Gold Crown Ball Return Question

elvicash

elvicash

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know of a pool room which is removing their GCII ball returns. I want to buy one and they asked me what they are worth and I did not know. I thought I saw some on for sale a while back around a hundred bucks or so.
This would be for a system with gulleys and the ball box everything but the pocket liners. What these go for if anyone knows. They probably have 6 or more sets I only want to buy one set. Oh yeah they are not in pickup distance so I will have to have it shipped as well.

What suggestions does anyone have for pocket liners. I have a GCII myself. I want a reliable ball return which does not damage or mark balls in any way. I noticed a post on GCIII pockets leaving black marks on the balls.

Any and all help appreciated.
 
I just switched over to the drop pockets, I prefer them. I did some research and if you can buy a set for $100 that is a good deal. I just traded mine for some GCIII pockets which would have cost around $130. I did not like the noise and walking down to the end of the table to get the balls. Tom
 
I too have taken my ball returns out on my home GCIII because of all the noise it makes. I replaced then with GC dropped pockets with the low profile lip.

I still like using the ball return box, and if you can get the whole thing for 100 I'd think that's more than fair and good that you can find the ball tray since it does still come in handy and I'd think many would want to keep them.
 
poolandpokerman said:
I just switched over to the drop pockets, I prefer them. I did some research and if you can buy a set for $100 that is a good deal. I just traded mine for some GCIII pockets which would have cost around $130. I did not like the noise and walking down to the end of the table to get the balls. Tom
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You prefer walking all the way around? I don't follow your logic!
 
I like the ball returns. Probably because the first tables I played on had them. I've never had any ball damage from them. I think that ball damage comes from protruding nail heads in the liners. A good table mechanic will make sure that that doesn't happen.

Dave Nelson
 
Walking around the Table ?

I hate walking around a table to take balls out of the drop pockets. Plus, to empty pockets when shooting at a full pocket. There is nothing better then a ball return system on a table.
My table ball return system is rubber coated so that there is no noise. I know that the Brunswick ball return is hard wire which does make noise. I have seen a table mechanic take rubber tubing & sliced it placing it over the wire. This cut the noise out.
 
Black-Balled said:
You prefer walking all the way around? I don't follow your logic!
Click to expand...

Depends on what game you're playing. If you're playing one pocket and put a ball in the front corner and you're shooting at the head end of the table, you have to walk to the back of the table to pull the ball out. Basically any game in which you will be pulling balls out of pockets to spot them it makes more sense to have drop pockets. If you're talking about 8/9/10/14.1 ball as your primary games having the return can make more sense.

Brian
 
The ball return came with my Cold Crown III I bought new about 20 years ago. When the table was installed by Brunswick technicians they placed a dab of carnauba wax in each pocket and a few dabs on the long returns where the balls would roll.

After six (?) months or so I noticed a few black spots on some of the Centennial balls. I replaced the wax with some new dabs and did not have a problem. Over the years I have tried other approaches and have found that Pledge works well on the return rails. Wiping them down periodically with Pledge is sufficient. About every 100 (?) hours or monthly I need to replace the Carnauba wax with a fresh dab in the pockets. I have also learned that it is good to wipe the wax in the back of the pockets where a hard shot will make the ball strike the back of the pocket.

Carnauba wax is the primary ingredient in several paste waxes for automobiles and for floor wax such as Johnson's paste wax. It is not difficult to come by. Placing wax in the pockets is just part of the table maintenance.

There are no “nails” in the pocket liners. There are offset allen head screws that should be embedded at least 1/2” deep against a metal retainer. These screws do not loosen if they are properly installed.

I have noticed that over five years or so a few of the pockets developed small tears where they stretched over time to span the pocket. These tears in the base of the pockets are not visible. The small tears have been in the pockets for over ten years and in a sense make the pocket liner form fit to the table. I mark and return each pocket liner to its original place when I recover the table. While there are a few tears here and there they have not affected the ball returns in over 15 years of use.

Depending on how you install the return rails the balls may strike the walls of the inside of the table skirting. At one point I tried lining the inside walls and the ball return box with felt to deaden the sound. I learned two things. If the rails are properly installed the felt on the inside rails is not needed as the rails are deep enough to hold a ball that falls into it. A ¼” thick piece of felt in the ball return is sufficient to deaden the sound of balls falling into the box. The box needs to be securely fastened and level so the balls do not roll out of the box onto the floor.

Personally I will always have the ball return and would buy one if needed. It takes longer to describe the maintenance than it does to perform it. Take your time installing and the ball return will be more than worth the money and time invested.
:grin:

BTW on days I am feeling lazy, I just wipe and clean the pockets with a dab of Pledge on a terrycloth towel. This works well for a few days of use. For those who think that you should not place wax on the balls I have found that the balls have very little wax on them. Perhaps it wipes off as they roll or strike the pockets. In addition, cleaning the balls with Aramith ball cleaner places more wax on the balls than the table maintenance waxing. In any case it is usally best to let any waxed system dry for a few hours before using or the wax is easily transferred.
 
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btoneill said:
Depends on what game you're playing. If you're playing one pocket and put a ball in the front corner and you're shooting at the head end of the table, you have to walk to the back of the table to pull the ball out. Basically any game in which you will be pulling balls out of pockets to spot them it makes more sense to have drop pockets. If you're talking about 8/9/10/14.1 ball as your primary games having the return can make more sense.

Brian
Click to expand...

You still gotta walk down to the spot end of the table in your example! Plus, if you are at the foot end and put a ball into the head pocket, it comes to you! At the spottin end too! Imagine that!

Sorry, but I am never going to accept the 'hate to walk' excuse for choosing drop pockets...noise, just another thing to go wrong, sure, but too much walking? Never!!!
 
elvicash said:
I know of a pool room which is removing their GCII ball returns. I want to buy one and they asked me what they are worth and I did not know. I thought I saw some on for sale a while back around a hundred bucks or so.
This would be for a system with gulleys and the ball box everything but the pocket liners. What these go for if anyone knows. They probably have 6 or more sets I only want to buy one set. Oh yeah they are not in pickup distance so I will have to have it shipped as well.

What suggestions does anyone have for pocket liners. I have a GCII myself. I want a reliable ball return which does not damage or mark balls in any way. I noticed a post on GCIII pockets leaving black marks on the balls.

Any and all help appreciated.
Click to expand...

You need the ball return pockets too! You can send them back your drop pockets. They will need those for their table.
 
elvicash said:
I know of a pool room which is removing their GCII ball returns. I want to buy one and they asked me what they are worth and I did not know. I thought I saw some on for sale a while back around a hundred bucks or so.
This would be for a system with gulleys and the ball box everything but the pocket liners. What these go for if anyone knows. They probably have 6 or more sets I only want to buy one set. Oh yeah they are not in pickup distance so I will have to have it shipped as well.

What suggestions does anyone have for pocket liners. I have a GCII myself. I want a reliable ball return which does not damage or mark balls in any way. I noticed a post on GCIII pockets leaving black marks on the balls.

Any and all help appreciated.
Click to expand...

They are referred to as gully pockets. Pocket liners are different then gully boots the crowns use. You can find them here. http://www.classicbilliards.net/html/antiquepooltablepartsbilliardp.htm

John
 
Thanks for all the info, I hope I get this return it would enhance my 14.1 playing for sure.

BTW- I spoke to Ken at Classic Billiard products (410) 256-8388 he had a lot of expert knowledge and gulley liners in stock. I just need the system now.

Next step getting it on the table. Local installer wants 375 to install it, I think i can do it myself has anyone on here ever installed one?
 
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