pool table questions

[Stab]

I'm in the market for a new table for my house. I am looking at several models and was wondering if yoy seyberts guys would give your input.

I am looking for a used gold crown, A Gandy big G, AMF gold crown look alike, a Diamond pro, and several other cheaper models like the Olhousen Grand champion and the Murrey competition style table. If you can't tell already I like commercial style tables. With that in mind what are your suggestions? My price limit is @3K. I am leaning towards a used Gold Crown but am open to any suggestions.

The table will be 4.5X9 feet.

[cynion]

In my opinion, the best tables out there are diamonds and gold crowns. I think diamond's play a lot tougher. But, most pool halls around where I live all have gold crown's

[Kokopuffs]

Based on what I've heard about Brunswick, they are really snooty. I'd get a Diamond table instead.

[Rick]

I have been playing on 9' tables for quit some time now and I just recently purchased a 9' Kasson Aurora for my game room. I don't want to nock down Diamond or Brunswick, but for the price you would be much more satisfied with the Kasson. The Kasson come with smaller pockets than the Brunswick which gets you ready for the tournaments. They play fantastic and are built like a tank, not to mention you can get one for around $3,500.00 which is almost half the price. All in all, I don't think that the Brunswick is worth 50% more for something you can't tell the difference between, you might even think that the Kasson play better :lol:

Rick
Seybert's Billiards Supply

[sellis]

I agree with Rick. I've got an excellent 9' table by Peter Vitalie and it was around 3600 with all the accessories (but no sales tax, long live New Hamshire :) ). It plays great and the pockets also are a little tighter than most Brunswicks. Whether you get a Kasson or a Peter Vitalie or something else, just be sure your not paying for a name that contributes nothing to the value or playablility of the table. Matter of fact I've heard that once you get away from Brunswick's top end tables they become even more of a ripoff because the quality goes down faster than the price.
Then again if money is no object get whatever appeals to you.

[Kokopuffs]

I've heard that the wood used on Brunswick tables is veneered. The wood used in Diamond tables is solid, as in solid oak. Again, I've heard mention of the snooties exhibited by Brunswick salesmen.

As far as pockets go, all pockets can be shimmed tighter or "unshimmed" wider. Correct me if I'm wrong as I am not a table mechanic.

[Rick]

Yes, tables can be shimmed but it requires allot of time and work to shim a table the right way. I agree, if you have the money, it doesn't matter what table you get. As long as you buy one of the top name brand tables, you are going to be satified. It is mostly a personal preference, If the style is what you are looking for than go for it. Puff is right, the Diamonds are of solid wood and that is in the rails and skirting. The Brunswick is hardwood rails with a fermica covering and laminated skirts. Now with the Kasson, they use the fermica through out the whole table. This is good, if you have kids at home, this table will not damage at all. Now with the Diamond, you better watch out!!!!! :twisted: Thanks for all the posts

Rick
Seyberts Billiard Supply

[cynion]

Whenever I go to the pool halls around here i play on triple shimmed Brunswicks or a Diamond. At home I have a 1930's 9ft National Billiards recently I just successfully changed the cut of the slate to 90degrees and put Brunswick speed cushion on and tightened the pockets to 4.25" pretty tight =) I've never played on a Kasson but Connelly also makes a pretty decent table. Also from my experience Olhausen uses a lot of particalboard on their tables even the Champ Pro's.

[sellis]

Yes, tables can be shimmed but it requires allot of time and work to shim a table the right way...


Rick,
I've heard the term "shimming" used a lot and I know it refers to reducing the pocket opening. What does it really mean? I would think to reduce the size of the pockets you'd need longer rails (by that I mean the wood part) and cushions (by that I mean the "rubber" part). Are thin pieces of wood and/or cushion material stuck to the end of rails or something like that? I not asking instructions to do it, just conceptually what is done.
Thanks,
Steve.

[Bruce]

Well, now ya'all have gone and done it. After reading all the bad posts on Brunswick I went down tonight and fired up the chainsaw and cut my Brunswick Greenbrair into firewood. I'll use the slate to fill the holes in the driveway from winter freeze. Now what to do with all those cues? :?

[Sid]

When I first got my table, (Kasson) I ripped the rail rubber off of the rails. I then made 12 wood wedges out of some hardwood and made sure they were equal in size and angle.

I then glued and tacked the wood wedges to the cut pocket openings of the rails thus making the opening smaller. With use of a dremmel, I shaped the outer edges of the newly attached wedges to the contors of the rail. Basically, I just extended the rails lenght by a little on the ends. Then, I had to put on new rail rubbers as the old ones were now to short. Now I have pockets that are around 4.25 in (I think that is what it was) A little tight for sure, but then it is on a 7 foot table. (small basement, all I have room for. don't want to hear it. :D eventually I will get a nine footer at home. Not everyone can be as lucky as Rick...) But, like Rick said, a lot of time matching each shim exactly like the other not to mention the shaping of the shim to the contors of the rail.

A lot of people "shim" a pocket by just adding additional cushion facings. Hence the term double shimmed or triple shimmed. I never liked that method as the facings are a hard rubber and it destroyes the reboud of a ball on the tit (I wonder if that is pollitically correct) of the pocket. They just don't bounce right. That is why I came up with this method. It is if the rail was made that way.

By the way, not all the kassons have the smaller pockets, just the Proffessional models...The Aurora and the Vermillion.

Hey Bruce, ya shoulda thought before you destroyed your Brunswick that tables are a lot like cues, Everyone has a favorite, but when you get right down to it, as long as you are playing and are happy with it there is nothing better. Of course backyard bonfires and smooth driveways are kinda neat also :wink:

Later,

[Bruce]

Hi Sid, I got out the super glue and nail gun and reassembled what I could of the Ole Brunswick. Figured I needed to use my cues so I needed it. The table debate reminds me of the Ford vs Chevy debates, everyone has an opinion which is great. It'd be a boring world if we were all the same wouldn't it? Anway, I still love my Brunswick table. It has held up great and stayed perfectly stable and level. By the way, the Brunswick I have is made of solid woods, not veneers like someone had said. It is made of oak, ash and maple. The Simonis still looks and plays great thanks to Rick at Seyberts. You are a great bunch of guys. :D]

[Sid]

Yea, we are really something??? :oops: Ya know, that reminds me...WAIT!!! You coulda used the cues for weenie roasting sticks on the bonfire!!! I hear good Birds-eye and Ebony give off a good smoke flavor :mrgreen:

[mcneguy]

I have a Kasson Voyager and my pockets are 5", I asked the company I bought it from if they could shim the pockets and they gave me a very stern no. What can I expect to have someone come out and do this for me if anyone knows.

Thanks

[Sid]

Well, for a rough estimate if you were to do it with adding new wood to the ends of the rails and basic costs that we usually charge...

You would need new cloth as the old would not be large enough to cover the new larger rails. - 79 to 89.00

New rail rubbers - $60.00

Labor of installing New rail rubbers - $60.00

Recover Labor - $100.00 for a voyager, more for leather pocket furniture style tables.

Probably new facings - $5.00 (I think)

Then the real expense will be the labor of shimming the pockets with the wood wedges, forming the wood wedges to the rails and getting all to fit uniformly. No idea of how much people would charge for that. I have only done my table and it took quite a long time so I imagine that labor would be pretty steep.

[Kokopuffs]

Yeah, Brunswicks are alright. You can still have sex on them.

[Bruce]

That's good to know. My neighbor tried it on his AMF table and it separated the slate. :P

[kelso]

:lol: :lol: :lol:
where can I get those coin tables with the vibrator mode? 8O

[Kokopuffs]

Yeah, Bruce, that's what your S.O. said. Mine claims that I left the pockets oversized and the triangle is warped! :twisted: 8O :twisted:

[longs]

If you live anywere near where they have a WPBA tour tournament, you might be able to get a really good deal on a Brunswick Gold Crown. I live in Michigan and got one of the tables that was used at the Soaring Eagle Casino for the Women's 9-ball tournament they have there once a year...and I got it for 1/2 price from the dealer who set them up. That's a sweet deal for a table that was only used for about a week.

I don't know if Brunswick dealers who set-up the tables for other WPBA tournaments do the same thing or not, but my table looks brand new and for 1/2 price, I just couldn't resist.

[Buddy]

I got a 22 year old Brunswick Dunham ( 4' x 8' , 1" 3-piece slate) on E-Bay for $560. It had been used for 2 years and basemented (apart) for 20 years. It is worth 4 times the price in my opinion. I rebuilt it and recovered it and I've never played on a better table.
My point is you can get a Brunswick for little money if you look hard enough.

[Kokopuffs]

Just contact a local moving company to inquire if they know anyone who owns a pool table who is moving. Wait until a few days before their move and offer a couple hundred dollars for their table. The owner will probably bite.

I bought my brand new Gold Crown iv for 4500.00. I didnt pay twice as much as the Kasson Aurora(3500.00). I like both style of tables, I actually like the style of the Aurora a bit better, but I chose the Gold Crown because of their reputation. I have nver seen a Kasson Table in person so I was a bit worried about how the table plays.

Hi Sir : I have a 6 mos. gold crown for sale email me at gorylth@excite.com

[ghostdawg]

i've been playing for 8 months now on my new amf table. it plays ok i guess im no pro but i only paid two grand for a brand new one so i think i got a good deal..