Hello from Tilde

[tilde]

Hi first time on forum. I'm just about to purchase and get a table installed in my home. It's been a long time since I've played the game. 10 years plus. Even then didn't play nearly as much as I would have liked. This lockdown has peaked my interest in Bar Billiards again. Like anyone else I played in various pubs and hotels. I took it for granted that all tables were alike, standard size, markings on table etc. Not so it seems. Seen a Jelks table with no markings at all. No alternative baulk line, No D, or spot for Red ball. Is this a maker's thing or perhaps a regional thing. I know the 3 pin & 4 pin game is popular in various parts of the country. so were manufacturers making specially made tables for different regions. Also saw a Sam's table where the 50, 100 and 200 holes seemed to be further from the baulk line than tables I've seen. As I said long time since I've played. Please any help for a beginner would be appreciated. Will be taking my time choosing my table, with lockdown not much choice. So any helpful information on tables or table variations would be great. Thanks..

[daveuk1]

Hi and welcome to the board and world of bar billiards.

As far as a table goes, so much depends if you want to play 3 or 4 pin? That will really determine what size table is best. 3 pin tables are wider, you can play a form of 4 pin on them but it doesnt work in reverse, you can't play 3 pin on a narrow table.
Alan Turner, a member on here is often found in his workshop refurbishing tables in between telling jokes
There are some stupidly priced tables on fleabay at the moment so talk to Alan and you could well save yourself a few hundred pounds. That is of course if you are in the UK

[tilde]

Hi daveuk1. I live in Glasgow. Not exactly the centre of the Bar Billiard community. I'm lucky in that money is not the problem when purchasing a table. The location might be. I intend to have the table installed in a upstairs bedroom (12' x 9'). So the table will have to be taken apart and reassembled again. So hoping there are companies out there that can do this. I'm mainly interested in the 3 pin game. Small steps. The 4 pin game looks very tough. The 3 pin game doesn't look particularly easy either. Only an occasional player, and as I said not played in some time. If I could ask any member, if they had a choice, what table would they choose. Are there modern manufacturers of tables. I myself particularly like the Jelks Tables. I know they are the most sought after.

[Chris_Sav]

Hi again,


If you are taking a table upstairs then separating the top from the base would be easiest. I did once export a table from the cellar of a laird's "castle" near Blairgowrie. One hell of a job up a winding staircase!

Sams are easier to dismantle than Jelkes provided the legs have not been glued in place. Having said that the internal rear hinges on a Jelkes, once removed, can be replaced with external wing hinges that are much better. That job done, the legs come off easier than a Sams.

Upstairs you may find it best to board between the front legs if the board is going across the joists (similarly back legs).

Do ask if you see a table.
 

[tilde]

Hi Sav. Thanks for the info. Obviously the slate is the most important thing re moving. It's 16 steps to the room I'd prefer to use. And there's a bend in the staircase. Nothing's ever easy !. Looking about there are 4 companies that are promising, mentioning they deliver to whatever location you choose. It'll be hard work, but I can only hope it's possible.

[daveuk1]

Nothing is impossible. As you say the slate table top is the most important and heaviest part. If you are paying a company to deliver and install, will you also be buying the table from them? Just do the obvious and make sure they are fully insured.

Most counties hold their own opens and hire in tables for the event, so their is plenty of experience from members of this board on how best to transport tables and advice will, I am sure be freely available.

You do have the advantage in that you will only be doing this once. As Sav has said make sure the floor is strong enough and put something under the table legs to spread the weight.

[tilde]

Hi daveuk1. Thanks for the advice. A lot of things to take into account. Thanks for pointing some of them out. I'm sure whichever company I choose will survey the location. Got a long list of questions to ask. I'll take my time. Best Wishes..

[daveuk1]

How is the hunt for a table going?
Do you know of any other tables in your area?

[tilde]

Hi daveuk1. Just taking my time deciding on table. Will be making sure I make the right choice. Probably get a Structural Engineer into property, once I've found out the likely weight of the table. Totally new to me, I really have no idea of the average weight of a Bar Billiard table. The lockdown situation here isn't helping. Still a fair bit to go. As for tables in my area. Only know of one in Glasgow. it's in Glasgow City Centre. Played on one in Ayr, and there's one in Dumfries. My Brother and best mate have played there. Other Brother lives in Surrey, he's played occasionally. Hoping by the end of July, that things are somewhat back to normal. 

Hi Tilde,

As a rough guide, a slate-based table weighs the same as a 20-stone man, so a four man lift (get away with three if they are lusty !)

For home use, you'd probably be best advised to go for a Riley as they're lighter than the others - bearing in mind that you're taking it up a flight of stairs.

The Stoke-on-Trent one on eBay at present might turn out to be a good purchase.......

Good luck !

tommo

[Chris_Sav]

I think I'd be patient on a table as there could be a few available when lockdown ends and pubs start trading again and socially distanced space is necessary. I cannot see tables being played upon unfortunately, 

There's nothing on Ebay at present that I'd spend my pennies on, typical cracked slate on the Walton-on-Thames one so beware. Alan might have something nice tucked away ooop narf. 

[alanturner]

Jun 13, 2020 19:35:11 GMT tommo III said:

Hi Tilde,

As a rough guide, a slate-based table weighs the same as a 20-stone man, so a four man lift (get away with three if they are lusty !)

For home use, you'd probably be best advised to go for a Riley as they're lighter than the others - bearing in mind that you're taking it up a flight of stairs.

The Stoke-on-Trent one on eBay at present might turn out to be a good purchase.......

Good luck !

tommo

Also the Rileys legs are easy to remove  , the Riley would be the easiest to get up a narrow twisty / turny staircase . The Rileys legs are also the easiest to break and split if you drag it across a floor , in fact a little shuv on a carpeted floor can will probably split a leg at the top .

The Riley on EBAY in Stoke -on -Trent looks like a solid oak one , but they were originally asking £1500.00 for it  , thats a decent  Jelks price !! 

I am only 15 miles away from Choke-on -Stench............so if any ones wants to buy and then get it r-clothed ....re-furbed , I could collect it for them  , do the needed work and then they arrange collection from me . At extremely low rates .

[alanturner]

Jun 14, 2020 8:07:49 GMT Chris_Sav said:

I think I'd be patient on a table as there could be a few available when lockdown ends and pubs start trading again and socially distanced space is necessary. I cannot see tables being played upon unfortunately, 

There's nothing on Ebay at present that I'd spend my pennies on, typical cracked slate on the Walton-on-Thames one so beware. Alan might have something nice tucked away ooop narf. 

I will have 2 traditional SAMS on ebay soon  one in 6/7 days and a second in about 4/5 weeks . Both will be re-furbed and both will have traditional clock/mechanisms  set to free play ~( but if required they could have the coin operation as well)

The one after them will be a NARROW TABLE .

The BB Table i have on at the moment is a hybrid build with an electric / mechanism  with a traditional pull handle , not for for everyone but it does the job .

[tilde]

Hi Sav, tommo & alanturner. Thanks for the info. The main reason I'm being so cautious, is that the room where I want to put the table, and it's the only one that can be used, I'm afraid. It's above an archway that leads into my house. I have a front, back & inside door that are accessible from this archway. It is totally closed off. Everything seems solid, but I'll not take anything for granted. My house was built in the mid 1930's. Three rooms upstairs, Three down. The main bedroom next door, has a large double adjustable bed. It weighs a ton !. So pretty sure everything OK structurally. If after having it checked out, and advised that it would be unsafe. That may be the end of it. The only other thing I can think of, is that I have seen a specially built table with an MDF table top. A lot lighter, plays OK, from what I can gather, not my preferred option. Has anyone any thoughts on these types of tables. At the end of the day, playing the game is all that matters. See how things go. plenty of time to work things out. Nothing much happening here re lockdown. At least another 6 or 7 weeks before something close to normality sets in.

[daveuk1]

I've played on one wooden top, words can't describe the experience and I only play for fun

Hi again Tilde,

You might care to read through the following thread for all sorts of tips and problems overcome by one of our members who undertook a similar project to yours:

barbilliards.proboards.com/thread/17383/table-body-dimensions

Some of the pics no longer display but you should get the general idea.

There was a  happy ending, having bought a Riley which he managed to manouvre up the stairs okay, Jelly went on to refurbish it himself and in little more than three years has become one of the top players in the league he plays in.

You will not find many fans on here of MDF in preference to a slate base !  The only one I've played on (apart from on those horrible modern 'Supreme' tables which have Pool-table style legs) did not play like a normal table - balls were jumping about all over the place !

Good luck in your search,

tommo

[tilde]

Hi Everyone.

                       Due to a family illness, I have had to put my search for a table, on hold for the foreseeable future. I would like to thank daveuk1, Sav & tommo, for their interest & advice.
And especially alanturner, who tried to make it happen. Best Wishes to all of you.


                                                                                                                                            Tilde.

[Chris_Sav]

Sorry to hear your news Jim.

I hope all goes well and you are able to resume your search.