super pro aramith pool balls nicks

[GoldCrown]

The ball are more than 5 years old. They do not have a lot of play time on them. Some of the balls have very small nicks. Is this typical of S.P.A. My table is in excellent condition. Also I'm using a BallStar cleaner...I doubt that is causing any problem. Any comments. Thanks

 

[peter_gunn]

check the pockets...

 

[GoldCrown]

check the pockets...

OK thanks. They are ball return pockets. I'm looking.
Once in a while the balls fall off of the side pocket return rails and hit the ground. The floor is carpeted.

 

[RackemBilliards]

Often pockets are held by nails at the top that are accessible to the balls in the pockets and nicks are caused by hitting them. On your table, you may also have allen screws that are inset to hold the pockets that have vibrated loose. You should check them as well. You can fix that 'ball falling on the floor' issue simply by gluing a wedge to the inside of the apron to redirect the ball back onto the runner. If you look underneath you'll see that sometimes a ball in the side pocket lands between the runner and the apron, and then rolls down until the space is big enough to fall out onto the floor. A little wedge, properly positioned, will turn that occasional ball back onto the runner.

 

[GoldCrown]

check the pockets...

Often pockets are held by nails at the top that are accessible to the balls in the pockets and nicks are caused by hitting them.

Think I got it. The nail heads at the top were protruding enough to contact and nick a ball. I gently tapped them in using a punch...and will also use tiny thin round protective felt pads on top of the nail heads. The nails were small enough that I could not see them yet I could feel them. The table was covered recently. The problem occurred recently so I think it's resolved. A few balls were effected. Damage is minimal. Ball are very usable however I just ordered a set of Aramith Tournaments. Thanks for your help. You guys were right on.

 

[realkingcobra]

Think I got it. The nail heads at the top were protruding enough to contact and nick a ball. I gently tapped them in using a punch...and will also use tiny thin round protective felt pads on top of the nail heads. The nails were small enough that I could not see them yet I could feel them. The table was covered recently. The problem occurred recently so I think it's resolved. A few balls were effected. Damage is minimal. Ball are very usable however I just ordered a set of Aramith Tournaments. Thanks for your help. You guys were right on.

WHY would the pockets on your GC be NAILED in...in the first place? The pocket liners are designed to be screwed in with allen headed screws through the pockets into the castings!!! Who set your table up that used NAILS to install the pocket liners?

 

[GoldCrown]

WHY would the pockets on your GC be NAILED in...in the first place? The pocket liners are designed to be screwed in with allen headed screws through the pockets into the castings!!! Who set your table up that used NAILS to install the pocket liners?

The pockets fit like crap at the top....maybe because the rails were adjusted/calibrated at the pockets. The installer asked me if was ok to use small brads .... I could not foresee a problem and did not anticipate one so I ok'd it. I think they are ok right now after I tapped them in.
Aside from the pockets... the castings never seated properly from the get go. Is that typical of a GC IV

 

[realkingcobra]

The pockets fit like crap at the top....maybe because the rails were adjusted/calibrated at the pockets. The installer asked me if was ok to use small brads .... I could not foresee a problem and did not anticipate one so I ok'd it. I think they are ok right now after I tapped them in.
Aside from the pockets... the castings never seated properly from the get go. Is that typical of a GC IV

Well, sometimes when the rails are extended to tighten the pockets up, it causes a problem with the pocket liner ears wanting to curl in away from the casting ear. I know that sometimes nails are used to try and keep the pocket liner ear held in place to look right but...a better trick to that problem is to use a 1/4" staple 1/2" long to hold the pocket liner ear in place as it won't pull out over time, and if you blacken the head of the staple with a black magic marker you'll never see the staple, and it'll never be in the way of a ball hitting it. The loop of the staple makes it much easier to remove when the table is being recovered as well, all you have to do is hook it with an awl and pull it out. As for the pocket castings fitting right, I'd have to see how they're sitting to see what's wrong if there is something out of line or not, but no...they're designed to line up correctly.

Glen

 

[GoldCrown]

Well, sometimes when the rails are extended to tighten the pockets up, it causes a problem with the pocket liner ears wanting to curl in away from the casting ear. I know that sometimes nails are used to try and keep the pocket liner ear held in place to look right but...a better trick to that problem is to use a 1/4" staple 1/2" long to hold the pocket liner ear in place as it won't pull out over time, and if you blacken the head of the staple with a black magic marker you'll never see the staple, and it'll never be in the way of a ball hitting it. The loop of the staple makes it much easier to remove when the table is being recovered as well, all you have to do is hook it with an awl and pull it out. As for the pocket castings fitting right, I'd have to see how they're sitting to see what's wrong if there is something out of line or not, but no...they're designed to line up correctly.

Glen

Stapling would be the way to go. (I do not have a stapler) I did not feel good about hammering...but I hit as lightly as possible and used the proper punch. Thanks for taking the time to explain. Sadly I killed set of balls but we learn from experience.....and skilled people like yourself.