Table Setup

OtterBoy

OtterBoy

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I have acquired a extremely high quality billiards table and want to try to set it up as much as I can. It is a Vitalie Castile 4.5' X 9' size. Anyone have any suggestions or comments about this. The photo is from the table's previous home and is disassembled now.
 

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Nice!

Congratulations on a great looking table and good luck on your set up. A friend of mine is a do it your self guy and set his Brunswick up, I hired a pool business to do mine and I have had my table for a little over 2 weeks. It is really nice to have your own table and it was a great retirement gift from my wonderful wife! I went with Simonis 860 HR Tournament Blue cloth and Aramiith Super Pro Belgium balls.
 
Table set up

OtterBoy said:
I have acquired a extremely high quality billiards table and want to try to set it up as much as I can. It is a Vitalie Castile 4.5' X 9' size. Anyone have any suggestions or comments about this. The photo is from the table's previous home and is disassembled now.
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Table looks Great. :thumbup:

Don't take chances ... ask around & find a GOOD Mechanic, and enjoy!!
 
OtterBoy said:
I have acquired a extremely high quality billiards table and want to try to set it up as much as I can. It is a Vitalie Castile 4.5' X 9' size. Anyone have any suggestions or comments about this. The photo is from the table's previous home and is disassembled now.
Click to expand...

If you want your table to be very precise, hire a mechanic. There are installers who do it everyday who can't do it right. Unless you are really competent as a do it yourselfer, you might not be happy w your result.
 
tonemachine said:
If you want your table to be very precise, hire a mechanic. There are installers who do it everyday who can't do it right. Unless you are really competent as a do it yourselfer, you might not be happy w your result.
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I concur with tonemachine completely in this one however... learn all that you can (youtube, AZB and other sources) before the table is setup. There are people out there that will label themselves as table mechanics that either don't have a clue or just don't care.
But if you already know a bit about gluing paper or cards between the slate seams, how Simonis cloth should be "properly" stretched to avoid "tiger striping", proper slate leveling and waxing, ect... then you will be able to decide who should and shouldn't be doing this project for you... and since they are basically working for you, you can stop them at anytime if they aren't doing it right. For instance... if the person covering your table takes out a spring loaded stapler instead of an electric or (preferred) pneumatic stapler... send them packing immediately. BTW... if you've never done it, don't think that it's all that simple to setup a table properly just because of what you've learned online. It's a process where the best acquire their skill through years of learning and trial and error. If it's not done exactly right it won't take very long before you'll have a beautiful table rolling like an undulated putting green.
That is a really nice looking table that you have there. I would spend the money to make sure that it plays as well as it looks.
Give us an update when you get it setup and are playing on it (include photos).
Enjoy!
 
Thanks, any other tips I should look for in table mechanic, do they all use the same tools and supplies ( wax, leg levels, etc ).
 
Table

OtterBoy said:
Thanks, any other tips I should look for in table mechanic, do they all use the same tools and supplies ( wax, leg levels, etc ).
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Leo Hancock is up that way, if he can't get to it maybe he'll know where to point you.



Rob.M
 
hire a mechanic and watch carefully how he does it. talk to him about installation and learn his process. maybe next time you can do it yourself. also, there are lots of help from youtube or AZ about table installation.
 
Patrick Sheehan is pretty well known in the area, lives in Gresham. Really Nice guy, he works on my cues. Can't say I've seen how well he does tables but he is fairly busy I know. I set up my own table from watching videos on it, just need a large straight edge, shims, glue. stapler, etc. I didn't like how my level reading so I used a 1x1 piece of glass and a cue ball to level mine. Checked Each corner of each piece of slate and straight edge to make sure they we're level with eachother. Can still put a large piece of glass anywhere on the table and set the Cueball down anywhere and it will stay put. It only took about 3 hours, but if your not on a budget hiring a mechanic would be the way to go.
 
That is a beautiful table and if it were mine, I'd want the best mechanic in the area to do it. Please take your time in selecting the right one. Realkingcobra is one of the best and knows the business. If he recommends someone, then for certain they know the business too. I had Donny of SDBilliards in San Diego do mine. He's worked with the Cobra and is recommended by him. Donny does outstand work. So I'd contact Gordon Graham and get some information. You may have to spend a little more to hire the best, but so what does it amount to when you'll be getting years of enjoyment on a splendid table. Good luck with your quest and keep us informed.
 
realkingcobra said:
He sure is, if you want your rails spray glued instead of stapled. I can't name one credible table mechanic in Oregon, unless they're just passing through. Why do you think so many of the diamond tables in Oregon are recovered by Gordon Graham out of Washington St.?
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Glen do you ever glue rail cloth on say a valley?
 
Most people will spray a little glue on the Valley style Bar tables. You should never spray glue on the rails of any other tables. It will make the rubber get hard and ruin it. I have seen it to many times. With a table that nice find some one that really knows their job. It will be well worth it in the end. Maybe check with Diamond and see if they have anyone coming through that area. Glen travels all around the US. Maybe he will be heading your way soon. Good luck.
 
Randy Smith is an excellent table mechanic and has been an excellent player in this area and others for many years. Im not sure what Glens problem is, other than extreme arrogance, but I assure you Randy will show up on time and your table will be set up correctly, for the agreed upon price.
Maybe thats Glens problem with other mechanics.... They know how to set up tables AND act professionally, where as setting up a table is his only skill.
Chuck
 
I'm just trying to find the best way or the best person to get my table setup. There is not a lot of people in my own circle of people that have there own table and if they do they were setup by the place that they got the table from, like Costco as a example. One of my friends dad bought a table from Costco and they had someone set it up and I asked his dad and he had no idea who the guy's were or anything.

I have went to billiards shops and they all say they have the best guy's to setup a table, but I have no idea if they really are the best. Plus all the billiards shops setup price is very different from one to another. I would think they be close to one another, but some are very higher in price.

I know the table I got is a very high end and high quality billiards table, so I want it done right.
 
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