3 Piece Slate Pool Table Assembly

[Jabba]

Hi all,

I recently inherited a slate pool table. Problem is, I am stuck on how to assemble it. (I just got the parts, no instructions).

The guys who moved it numbered all the panels. I've got the base and legs assembled, but cannot figure out how to attach the rails to the slate.

Anyone here ever do this? I would assume that for the most part, these tables are buillt the same way. Anyone know of any web resources?

I will post a pic shortly of where I am at. (although its not too far...)..

Thanks for the help!

[Jabba]

Here is a pic I just took. I can provide more pics if needed. The only thing put together in this pic is the legs to the top frame. The top frame was already assembled...

[Ken Layton]

Hmmm.....it's not a Valley or Dynamo coin-op table so I couldn't tell you. I've assembled many brand new Valley and Dynamo tables before.

I remember seeing a website a long time ago that showed home pool table cloth covering procedures which of course showed rail mounting.

[Jabba]

Thanks Ken, I forgot to add, its not a coin op and it has three pieces of heavy slate.

Update. I've been searching the Internet and this is something that is not readily available. I found some books for sale

[Ken Layton]

A 3 piece slate is a special animal. I have a couple of friends who are professional pool table recoverers. Each piece of the slate has to be mounted and leveled with each other. Then the dividing line is taped and filled just like drywall. Once that's done then the cloth goes on.

[eccs19]

A 3 piece slate is a special animal. I have a couple of friends who are professional pool table recoverers. Each piece of the slate has to be mounted and leveled with each other. Then the dividing line is taped and filled just like drywall. Once that's done then the cloth goes on.

Ken, is there anything that you don't know?  You continue to amaze me!

Best Regards

[mccoy178]

EDIT: I am adding what I saw in the pic you provided.  I believe the loose pieces sitting on top are slate bed pieces.  They should fit together like a puzzle on the frame and screw down to it.  The slate should lay on top of those.  I'm pretty sure about that, but not 100% without more pics.  By the way, let me know if you want me to finish my little guide here and if you want, if you post pics of all the parts, I could certainly tell you what they all do and where they go.  Even the hardware.  So, with that being said, let the fun begin.  BTW, I stopped typing because I ran out of time..........................................

Okay, I'll give this a shot.

[Jabba]

Holy sweet Jesus, I hit the Jackpot!!! Thanks mccoy. I KNEW there would be someone here with this knowledge. This is why BYOAC is my favouruite forum. People from all walks of life willing to help...I'll owe you some brews if we ever meet in the 3D world. 

I just read over your instructions now, and will print and re-read them tonight when I get home. I plan on using the same felt that the table came with. Table was hardly used before and the felt has all the holes punched for the slate bolts and cut for the pockets!

The big bolts with big washers seem to come up from benerath the slate and attach to "floating" nuts in the rails. The rails already have the bumpers attached...

BTW: I got a quote to set the table up and the guys quotes my 120.00 / hour. He said they use Beeswax and a torch to get the slate pieces smooth. I'll look into the Muscleman wax. And those loose pieces are the slate bed pieces. I looked at a table that was already assembled...

I'll post more pics tonight...

Thanks mccoy!

[mccoy178]

No problem.

[Jabba]

Thanks mccoy. I should get to this on the weekend. I need someone to help me put the slate on the table as its too heavy for my wofe to move. I'lll post more pics on the weekend. I appreciate your help !

[Jabba]

I got around to putting the pool table together this weekend. Yup, the rails attach to the slate (as I suspected), and the slate actually "floats" on the frame.

Those loose pieces in other pic attach below the slate, making a slate sandwich.

a) The slate actually has a second set of "smaller" holes besides the big slate fatetsener holes for slate bolts to attach the bottoms wooden pieces to the slate. I used 1 3/4 robertson screws driven down through the top of the slate into the wooden piece underneath. In some instances, I cut new holes...

Interesting way to put it together. Guess this guarantees the table to be square when done...(man, that slate is HEAVY!).

I opted for a "dry" run today before I go trying to "finish" it. Seams are "close" and not waxed yet, and the felt wasn't "streched" and glued. Only stretched the felt by aligning the felt holes over the bolt holes that attach the slate to the rails. All in all, very tricky to get it all together.

Tip. Keep all rails bolts loose when putting this together. Then tighten bolts all down at the end. You sometimes need a little "slack" when putting it together....kinda like putting the bolts on a tire.

Here are some pics of the job so far....

Slate laid on top of frame. I used door shims to get the three slate pieces aligned.

[Jabba]

Felt aligned and pseudo stretched over bolt holes... (the big guy is my brother in law. He helped move the slate and put the table together. 6'7") !

Definately a two man job, took us about 3 hours to get it together...Next time would go faster...

[Jabba]

Finally, after two years of collecting dust, playing my first game! The slate seam closest to the camera is off by 1/16 inch and the ball "bounces" a wee bit. I'll reshim this when I take apart and put back together. Thanks guys for the help....Another project down.

Now, if only I could get that Arkanoid machine working....

[mccoy178]

Good job.  See what I was saying about making sure that slate is perfect at the seams?  Makes a huge difference!  Keeping those rail bolts loose is what I meant when I talked about starting on the ends first then tightening the sides.  Good luck with final install, looks like you have it whipped!

[Jabba]

Actually mccoy, thank you for all the good tips and advice you provided. It would have taken me a WHOLE lot longer and woulda been a WHOLE