Gold Crown III makeover

Albatross Cues

Albatross Cues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
First off I would like to thank RKC for all he has put into posting on this site, along with the other mechanics and posts over the years I was able to create the table of my dreams and have something to be proud to play on. It took some research and some time but I got it finished in about a week after work was done for the day.

It started out as just a standard GCIII, that someone decided to put the GCI ashtrays into. I am the third owner of the table and moved it into the room just a month before. I set the table up and restretched the cloth back on. The Table had Simonis 760 installed the wrong side up as you can see from the rails. Cleaned the cloth and flipped it over until the new cloth, rails and castings could get over here to Hawaii. Got to play on the table a while and let it settle into its new home before the final set up.

As you can see from the pictures the pockets were huge, and the angles of the pockets like to rattle balls driven down the rails. Just in the month I got to play on it like this was frustrating enough. Here are some pics of the process as it unfolded.
 
Rails at the corners, you can see the old rail cloth still on upside down. Someone did not know which way the cloth was to go. The original owner said this was done in 2001 and it was the second time the table had been recovered.
 
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Old worn out facings on the rails. I need to learn how to turn these pictures around.

I are only a diesel mechanic and not a computer wiz.lol
 
Here is after I cut the extensions and had them in place on one corner pocket. I cut the old rails and used them for a mock up to check the pocket opening before continuing on the rest of the pockets. I ordered in 1/8" and 3/16" pocket facings as I was not sure exactly what I wanted at the time of ordering the parts.

Set the Angle to 141 degree, 15 degree down angle with 1/8" pocket facings. Making the opening 4.250"...or just a smige under by the mic.

As I wanted to use the 3/16" facing I need to take these down just a little more, but it allowed me to mark them and get a pattern for the other rails. By the way, why is the left and right sides on all the corner pocket different angles from the factory. This pocket started out with 147+ on one side and 145 on the other. No wonder it played so crappy.
 
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Install all the sub rail extensions and check the pocket openings and then install the new Diamond cushions and prepare for the final stretch.
 
Cloth on the rails, after making new Featherstrips. I forgot to order them in so I made some for now. Next time I re lots the table I will just order in the original one for the table. But these will work for now...I hope.LOL
 
I made these to finish out the pockets using thumb tacks and plastic pipe hager from HD. Spray glue the tacks and the cloth to the plastic piece and fold the cloth over. May not be the professional way to do it but it is what Inhad to work with. I guess I will see how it holds up.
 
Here is what they looked like in the pockets. Came out OK...will work for now and it hides the fact that this is only the third time I have installed cloth on a table. Got to learn as I go I guess.
 
Finished product. The corners came out to 4.267 - 4.278, smallest to biggest. The sides were 4.857 and 4.865. The down angle came out to 15 degree, the sides were 102, and 141 for the corners. I am just amazed how different this table plays compared to what it was.

Again I would like to thank the mechanics on this forum for all the posts over the years. You have allowed a Hack like me to experience this process on my own and make a table I can be proud of. Thank you all.

Next time I am going to see I RKC will fly to Hawaii to do this right.

Now it's time to practice for the Mosconi cup team.LOL...to be continued...
 
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Albatross Cues said:
Side pockets after the sub rail extension.
Click to expand...

In most cases, the ear on the right side of the side pocket is longer than the left ear, which effects the centering of the side pocket on the slate. The facings need to run out far enough to cap the ends of the feather strip so there's no direct wood contact between the rail cloth and the end of the feather strip itself, as that'll create a wear point in the cloth later on. You did a great job your first time around so you should be proud of what you've done, but I think you've been watching my posts way to long....LMAO

Glen
 
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