The Conservative Cave

Interests => Games & Home Entertainment => Topic started by: Wineslob on August 07, 2013, 10:02:36 AM

Title: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 07, 2013, 10:02:36 AM
Anyone play pool? I've been playing for years and was even on a team, back in the 90's. I still use my Meucci Originals"Road Agent" cue from 1990.

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/IMG_0010_zps9dd5c2fc.jpg) (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/Apogeespeaker/media/IMG_0010_zps9dd5c2fc.jpg.html)

Right now we are looking for a table (used), since we have a room that's perfect for one, and we don't use it much.
 I've narrowed it down to either Brunswick, or Olhausen tables. We both like "Mission" style tables.

My wife likes this one:

(http://130.94.218.148/brunswick/ventura.jpg)

We figure in a few months we'll be buying a table and getting the room set up.      :hyper:
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: CG6468 on August 07, 2013, 10:05:34 AM
Gonna get one with a slate bed?
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 07, 2013, 12:15:48 PM
Of course! The table above is a Ventura which replaced the Heritage. Both tables are built like a tank and, like most Brunswick's, use 1" slate and it came in a 'Pro 8" size. It's slightly bigger than a regular 8 foot table. Me, I'd rather get the Heritage, easier to find, cheaper, but they look too "70's" for the wife.


The Heritage:


(http://www.ohanaestatesales.com/images/Haiku_BB/14sm.jpg)
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: CG6468 on August 07, 2013, 12:17:51 PM
That looks like a good table, except for the felt color. But that's just my personal opinion.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: marv on August 07, 2013, 12:26:26 PM
Only snooker, and only in smokey pool halls. But I haven't held a stick in over 50 years. When I was on my game, I was very good.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: CG6468 on August 07, 2013, 12:59:48 PM
Only snooker, and only in smokey pool halls. But I haven't held a stick in over 50 years. When I was on my game, I was very good.

I used to win a lot of money playing 8 ball, straight pool, etc.

Then I used that money to bowl. Had a 185+ average when I was 16.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 07, 2013, 02:00:16 PM
I'm gonna teach my wife to play straight pool. I think she'll like the idea of pocketing any ball on the table......but probably not the fouls.  Not much of that is played out here on the Left Coast, so she may give me a WTF?
 I did play Snooker (Golf, many times) for awhile, but no tables are in the area anymore. Except for one in a local bar. I believe it's a BBC (Brunswick Balke Collender) but I've never seen it used.
Title: Re: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Ralph Wiggum on August 07, 2013, 02:13:03 PM
Been playing pool for years, and nice tables!

Played as a "kid", then always avoided studying in my Fraternity house to stop looking at books.

 At this point, have been playing APA league pool for a few years.  Been wavering between a 4 & 5 ranking in both 8 & 9 ball since I joined.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: catsmtrods on August 07, 2013, 02:13:36 PM
I was quite a hustler in my military and bar hopping days. Always ended up in a fight? I can't see shit anymore. I still have a bar table in my hunting cabin but it is used as a mouse condo these days.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Eupher on August 07, 2013, 03:00:24 PM
Snooker, definitely, but I haven't played in years.

The smaller bar tables seem like you're playing on a postage stamp after a few frames of Snooker. The usual games -- eight-ball, straight pool, 9-ball for money.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 07, 2013, 05:19:55 PM
Heh, I'm surprised at the Snooker players. Great game.   :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: CG6468 on August 07, 2013, 06:26:53 PM
I'm gonna teach my wife to play straight pool.

That's not as easy as you think, particularly if you play it in rotation. 1 ball first, then 2 ball, then 3 ball, etc.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: obumazombie on August 07, 2013, 08:39:15 PM
This thread didn't live up to it's billing...

(http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/disorderly/disorderly0909/disorderly090900375/5607805-three-young-beauties-looking-up-from-a-swimming-pool.jpg)

Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 08, 2013, 09:09:14 AM
That's not as easy as you think, particularly if you play it in rotation. 1 ball first, then 2 ball, then 3 ball, etc.


I should have said 14.1.

Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: CG6468 on August 08, 2013, 09:35:49 AM

I should have said 14.1.

Not familiar with that one.

On the straight pool, in rotation, to make it even more challenging require the shooter to specify into which pocket he or she will sink the ball. No slop allowed for the target ball. If the target ball goes into another pocket, it gets respotted, but anything else that falls in during the shot stays in.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Eupher on August 08, 2013, 11:14:51 AM
To be correct, what we're talking about here is pocket billiards. Not pool.

Regular billiards, i.e., on a table that has no pockets, is not a game I've ever played.  :confused:

Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 08, 2013, 01:54:40 PM
Not familiar with that one.

On the straight pool, in rotation, to make it even more challenging require the shooter to specify into which pocket he or she will sink the ball. No slop allowed for the target ball. If the target ball goes into another pocket, it gets respotted, but anything else that falls in during the shot stays in.


Same game. Any ball, call shot, or it's a foul. The last ball to be pocketed is left where it is, the pocketed balls re-racked and the cue/last ball used for break, but you must pocket the last ball and get the break.


Now, Billiards: Typical is 3 cushion. Exceedingly difficult. But if you get good at it..........


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-cushion_billiards
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 09, 2013, 02:17:28 PM
I'm trying to get the wife interested in a Brunswick Gold Crown.

She says "it looks too much like a pool hall table"

Well....................ya.........................and?


 :banghead:
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Eupher on August 09, 2013, 02:36:01 PM
I'm trying to get the wife interested in a Brunswick Gold Crown.

She says "it looks too much like a pool hall table"

Well....................ya.........................and?


 :banghead:

For far too many people, a pool table is a piece of furniture.  :thatsright:
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on August 12, 2013, 10:08:50 AM
For far too many people, a pool table is a piece of furniture.  :thatsright:


True, so true.

Now, I've found a few BBC's (Brunswick Balke Collender) where they combined both, but they aren't as "playable" as new(er) tables, something about the "T" bolted rails plus many are converted Billiards tables.


From the age of craftsmanship:


(http://www.billiardrestoration.com/Images/Antique-Billiard-Pool-Tables/Regina/regina-4.jpg)

(http://images1.showmethead.com/nlarge/3_200_obo_antique_brunswick-balke-collender_model_coreno_9ft_pool_table_3200_cincinna_23168439.jpg)
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 06, 2013, 04:36:21 PM
Found a Golden West table, probably nearly 30 years old.


Asking?


$300


(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/pooltable005_zpsb7eb56b5.jpg) (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/Apogeespeaker/media/pooltable005_zpsb7eb56b5.jpg.html)


Going to look at it tomorrow. I hope the cushions are still OK.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: obumazombie on September 08, 2013, 04:02:38 PM
I fI had room for it I would beat you to it !
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 09, 2013, 09:48:20 AM
Picked up the table. For $300 it's OK, not great, but it'll provide some fun for everyone, plus I like the looks of it. Came with some cues, set of balls, rack, cue holder, chalk and BALL CLEANER. Gotta have clean balls. :-)

Even my wife gets the "idea" that sometime in the future if a really good table comes along, we aren't so invested in this one that we wouldn't get what we paid for it.

Construction is pretty good, 1" slate, semi-hardwood frame (some sections are solid Fir) the cushions are good (YAAAA!) as is the cloth, etc.. My neighbor across the street thought we could set it up. Well, we tried, but it's a PITA when you realize just how close you have to get the slates to match up, and then level the table.

I said screw it, and have "The Pool Table Guy" coming out Thursday to get it set up for $150.

Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Eupher on September 09, 2013, 11:37:37 AM
Picked up the table. For $300 it's OK, not great, but it'll provide some fun for everyone, plus I like the looks of it. Came with some cues, set of balls, rack, cue holder, chalk and BALL CLEANER. Gotta have clean balls. :-)

Even my wife gets the "idea" that sometime in the future if a really good table comes along, we aren't so invested in this one that we wouldn't get what we paid for it.

Construction is pretty good, 1" slate, semi-hardwood frame (some sections are solid Fir) the cushions are good (YAAAA!) as is the cloth, etc.. My neighbor across the street thought we could set it up. Well, we tried, but it's a PITA when you realize just how close you have to get the slates to match up, and then level the table.

I said screw it, and have "The Pool Table Guy" coming out Thursday to get it set up for $150.



Never have seen a table set up. What happens if the cushions are a little weak? Do you replace those, or get them reworked in some sort of way? What does that cost, roughly?

Will the pool table guy also install new felt after he's done aligning, leveling, balancing?

Balls can stay dirty for all I care.  :-)
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 09, 2013, 12:41:51 PM
Quote
Never have seen a table set up. What happens if the cushions are a little weak? Do you replace those, or get them reworked in some sort of way? What does that cost, roughly?

Will the pool table guy also install new felt after he's done aligning, leveling, balancing?


Setting one up is a PITA. The frame has to be leveled with a machinists level. Then the slates are put in with the center as the slate that the others are leveled to. Usually a 6' precision ground straight edge is used so that no light shows under the slates. Then the seams are covered with Bondo or bees wax and sanded/scraped flat. From there is the cloth (going to re-use) and then rails, then the final leveling of the entire table.

Yuck.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Eupher on September 09, 2013, 01:44:16 PM

Setting one up is a PITA. The frame has to be leveled with a machinists level. Then the slates are put in with the center as the slate that the others are leveled to. Usually a 6' precision ground straight edge is used so that no light shows under the slates. Then the seams are covered with Bondo or bees wax and sanded/scraped flat. From there is the cloth (going to re-use) and then rails, then the final leveling of the entire table.

Yuck.

Damn. Definitely sounds worth the $150 to have somebody else do all that.

What does it take -- moneywise -- to replace the rails, if they're weak?
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 10, 2013, 10:31:56 AM
Damn. Definitely sounds worth the $150 to have somebody else do all that.

What does it take -- moneywise -- to replace the rails, if they're weak?

Cushions are anywhere from $125 to the sky's the limit. Lucky for me, the table rails are set up for K 66 profile (excellent) cushions, but they usually run around $250.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 16, 2013, 04:27:24 PM
*update*

Quote
What does it take -- moneywise -- to replace the rails, if they're weak?


Found a supplier online that has the K66 profile cushions (full set) for around $75. Complete cloth, faster than what's on the table now, is around $90, that includes enough to do the rails. I may just buy it to store away until I redo the table.

Cushions are OK as I thought, but a tad slow, partly due to the cloth (high nap) and them being old(er). Still, we had the neighbors over 2 nights in a row and they liked the table. Me? I thought it was "out" a little too much so I tweaked the level of the table using a floor jack and a small boat style level. Now I like it.  :hyper:

I'll get some pics up, it looks good in the room.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 23, 2013, 04:43:24 PM
Pics, as promised:



(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/552697_10151584322050938_638374864_n_zps92075ed8.jpg) (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/Apogeespeaker/media/552697_10151584322050938_638374864_n_zps92075ed8.jpg.html)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k179/Apogeespeaker/1236162_10151584322115938_1688171871_n_zpsd55d6051.jpg) (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/Apogeespeaker/media/1236162_10151584322115938_1688171871_n_zpsd55d6051.jpg.html)


I'm going to tweek the table jus a leetle bit moar...... got a 8" Starrett Machinists level from a shop that trusts me....
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Eupher on September 24, 2013, 11:08:37 AM
Nice!

Although why would you install the table on a carpet? Seems like that would throw off the accuracy of the leveling of the table....
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on September 24, 2013, 01:49:04 PM
Ya, carpet isn't recommended, but it looks good and with the weight of the table, I think it's done settling. The floor is concrete slab.

I checked it with the level, not too bad, but when I re-do the cloth and rails I'll get it closer. For now it plays OK.
Title: Re: Pool players?
Post by: Wineslob on October 24, 2013, 09:56:52 AM
I got a set of these used, in excellent condition:


(http://www.saluc.com/visu/pool-sa-pro.jpg)


Made a HUGE difference in my game.


 :cheersmate: