I just had my old Diamond Pro re-installed by Kurt Trampel of the Milwaukee/Chicago area, and I have to tell you about his excellent work. He's not only very skilled and experienced, but also a perfectionist who simply can't let any flaw go uncorrected.
Instead of just leveling my slates, he actually made them flatter than they were, both by expert shimming/screwing and by actually sanding a high spot down on a slate section that apparently came slightly flawed from the factory (I didn't notice this before Kurt found it). Instead of just matching my slate seams, he simulated pinned slates by epoxying the slate edges together at strategic spots, eliminating the possibility of future popped seams (and which he assures me won't be a problem for disassembly).
He tightened my pockets (corners now = 4.5") by adding one-piece shims made of the same density rubber as the Artemis cushions (he actually tests the cushions with a meter and chooses rubber to match) so they bank correctly all the way to the pocket corners, and finished them with the crispest, neatest pocket covering job I've ever seen. The bed cloth (Simonis 860, natch) is stretched the tightest I've ever seen - I can't get it to move at all.
Kurt also replaced my leather drop pockets, added some steel bracing to tighten up the table's superstructure and generally went over the table with a fine toothed comb, fixing and improving anything he thought needed it. He didn't just re-cover my table, he refurbished it. I might add, most of this wasn't requested - it's just the way Kurt does things.
It took him and a helper two days at my house and some more time working on the rails and cushions in his shop, and it wasn't cheap (about $1K - actually cheap for the time they spent), but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. It's by far the most perfect table I've ever had the pleasure to play on.
If you need high quality table work in the midwest, Kurt's the best I've seen.
Kurt Trampel
Pro Billiard Company
Hales Corners, WI
(414) 525-4144
pj
chgo
P.S. Kurt serviced Chris's for many years when it was actually owned by Chris (before table maintenance became second priority there).
Instead of just leveling my slates, he actually made them flatter than they were, both by expert shimming/screwing and by actually sanding a high spot down on a slate section that apparently came slightly flawed from the factory (I didn't notice this before Kurt found it). Instead of just matching my slate seams, he simulated pinned slates by epoxying the slate edges together at strategic spots, eliminating the possibility of future popped seams (and which he assures me won't be a problem for disassembly).
He tightened my pockets (corners now = 4.5") by adding one-piece shims made of the same density rubber as the Artemis cushions (he actually tests the cushions with a meter and chooses rubber to match) so they bank correctly all the way to the pocket corners, and finished them with the crispest, neatest pocket covering job I've ever seen. The bed cloth (Simonis 860, natch) is stretched the tightest I've ever seen - I can't get it to move at all.
Kurt also replaced my leather drop pockets, added some steel bracing to tighten up the table's superstructure and generally went over the table with a fine toothed comb, fixing and improving anything he thought needed it. He didn't just re-cover my table, he refurbished it. I might add, most of this wasn't requested - it's just the way Kurt does things.
It took him and a helper two days at my house and some more time working on the rails and cushions in his shop, and it wasn't cheap (about $1K - actually cheap for the time they spent), but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. It's by far the most perfect table I've ever had the pleasure to play on.
If you need high quality table work in the midwest, Kurt's the best I've seen.
Kurt Trampel
Pro Billiard Company
Hales Corners, WI
(414) 525-4144
pj
chgo
P.S. Kurt serviced Chris's for many years when it was actually owned by Chris (before table maintenance became second priority there).
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