GCL Billiards to get repeat work for snooker tables in Leicester , 5 re-stretch bed cloths

Our client in Leicestershire renewed their faith in GCL Billiards in requesting for us to come back on the 12 month anniversay of the re-covers to re-stretch all 5 tables bed cloths and check for level etc  in this Establishment . we noted that two nets where worn so replaced these free of charge as a goodwill gesture .
We completed the work over two days , we did not want to rush the work , where many firms would have tried to complete in one day , although working on two at a time  ,we did each table as if we where working on just one and took our time to make sure all was correct before moveing onto the next table .
The Strachan 6811Tournament cloth is standing up to wear very well showing no excessive wear , another make was used last time we recovered them and I had to re-cover some end cushions when we did the re-stretch due to wear around the pocket openings  , so on this basis we always recommend the Strachan 6811 tournament over any other cloth .

I must say the tables are realy  looked after at this Venue , they get a Brush and iron 3 times a week . + extra for match play .
5 stretch bed cloths
All five tables are 1930/40s Riley Square legged  tables with 4 being Oak framed and one being Mahogany , they have in the past had all their cushions replaced by Rileys in the late 80s early 90s , so have modern mahogany cushions on them . We have recommended that they start to re-rubber the tables spread out  one table  every two years , this will mean in 10 years time all the tables will have had their rubber replaced and would mean only the extra cost of one table re-rubber every two years ontop of the re-covering costs , the cushions are around 25 years old now , so are due .
one table has slightly dished slates , and I have recommended that some adjustable slate supports ( Muntins) be added and by the simple turn of 6 bolts these can be adjusted to take the dip out of the slates by forceing pressure upwards under the slate in the centre ( only the table  fitter to adjust these ) .
One other recommendation would be to replace the coffin shades with the modern White light high frequency tube lighting as used in the Nottingham Snooker Academy . but they seem happy with the shades at the moment.
5 stretch bed 2

I would like to thank all my Clients who have arranged or are about to arrange for GCL Billiards for repeat work , it shows our clients trust in us to do the work correct and not rushed and not overcharge .
this is what GCL Billiards values are , to build a trusting relationship with our clients , and do every job as if it is GCL Billiards who is going back to do any work , we do it right because if it is done wrong  we risk the wrath of the client and also makes our job harder next time we re-cover plus our Reputation would get tarnished .
I always look back to the value’s of the first Master fitter who trained me many years ago Mick Robb , he and the other fitters after always said if a job is worth doing it is worth doing right .
My Old Boss John Hopkin ( now in his 80s and still going strong ) also had moral and Christian value’s , although I am not a practising Christian I always admired John for his ethic’s and beliefs and still do .

Graeme Dott’s steel block full size snooker table for sale…………….NOW SOLD

 

NOW SOLD !

**** stop press just been informed that Graeme will accept just £900 for this steel block table as he requires the room , so first come first served .****
Email bigandy@mail2world.com  £900 for a 2006 world champions personal practice home  table that is a BARGAIN.

NOW SOLD !

Graeme-Dott

As always, if anyone would like a quote for removing the table, transporting and then re-erecting in a new location, please send details to me, Geoff Large, at c.large@btinternet.com ,just reference it Graeme Dott’s table quote.

DSC06879 DSC06874 DSC06876 DSC06877 DSC06878

Servicing Snooker tables today and work is still coming in from Derby, Nottingham, Lincoln, Leicester and East Midlands

I have been out and about visiting a few clubs and a private house to service their snooker tables.  One local club having been badly let down on a service contract getting in touch to arrange a service call plus replace two worn nets and discuss a contract going forward.  We have secured the contract so happy times for the client and for GCL Billiards.

If you require a service visit for your snooker table then please get in touch with Geoff.  We arrange a round where Geoff visits so many places in a day, usually around 4 clubs depending on how many tables they have .  We check level, brush and Iron the cloth, re-mark out the baulk line and D, re-spot, check nets and leathers and ball rail nuts, re-tip cues, check all long rests and small rests for feet missing.  We discuss with the owner how the cloth is wearing and when to expect the major jobs required, like a re-stretch or re-cover or re-rubber etc.

Our service visits start at just £30 plus traveling between post codes when combined with other clubs in your area.  If your table has not been looked at by a qualified billiards fitter in the last 12 months or so, it will be due a service visit.  Contact Geoff on 07753 466064 but we do prefer emailing to c.large@btinternet.com to work out when we are in your area for a service visit.
digital 0.0 level
We use engineers and digital levels to get the best cross reference on leveling tables.

We like to think we go so much further in our skill as a time served billiards fitter to get the job correct.  We cannot rectify badly warped slates but we have a go at getting a happy medium for the client.  Where other fitters just give up, Geoff likes a challenge.
acadamy getting table level

9ft Orme & Sons , ANOTHER NOW SOLD THROUGH A GCL BILLIARDS FREE ADVERT !

NOW SOLD to a buyer in Norfolk who spotted it in our for sale section .

Our clients are pleased to inform us that they have secured a buyer through a GCL Billiards Advert to a buyer  in Norfolk
GCL Billiard has secured the work of dismantle and move plus any other work that the buyer wishes us to carry out .
We have sold three 9ft tables through GCL billiards FREE to ADVERTISE blog , this puts the buyer in direct contact with the seller cutting out any middleman profit , we feel this helps secure a sale and hopefully as in this case , secure GCL billiards the work of moving the table .
We have the men and Equipment and the Billiards fitting expertise to carry out this work with no fuss and we also carry Public Liability insurance .
if you have a Billiard / Snooker or pool table you wish to sell , then please consider GCL billiards Free Advert Blog as a form of getting youre table noticed within the community , having this past year sold 3 of these 9ft tables and helped to move on some full sized tables from the free advertising , It proves our adverts do reach the right people who are looking for a table .
9ft orme near worksop retford
As you can see the table is located in a garage or workshop.  The table is ideal for two markets, someone who requires a low cost table of good build quality for their garage or outbuilding, or someone who wishes to have the table fully restored or part restored for use in the home.  The woodwork has marks from use and the cloth may be ok for the garage, but if putting the table inside then maybe a re-cover in nice new Strachan 6811 Tournament cloth would transform the playing surface.
9ft orme near worksop
Room size you would require is 19 feet by 14 feet 6 inches in order to have good cue room around the table.
Is this the table you have been looking for?  If so contact Geoff at c.large@btinternet.com  I can even arrange for you to try the table out before buying.
9ft orme badge retford
The genuine Orme & Sons Ivory name plate , you can tell it is real ivory by the grain of the elephant tusk in the background of the plate , sometimes known as cross hatch pattern.  Although it says “established in 1845” the table is circa 1901 to 1910 as referenced to by “appointment to King Edward VII”.  This is a well made table, made by one of the top billiard houses of the 19th and 20th century.

Another Re-rubber and Re-cover on a full size snooker table near Loughborough

I have been working in Quorn near Loughborough for the last two days, the work was for a re-rubber in Northern UK made Rubber and re-cover in Strachan 6811 Tournament cloth plus new nets and leathers.

quorn snooker table strip down
The table during the re-rubber process, cushions having been bolted back on prior to re-cover to check the pocket openings.
quorn snooker slate bed
The slate bed of the table, this table was set up by an unskilled fitter, he had packed between slate and frame with a few beer mats.  These were taken out and the level adjusted.  Then the slate joints checked as he had sanded them down, so they had to be refilled and feathered in with car body filler.  He had also rasped the slate falls into the table.  This was taken on board when cutting the pocket openings to try and get them to 3.5 inch when covered.  Pocket openings were slightly over 3.5 inch but once the cloth went on they where 3.5 inch exactly.

These cushions where made with the cloth cushion slip recess in the main body of the cushion, a copy of a Burroughs and Watts design. This enables the cut of the rubber to open up after the fall, unlike many standard cushions where the rubber narrows towards the rear of the opening.  In other words these cushions mimmick steel block cushion pocket openings.  New nets and leathers also fitted.
quorn finished table
The finished table, the table plays much better than the last re-cover, with its new rubber and new cloth.

The slates are slightly dished and it is recommended that the owner has new centre adjustable muntins fitted to take the sag out of the centre of the slates.  The owner is a good DIY er and has the skills himself to put these in.  I have shown him how to do this without having to take the slates off the table.  Once fitted it will be a simple screw up of the adjustable muntin to the slate and each day adjust 1/4 turn until the dip in the slate is out.  It is best to do this over a period of two weeks rather than try and get it to level out in one go.
quorn level

Wanted: Full size oak snooker table ….NOW got one !

6th july 2013 …located a full size riley imperial from Burgh le Marsh near Skegness via ebay seller , dismantled and loaded onto clients van , cushions awaiting new rubber and re-polish  in the workshop then its set up in clients re-furbished barn conversion near the welsh borders .

We have a client who is requiring a full size snooker table in oak to go in his oak beamed barn conversion, at a good price, that is relavant to the current market.
vicroy

The table must be in good condition woodwork wise.  The two types that he likes are the Riley Viceroy and the Riley Imperial.  There is not much to choose between these two, the Viceroy has deeper arches and the chunkier the leg the better as I know there are some thin 6 inch oak Imperials about.  We prefer the 8 inch version like the one in the photo below.  They really look great in old barns with the oak beams.

Get in touch with Geoff right now if you have one for sale or know where there is one in good condition.

Contact email c.large@btinternet.com or phone 07753 466064
oak imperial

10ft re-rubber and re-cover in Lincolnshire + other work in the same area over two to three days

This week I have been working away for a few days and staying overnight at a caravan park in Lincolnshire.  I took on around 4 jobs in the same area, so stayed central to complete them all at the caravan park I was doing the main work at.

The main job was the caravan park’s 10ft snooker table which had been badly installed from new and had dead Chinese green rubber on the cushions.  I started by stripping the rubber off the cushions and then I replaced it with best Northern Rubber as used on the main tournament tables used on TV.

After fitting the new rubber I had to reform the pocket openings on this table.   As the table is used mainly by the park’s tourist caravanners and residents, they did not want small hard to pot tight pocket openings so opted for a large 3 3/4 inch width at the drop, which is around 1/8th larger than club tables in most snooker clubs.

The slips that hold the cloth in on the last re-cover where all nailed in.  This is bad practice and will in time split those wood blocks off the cushion.

Just take alook at the badly carved rubber around the pockets and the nailed in cloth retaining slips.  I have lifted the nails up to show just how many were in.  This is just utter cowboy work.
caravan nailed slips and carved rubber

Take a look at the next photo to show new slips that were fitted after the new rubber was fitted and new pocket angles cut.  As you can see, not a nailed in slip, just a tight fitting one.
caravan new rubber new slips
The finished table
caravan finished table
The bed of the table was not very level and the frame bolts where all loose.  The table was fitted with adjustable muntins (centre slate supports) but these were not even tightened up against the under side of the slate.  The slate also had beer mats put between frame and slate in an attempt to level it.  I removed all the beer mats, took all the packing out of the legs, tightened the frame bolts, levelled the table, adjusted the centre slate supprts to prevent slate sagging and refilled the joints with a good soft sand car body filler, before sanding the entire bed down.

The table, although not 100% level, is 98% better than it was before I levelled it.

A photo showing pocket openings after the re rubber with ball for referance of size of opening.  You may also note I fitted a new set of Riley match plate pocket leathers.
Caravan new cloth and pocket opening
A photo of the old cloth and pocket opening , as you can just about see the rubber is not as thick at the back end of the old pocket as it is on the new opening.  You need this extra rubber at the back edge to avoid cloth wear and the noise of knocking as the ball hits the thin rubber.  Better to have a bit more rubber there to protect cloth from splitting and also ball bounce out from the thud of the ball hitting the wood.  The old pocket openings where around 4 inch wide at the fall!  That’s almost two balls side by side being allowed in – the term ‘buckets’ can be aptly used to describe pockets like this by snooker players.
Caravan worn table corner
I was not finished after this re-cover and re-rubber as they also wanted me to re-cover the old pool table out the back that the kids use.  I turned the old cloth over from the snooker table.

Here it is, not too bad for second hand cloth turned over is it?  It is only used by the kids anyway.
caravan pool table cover old cloth
During my stay there I nipped out each evening.  One trip to Woodhall Spa to pick up some 9ft cushions to take home to the workshop for re-rubber and re-cover.  Due to refit next thursday with other work in the area.  The next night a trip up the road to dismantle a full sized snooker table in a garage.  It really helps if you are in the same area to combine these jobs as it helps to reduce travelling time (and costs) and thus increase the time I can spend on fitting.  I estimate with all the work I did on this trip, it saved me 8 hours travelling and that’s a day that would have been lost.

Not finished there, on the way home on Friday I popped into Newark to look at a job to quote for and then over to Southall to quote for another job. So a very productive week.

Next two weeks are just as busy, with tables to move and set up, re-rubbers x 3 and recovering pool and snooker tables.

Not much on for June although the first week is starting to look full, so anyone requiring work for June, just pop me an email at c.large@btinternet.com or phone me 0n 07753 466064.

By all means leave comments on this work just done, but any enquiries please use the two contacts just supplied.  Email is the preferred contact method, but if you want a quick answer the mobile phone is the best.