Olhausen table repair question

M

MinoInADixeCup

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The hall I play out of has Olhausen tables and many have loose pockets where you can wiggle the pockets up and down. If you hit a ball with any speed into these pockets, it's likely that the ball will end up on the floor or back onto the table bed.

Is there a way to repair this?
What is involved?
What is it likely to cost if each table has 1 to 3 bad pockets?

Thanks for any info guys.
 
I assume these are leather pocket olhausens. leather pocket tables
typically have a pin or ear that fits inside a matching hole in the end
of the rail,then a bolt comes up thru the bottom of the rail and into
the pocket.These bolts have come loose. To properly tighten you
should remove rails because on most models you can not access these
bolts. usually a small job as long as the rail opening is in good cond.
if these pockets are really hanging low, i have a feeling the rails may
be shot.
 
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Depending on the age, and style you might be able to correct this without taking the rails off. Assuming they are a leather web pocket (I can't imagine a ball falling through a bucket pocket) Olhausen's newer than about 3 years or so will have angled corners on the slate so you can get to the pocket bolts. You might try tightening those.

If our info isn't helping, let us know if you know what model Olhausen they are, or if you don't, could you post pictures of the pockets. That may help. Good luck!
 
Thanks guys, I will try to get some pictures.

They have had the tables for 15 years. Everytime they recover them, the pockets are better for a few months, but some of them are loose the same day they are recovered.
 
MinoInADixeCup said:
Thanks guys, I will try to get some pictures.

They have had the tables for 15 years. Everytime they recover them, the pockets are better for a few months, but some of them are loose the same day they are recovered.
Click to expand...
Who ever is recovering them is not installing all the pocket ear bolts, a common practice by many technicians:D

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
Who ever is recovering them is not installing all the pocket ear bolts, a common practice by many technicians:D

Glen
Click to expand...

Does anyone know someone in the Detroit Michigan area that does it right?

I'd like to be able to go to the owners of this place and not just ***** about the condition of the tables, I'd like to be able to give them some solutions also. I love the bar and I consider the owner a friend, but the condition of the tables has been getting to me more and more lately.
 
MinoInADixeCup said:
The hall I play out of has Olhausen tables and many have loose pockets where you can wiggle the pockets up and down. If you hit a ball with any speed into these pockets, it's likely that the ball will end up on the floor or back onto the table bed.

Is there a way to repair this?
What is involved?
What is it likely to cost if each table has 1 to 3 bad pockets?

Thanks for any info guys.
Click to expand...

There's probably nothing you can do to help these tables. This type of tables are good for homes but not commercial applications, where you have guys that don't care sit on the pockets and crack the wood where the pocket bolts on. Secondly when your recovering the table and bolting and unbolting the wood starts to break up and piece break off. You might find when you tighten those pockets theres not enough wood in between the pocket iron and the bolt to hold the pocket up. good luck - SD
 
sdbilliards said:
There's probably nothing you can do to help these tables. This type of tables are good for homes but not commercial applications, where you have guys that don't care sit on the pockets and crack the wood where the pocket bolts on. Secondly when your recovering the table and bolting and unbolting the wood starts to break up and piece break off. You might find when you tighten those pockets theres not enough wood in between the pocket iron and the bolt to hold the pocket up. good luck - SD
Click to expand...

The other thing that happens a lot that I'm surprised you're not seeing is the actual leather cutting in the back of the pocket. I saw that in a place in Cincinnati that used Olhausen Drakes. They got so much play so fast by so many bangers that the balls slamming into the back of the pocket cut through so the iron was exposed.
 
sdbilliards said:
This type of tables are good for homes but not commercial applications, where you have guys that don't care sit on the pockets and crack the wood where the pocket bolts on.
Click to expand...

Yea, I've had this same thought since the first pockets started showing signs of sagging.
 
The iron is exposed on one of the tables I play used to play on. The worst part is there is a sharp ridge from casting right where the balls hit. Now all the balls are getting chipped.

Puzzles me why they would cast the iron that way.
 
bud green said:
The iron is exposed on one of the tables I play used to play on. The worst part is there is a sharp ridge from casting right where the balls hit. Now all the balls are getting chipped.

Puzzles me why they would cast the iron that way.
Click to expand...

They do it that way because in most home applications, the tables aren't getting NEAR as much use and abuse is in a commercial setting. Usually what they do on a furniture style table (with outside/exposed leather web style pockets) going in a commercial setting is to double on on that piece of leather that is getting cut. The reinforced pockets will take much more abuse. A lot of times though it's an issue of home vs commerical use. If I remember right, the warranty changes on a home table if you're putting in a commerical room.
 
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