How do I stay away from hack installers?

B

Baby PacMan

My bias makes me RIGHT!
Silver Member
I plan to upgrade my pool table (from a Sears special to a Olhausen, probably Belmont) in about 3 or 4 months. Well, after looking at the hackwork thread it's kinda got me worried. How do I know I won't end up with an install that will leave me with something worthy of that hackwork thread.

I plan in buying from Seyberts because I see they are pretty popular as far as their cues, but are their mechanics equally as skilled? I have no idea. What if I ended up with a hackjob, why would I want to call Seyberts back if they screwed it up in the first place? How can I make sure the right person does the job the first time around? Unless the mechanics from Seyberts hang out on this board.
 
There is the Mechanics sticky thread in this section and you could also ask for a good installer for your area in this thread when you are ready.

I'm sure between Dartman and RKC (among others), someone would know a reputable installer near you. I went with a "friend of a friend" who has been doing this work for 30 years and he did a good job, it's tight and all, but I wish I had gone with Dartman's reccomendation as I have stretch marks on the slate that kinda drive me nuts, heh.
 
Baby PacMan said:
I plan to upgrade my pool table (from a Sears special to a Olhausen, probably Belmont) in about 3 or 4 months. Well, after looking at the hackwork thread it's kinda got me worried. How do I know I won't end up with an install that will leave me with something worthy of that hackwork thread.

I plan in buying from Seyberts because I see they are pretty popular as far as their cues, but are their mechanics equally as skilled? I have no idea. What if I ended up with a hackjob, why would I want to call Seyberts back if they screwed it up in the first place? How can I make sure the right person does the job the first time around? Unless the mechanics from Seyberts hang out on this board.
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do your research, find your mechanic and request him when your purchase the table. This is a great way for the mechanics to build a relationship with retailers. Also, you can contact Glen Hancock, he knows everyone, he's willing to help and he doesn't charge anyone, the consumer or the mechanic.
 
sdbilliards said:
do your research, find your mechanic and request him when your purchase the table. This is a great way for the mechanics to build a relationship with retailers. Also, you can contact Glen Hancock, he knows everyone, he's willing to help and he doesn't charge anyone, the consumer or the mechanic.
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Can that be done? Request a mechanic despite being purchased from a store. I know they have in house mechanics at Seyberts, who handle both delivery and installation. Who does delivery if I request an outside installer?
 
Baby PacMan said:
Can that be done? Request a mechanic despite being purchased from a store. I know they have in house mechanics at Seyberts, who handle both delivery and installation. Who does delivery if I request an outside installer?
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Many manufacturer's won't honor the warranty unless the tables are installed by the dealer. You'll want to ask.

If that's the case, you'll want to educate yourself about what you should and shouldn't see when observing the install (which you should do regardless of who you have do it).
 
Baby PacMan said:
Can that be done? Request a mechanic despite being purchased from a store. I know they have in house mechanics at Seyberts, who handle both delivery and installation. Who does delivery if I request an outside installer?
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You can pay Seyberts for delivery or make that arrangement with an independent installer. I doubt Seyberts is going to offer names of outside installers so you're probably stuck making your own arrangements if you choose not to use their service. Seyberts is a respected operation and will most likely do a good job.
 
QuickEdward said:
Many manufacturer's won't honor the warranty unless the tables are installed by the dealer. You'll want to ask.

If that's the case, you'll want to educate yourself about what you should and shouldn't see when observing the install (which you should do regardless of who you have do it).
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Yeah, I checked Olhausen's warrantym and that's exactly it. ". This Lifetime Warranty is void if the Product is not installed and serviced by Olhausen or its Authorized Dealer or Agent."

I guess I'll just let Seyberts handle it.
 
Baby PacMan said:
Yeah, I checked Olhausen's warrantym and that's exactly it. ". This Lifetime Warranty is void if the Product is not installed and serviced by Olhausen or its Authorized Dealer or Agent."

I guess I'll just let Seyberts handle it.
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They will most likely do a good job. I'd suggest you read the whole Olhausen warranty and determine if it (dealer install) needs to be a major focus of your purchase. Generally speaking a good quality table (like Olhausen) tends to hold up just fine over time when properly installed.

On a side note I got a chuckle watching the "white glove" install video by BilliardEx using a carpenters level on slate setup.
 
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One thing to watch for: It is possible with at least some Olhausen models (and possibly all of them and other brands as well) to install the table out of square. This happened to me, it was very subtle, and it took me about six months to figure out what didn't seem to be quite right. The installers were very embarrassed and apologetic when they returned to fix it, and also out a good bit of time since it's a 50-mile one way trip from their shop to my house.

Measurements perpendicular to the rails on each side and end of the table will detect a table that is trapezoidal, but not one that is a parallelogram. You need to measure both diagonals from pocket corner to pocket corner to detect the latter, and that will also detect the former.
 
jwpretd said:
One thing to watch for: It is possible with at least some Olhausen models (and possibly all of them and other brands as well) to install the table out of square. This happened to me, it was very subtle, and it took me about six months to figure out what didn't seem to be quite right. The installers were very embarrassed and apologetic when they returned to fix it, and also out a good bit of time since it's a 50-mile one way trip from their shop to my house.

Measurements perpendicular to the rails on each side and end of the table will detect a table that is trapezoidal, but not one that is a parallelogram. You need to measure both diagonals from pocket corner to pocket corner to detect the latter, and that will also detect the former.
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I'll remember that when it comes time.
 
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