Was my slate upside down?

[arsenius]

I bought a table already disassembled off of fb marketplace. There is a sticker with “top” on the machined side, but the Brunswick Certified sticker is also on that side, inside of the playing surface.

The non machined side has countersunk holes. They’re flat on the opposite side.

Glue marks for the cloth, slight scarring from the compression washers, wax, and the sticker all make it look to me like it was previously installed with the machined side down.

Just want to verify that's correct and I should remove the sticker before installing. Why would the sticker and countersinks be like that?

 

[Tablemaker]

The Brunswick "certified slate" sticker is the bottom. The other "Brunswick Top" sticker came off something else (possibly the cloth), probably stuck there by the installer.

 

[Sheldon]

That first pic is definitely correct, and shows the top of the slate.
Make sure whoever covers it scrapes all the spray glue off, and use a roller with proper glue. (only on the edge)

 

[arsenius]

Thank you. Any idea why the bottom would have been machined? It clearly has the C marks mentioned in RKC's slate leveling document.

That said, non-machined side does appear to be flat. There are no machining marks at all.

 

[Sheldon]

I'm not sure what you mean. The slate has to be milled flat on both sides.

 

[arsenius]

@Sheldon It is flat on both sides, so that's true. I meant the side with obvious machining marks. They matched the C pattern RKC mentions in his pinned leveling post, which he says is the side that goes up. The other side is totally smooth.

RKC's document in combination with the sticker had me doubting myself. But I did end up with the smooth side up.

 

[fastone371]

I'm not sure what you mean. The slate has to be milled flat on both sides.

I would guess if there are countersunk screw holes that that would indicate which side is the top. Do all slates have countersunk screw holes??

 

[Sheldon]

I would guess if there are countersunk screw holes that that would indicate which side is the top. Do all slates have countersunk screw holes??

If they were not countersunk, the slate screws would sit above the slate.
Not all slates have or need screw holes, but most do.
One piece slates like a Valley or Diamond has don't need them. The slate either just sits in the cabinet (Valley) or the rail bolts hold it down. (Diamond)

 

[Sheldon]

My 9' Diamond has a few screw holes in the slate, but they're never used. It's a one piece slate and the holes are under the rails so they don't need filled.