Shimming Pockets

K

kdeblanc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
My table has 5 inch pockets and I want to make them 4.25 inches. Does anyone have detailed instructions on how to do this?
 
in addition I'm curious if thicker facings only would do the job? Or subrail extension is needed?
 
I was planning on buying double thick shims. My question is can I just remove the rails, remove the staples at the rail ends, glue the thicker facings and restaple the Simonis?
 
Vahmurka said:
in addition I'm curious if thicker facings only would do the job? Or subrail extension is needed?
Click to expand...

You can use a single, wider facing. What you don't want to do is start stacking them. A standard facing is 1/8" (3.2mm). Change to 1/4" facings and you effectively narrow the pocket by 1/4" but this is probably not worth it for a minor difference and besides, you probably have difficulty rewrapping the cloth on the rail ends. Narrowing pockets 1/2" from say 5" to 4 1/2" using extensions, new rubber with standard facings and new rail cloth is the better way to go
 
1/4" Facings?

Dartman said:
You can use a single, wider facing. What you don't want to do is start stacking them. A standard facing is 1/8" (3.2mm). Change to 1/4" facings and you effectively narrow the pocket by 1/4" but this is probably not worth it for a minor difference and besides, you probably have difficulty rewrapping the cloth on the rail ends. Narrowing pockets 1/2" from say 5" to 4 1/2" using extensions, new rubber with standard facings and new rail cloth is the better way to go
Click to expand...

I've been stacking my facings.
Did not know you could purchase 1/4" facings.
Where can I get these from?
 
Club Billiards said:
What material are those, Rick, and how do they compare to Diamond's Neoprene facings? $5 is a good price!
Click to expand...

Grainger also carries sheet neoprene in lots of varying thicknesses and durometer ratings as well if you need something specific...
 
dkindig said:
Grainger also carries sheet neoprene in lots of varying thicknesses and durometer ratings as well if you need something specific...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I used to get mine there. For the same price though, you can get them straight from Diamond and don't have to fool with cutting them off the sheet.

Then there's also the added benefit of keeping a bit of money within the industry.
 
please forgive me if this is a dumb question but i know nothing about table refelting or mechanics. when you say a 1/4 facing will only narrow the pocket 1/4, why wouldn't it narrow the paocket by 1/2? isn't there one facing on each side of the pocket? when you add thicker facings what else has to be done to keep the integrity of the angle going into the pocket? can i just call the number on diamond's website to buy the neoprene facings and how much are they? i just bought a table and am going to have it professionally set up and refelted and am interested in tightening the pockets. if i can i'd like to have as much ready asi can befoer the mechanic shows up.
 
jrt30004 said:
please forgive me if this is a dumb question but i know nothing about table refelting or mechanics. when you say a 1/4 facing will only narrow the pocket 1/4, why wouldn't it narrow the paocket by 1/2? isn't there one facing on each side of the pocket? when you add thicker facings what else has to be done to keep the integrity of the angle going into the pocket? can i just call the number on diamond's website to buy the neoprene facings and how much are they? i just bought a table and am going to have it professionally set up and refelted and am interested in tightening the pockets. if i can i'd like to have as much ready asi can befoer the mechanic shows up.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the standard facing is 1/8".......... so if you replace the 1/8" facing with 1/4" facings, you are adding 1/8" more per side, thus the 1/4" smaller pocket.
If you stack them (1/4") on top of the 1/8" standard facing then it would be 1/2" smaller.

poolfelt.com has some also........... This page:
http://www.poolfelt.com/pool_table_cushions_and_recovering_supplies.html

I'm not a mechanic, just a reader of the mechanic forum.

Congrats on getting a new table
 
Last edited:
taunt said:
IIRC, the standard facing is 1/8".......... so if you replace the 1/8" facing with 1/4" facings, you are adding 1/8" more per side, thus the 1/4" smaller pocket.
If you stack them (1/4") on top of the 1/8" standard facing then it would be 1/2" smaller.

poolfelt.com has some also........... This page:
http://www.poolfelt.com/pool_table_cushions_and_recovering_supplies.html

I'm not a mechanic, just a reader of the mechanic forum.

Congrats on getting a new table
Click to expand...

thanks. that makes sense now. i knew i was missing something, and i just never considered the original facing.
 
FYI I have found some of the thicker facings are harder than the thinner ones and deaden the pockets.
 
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