Thanks very much, Donny. It's a 1971 table. So in my case, hard means good. I don't know if I mentioned that it was a 1971 table in previous posts so I still appreciate Club Billiards giving me what he thought was sound advise.
Vintage Minnesota Fats Tables
- Thread starter His Boy Elroy
- Start date
Thanks very much, Donny. It's a 1971 table. So in my case, hard means good. I don't know if I mentioned that it was a 1971 table in previous posts so I still appreciate Club Billiards giving me what he thought was sound advise.
It's a reference to Star Trek. It could be loose rails. I've looked at so many tables where the owner would try to "fix" the rail while I was standing there but it never changed the fact that the cushion transferred the energy from the ball to the rail assembly with a loud "thud". Now, they WERE NOT Brunswick tables and you could see the crumbled rubber under the cloth, so it could be that the rubber used by Brunswick is far superior to what I've been seeing.
YMMV
Thanks Wineslob. I think what I'm going to do is just get one of you mechanics in here to look at things.
A couple mechanics over in the main forum last week, after learning that my rails were in bad shape and made of fibrewood and also that I wanted the best "player type" rails possible, basically told me that while my rails might be able to be improved, they'd never be very good and I should find myself a used GC and have whatever work needed to be done on it done.
I've been giving that much thought. I want a real players 8 footer so bad if I have to I'll buy it new. I'm not going to pay for a new GC and a pre - assembled diamond wouldn't come close to turning the corner at the bottom of my stairs in the basement. There is, however, an olhausen dealership nearby. They're 3 piece slate. It could come in. I'd buy one only if no 8 foot, 3 piece slate GC's are put up for sale in Chicago in the near future.
So Back to my Rozel Minnesota Fats table. I've learned that GC rails are sold separately; or so says Glenn in a post here from 2010. Is it possible that I could have G.C rails installed on my table. Glen said entire rail replacements are not often done and are both difficult and time consuming. Some might be saying, "If the rails are made of fibrewoood the rest of the table can't be that good.
Well; I'm happy with the pockets. It's one inch slate and it's only been off level a handful of times in 45 years. Each time I've gone down there with a wrench and had it level in a half hour. Will I find a better quality roll with the one inch slate GC?
So when assessing the playability of a table, what else is there but the quality of the roll, the quality of the bounce and the pockets?
Also, when searching these forums, I've discovered that there is a highly esteemed mechanic in Chicago named Jerimy Chambers who is highly in demand, not to mention a rail specialist.
If this would cost more than a refurbished used GC I'll go that route. I don't understand why it would though. I also don't know how long it will be before a used 8 foot 3 piece GC shows up.
Anyhow, before I try to contact Mr. Chambers, All I want to know is if it's possible to install GC rails on a different brand table. I'd appreciate any input.
I've been giving that much thought. I want a real players 8 footer so bad if I have to I'll buy it new. I'm not going to pay for a new GC and a pre - assembled diamond wouldn't come close to turning the corner at the bottom of my stairs in the basement. There is, however, an olhausen dealership nearby. They're 3 piece slate. It could come in. I'd buy one only if no 8 foot, 3 piece slate GC's are put up for sale in Chicago in the near future.
So Back to my Rozel Minnesota Fats table. I've learned that GC rails are sold separately; or so says Glenn in a post here from 2010. Is it possible that I could have G.C rails installed on my table. Glen said entire rail replacements are not often done and are both difficult and time consuming. Some might be saying, "If the rails are made of fibrewoood the rest of the table can't be that good.
Well; I'm happy with the pockets. It's one inch slate and it's only been off level a handful of times in 45 years. Each time I've gone down there with a wrench and had it level in a half hour. Will I find a better quality roll with the one inch slate GC?
So when assessing the playability of a table, what else is there but the quality of the roll, the quality of the bounce and the pockets?
Also, when searching these forums, I've discovered that there is a highly esteemed mechanic in Chicago named Jerimy Chambers who is highly in demand, not to mention a rail specialist.
If this would cost more than a refurbished used GC I'll go that route. I don't understand why it would though. I also don't know how long it will be before a used 8 foot 3 piece GC shows up.
Anyhow, before I try to contact Mr. Chambers, All I want to know is if it's possible to install GC rails on a different brand table. I'd appreciate any input.
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ANY Diamond table can be installed where any other table can be installed, they're designed to be taken apart and reassembled on site. And any Diamond table can be bought with either the one piece slate OR the three piece slate. So, turns and stairs won't stop a Diamond from being installed if you'd like one
ANY Diamond table can be installed where any other table can be installed, they're designed to be taken apart and reassembled on site. And any Diamond table can be bought with either the one piece slate OR the three piece slate. So, turns and stairs won't stop a Diamond from being installed if you'd like one
Wow!...thanks.
(In a somewhat humorous tone)
Ouch. In theory, it could be done, but, not without some sedatives and significant work on the surrogate table. IMO its not advisable, and I highly doubt that Jerimy would condone such mechanical blasphemy either.
I would re-cushion your existing rails, with the understanding that they will not qualify as top quality, and will, as such, be prone to sub-par performance in the not-so-distant future.
Or
Have "New " rails fabricated for your table.
Or
spend the money on an altogether better quality table and not worry about the two previous choices.
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LOL... Thank you Mr. bond. I had a feeling I was taking a risk here. So all you mechanics out there...Never mind!...LOL This wasn't all for naught. I sure am glad Glen told me a diamond would fit in my house. That may be where I'm headed.
That is a SUPERB choice!!! It does not get better than that:thumbup: