I volunteer at one of the local Boys and Girls Clubs here in Las Vegas. For anyone unfamiliar with what they do, here's a link to their home page:
http://www.bgca.org/
In short, it's a place that strives to help underprivileged kids by giving them a safe, fun, interactive and educational environment to be in.
Anyways, the one I volunteer at has three pool tables for the kids to play on, all of them in various stages of disrepair. One is pretty playable actually, although it may need to be leveled. However, the other two, in addition to leaning, have ripped cloth in places, bumpers that need to be replaced, and pockets that literally fall out at times, as well as numerous purely cosmetic faults. Additionally, there's probably 15-20 or so cues that all need work done, mostly tips.
A few of the older kids (12+) and a few of the staff are more than willing to put in some elbow grease over a weekend or two to fix things, but we'd need some direction. So I guess I'm turning to the AZ community to see if anyone with any sort of expertise would be willing to help us fix up the equipment so there can be a next generation of pool players!
What we'd need help with:
1) Diagnosing problems. Falling out pockets is a pretty obvious problem, but none of us is experts so we don't even know if there might be some sort of problem (slate messed up beyond hope? quickly fixed bumper rather than needing to be replaced?)
2) Tools. I guess I could do an online search...
3) Fixing the problems. Again, I could do an online search, but I'd have no idea what's reliable or where to look for detailed enough instructions for people who are generally smart and capable, but not very knowledgeable about the task at hand. How feasible is this, for 2 or 3 adults and 3 or 4 12+ kids with no experience to take on three pool tables and 15 or so cues?
I'm looking for any level of help someone is willing to provide. A link to a very detailed step by step guide, as well as good estimates on what tools, materials, and cost it would be as a complete do-it-yourself project would be a big help. That's all easily done in this thread. Being tables for primarily kids to play on, the materials definitely don't have to be anywhere near top of the line--bumpers that don't deform upon impact is a huge step up.
If someone wanted to donate a Saturday of their expertise and work, that would be an even bigger help. Depending on the actual cost of bumpers/felt/tips, that could be covered by either myself or the club, and he/she would have plenty of helpers (or none if we'd just be in the way ) as well as lunch and a beer on me. If someone wanted to go half and half--maybe come in look and then tell us what we needed to do that would be great, too. Basically any help anyone is willing to provide would be great.
If someone is interested in helping, please feel free to PM and we can work out details, as well figure out tax-deductibility of any services donated.
Anyone? Thanks in advance!
Eric
http://www.bgca.org/
In short, it's a place that strives to help underprivileged kids by giving them a safe, fun, interactive and educational environment to be in.
Anyways, the one I volunteer at has three pool tables for the kids to play on, all of them in various stages of disrepair. One is pretty playable actually, although it may need to be leveled. However, the other two, in addition to leaning, have ripped cloth in places, bumpers that need to be replaced, and pockets that literally fall out at times, as well as numerous purely cosmetic faults. Additionally, there's probably 15-20 or so cues that all need work done, mostly tips.
A few of the older kids (12+) and a few of the staff are more than willing to put in some elbow grease over a weekend or two to fix things, but we'd need some direction. So I guess I'm turning to the AZ community to see if anyone with any sort of expertise would be willing to help us fix up the equipment so there can be a next generation of pool players!
What we'd need help with:
1) Diagnosing problems. Falling out pockets is a pretty obvious problem, but none of us is experts so we don't even know if there might be some sort of problem (slate messed up beyond hope? quickly fixed bumper rather than needing to be replaced?)
2) Tools. I guess I could do an online search...
3) Fixing the problems. Again, I could do an online search, but I'd have no idea what's reliable or where to look for detailed enough instructions for people who are generally smart and capable, but not very knowledgeable about the task at hand. How feasible is this, for 2 or 3 adults and 3 or 4 12+ kids with no experience to take on three pool tables and 15 or so cues?
I'm looking for any level of help someone is willing to provide. A link to a very detailed step by step guide, as well as good estimates on what tools, materials, and cost it would be as a complete do-it-yourself project would be a big help. That's all easily done in this thread. Being tables for primarily kids to play on, the materials definitely don't have to be anywhere near top of the line--bumpers that don't deform upon impact is a huge step up.
If someone wanted to donate a Saturday of their expertise and work, that would be an even bigger help. Depending on the actual cost of bumpers/felt/tips, that could be covered by either myself or the club, and he/she would have plenty of helpers (or none if we'd just be in the way
) as well as lunch and a beer on me. If someone wanted to go half and half--maybe come in look and then tell us what we needed to do that would be great, too. Basically any help anyone is willing to provide would be great.If someone is interested in helping, please feel free to PM and we can work out details, as well figure out tax-deductibility of any services donated.
Anyone? Thanks in advance!
Eric
