Table Leveling Specification

[Das Cue-Boot]

I’m not sure where to ask this question, so I’ll try here. Is there anywhere in the equipment or other rules that actually specifies how level a table should be? I’ve seen the flatness and coplanar requirement for slates and slate joints, but nowhere can I find anything defining level and how level it should be. I think we would all agree that a table with a 5 degree slant that collects all the balls on one rail would be unacceptable, but how good is good enough? 1 degree? 0.1 degree? 0.01 degree? Does anyone look at this for tournaments, and what criteria do they use?

 

[GoldCrown]

How level is level? I had BestBuy deliver a washer .., the two guys fiddle for a little bit and tell me they’re done … it’s almost level.

 

[Sheldon]

Paul mentions tolerances in this video:

Every table is a little different, has been my experience. It's rare that frames are perfectly flat, and it's rare that slates are perfectly flat, so there are almost always some compromise. The better you are, the less you have to compromise. This takes experience and intelligence and the ability to problem solve. It also takes time, which is why you'll run across a lot of unlevel tables. Hacks cut corners and this is one is pretty easy to cut.

 

[bbb]

if you play 9 ball the speed of your shots will not be as sensitive to how level the table is
if you play onepocket
and shoot at pocket speed
any roll off (unlevel) will drive you crazy
i am not a table mechanic
jmho
icbw

 

[Renegade_56]

I've personally watched Glen Hancock level 8 ft Diamond Pro Am tables, right after he took off like 27 Machinist Levels.

 

[GoldCrown]

I've personally watched Glen Hancock level 8 ft Diamond Pro Am tables, right after he took off like 27 Machinist Levels.

Glen should charge by the minute. And he’ll give the customer their monies worth.

 

[GoodPM]

Glen walked me through leveling my GC4 with a single Starrett 98-8. Moving around between 18(?) different locations on the table, the goal was to be within 5/1000's of level at each location.

He mentioned that most people won't be able to perceive an unlevel table until it's around 20/1000's off.

 

[Floyd_M]

In Kenosha, Wi.
there's a pool league
that deems this table is level.

YES that cue ball did pick up speed to drop in the pocket
otherwise the speed was enough to lay at or on the rail.
.

 

[rexus31]

Paul mentions tolerances in this video:

Every table is a little different, has been my experience. It's rare that frames are perfectly flat, and it's rare that slates are perfectly flat, so there are almost always some compromise. The better you are, the less you have to compromise. This takes experience and intelligence and the ability to problem solve. It also takes time, which is why you'll run across a lot of unlevel tables. Hacks cut corners and this is one is pretty easy to cut.

It 100% takes time. It took my mechanic about 5 hours to dial my table in.

 

[Sheldon]

Yep, it can be very time consuming if you're meticulous about it.

 

[rexus31]

Yep, it can be very time consuming if you're meticulous about it.

Should there be any other way?

 

[Sheldon]

Should there be any other way?

Not for me!

 

[Floyd_M]

I've recovered tables for over 1/2 century now and I prefer a slow rolling ball on the bare slate for leveling.
Most of my jobs are not the higher end customers. Many times the cloth chosen/purchased by customer has imperfections which will cause ball roll-offs. I do inform the customer of those possible issue(s) before they purchase it.
Also before installing said cloth and IF the customer is present, I'll show said ball rolling for levelness.

The pix I posted above is an 8' Brunswick table. The cloth replaced was in fairly good condition. The other two tables they have cloths were in horrible condition but they INSISTED on using that P.O.S. in the back. Its previous cloth was an unknown higher quality & had near zero issues. What they used for that tables recovering was akin to a tight weave Corduroy fabric. Rub your hand on it, you feel the weaves lines.

.

 

[garczar]

It 100% takes time. It took my mechanic about 5 hours to dial my table in.

To do just one table?? Are you in AA(Anal Anonymous)??

 

[rexus31]

To do just one table?? Are you in AA(Anal Anonymous)??

Guess he’s in the level it right so I don’t have to come back anonymous.