Why is it so difficult to install Simonis?

playonepocket said:
Powder Blue 860. More than 2" of side-to-side pull. Proportionately tight end-to-end. Zero shadows. 100% indexed.

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Thats some nice looking pocket work you did there buddy....you been hiding and watching me or what? It baffles me as to why those that do this for a living can't get the pockets to look that clean!
 
I'm gonna do mine myself. I figure even if I have to do it over once or twice, by the third time I have no doubt I'll have it down. If I can tie flies, build a fishing pile and rebuild a motorcycle engine I should be able to cloth a table. That would waste $300 if it took me 3x.

But, I'd never pay for someone ever again to cloth my table and that would take care of that $300 waste.

I will be using spray adhesive like this guy did on this valley. Seems like a good install. Only question I have is about how long to wait for the adhesive to get to that tacky stage?

Your criticism on this install?

https://youtu.be/JhAr1rl9fFU

Was hoping to find the Simonis vids on youtube.
 
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strmanglr scott said:
I'm gonna do mine myself. I figure even if I have to do it over once or twice, by the third time I have no doubt I'll have it down. If I can tie flies, build a fishing pile and rebuild a motorcycle engine I should be able to cloth a table. That would waste $300 if it took me 3x.

But, I'd never pay for someone ever again to cloth my table and that would take care of that $300 waste.

I will be using spray adhesive like this guy did on this valley. Seems like a good install. Only question I have is about how long to wait for the adhesive to get to that tacky stage?

Your criticism on this install?

https://youtu.be/JhAr1rl9fFU

Was hoping to find the Simonis vids on youtube.
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I'm sorry that you feel that $300 for a quality job is unreasonable. Value is relative to the individual.

In regards to this video:

I can certainly appreciate the DIY approach. Hell, that's what got me into this business.. However, this technique is lacking. At least he'll never have to worry about unsightly stretch shadows in the bed cloth. Wrinkles, on the other hand, might be a definite concern -- that cloth doesn't look tight at all.

I have watched several dozen pool table repair videos on Youtube. I have only seen maybe a couple that showed techniques that I would consider using. Spend the $30 for the Simonis DVDs. It's money well spent, regardless of the type of cloth you install. If you are installing 860HR, you will definitely want to have the DVDs, as it is much more difficult to stretch than any other cloth, making technique very critical.

Another consideration is the Penguin Amusement DVD. The techniques are most applicable to bar tables, using non-worsted cloth, though the information is still relevant to all tables and cloth.
 
bradsh98 said:
I'm sorry that you feel that $300 for a quality job is unreasonable. Value is relative to the individual.

In regards to this video:

I can certainly appreciate the DIY approach. Hell, that's what got me into this business.. However, this technique is lacking. At least he'll never have to worry about unsightly stretch shadows in the bed cloth. Wrinkles, on the other hand, might be a definite concern -- that cloth doesn't look tight at all.

I have watched several dozen pool table repair videos on Youtube. I have only seen maybe a couple that showed techniques that I would consider using. Spend the $30 for the Simonis DVDs. It's money well spent, regardless of the type of cloth you install. If you are installing 860HR, you will definitely want to have the DVDs, as it is much more difficult to stretch than any other cloth, making technique very critical.

Another consideration is the Penguin Amusement DVD. The techniques are most applicable to bar tables, using non-worsted cloth, though the information is still relevant to all tables and cloth.
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I mean no disrespect to an installer.

I'm just someone who wants to do things myself like this.

When I was a kid I'd take everything apart and put it back together.

First day I got hooked on fly fishing I stepped in a gas station close to the river that had planted that hook, I see a sign, hex flies $3.50, non hex $2.50.

Immediately I thought, I can make these. I bought 3, saved one for a pattern. Week and a half two weeks later, I'm tying legit flies.

Jeep has an intake manifold gasket leak, never done that before either, it's gonna get done.

As I've read somewhere else, diy doesn't cost that much more :) lol.

The $300 I was talking of a waste, is how much 2 sets of precut cloth would cost me.

Appreciate your comments on the vid and suggestions. I'm not installing tomorrow, I'll have researched it fairly well. I've assisted in setting up two tables already.
 
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strmanglr scott said:
I mean no disrespect to an installer.

I'm just someone who wants to do things myself like this.

When I was a kid I'd take everything apart and put it back together.

First day I got hooked on fly fishing I stepped in a gas station close to the river that had planted that hook, I see a sign, hex flies $3.50, non hex $2.50.

Immediately I thought, I can make these. I bought 3, saved one for a pattern. Week and a half two weeks later, I'm tying legit flies.

Jeep has an intake manifold gasket leak, never done that before either, it's gonna get done.

As I've read somewhere else, diy doesn't cost that much more :) lol.

The $300 I was talking of a waste, is how much 2 sets of precut cloth would cost me.

Appreciate your comments on the vid and suggestions. I'm not installing tomorrow, I'll have researched it fairly well. I've assisted in setting up two tables already.
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In some areas of this country, i recomend DIY instead of hiring the local "best" hack!
 
realkingcobra said:
In some areas of this country, i recomend DIY instead of hiring the local "best" hack!
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True story!

I always encourage DIY, but only if the individual feels comfortable in doing so, and understands the risks and areas of concern. Hell, I've even been known to write up tutorials.

I got my start in this business, for that very reason. The local guys were charging just as much as the top-tier, and the quality of workmanship was severely lacking. Being a machinist, in my early career, I knew that I was capable of performing satisfactory work.

That was a few hundred tables ago..
 
Wieguns said:
I'm in the Twin Cities, MN area, and I have had 3 tables recovered by 3 different company's who sell and install Simonis. Every one of the jobs has required me to have them re-work rails, or the bed due, to waves introduced by improper install. This last one was the premier billiards store in the Twin Cites. I purchased a new $5k table with 860 HR, table was installed this past Wednesday, crew coming out next Friday to re-work the cloth on it.

There are videos and instructions all over the place on proper install, yet all these folks I seem to work with cannot get it right. I send them links to website and the installation videos, and it doesn't seem to matter.

Is there any sort of certification one can look for when searching for a mechanic that can guarantee a quality job with Simonis? Company's shouldn't be allowed to sell it if they can't install it.
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Most installers do not care if the cloth is stretched and attached properly. They want quick money, fast in and fast out.
 
I just started to fix our poolhall 5 tables. They are modified 9ft Sam Billiards tables. Kinda Brunswick copies but all metal core.
This time I tried similar way to stretch the cloth that Diamond installer used with glue. I used staples thought. I think I could get it little bit tighter than that old Simonis-instruction way that I learned 20 years ago from guide they sent.

Here is some photos from first I made last week. It did take a lot more time than normally because I was learning new stuff.

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I taught Diamond how to install the cloth they way they install it now, which is explained step by step in the Simonis installation DVDs. Seyberts.com sells them as well as Simonis.
 
What the heck is shadowing ? Trying to gain some Knowledge here.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
 
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