Hey all. Had to let me table go when I moved 6 years ago. Just completed / about to, the attic and will have tons of room for a new/used table. I had a nice Brunswick, bought it for about 3500, its stayed with house when we sold. So I am ready to get another table. Here is the catch: I want my kids to learn on it! I know we can teach our kids respect etc, etc...but I want them to lean and enjoy - so I dont want to get an expensive table [relative I know] and have me yelling at them not to scratch it etc. It seems to me that there are lots of option in the $1500 rage, name brands I have not heard of, but look nice, slate, installed etc - 1500. OR I could go used have it moved, installed etc. Again, I want be able to see my kids use it and not feel like they are destroying my expensive table, but I want a table that plays well. I am a recreational player, not competitive. I have room for a 9ft, but am guessing the price would be considerably more. ANY input appreciated. TIA
New table advice
- Thread starter ramw5p
- Start date
For $1,500 you could get an older Gold Crown and keep it fairly beat and not yell at the kids. Then when they are older and hopefully responsible, you can have a full on restoration. GC's are forever.
Any 3-piece slate table will cost you more to set up than a single-piece slate table. If you are not bound to any particular style, I might recommend finding a bar table. They can typically be found in 6', 6.5', 7', or 8' lengths. Depending on your location, 7' may be the most common size. Bar tables are generally very resilient, easy to work on, and replacement parts are often cheap. I would guess that you could easily stay under the $1500 target, and have a nice playing table.
Going the route of a Gold Crown is very risky. Supposing that you could find one in the $500-800 range, you still need to have someone move it and set it up.. It still puts you at your budget constraint, but there is a possibility that the costs could go up.
You could look toward cheaper makes/models, such as an Olhausen furniture style table.. They can generally be had for $300-800. The cost to set up is less than a Gold Crown or similar. However, depending on the age, the cushions could require replacement.
Going the route of a Gold Crown is very risky. Supposing that you could find one in the $500-800 range, you still need to have someone move it and set it up.. It still puts you at your budget constraint, but there is a possibility that the costs could go up.
You could look toward cheaper makes/models, such as an Olhausen furniture style table.. They can generally be had for $300-800. The cost to set up is less than a Gold Crown or similar. However, depending on the age, the cushions could require replacement.
I have both a GC 4 and a 6.5 Valley in my basement. Everybody is willing to sell, deliver and set up a Gold Crown.
Almost nobody is willing to move a Valley to a basement. And I had a six foot wide stair well with a straight shot down and into the pool room. So I finally got my barbox too. But it's not getting back out until I'm dead and maybe not even then.
There is no way a billiards service is moving a Valley or any other one piece barbox into an attic. Exception would be a big ass freight elevator.
You can't believe how many dealers I called trying to get the Valley. In the end it was delivered and set up by two skinny kids who really knew their business and put many "professional mechanics" to shame. But an attic, no.
Almost nobody is willing to move a Valley to a basement. And I had a six foot wide stair well with a straight shot down and into the pool room. So I finally got my barbox too. But it's not getting back out until I'm dead and maybe not even then.
There is no way a billiards service is moving a Valley or any other one piece barbox into an attic. Exception would be a big ass freight elevator.
You can't believe how many dealers I called trying to get the Valley. In the end it was delivered and set up by two skinny kids who really knew their business and put many "professional mechanics" to shame. But an attic, no.
If you live close to Bradshaw, you are all set. Failing that, you have some homework to do. Locate a good table mechanic in your area. One that sells and services tables. This might be the local hot tub dealer, but not likely. Find the right guy, this is the only hard part. Let him know, everything you can. The size of your space, what the access is, what your intended use is, who will be using the table, etc. Discuss a time frame and a budget. If you have found the right guy, it's all good from there.