..who have supported my work for all these years:grin: I've always felt that there's more to changing this industry than just doing the best I can when it comes to working on pool tables by myself. I feel that as important as it is to work with other table mechanics to raise there level of awareness to this line of work, it's just as important to make the public aware of this kind of work, and what really goes into it to make it right.
Through many of my posts I've tried to show all those interested...what really goes into making a table play right, what cloth installed right really looks like, what really goes into repairing rails to make them right, and what pocket facings look like...if they're installed right...in the effort to show all of you what this job looks like...when it's done right, so that someday if and when you have a pool table getting worked on....you're a little more aware of what goes on than the average table owner....to the point that when you ask a table mechanic to tighten up the pockets on your table for example...you know there's a right way...and a wrong way. And when the cloth is installed on the bed of your table...you can say, look at these pictures...Glen shows you step by step how to make the pockets look perfect...I want my pockets to look like that when you're done....can you do that?...if not...I'll find someone that can.
I've shown how to keep your slates from coming apart by using super glue in the seams....so when a table mechanic you're talking to about getting some work done on your table tells you...."no, I don't use super glue"...you know to pass on hiring that person.
Educate the public about this industry...and you start the creation of change in this industry....and believe me...it needs to be changed!
I strongly believe that no matter which pool room you walk into...if they have Gold Crowns...then you should be able to know how they play even before you rent the balls to start playing...but they don't. Same goes for Diamond tables.
I'm not pro Diamond or pro Brunswick...I'm pro "correct playing tables" Customers keep pool rooms open for business....business owners need to respect that fact...and be willing to give the customers what they're paying for..."correct playing tables"...even for the bangers, because they're paying customers as well...and without them...no pool room would survive in todays market.
Home owners deserve no less in quality of work, because they pay the highest prices to have work done on their pool tables believe me, yet get screwed over the most for the dollar and not just by hack table mechanics....but by retail stores as well. I mean think about it, some of the tables they sell are just junk....but never fear...some home owner will buy it...and later on down the road...instead of being sold again it'll get thrown away....either that, or another unsuspecting home owner will buy it, and hire a table mechanic to move it to it's new location...then PAY to have it "Fixed up"
I've said over and over...when you're looking to hire a table mechanic to do some work on your table(s)....ask them questions that they should know the answers to...if they're any good...they'll know the answers. One of these days I'll post a list of 10 questions to determine if the table mechanic you're considering hiring....is worth hiring...before you spend your money and find out....you didn't get what you paid for.
I'm also not the most timely person:grin: and I do appreciate all of you who've had to wait on me to show up....including you Fred....who gave me a t-shirt with the words printed on it...."I'll see you in two weeks"..LMAO...because everytime I tried to get to his house to deliver Fatboys GC4 that he bought, I'd tell him...I should be there in a couple of more weeks....but then something else came up and I would get diverted from my goal of delivering his pool table....for about I think 6 months
I've had Thanksgiving dinner with many customers, as well as Christmas too with others. I'd like to feel that I've made a lot of friends in my last 9 years of living on the road delivering and working on pool tables from coast to coast...Alaska as well, been up there 5 times...man that's a loooong drive round trip:grin:
I'd also like to thank all the table mechanics and home owners that have followed my posts and hope that they've all learned something along the way....I know a few have because I've seen the pictures of the work they did when they posted up for all to see.
I also know there's a few peeps that can't seem to get the idea that I'm not trying to be the best table mechanic on the planet...when in fact, all I ever try to do...is the best I can for everyone I come into contact with, no matter what the job is. I stand up for my customers...when no one else will, and if I can...I make things right, even if that means I have to go up against Diamond....as Greg and I don't always see eye to eye on everything, and sometimes we just agree to disagree, but I'd like to think that I've had some kind of impact on Diamond as well over the last 10 years or so,...but...I also know they've all had to put up with me as well for the last 10 years:grin:
I've enjoyed working with other table mechanics passing on what I've learned over the last 28 years in the hopes that they'll continue on doing what they've learned, and work to become even better, because I know I can't work on everyone's tables....so, for the most part...I can at least teach someone else that can get the job done in my absence of being able to be there.
So, to all that have read this...thank you for your support:grin:
On another side note, I'll have Diamond's new 9ft ProAm 3C Billiards table finished next week, so I'll be cutting back somewhat on my side work because I'll be going into sales working for Diamond to promote their new line of billiards tables...door to door I guess you'd say, since no one knows about this new table from Diamond...I'm going to put one in my truck and be driving from location to location showing the table to room owners to speed up the process of sales for Diamond....just thought I'd let you all know...as I know it's been a while since I first mentioned the coming of this table.
Glen
Through many of my posts I've tried to show all those interested...what really goes into making a table play right, what cloth installed right really looks like, what really goes into repairing rails to make them right, and what pocket facings look like...if they're installed right...in the effort to show all of you what this job looks like...when it's done right, so that someday if and when you have a pool table getting worked on....you're a little more aware of what goes on than the average table owner....to the point that when you ask a table mechanic to tighten up the pockets on your table for example...you know there's a right way...and a wrong way. And when the cloth is installed on the bed of your table...you can say, look at these pictures...Glen shows you step by step how to make the pockets look perfect...I want my pockets to look like that when you're done....can you do that?...if not...I'll find someone that can.
I've shown how to keep your slates from coming apart by using super glue in the seams....so when a table mechanic you're talking to about getting some work done on your table tells you...."no, I don't use super glue"...you know to pass on hiring that person.
Educate the public about this industry...and you start the creation of change in this industry....and believe me...it needs to be changed!
I strongly believe that no matter which pool room you walk into...if they have Gold Crowns...then you should be able to know how they play even before you rent the balls to start playing...but they don't. Same goes for Diamond tables.
I'm not pro Diamond or pro Brunswick...I'm pro "correct playing tables" Customers keep pool rooms open for business....business owners need to respect that fact...and be willing to give the customers what they're paying for..."correct playing tables"...even for the bangers, because they're paying customers as well...and without them...no pool room would survive in todays market.
Home owners deserve no less in quality of work, because they pay the highest prices to have work done on their pool tables believe me, yet get screwed over the most for the dollar and not just by hack table mechanics....but by retail stores as well. I mean think about it, some of the tables they sell are just junk....but never fear...some home owner will buy it...and later on down the road...instead of being sold again it'll get thrown away....either that, or another unsuspecting home owner will buy it, and hire a table mechanic to move it to it's new location...then PAY to have it "Fixed up"
I've said over and over...when you're looking to hire a table mechanic to do some work on your table(s)....ask them questions that they should know the answers to...if they're any good...they'll know the answers. One of these days I'll post a list of 10 questions to determine if the table mechanic you're considering hiring....is worth hiring...before you spend your money and find out....you didn't get what you paid for.
I'm also not the most timely person:grin: and I do appreciate all of you who've had to wait on me to show up....including you Fred....who gave me a t-shirt with the words printed on it...."I'll see you in two weeks"..LMAO...because everytime I tried to get to his house to deliver Fatboys GC4 that he bought, I'd tell him...I should be there in a couple of more weeks....but then something else came up and I would get diverted from my goal of delivering his pool table....for about I think 6 months
I've had Thanksgiving dinner with many customers, as well as Christmas too with others. I'd like to feel that I've made a lot of friends in my last 9 years of living on the road delivering and working on pool tables from coast to coast...Alaska as well, been up there 5 times...man that's a loooong drive round trip:grin:
I'd also like to thank all the table mechanics and home owners that have followed my posts and hope that they've all learned something along the way....I know a few have because I've seen the pictures of the work they did when they posted up for all to see.
I also know there's a few peeps that can't seem to get the idea that I'm not trying to be the best table mechanic on the planet...when in fact, all I ever try to do...is the best I can for everyone I come into contact with, no matter what the job is. I stand up for my customers...when no one else will, and if I can...I make things right, even if that means I have to go up against Diamond....as Greg and I don't always see eye to eye on everything, and sometimes we just agree to disagree, but I'd like to think that I've had some kind of impact on Diamond as well over the last 10 years or so,...but...I also know they've all had to put up with me as well for the last 10 years:grin:
I've enjoyed working with other table mechanics passing on what I've learned over the last 28 years in the hopes that they'll continue on doing what they've learned, and work to become even better, because I know I can't work on everyone's tables....so, for the most part...I can at least teach someone else that can get the job done in my absence of being able to be there.
So, to all that have read this...thank you for your support:grin:
On another side note, I'll have Diamond's new 9ft ProAm 3C Billiards table finished next week, so I'll be cutting back somewhat on my side work because I'll be going into sales working for Diamond to promote their new line of billiards tables...door to door I guess you'd say, since no one knows about this new table from Diamond...I'm going to put one in my truck and be driving from location to location showing the table to room owners to speed up the process of sales for Diamond....just thought I'd let you all know...as I know it's been a while since I first mentioned the coming of this table.
Glen
