What Do I Use to Seal the Slate?

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As most ya'll know...I recently got a table and have got it setup and leveled. Now I figured I can seal the slate where the joints meet, but am confused on what product to use. The local dealers around here have told me to use a "Durham Rock Hard Puddy". But I've heard some people suggest Beeswax as well.

Which should I use, and why? I did buy some puddy tonight, although it wasn't by the same exact name the dealers noted. Lowe's carry a brand called Dap, and it's simply referred to as "water puddy". It was only $2 so price isn't a concern. My real issue is making sure I got the right stuff to do the job so I can start shoot'n some pool.

Thanks!!
 
When I bought a table, they sealed the table with beeswax. Used a propane torch to apply it and then troweled the excess off.
 
I've seen bondo used, but it doesn't like temprature variations and can crack. The table mech used beeswax when he put mine together. He said it's very pliable and won't crack like bondo.
 
I'm not a table mech, but wouldn't beeswax have temp problems too? I'd like to hear from PTM or Earnesto Dominguez. I'm just curious.
 
Rick,

I agree, PTM or Earnesto are the guys to ask on this one, but from just looking at beeswax and bondo side-by-side, I would have to say that the beeswax would remain more flexable thru a wider range of temps, and would probably allow for any expansion or contraction of the slate under various temp conditions.
 
We use Bees wax............It is plyable........not like the bondo or plaster of paris. Those always seems to crack up and are too brittle. The bondo I think is awhful!!!!! Because when you decide to move it or even get it recovered it can be a mess! But people use a varitey of things.......we found bees wax to be the best.
 
9_Ball_Slim said:
Rick,

I agree, PTM or Earnesto are the guys to ask on this one, but from just looking at beeswax and bondo side-by-side, I would have to say that the beeswax would remain more flexable thru a wider range of temps, and would probably allow for any expansion or contraction of the slate under various temp conditions.
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Both Ernesto out of SoCal and the best NorCal Table Mechanic exclusively use Bondo® for seams and any imperfections.

Moving the table should NOT be a concern since that's the same as initial installation, ie, starting from the beginning.

Troy
 
Ok........that is great...........wait till you have to dig it out when they put it in the screw holes. Or the fact that you have to sand the bondo/ slate! Which can be bad if you don't know what your doing.



................Moving the table should NOT be a concern since that's the same as initial installation, ie, starting from the beginning.

As for NOT being a concern about moving it.........
That isn't the main concern.......it is the fact of the mess with bondo, the trouble of spreading it and letting it dry, sanding it once it dries, etc...

That is why I don't like the bondo............Bees wax has worked fine...............like I said people use a wide variety of things.
 
pooltablemech said:
Ok........that is great...........wait till you have to dig it out when they put it in the screw holes. Or the fact that you have to sand the bondo/ slate! Which can be bad if you don't know what your doing.



................Moving the table should NOT be a concern since that's the same as initial installation, ie, starting from the beginning.

As for NOT being a concern about moving it.........
That isn't the main concern.......it is the fact of the mess with bondo, the trouble of spreading it and letting it dry, sanding it once it dries, etc...

That is why I don't like the bondo............Bees wax has worked fine...............like I said people use a wide variety of things.
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The guy just came clean on you, he does not want to go to the time and trouble to dig it out. He is telling you it wont last and will crack, but he knows he lies like a dog. You put bondo on cars to repair dents and cracks and hit holds up under a wide variety of temperatures all over the country. Bondo has been in use on cars now for close to 50 years, if it was no good like the poster says, why is it still on the market. Use that and get it from Pep Boys, or use Durham Rock hard putty, it will last and fill the holes.

Table mechanics are lazy bums, they get recruited off of street corners and most could not find a real job and few of them can play pool worth a flip. They are like doctors, they bury their mistakes and you never know. Everything they use and do is only in their own selfish best interest. They use the chepeast materials, bees wax is one of them. They only use it becuase nothing is cheaper or faster to put on. A year later, this stuff evaporates, vanishes, then the cue ball begins to hit the slate and turn in a half circle. They do not tell you that, becuase when that happens, you have to have them back in to fix it and pay them money. If they used putty, it would stay in place for years.

If they use putty, they may have to come back in and dig it out which being lazy they don't want to work and don't want to spend the extra time. Using wax, they are simply screwing you.
These people are like carnies with good teeth or used car salesmen, never believe a single thing they tell you. You bring them in and tell them what to do. No I don't want your cheap ass house cloth you are pawning off on me, put on 860 and use bondo, do not use bees wax. Be in control of these people. If they feel you don't know then they will hose you in a heart beat.

Knowledge is power over people.
 
Yeah nice post buddy...............use what ya like.......It is such a thin layer of bondo it can chip up and crack......bees wax doesn't!

As I said before ANYTHING WILL WORK! If you want to go thru the trouble of the bondo.....then sand on your slates......good luck. Sometimes you bondo users like to use it to build up the slates instead of taking the time to get them right. Then someone comes along later.....sets up one of these tables.....and has to get that crap off!

Guy asked what to use.....I say beeswax.....along with quite a few more people than anything else.....so.....you say bondo.

Sounds like you know some top rate table mechs too.......not ones that can actually set up a table right. Maybe you know the guys that work for the spa dealers down here. They get the table out of the box....tight everything down and they are done! No shims needed!
 
elanobeone said:
"he knows he lies like a dog"

"Table mechanics are lazy bums, they get recruited off of street corners and most could not find a real job and few of them can play pool worth a flip. They are like doctors, they bury their mistakes and you never know. Everything they use and do is only in their own selfish best interest"

"they are simply screwing you"

"These people are like carnies with good teeth or used car salesmen, never believe a single thing they tell you"

"Be in control of these people. If they feel you don't know then they will hose you in a heart beat"
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I really don't want to stir up a bunch of fecal matter in a thread that started out as an honest question, but...........

elanobeone,
That's quite a blast on PTM, especialy in light of the fact that you have 6 or 7 whole posts on this forum under your belt. I'll be the first to admit, I not an old head around here, but :eek: that was quite a shot across the bow.

I'm not taking sides here, just expressing my opionion that your blast was a little outta' line.
 
Just an idiot that saw a table apart one time and knows how to do it. He has his opinions......wrong or not!

Thanks Slim..............always hear from one of the trolls out there just starting crap. They run their mouth about something, then go back in there holes.....not to be heard from again until they think up something witty!

Good thing I got internet access out here on my street corner.......I would be bored just watching these cars go by!
 
Hey guys, I just wanted to post back & tell you thanks for the great suggestions. I especially thank you PTM, you have been a great help throughout my entire campaign of buying a table, and then putting it together. I respect your willingness to share your experiences from your real life job to make things easier on us. I value your opinions and just wanted to say so, especially after seeing Elano dog you like that.

That being said, I did indeed go with the water puddy I originally mentioned. I hadn't checked back on the forum until too late to get beeswax (stores closed around 6pm here), and really wanted to get the table put together tonight as we have company coming Tuesday, and I am out of time to put it together. The good thing is I recruited my brother-in-law, who is a paint & body specialist. He actually did the puddy work, and he got it on there so thin it is unreal. Just the gaps have the puddy & then he very carefully did a light sanding over it when he was finished. The end result was you could not feel a thing in the slate when you run your hand over it, or use a level. A good job I think. Although it sounds like it will be a little messy to clean up when it's time to tear down & setup again.

Either way, I have FINALLY managed to get the table completely setup and had an opportunity to shoot 4 or 5 games since. The balls roll right, and everything seems to be flawless. Overall I am very happy with the outcome, although it did take me quite awhile to do it. But I learned alot while doing it. Hehe, like to spend the $135 on the 12" Starrett level. The one I ended up borrowing was a 4" level off a Tee. It was Starrett, so it was precise, but it made for a pain getting good readings, and when it was all said & done I resorted to the long drawn out affair of simply rolling the ball & making necessary adjustments.

Oh well, at least she's done. It feels really good to look at it, and now I am the one responsible for making it work. And again, it reminds me to be thankful to everyone here who has helped me. Thanks again!!!
 
Kool dude...glad to help. See anything will work on the joints. Some people use different things, and are happy with what they use.

And them some guys are like Elaine and just couldn't say anything intelligent if they tried! lol
 
pooltablemech said:
Yeah nice post buddy...............use what ya like.......It is such a thin layer of bondo it can chip up and crack......bees wax doesn't!
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Like somebody else said, "I'm not table mechanic", but I thought there were alternatives other than bees wax and bondo.
 
There are ............. but the guys that use bondo like to think it is the best thing going.

After doing it long enough Bees wax seems to work the best FOR US!!!!!!!!

But take the dipshits advice from earlier.........use bondo I could care less!
 
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