Level-Acceptable Limits

Crash

Crash

Pool Hall Owner
Silver Member
What limits do professionals allow for level. I understand there are no perfect slates so at some point there has to be a bit of variation from "perfectly level" that must be accepted. I went nuts over 2 nights chasing the bubble in an 8-inch Starret. It was worth it though ... the table plays so much better than the bar's and pool hall's tables and over two weeks has stayed ± .007 at any point.
 
good question, the slates should be as level as possible. .007 probably isn't acceptable for the long side of the table (or side to side) but for the short side you can get away with this if you need to.
 
Clarification

With the Starret on a 4-foot carpenters level it's on the mark in all dimensions and intervals. The ±.007 is seen when the Starret is placed directly on the covered table at various points.
 
There are peaks and valleys in the slate nothing is absolute flat. 8" to a 12" level work best for slates some including myself have 18" levels but smaller will make you go nuts chasing the peaks and valleys. By using multipule levels it makes it easier to see what needs a tweak here or there, action reaction, give and take.

Some mech's think 1 graduation off is flat I like it absolute no graduation off nothing is perfect but I try to make it my best and better then the last guy out did. to me it's tournament level of play or I'm not happy with it. If I can get a customer to Say dam thats flat balls dont roll off lkike before then I know I'm doing it right and he will tell is friends.

Craig
 
Sometimes you can only do the best you can, no matter what it wont be perfect. I dont have far to go to get to crazy, I use 3 6in levels, sometimes I cheat and set them on a 24" carpenters level. I set up a new table for a new dealer this week,new table ,mis matched slate ,Simonis 860, I did what I could.
 
I rough with large levels then go smaller to get close to perfect sometimes you have to split the difference from side to side to get equal or level. close is close but perfect is sweet..

Not everytable can be perfect or 95% or better but I try my best to achieve it. We all have ways of getting there easier to do then say or type out in a forum.

Craig
 
You guys have saved my sanity. I've only set up tables 4 times in two years and this was the first using a Starret. Glad to see my limits were reasonable being subjected to the variation in ~15 year old slates. I enjoy doing this for myself and friends but I would go broke doing this for a living. I'm good for 2 or 3 years until I recover.

Now I want to build a matching Mahogany light to match my Medalist. Diamond wants over $1000 for one ... it never ends.:shakehead:
 
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like my friend Glen says, level is level. How you get there, what you use and how doesn't really matter. You just have to get there. For me its hard to accept slate thats not in spec but agree that many times all you can do is your best. Would also say getting to 98% of your best is close enough. To achieve 100 percent would take forever and not worth the effort. The art of being a pool table mech IMO is all about this part of the job. Many of the other things are straight forward but this is where experience really puts one guy way ahead or behind. Also IMO this is why its critical to use more than one level, The more the better.
 
Crash said:
You guys have saved my sanity. I've only set up tables 4 times in two years and this was the first using a Starret. Glad to see my limits were reasonable being subjected to the variation in ~15 year old slates. I enjoy doing this for myself and friends but I would go broke doing this for a living. I'm good for 2 or 3 years until I recover.

Now I want to build a matching Mahogany light to match my Medalist. Diamond wants over $1000 for one ... it never ends.:shakehead:
Click to expand...

Who from Diamond quoted you that price for a light?:(
 
Crash said:
RKC - The approximate price is off of their web-site http://www.diamondbilliards.net/Accessories/Lighting/tabid/71/Default.aspx The Diamond lights have impressed me since I first saw them at a pool hall here in Huntsville (Shooters, all Diamond). I really want to replace the beer advertisement over my new (to me) table with one.
Click to expand...

Suggested retail, and quantity one is different, the Oak 4x8 light is $850...that's YOUR price...LOL but call Aaron at Diamond and ask him if they have any used/reconditioned lights for less than that even.

Glen
 
level table

Remember if the pool or billiard balls are not clean or in good shape they will roll off.cheep balls will roll off .. A good set of balls won't start rolling off till .005 head to foot with a good set of balls ...the slate is not perfect and there is no reason for it to be when the meterals that are on it are not perfect...a good set of balls are not perfectly round..cloth is not perfectly flat..get ur starrett 98 bubble in the -kitchen- and go....if ur using a masters level ur gona b there for a while losing on time and money....we need to get every mechanic on this fourm on the same page and make a change in the billiard mechanic movement in the U.S.A...
 
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