Finally able to get a table - HELP me pick one!

D_Lewis said:
Ive been trying to justify to Mrs Dan that our house is feeling a little cramped just so I can upsize to get a table. We have a 3 bedroom home but its long and skinny, no table for me. Only one room in my house where I could fit a table currently and it is occupied by our bed. :(

If I were you, Id get a valley 7ft table and have it redone to tighten up the pockets a bit. I considered that in my basement but decided I wanted a 9ft table since we play on them exclusively.

Post pics when you have everything set up!

Congratulations again!
Click to expand...

Well, if your dream table is a Diamond 7' table, then that is probably what you should buy. I've now bought two tables, both used, both play great (edit: the valley WILL play great soon - ha ha). One is a 9' Diamond pro and the other is a 7' older valley bar box. The 7' diamond may be a bit more challenging to source in the used market, but patience may be the order of the day.

Having said that, I picked up my 7' valley on Craigslist for a mere $100. It was too good of a deal to pass up. I wasn't in the market for a second table, but for that price I thought what the hell? I'm going to have a new set of rails made by Ridgeback Rails. They can make special order rails for a mere $35 or so upcharge (for tightening pockets, etc.). Great product from the reviews I've read here. You can read them for yourself if you do a search here. Anyway, after the $100 purchase price, $166 for new tourney blue simonis 860, and brand new rails, I'll have just a mere $465 or so invested in the whole deal. Not to bad, imo.

To sum up, deals are out there, just look and have patience.

Cheers.
 
Just last night I was invited to play with a couple of friends on a couple of new Global 8' bar tables..
They have small pockets and played well so they may be a better buy than the valley table.
 
jalapus logan said:
Well, if your dream table is a Diamond 7' table, then that is probably what you should buy. I've now bought two tables, both used, both play great (edit: the valley WILL play great soon - ha ha). One is a 9' Diamond pro and the other is a 7' older valley bar box. The 7' diamond may be a bit more challenging to source in the used market, but patience may be the order of the day.

Having said that, I picked up my 7' valley on Craigslist for a mere $100. It was too good of a deal to pass up. I wasn't in the market for a second table, but for that price I thought what the hell? I'm going to have a new set of rails made by Ridgeback Rails. They can make special order rails for a mere $35 or so upcharge (for tightening pockets, etc.). Great product from the reviews I've read here. You can read them for yourself if you do a search here. Anyway, after the $100 purchase price, $166 for new tourney blue simonis 860, and brand new rails, I'll have just a mere $465 or so invested in the whole deal. Not to bad, imo.

To sum up, deals are out there, just look and have patience.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

OK! I'm thinking your $465 Valley with Simonis 860 and Ridgeback rails is my new starter dream table. I'm buying into possibly knocking down a pillar and putting a 9' footer in (maybe Diamond Professional...), but that's definitely not going to happen until at least 10 yrs from now because I have other financial priorities.

I'm guessing that your table plays really nice! I'm also guessing that in general you just count on the ball rolling slower and bouncing of rails shorter when you play at the bar/league.
 
There have been several 9foot diamonds in your area over the last year around $2500 a pop... I would ask for a $3500 budget and get that pole moved and wait for the next 9foot to show it's head.
 
I agree, get rid of the pole and open up that space. If you don't you will always regret it. The table will always show up a little later.

I know, because I made the same mistake years ago when I finished off my basement.

The Renfro said:
There have been several 9foot diamonds in your area over the last year around $2500 a pop... I would ask for a $3500 budget and get that pole moved and wait for the next 9foot to show it's head.
Click to expand...
 
HomerJay20 said:
OK! I'm thinking your $465 Valley with Simonis 860 and Ridgeback rails is my new starter dream table. I'm buying into possibly knocking down a pillar and putting a 9' footer in (maybe Diamond Professional...), but that's definitely not going to happen until at least 10 yrs from now because I have other financial priorities.

I'm guessing that your table plays really nice! I'm also guessing that in general you just count on the ball rolling slower and bouncing of rails shorter when you play at the bar/league.
Click to expand...

Private message sent about the poles.
 
Do it right the 1st time. Deal with the pole or get a table to fit the space. Buy the best quality table you can...and use the best installers. Home tables are a lifetime of fun. Everyday is day one....the fun never gets old.
 
GoldCrown said:
Do it right the 1st time. Deal with the pole or get a table to fit the space. Buy the best quality table you can...and use the best installers. Home tables are a lifetime of fun. Everyday is day one....the fun never gets old.
Click to expand...

I do agree with this, but I do have 4 central poles in my basement and the center one is about 2.5' from the side pocket of my 9' Diamond. I had originally intended on replacing all of them with an I beam, but I got impatient and went ahead and set up the table anyway. That was four years ago. I play on this table almost daily and I'm quite satisfied with the result. Yes, I have a short cue. But it comes into play much less than one would imagine.

So the bottom line is certainly, yes, it would be better without the poles. But some people, such as myself, can indeed get by without modifying the structural support of their building. I'm just budget conscience, and others may be too.

Cheers...
 
jalapus logan said:
I do agree with this, but I do have 4 central poles in my basement and the center one is about 2.5' from the side pocket of my 9' Diamond. I had originally intended on replacing all of them with an I beam, but I got impatient and went ahead and set up the table anyway. That was four years ago. I play on this table almost daily and I'm quite satisfied with the result. Yes, I have a short cue. But it comes into play much less than one would imagine.

So the bottom line is certainly, yes, it would be better without the poles. But some people, such as myself, can indeed get by without modifying the structural support of their building. I'm just budget conscience, and others may be too.

Cheers...
Click to expand...

Budget conscience is definitely the word to describe my situation. I'm lucky that I'm able to even consider getting a table before other 'essentials' like family room & living room furniture. If I want to remove the column and get a dream table, it will be at least 10 years from now. Just trust me on that. Here's the space. 26' x 12' straight at you, but the opening with the column is 14'. Take the column out and the space it 14' x 19' going the other way. You can see a couple of markers I laid down for a 3.5 x 7 playing field.
 

Attachments

  • Basement.jpg
    Basement.jpg
    28.7 KB · Views: 194
HomerJay20 said:
Budget conscience is definitely the word to describe my situation. I'm lucky that I'm able to even consider getting a table before other 'essentials' like family room & living room furniture. If I want to remove the column and get a dream table, it will be at least 10 years from now. Just trust me on that. Here's the space. 26' x 12' straight at you, but the opening with the column is 14'. Take the column out and the space it 14' x 19' going the other way. You can see a couple of markers I laid down for a 3.5 x 7 playing field.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmmmmm. Perhaps Real King Cobra can weigh in on this and give some good advice. You've certainly got some good options available.
 
I had a pole moved 3 feet to accommodate a 9'r.
Anyway, A table with a pole is better than no table. My feelings on a smaller table are...you will not have less fun with it. You will enjoy it.
 
GoldCrown said:
I had a pole moved 3 feet to accommodate a 9'r.
Anyway, A table with a pole is better than no table. My feelings on a smaller table are...you will not have less fun with it. You will enjoy it.
Click to expand...

I have to add that I've loved the game all my life, but I really got addicted about 8 years ago when I played in a 9 ball league at BJ's Diamond Mine in Cleveland (all diamonds of course, but it's gone now). I am very, very, very far from being good. Since I never had a table, I'd have to run up to the bar or bowling alley to get my fix which didn't happen often enough. It will be a long time before I'm proficient on a 7' and that might in time for me to consider removing the pole and getting a 9' Diamond Professional. Boy - my 3 yr old better get a scholarship to college to help daddy addiction...
 
Thank you guy for the positive referrals. I appreciate that.

Quick question though, and forgive me if I missed it earlier in the post. Do you have walk-out access into this basement? I'm not saying a 7' would be out of the question, but they do recommend ground floor installation only on those tables, since they are 1-piece slate.

I'd hate for you to go to the trouble of knocking out a pole and then not be able to get a 9' down the stairs! :)

I replied to your e-mail earlier, so keep in touch, but I'd want to know more about the entry into the area. That COULD influence your table decision.
 
Club Billiards said:
Thank you guy for the positive referrals. I appreciate that.

Quick question though, and forgive me if I missed it earlier in the post. Do you have walk-out access into this basement? I'm not saying a 7' would be out of the question, but they do recommend ground floor installation only on those tables, since they are 1-piece slate.

I'd hate for you to go to the trouble of knocking out a pole and then not be able to get a 9' down the stairs! :)

I replied to your e-mail earlier, so keep in touch, but I'd want to know more about the entry into the area. That COULD influence your table decision.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I do NOT have walkout access to the basement. You enter the house from the garage and look right, picture 1 below is what you are seeing. The second picture shows you the landing from the other side. Sorry for the quality of the pictures. I'll get better ones when we actually take possession of the place a week from now.
 

Attachments

  • BasementEntrance2.jpg
    BasementEntrance2.jpg
    20.4 KB · Views: 159
Last edited:
I wish I had to make that choice ...

As a kid, growing up in rural Illinois, I was fortunate to live in a
pre-Civil War country home large enough to accommodate a
5' x 10' table in the parlor.

My father installed a 5' x 10' Brunswick "Kling" long before my birth
(I had three older sisters) and I was not allowed to "mess" with it until
my 8th birthday, when I was tall enough to actually stroke the cue in
a normal manner and not using the side-stroke method. The only games
we ever learned or played were Rotation and Straight Pool.

Now, at 69 yrs. of age, I long to own one of those magnificent tables
but have no rooms large enough for it.

I am very happy for you and certainly hope you find just the right
table. Remember, you never have to make excuses for quality, so
please buy the very finest table you can afford. It will serve you well.

Best Regards and Enjoy, Howard
 
HomerJay20 said:
Unfortunately, I do NOT have walkout access to the basement. You enter the house from the garage and look right, picture 1 below is what you are seeing. The second picture shows you the landing from the other side. Sorry for the quality of the pictures. I'll get better ones when we actually take possession of the place a week from now.
Click to expand...

The first picture didn't show up for me, but I can tell you from the second picture that a Pro-Am would have to be completely disassembled to make the turn into your basement and you would probably have to order it with a 3-piece slate.

The Diamond Hortensia you mentioned in your e-mail may be a better option for you, although you won't be NEAR as likely to find one used. You'd probably end up having to order that one new.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top