the leather and make a really loud bang so I don't want to play at night while others are sleeping. Is this normal with Diamonds? What can be done? I've tried taping some 1/8" sheet rubber between the pocket and the skirt, but that only helps some. Is thicker rubber the only way to solve this?

Had the same issue. I used appropriately sized squares cut from a thin, but densely woven commercial carpet. Problem solved.

_Rick
Click to expand...
Carpeting works well too, but I like the sponge because it don't hold memory so to speak, carpeting over time will wear thin sooner or later, but...how long...who knows...LOL

Glen
 
Thanks a lot for the help, Glen. From what I hear about your work, I wish you were here to set it up for me a few months ago. Do you recommend anybody in Chicago?

pj
chgo
 
2. The pockets are too loud (yep, you heard me right). Pocketed balls slam into the wood skirts behind the leather and make a really loud bang so I don't want to play at night while others are sleeping. Is this normal with Diamonds? What can be done? I've tried taping some 1/8" sheet rubber between the pocket and the skirt, but that only helps some. Is thicker rubber the only way to solve this?

Had the same issue. I used appropriately sized squares cut from a thin, but densely woven commercial carpet. Problem solved.

_Rick

Carpeting works well too, but I like the sponge because it don't hold memory so to speak, carpeting over time will wear thin sooner or later, but...how long...who knows...LOL

Glen
Click to expand...

Thanks to both of you for the advice. I'll try one of these for sure.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Thanks a lot for the help, Glen. From what I hear about your work, I wish you were here to set it up for me a few months ago. Do you recommend anybody in Chicago?

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
ummm...no, but I'll be up in your neck of the woods around the end of this month hanging out with Ivan, at the Simonis distribution center for maybe 7-10 days if that helps at all.

Glen
 
Dartman said:
yaya, lol :D
Click to expand...
hahahaha...yeah, I know...but, I'll be done in the Vegas area by about the 20th, and Ivan's getting the film crew together shortly...and I made another deal that may go through with.....ummm, I'll tell ya later....but, you'll love it, and yes, it does benefit you too...LOL

Glen
 
bought some foam tubing, cut it open, the round forms fits around the pockets, and it is fixed in between the blinds and the upper part of the pockets.

perfect silence table now :) and other people in the appartment dont even hear when i'm playing
 

Attachments

  • S8003240.JPG
    S8003240.JPG
    29.5 KB · Views: 297
  • S8003241.JPG
    S8003241.JPG
    36.5 KB · Views: 295
  • S8003242.JPG
    S8003242.JPG
    29.3 KB · Views: 290
Solartje said:
bought some foam tubing, cut it open, the round forms fits around the pockets, and it is fixed in between the blinds and the upper part of the pockets.

perfect silence table now :) and other people in the appartment dont even hear when i'm playing
Click to expand...
That looks like the ticket alright, Solartje! Thanks for the advice and the pics.

Where do you get that stuff?

pj
chgo
 
Pat
Solarjte lives in Belgium, but I'm pretty sure you can get pipe insulation at Home Depot in Evanston

Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top