alanturner
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Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Jan 13, 2017 15:03:30 GMT
Hello things going on with Mr Other's table are: we start with a question: 1) has anyone ever cut up or drilled slate? i say drilled but that is probably the wrong term? it is just that there are old snooker table slates for sale really cheap and I wondered if they can be cut to shape and then the holes put in? comments on slate would be appreciated! 2) recently I have had the table tilted towards the player in order to give the ball a good roll off the top cushion. this works nicely and the player can play a softer shot for what they want. a re-cloth would be better but we await this? 3) I purchased a set of Snooker balls this weew. I have played for the first 5 weeks with 7 whites of which one had polca dots marked on it with felt tip. now I have two proper reds and was able place the two whites in a box and replace them. the weight of all the balls is - luckily 90-95 grammes so happy days! 4) Alan Taylor mad me a beautiful set of skittles and then I read of the Sudbury leagues rules and noted the base of the skittles could be 18mm not 16.5mm as they came. so Alan made me a second set and they are 10mm shorter and 18mm across the base. You can hit them a little harder and the whole skittle moves rather than falls. as i'm within the rules I feel that this is a good move. 5) the breal shot is nearly impossible, either one stays up and down or either or both, all on a 'hair's breadth' of change. the table is on the maximum playing length of 143cm so maybe this has something to do with it? 6) after several weeks of use and 30 games per week, yes 30, the clock mechanism is better than ever with the oiling it got. so sometimes you have to wait! 7) the 'quill' was going ten to the dozen and the longest a game was lasting at full stretch was 8.30. after a word from tommo, it transpired that the quill should have a weight on it and this slows the speed down of the quill. so i fitted a block connector that are used in auto electrics and placed it the correct distance. the game now lasts just under 18 minutes which is deemed the right time by 3-pin tommo. 8) the balls were BANGING into the drop board so i changed the hardened congealed rubber mess for CONDENSED FOAM RUBBER 10mm thick and it's brilliant! no noise and no mess, far better than felt. 9) the trough had sponges in each bay but after years of lack of use the sponge was being smashed and then the balls hit the board here as well. more CONDENSED FOAM RUBBER and i can hear a pin drop while the balls are coming back. 10) next problem, even when made, i think this had 4mm ply and the balls dropping in the 100 and 200 really 'bangs' so much so the gate goes a few seconds early when the ball goes down the 100. I need to either put thicker cloth on the runs or as i suspect use screws instead of nails to hold the ball guides/runners - its these that rattle! that is all!!!! regards Taffy Regarding supply of Skittles or Mushrooms , just let me know your requirements , height , width , weight , colour I am sure I we can sort something out quickly for anyone at a lower rate than ebay Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Jan 13, 2017 14:51:04 GMT
Hello things going on with Mr Other's table are: we start with a question: 1) has anyone ever cut up or drilled slate? i say drilled but that is probably the wrong term? it is just that there are old snooker table slates for sale really cheap and I wondered if they can be cut to shape and then the holes put in? comments on slate would be appreciated! 2) recently I have had the table tilted towards the player in order to give the ball a good roll off the top cushion. this works nicely and the player can play a softer shot for what they want. a re-cloth would be better but we await this? 3) I purchased a set of Snooker balls this weew. I have played for the first 5 weeks with 7 whites of which one had polca dots marked on it with felt tip. now I have two proper reds and was able place the two whites in a box and replace them. the weight of all the balls is - luckily 90-95 grammes so happy days! 4) Alan Turner mad me a beautiful set of skittles and then I read of the Sudbury leagues rules and noted the base of the skittles could be 18mm not 16.5mm as they came. so Alan made me a second set and they are 10mm shorter and 18mm across the base. You can hit them a little harder and the whole skittle moves rather than falls. as i'm within the rules I feel that this is a good move. 5) the breal shot is nearly impossible, either one stays up and down or either or both, all on a 'hair's breadth' of change. the table is on the maximum playing length of 143cm so maybe this has something to do with it? 6) after several weeks of use and 30 games per week, yes 30, the clock mechanism is better than ever with the oiling it got. so sometimes you have to wait! 7) the 'quill' was going ten to the dozen and the longest a game was lasting at full stretch was 8.30. after a word from tommo, it transpired that the quill should have a weight on it and this slows the speed down of the quill. so i fitted a block connector that are used in auto electrics and placed it the correct distance. the game now lasts just under 18 minutes which is deemed the right time by 3-pin tommo. 8) the balls were BANGING into the drop board so i changed the hardened congealed rubber mess for CONDENSED FOAM RUBBER 10mm thick and it's brilliant! no noise and no mess, far better than felt. 9) the trough had sponges in each bay but after years of lack of use the sponge was being smashed and then the balls hit the board here as well. more CONDENSED FOAM RUBBER and i can hear a pin drop while the balls are coming back. 10) next problem, even when made, i think this had 4mm ply and the balls dropping in the 100 and 200 really 'bangs' so much so the gate goes a few seconds early when the ball goes down the 100. I need to either put thicker cloth on the runs or as i suspect use screws instead of nails to hold the ball guides/runners - its these that rattle! that is all!!!! regards Taffy
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Jan 2, 2017 18:14:53 GMT
AEBBA Rules quote the following spec.: So what is your own actual opinion on the draw concave skittle then ? I see it as :- If that is the total amount of the rules , then the draw concave skittle would be legal dimensionally , I think ! Overall height 11.0 cm is within tolerance and the cylindrical diameter varies between 1.8 and 1.5cm to a height above 5.1cm I am basing this on the fact that the rules don't state that the diameter should be constant , only that it should be in the tolerance of 1.5 to 1.8cm What weight is preferred ............light or heavy , this can easily be governed . Does anyone ever object to the skittles used in a league match on the night ? Are natural wood colours acceptable as being white ?
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alanturner
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Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Jan 2, 2017 16:25:31 GMT
Please let me have you opinions on the skittle shown : 3-CON110-17 SKITTLE.pdf (36.57 KB) Especially is it within the rules and if not why not ?
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 29, 2016 17:06:42 GMT
Also I don't understand what you mean that all the best footballers these days are foreigners , we could honour ..........err ....... .........erm ...well theirs a........or what about thingumy .......maybe you got something there ?
I think Geoffrey Boycott blotted his copy book some years ago , with off the field actions ....But there is still Ted Dexter ,81 years , he was commonly known as Lord Ted ? Or maybe Sir Freddy Flintoff , well maybe not ! I got it , I got it.....yes football Sir Sam Araldyce for services as England manager . 100% no lose record ! Or Sir James Corden .....a League of His Own Sir Lewis Hamilton services to motor sport or servicing a showbiz person ! Agree Sir Andy Murray but what about Dame Judy Murray
Other showbiz nominees:- Again Sir James Corden............charity work and conquering America also for making me laugh a lot. Sir Francis Rossi ........before they all pop off ! Sir Ed Balls ........for doing nothing particularly well !
Otherwise I with your list .
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 29, 2016 16:22:55 GMT
With the end of Cameron cronyism, hopefully we'll see some awards that are more worthy this time. But who do you reckon will be made a knight or dame in the New Years Honours List ? Tommo's nominations would be: (from sport, none from football, all our best ones are foreigners !) Sir Geoffrey Boycott Sir Andrew Murray Sir Mohammed Farah Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Trott Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill from showbiz: Dame June Whitfield (her career spans 60 years, I used to listen to her on the radio as a child) Sir Brian Blessed (he's climbed mountains for goodness sake) Sir Rowan Atkinson (well Baldrick got one, why not Blackadder as well ?) Who would you honour ? When I was little and first at school many years ago , over 50 years ago , it was a church school . We were taught to ' Honour your Father and your Mother ' . In fact it was one of the things written around the school room in 6" tiles , one letter to a tile . along with the 9 other commandments !! I wonder if they are taught that now ?
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 17:21:33 GMT
Hi Alan They really are well made and with a lovely gloss finish, can't see any grain to even say they are wooden and the finish is holding up. I'm into that kind of thing, yes it would lower the C of G further. even now, with 10mm removed they either fall or the y don't, they don't 'rock' anymore. I have to treat the lip of the hole with the same respect as the skittle. there was an imbalance before whereby I was worried about the skittle more than "rimming". as I say, they are equal now. the other thing that came to mind was to start the base of the skittle as 18mm and have half the rim you see in the middle/waist of it. so that by having half a rim, you come in from 18mm and then you still have the same width as the old 16.5mm skittle did. I'll draw it for you.... Taffy Yes , draw it ...........just to clarify ,please
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 13:44:25 GMT
Welcome Alan It's always nice to see a new member. I am sure plenty of people on here will be happy to give advice and their tips for refurbishing tables. I should say im from the minority group who play four pin in Suffolk. Dave Thanks for the welcome There are no leagues and very very few tables in my area , so its only home play. I have always played 4 pin 50-50-100-200 , I find the 3 pin game with the open 50 hole not as interesting. There is lots of interesting info on here , at some point I am sure I will be able to help others Alan
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alanturner
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Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 13:43:10 GMT
Welcome Alan It's always nice to see a new member. I am sure plenty of people on here will be happy to give advice and their tips for refurbishing tables. I should say im from the minority group who play four pin in Suffolk. Dave Thanks for the welcome There are no leagues and very very few tables in my area , so its only home play. I have always played 4 pin 50-50-100-200 , I find the 3 pin game with the open 50 hole not as interesting. There is lots of interesting info on here , at some point I am sure I will be able to help others Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 13:31:06 GMT
Welcome Alan It's always nice to see a new member. I am sure plenty of people on here will be happy to give advice and their tips for refurbishing tables. I should say im from the minority group who play four pin in Suffolk. Dave
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 13:17:47 GMT
Welcome Alan, Great to have a hobby which offers the chance of making a bit of money at the same time (ie refurbishments) - but apart from taking a pride in the finished product you are unlikely to see the fruits of your labour in active use as you live in Cheshire which is a barren area as far as bar billiards is concerned. We have a map of known venues where the game is played (click on the top menu) and the nearest to you seem to be in Manchester, Derbyshire Peak District and Stoke-on-Trent - and they're all non-league anyway. But have you considered taking an interest in bagatelle, as here the complete opposite applies - the ONLY active league in the country is to be found right on your doorstep in Chester: www.chesterbagatelle.co.uk/The kit they use to play on are traditional folding tables made in Victorian times (considerably pre-dating bar billiards which started in 1934) and which have been strengthened and turned legs added. I would imagine that you might find an outlet for your skills on the lathe there if you were to make yourself known to them. tommo Thank for the reply , yes I realise the complete lack of Bar Billiards in my area . I have owned and sold 2 Bagatelle tables , the game is not as interesting at all and the length of room required is restrictive , due to having to level the table each time you played at home. No enthusiasm from friends either , were as everybody you introduce seems to love Bar Billiards . Chester is a pain to get to , infrastructure , Stoke is only 12 mins up the road ,Manchester /Stockport is relatively easy to get to , I do sax lessons in Cheadle Hulme , in fact when I recommence in Feb I intend to check out the 3 venues in the Stockport area. But thanks for the heads up on that , I may check it out . Its for sure that I wont see a lot in action , especially the set of mushrooms I sent to Australia in early December. Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 11:59:41 GMT
New sticky thread to cover this. I suggest that the map team amend the header and/or post when the map is updated. Sav Don't know if I posted this in the right place , but :- The last 4 or 5 years whilst going on a european motocycle tour , I called in at The Ship and Castle , 90 Rudmore Road , Portsmouth ( This right on the Ferry Terminal ) email : ship-castle@btconnect.com tel 02392 670998 There is a usable Bar Billiard table Don't know if you want to add it to your list Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 11:37:45 GMT
Having read many posts on here and been asked to supply varying different types of skittle , I was wondering if there are any checks carried out prior to games
i.e standard sizes and weight .
Or is it just left to the home teams choice ?
I realise that what ever skittles are used then it is the same for both teams , the advantage being with a team who regularly practice and know the shortfalls of there own skittles.
I once played for a darts team whos floor mat was 1" shorter , this was great when playing at home , as it spoiled the away teams judgement , but had the opposite effect when playing away ..........thus the reason why most leagues now have a fixed oche which is checked by a league adjudicator.
Anyway any thoughts on skittle standards would be interesting ??
Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 11:13:11 GMT
you've lost me Alan? a rod that is 2.5mm? where are we talking of here? Taffy
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 11:11:33 GMT
you've lost me Alan? a rod that is 2.5mm? where are we talking of here? Taffy Hi Taffy , the cross bar in the skittle . Would it be better if it was lighter ie 2.5 Dia. instead of 4mm.(less top heavy) Also is the cross bar long enough to stop them falling down the hole ? Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 1:31:47 GMT
I am sure its more like a 2.5mm rim..............Questions ;- 1 . Does the cross bar need to be longer ? 2.would 3mm dia. be better (currently 4mm dia) Have used 2.5mm dia. fibre rod on some recent ones .
Best Regards
Alan
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alanturner
Full Forum Member
Saxophone is the only thing that gets blown , these days !
Posts: 240
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Post by alanturner on Dec 27, 2016 0:54:06 GMT
Hi Everybody My name is Alan , I am aged 65. I live in Shavington , near Nantwich , South Cheshire When I was 25 (1976)I worked for a company that manufactured the corner plates and the ball return runways for Lyme Grove Amusements who manufactured/refurbished and rented out pool tables. On many occasions we asked if they had an old pool table we could have for our brew room. Then one day their collection van arrived and they had given us a bar billiard table . So that began my interest in bar billiards , we created our own workshop league playing lunch time and early evening. The table was an Sams , all complete in reasonable condition and working clock. Unfortunatley the company I was working for went bust in 1982 , but I kept the bar billiards table and installed it in the front room of my home . We decided to move house in 1985 , the table had to go as there was no room for it at the new (and present ) address , so I gave it away to Haslington Boys Club. For the next 12 years I had no contact at all with Bar Billiard Tables , but I had not forgotten them. So I bought another s/h one (Riley) for home , my daughters having now moved out giving me the room to install one . For private and friends use. Having then gone on into my own metal/wood/plastics fabrication/machining business specialising in stainless steel, I purchased another s/h one (Jelkes) for the works canteen , very popular it was , that is after I totally reburbished it including re-cloth and cushions The Jelkes was sold on in 2010 and the Riley was sold . after some structural work , early 2012. Since that I acquired 2 more tables (late 2012) a Riley and a Sams in dismantled condition both being complete except for feet and both needing refurbishing , Payed less than £200 each for the two of them. These were to be a project for retirement , well now I am retired with a reasonable sized workshop at home. So instead of buying feet I bought a wood lathe for home and made them. This led to a friend with a table asking me if I could make him a set of 4 mushroom type skittles , so I did. Over the last 2 months I have made more mushroom and skittle sets , they are on Ebay for sale (9235alan) I have also made skittles to customer requirements i.e Taffy , who is a member has had a set from me. So any requirements can be met . The refurb of the tables will be recommenced Feb/Mar ( hopefully ) , when complete they will be sold . I already have another lined up for purchase for when these are complete, I am also trying to instigate a 'garage' league in the Crewe/Nantwich/Wychwood Area , public houses don't seem to want to know , not enough return compared to gambling machines. So getting back to the reason for my membership request . this was to have somewhere to ask questions and obtain any help that you or any other members may be able to give regarding refurbishing . Plus a general interest in the game in its various forms . I have some help from a retired guy ex Cliffs Carpentry of Whitchurch who has over the last 46 plus years has refurbished the wooden structures of 3 or 4 bar billiards tables. And I also play the saxophone , but not whilst playin bar billiards. Thank you for taking the time to read this Alan
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