This week we have been very busy starting off in Worksop Nottingham with a pool table re-cover , then over to Castle Donington to install a pool table we sold.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we where up in Clitheroe in Lancashire installing a full size snooker table then we re-covered it in best Strachan 6811 west of England cloth
on the way back I called in at Blackburn to inspect a badly fitted table with pocket problems and bad packing under the slate .
There is some major issues with this table that could have been sorted by the seller at the warehouse or workshop before they took it out and fitted it , I was asked for a report on the table which I gave and I think I shall be hearing from the owner to put the problems right .
On Thursday I travelled over to Forest town just the other side of Mansfield to re-cover a nice home play pool table , and in the afternoon over to Bingham to level an American pool table that some removal firm had installed and very nearly broke the table doing so .
This American 8ft table had a three section slate bed and the cushions bolted through holes in the side , they took the legs off at the home they where moving it form and then put the legs back on when they installed the table in the new home ,
the piano trolley they used had bent the side cushions in and I not only had to sort that out but also put extra screws in the legs which where in danger of falling off , now this client had young children who could be crawling under the table and if the legs came adrift the table would come crashing down on the toddler , a truly shocking job , that table should have been fully dismantled and moved in sections then re-set back up, the owners where very lucky no one got injured , do not let Removal men touch a sectional bed cue sports table , call in a professional billiards fitter for this work , it may cost more but the implications of what can go wrong is worrying .
On Friday just one local job about 3 mile from where I live , this was a first edition winner supreme pool table with rock hard rubber in the cushions and in need of a re-cover , I had been recommended tot his client by 2 or 3 people so the word gets around the local pool leagues on who to get in to re-cover their tables.
Recommendation is the best compliment any firm can get , it shows you did a good job on the clients tables and impressed that much that they are spreading the word around their friends who then also pass on the recommendation of using Geoff at GCL billiards to do any maintenance on their cue sports table.
here are a few photo’s of two local pool tables re-covered this week , one had a brand new set of cushions fitted .

The oak colour wood home play table in forest town Mansfield . during strip down, all the staples in the cushions where removed , we do not do speed work and staple over staples .

and The forest town oak colour home play table after a re-cover in Strachan 6811 all wool cloth , Green is the most restful colour to the eye and that is why it is the most used colour in our part of the world anyway

the Sandiacre mk1 Supreme winner , just unscrewed the cushions and trying the new cushions for size , the new cushions where around 1/8th longer , but our client was pleased with that as tighter pockets will improve his game

The reason we replaced the cushions , as you can see this old red rubber is starting to turn over . it is also rock hard , even harder then the soft wood that it is attached to , the balls where hitting the cushions and just dead no rebound at all it was like hitting an iron bar , the rubbers having solidified that much .
note the woolly unbranded cloth used , I often get people saying a firm is quoting £20 less than you to recover my table , well here is what you will get for £20 less rubbish none branded thick woolly cloth .
I use Strachan branded cloth all wool construction in two grades for pool tables 777 and the much desired 6811 as used and played on by county players as well as on Match tables in clubs and pubs up and down the country .
There are other brands offering good quality but the Strachan 6811 is good for wear the other thinner cloths may be very fast but do not expect good life out of the cloth .

The finished supreme winner mk 1 pool table , note the alloy trim around the outside edge and the alloy body corner sections , as well as the flat chrome corner plates , the actual body and legs of the table has changed very little on later models of the winner , this table is now playing very good , it is good for level and the cushions are superb the balls fly around with very good rebound value  of over 7 cushions when a ball is thrown around the table in a clockwise direction .
these rubbers will get even more rebound value once bruised in .
The client is that keen he bought a proper billiard iron , a new set of balls , and the very best pure pig split end bristle brush you can find .
Below is the latest type of winner supreme , you can see the changes mostly in the top surround

the difference is , corner moulded chrome pocket plates , curved over top surround with no alloy trims , the corners of the main body is black and not alloy finish , and the internal runners have a groove in them to stop balls jumping up out of the pocket .
and the black finish is not wood grained but matt finish called Black pearl , the supreme winner is the most popular pool table in the UK , and they seem to hold their second hand value because they are very sought after in the second hand market , some times it is best to buy new because you will get the satisfaction of new balls / new cushion rubber / and new cloth , I have seen second hand winners sold for around £400 which require new cushions / new cloth / and new balls add these to the price of the £400 and you are around the £650 price range , now look on Ebay and see what some are selling a brand new home play supreme winner in Black pearl for , you will be surprised that the price is a round the £650 to £700 price , so was it worth buying second hand ? and you get all the
latest design improvements like the new metal moulded corner plates and anti bounce out ball rails , and an unmarked as new Black pearl finish and you can specify 6811 Strachan cloth .

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A table I re-covered a few month’s ago . this one is the latest design.

the latest corner plate with supreme moulded raised lettering .

A close up of the corner plate on the latest winner , note the black pearl anti glare finish ,and improvement over the shiny black ash which reflected the light into your eyes when playing .

An improvement in the ball rails was made because the flat curved shiny type the balls bounce upwards and back onto the table , the newer slotted type with allen key fixing is the best type to have , we can supply and fit the new type as a replacement to the curved shiny bounce out type at the same time you have a re-cover , just ask for these to be put on the van if you book us for a recover for a Supreme winner or Prince model they both take the same size and type runners.

The past two days have been spent up in Clitheroe in Lancashire .
My client Mark has been working on the woodwork of the table for a few months and was waiting for a relocation of his family business to incorporate an upstairs area for his full size snooker table.
Mark was looking for a table back in February of this year and just happened to view my web site and one took his fancy from the for sale section which links sellers to buyers direct with no middle men fees .
the table had just been placed up for sale when Mark spotted it and he knew it was the table for him , here is a link to that original listing .
https://gclbilliards.com/very-nice-thurston-full-size-snooker-table-for-sale-in-radlett-hertfordshire/

Mark purchased the table direct from the seller , no middle men fees where added,  it was a direct no fuss sale.
Mark then used GCL billiards to collect the table for him and deliver it to Clitheroe .
we where instructed to re-rubber the cushions and return them so that Mark could sympathetically restore the table’s woodwork.
when Mark had relocated the family business we where instructed to return to erect the table and re-cover it in Strachan 6811 tournament cloth .
and here are a few photo’s of that work .

With the frame put together and level ready for the slates which where leaning up against the far wall ready to go on .

the 5 slates being placed onto the frame , we center the center slate up on the frame and then pin together the slates making sure we keep the overhang equal on both side and ends

The 5 slates all located together , the cloth tack lining is screwed around the outside edge , and the fine level of the table is done , the slate joints have had a skim of car body filler to make the 5 section bed a seamless  12ft long bed of slate.
there will be no slate joints showing through the cloth on this table.
the slate is 2 inch thick welsh slate and the table is of  Thurston manufacture circa 1896 . one of the first concealed pocket plated tables when all Billiards firms moved from top plate pockets to concealed plate pocket fixings.
This early concealed pocket plate had an unusual fixing method where one end of the plate screws into the end cushion and the side cushion is a square lug push in fixing , the center pockets are square lug fixing on both sides .
This makes for a tricky screwing up of pocket with the ball rail attached , but back when this table was made it would have had just ball bags on for Billiards not ball rails for snooker , snooker was not the main game until after the 1930s.
it was all billiards back in the early days , and is why all tables should be called A Billiards Table and not Snooker tables .
and my job title is billiards fitter .

the bed cloth fitted to the now level table

the cloth of my choice and of most of the UK’s clubs  , the very popular for wear yet speedy 6811 Tournament Strachan 30 oz all wool cloth
I often get asked why not thinner match play cloth a used on TV or other companies equivalent like Hainsworth Precision or Match cloth
the brand that is used on TV is Strachan and it is an all wool cloth with no man made fibers that are supposed to make a cloth last longer, but in my opinion will not .
This 6811 30 oz has been the main cloth used in clubs up and down the UK since the 1980’s / 90’s , it is not thick but then is not too thin , if you use a thin cloth then expect it to wear out in under a year even in home use.
this 6811 tournament will last a minimum of 2 years and maybe up to 10 years depending on how much it is used in home use , in a club around 18 months to 2 years is the norm .
Be aware of inferior cloths , GCL Billiards do not fit sub standard or low grade cloths .

the main design that attracted Mark to this table where the very solid large turned legs , We both thought these where mahogany when we picked the table up .
Mark got in touch with Peter Clare at Thurston to see if he could delve into the firms records of Thurston’s and see if they have any information about the table from the serial number stamped into the frame
Peter informed mark that it had Walnut legs and the table was made circa 1895/6 , but I can see a flame in the side wood that must make the frame wood used a flame mahogany like what you would get on say the back of violins
some times referred to as fiddle back mahogany .
The Walnut legs where extremely heavy  , you may also note the key slots in the legs located near the frame bolts  , this is for the cover plates called Knee panels to us billiard fitters , they simply just slot onto these key slots .

the finished table , ready for play , originally this table would have had buttons over the bolt holes in the cushion
when we picked the table up , someone had screwed flat panels over the bolt holes you can see these in the first photo in our selling clients house before Mark bought the table   ,
Mark is having new buttons made for this table to return it back to it’s original looks.

and what the player sees when he is down taking a shot , these old Thurston tables if found in good condition like this are very sought after , they where made in a time when money was no object , I doubt you will find craftsmanship like this in china where most of the worlds cue sports tables are now made , solid Walnut legs , top quality flame mahogany , double bolted frame , high quality Welsh slate , the Chinese may copy us but they cannot produce quality like this .
and what makes it even better , these tables can be picked up at very keen prices at the moment , but finding the right one is the key to a trouble free purchase .
we actually have one of these type Thurston tables up on our for sale web site for FREE yes FREE , and here is a link to it
https://gclbilliards.com/category/for-sale/

not as good woodwork wise as Mark’s table but for Free you cannot complain , if any one is interested in this old table then click on our for sale section for more details , get in touch with Geoff at GCL Billiards and he will pass on the details of the seller to you
the only part that is missing off Marks table is the original Ivory name plate , if any one has one please let Geoff know and Mark will be happy to pay you for this .
it should look something like this photo below , but in better condition . and maybe have a Victorian name instead of Edward V11 as she would have still been on the throne when Marks table was made.

just had  a look back through some photo’s of Thurston ivory name plates and I think that Marks table would have had a name plate very similar to this one below .

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We have been called in to re-stretch a bed cloth on one of two snooker tables situated in this club .
at the same time we where also instructed to fully re-cover the other table in West of England Strachan 6811 tournament grade cloth 30 oz weight

I have personally worked on one of  these tables for just 0ver 34  years ,  the far one is a George wright with very ornate reeded legs .
The one in the foreground is a 1980s Metric table by Thurston , this was when all the B&STA billiard firms got around a table and agreed to start to make the full size tables in metric size
Thurston jumped the gun and started ordering the slate in metric size and started to produce them , then on the next meeting all the Billiards and Snooker Trade Association members voted not to make them .
So the only metric tables you will find is these Thurston made ones .
these tables are around 2 inch shorter than a 12ft standard full size table and around 1.5 inch shorter on the width .

the finished tables ready for play
with the new modern lighting this is one of the best clubs with two tables to play on in the Derby Area.
***note the Long bench seating slightly raised like the old billiard rooms of the past
There are not many clubs offering a modern room to play snooker  like this still going .
this club always keeps to a good maintenance regime on their snooker tables .
a re-cover every two years and the other one re-stretched bed cloth at the same time .

I very surprised at the condition of the rubber cushions in this older type 7×4 pool table .
A table of this age usually  has hard rubber or crumbling rubber , this table was very good for bounce .
the make of this table ,   maybe an early supreme mk1 ?

Our client has owned this table for over 10 years , he is just building a very large Garage with room at one end for the pool table.
the photo above of strip down of table , we take every staple out of the cushions , even those left in from previous re-covering that speed fitters have just stapled over

at GCL billiards we take our time to make sure the next time we call to re-cover the cushions , they will strip down faster because we have taken all the pervious staples out , and also used easy remove 4mm staples in the cushions and not the 6mm that where used by the previous firm
Why use long staples that you have to dig out , with 4 mm staples when pulling the cloth off the cushions most of the staples come out or stand up ready to be pulled out by pliers .

the finished table re-cover in best 6811 Strachan cloth , we also checked and adjusted the level of the table .
To finish off our client invested in a fitted Peradon black fitted cover , these covers are best quality and not your usual Chinese / Taiwan fall apart thin plastic rubbish .

I have been over to a client who starting to use us on a regular basis .
this being the 4th time I have visited this club .

On this occasion we where instructed to re-rubber the cushions of this older BCE American pool table which had gone rock hard over the years due to ozone contamination of the red rubber of the original cushions .

the BCE 9ft American pool table stripped down , cushions have been re-rubbered and re-covered in /Blue cloth as can be seen in the back ground , the old rubbers still laying on the old cloth .

The bed cloth removed from the slate beds , the joints checked and the table levelled , and the make of the new cloth we are about to fit
I always recommend Strachan super Pro speed cloth for these tables , in my opinion it is the best type for this pool table .

the new cloth before fitting

the finished table , Strachan super pro is very easy to fit to these tables , unlike some all man made fibre cloths which are hard to fit , this part wool / fibre mix is made not only to look good and play good but also to fit nice and tight without wrinkles .

while I was over at this Northampton Club , I also took a set of second hand snooker table cushions over with me to exchange with a bad set they have on one of the full size tables
so by just fitting a bed cloth and taking the already recovered cushions with new nets and leathers fitted to pocket plates I had enough time to pull this work in  .
although it was 8pm by the time I got home .

the finished snooker table sporting a good second hand set of riley club cushions with new nets and leathers .

a shade over 3.5 inch at the fall on these riley Club cushions fitted to our clients table .

and how a ball looks in those jaws of the pocket , a table always looks better when at recover stage it has new nets and leathers fitted .

There are 8 full size snooker tables at this venue , 1 American 9ft pool table and around 10 Supreme winner 7×4 pool tables
I also maintain it’s sister club’s tables .

Looking for a firm to supply you with a new Supreme winner at the best rates which includes excellent maintenance program choice
We are increasing our portfolio of pool tables that we hire out on long term contracts to local pub’s and clubs in the Nottingham and Derby area .
Our table of choice is the best you can buy , the supreme winner 7x4ft as used in world Black ball pool championship 2014 at the Bells sports centre in Perth

the Bells Sports Centre Perth venue of the world 8 ball championship 2014
Look at the photo’s below of one of our tables in a Pub in Chilwell Nottingham , this table is having a Recover ready for the up and coming winter league
they will also require another recover for the summer league in 6 months time .

The slate out of the table with new cloth laid out and old cloth on top to protect from glue contamination when we spread glue to side of slate
we do not use spray on glue as this is the cause of many tables not rolling true with glue build up down the sides and in front of pockets the use of spray on glue is not good .
We apply the glue by comb spreader to the slate that is not in the line of play , so the ball cannot roll off a large clump of glue in the playing area,  as there is none applied by us to that area .

We also vacuum out the inside of the table , we then wash down all ball rails , this is where all grease and sweat from hands onto ball which then transfers to ball rail and build up like a black wax and makes the balls stick and stop on the rail
Firms who leave this are asking for trouble and this could cost them time and money being called out to a table that has sticking balls on the ball runs due to not cleaning them at every re-cover .
and the last thing a client of ours wants is down time on the pool table due to shoddy workmanship .
also the customer get frustrated with sticking balls in the ball runs and pick up the table at one end and bang it back down to free the ball , this can cause the adjustable foot on the legs to break , making future levelling of the table a problem .
Keep the inside of the table clean and that includes the pull out drawer ball flipper and also spray the coin mech with wd 40 to allow the coins to enter easy without jamming .

the finished table , new Strachan 6811 all wool fine nap cloth , cleaned out inside and also ball flipper tray cleaned and the coin mech lubricated to stop coins jamming .
and we then check and adjust for level . and refit a new racking cloth to the end of the table.
This well maintained table is ready for another Winter league season of trouble free use .

we listen to feedback from our clients , and one establishment phoned me to ask if I had any stickers to put on the table to remind customers to use the racking cloth as they where getting excessive wear around the triangle end of the table .
I started to look around and found hardly anywhere that would make me some at a reasonable price , in the end I looked on vista prints web site and found some bumper stickers , but had to order 50 of them to get the price below £3 per sticker .
Now not  a lot of companies would splash out £150 on stickers , but I like to give value for money with our rental tables and therefore supplied these to be fitted on the end cushion surround .
so now I have started to fit these onto the tables as we go around re-covering them , and the feedback I am getting is a high percentage now take notice and use the racking cloth , a little thing but effective .

this table is one of the best I have worked on for level , you get some tables that require a little shimming under the slate to get the 100% level that most teams crave for , this table has played true right out of the box and is a joy to work on .
some of the bodies that come out of the factory can be  a little out , and if  the slate is not sitting level in the table then a little shimming is allowed to fine tune the slate bed .
this table is bang on and this establishment knows they have one of the best if not the best table in their league , maintained by GCL billiards to a high standard  .
Geoff Large is a time served Billiard’s fitter , and has worked on many different types of cue sports tables , he has seen many changes in the way pool tables are manufactured over the years from chip board and ply to compressed fibre board of todays tables .

if you require a pool table re-covering or you wish to hire a pool table o contract  from GCL billiards in the Nottingham or Derby area  , then please get in touch with us , for a more personal service , we are not side tracked by fruit machines or video games , we are just 100% cue sport table maintenance  firm , we do sometimes offer pool table hire outside our area but this depends on certain factors  , please ask .