Last week we visited an Higher learning institution that has two snooker tables that had the old tin metal lighting canopy .
these had years of nicotine on the underside and very poor low quality low wattage lighting bulbs , it was like playing in a cave under candlelight !
I recovered these tables last year and was due to go back and re-stretch the bed cloths , so took the opportunity to also fit two new sets of lighting for them

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Before they had these 1980s alloy shades with nicotine stains on the underside .

using the original hanging wires that where on the old shades we had these new high frequency units up very quick , they where prewired in the workshop and mounted onto metal U channelling to make one 10ft twin unit .

The lighting is now a lot brighter to play under , the costing for these two tables came to £600 for two table’s fitted , so £300 per table for each complete double unit table light delivered and fitted .
I also repaired one small cut around 1 inch in one bed cloth . and then checked the levels .

 

We are re-visiting clients who 12 months ago had a re-cover from GCL billiards
We are now re-stretching the bed cloths and then checking the level of the table , last week we visited two private houses with different Snooker rooms .
The first was a Log Cabin in the garden  of one house .

An internal measurement of 29ft by 17ft makes this log cabin not just a games room or man cave but also a place to relax in .
It stretches from around 12ft to spare at the bottom of the Garden to just 1 metre from the house at the other end , they do have a bit more Garden to the left side of this photo above.

A huge log cabin which I was informed cost around £6000 flat packed including base , by the owner.

The middle internal side strengthened walls  do encroach into the side of the table and a short cue is used at that point if it is an obstacle for cueing , a small price to pay to get a full size snooker table in . so we advised that the Baulk ( D end ) was placed at that end , and the business end black red etc kept free from obstruction .

the log cabin could not have the old coffin shade installed due to low roof level , but the new office type high frequency lighting is much better for it .
Our client was away in Germany when we did the re-stretch but his Partner let me in to do the work .
Our second job that day was a different type of table and room , also note the same type of High Frequency lighting above this table too !

After the log cabin with temperatures of 30C , it was nice to work in an Air conditioned room especially built for this Antique table.

I had a little problem with the level being out on this table due to settlement of the building , surprising the log cabin table had not moved out of level as much as this one
I spent over 1 hour levelling this table , and eventual got the result that I was after , the electronic level I used as well as the engineers metal level shows the spot on figure I was after , the table is 0.0 , place a £20 note under one end and it read 0.1 , this table is within the thickness of a £20 all over it’s slate bed , mostly 0.0 and only the odd place where it is 0.1 .
Now that’s being picky !

If you have a table that is playing slow , cloth can be moved by fingers bridging onto ball and is also out of level , then maybe you require a re–stretch of bed cloth service visit from GCL billiards

 

 

 

GCL Billiards have built up a good reputation in our local Surrounding counties that is the heart of the EAST Midlands .
We do many Private Houses as well as Pub’s club’s and institutions .
Please take a few minutes to look at the following photo’s to see the vast type of clients and tables we work on and for .

Most of these clients do come back to us because they where impressed with our work ethics , for further maintenance of re-covers , re-stretching 0r even relocating the table over hundreds of miles or just around the corner . GCL billiards is the Firm to contact in the EAST Midlands for any cue sport maintenance , GCL billiards is Geoff Large so you are working direct with the fitter , a time served fitter at that,  who has the knowledge to advise on the best action of work to be carried out , some firms employ telephone answering people or maybe a secretary when making enquiries about a problem or simply good advice , these secretaries  have not got Cue sport knowledge of over 40 years hands on experience of both billiards Snooker and Pool tables of various makes and designs .

Geoff can give you instant advice 99% of the time , he may require a photo , but you are assured at GCL billiards  that the person you are dealing with has the experience to give good advice and also carry out any work on your prized Cue sports table .

Geoff worked in the Billiards snooker & pool Industry for many years working for his Uncle and later for John Hopkin  a well known figure in the billiards industry who sat on the B&STA committee with Norman Clare of Thurston Clare and Padmore’s later to revert back to Thurston , before he formed GCL billiards with his wife Carol , was he right to go it alone , YES he only wishes he did it many years ago , he had become disillusioned with the way the industry was being absorbed by Coin operating people who where only interested in speed work and volume of cash influx rather than taking their time as he was trained to do a good job by the time served billiards fitter before him , in fact three time served Billiards fitters.

Geoff is also sought after by the local pool players and pubs and clubs to maintain their table’s using Strachan quality cloth . We not only work on full size snooker tables but any size and make of cue sports table is it has pockets or rings and cushions and a ball rolls on it , GCL billiards is the firm to contact
We also Rent pool table’s on longer term contracts , using the excellent Supreme Winner in all our site’s , We only offer this as a local network based in a 25 mile radius of NG10 4JU . if you are just outside this area then get in touch we may take you on board for rental table’s .

Contact Geoff Large direct on 07753466064 or home answer phone 01159725355 also by  email c.large@btinternet.com

 

 

GCL Billiards strive to do the best work possible using the best materials , We always recommend Strachan as our main cloth to be used either for Snooker or Pool or american pool  .

We can supply hainsworth and even Euro pool cloth , but we point out to our clients the many years of tradition of Strachan cloths and why it is used by the main tour for both snooker and Pool world wide.

Strachan produce a cloth for both the Professional and the home user or youth club where wear longevity is required over high quality of finish .
So a price to suit pocket with the same Brand Name you can trust Strachan fitted by a firm you can trust GCL billiards.
You do not have to live in the East midlands to qualify for a visit from GCL billiards to carry out your recover work  , we do venture out further . please ask .

Just a few photo’s a client has kindly sent me of a table I set up for him in his Garage workshop office as he like’s to call it
Photo 1 the frame assembled and level ready for slates

The slates being put on the levelling pads that are then adjusted by spanner .

Next photo , the slates have been levelled and the joint filled with car body filler to make as one bed then all bed lightly sanded to remove any unwanted grit

The finished table with original Red cloth re-fitted , some firms will try and get you to have a re-cover , it just depends if the cloth has been fitted correct and still enough to pull tight and refit , plus the old cloth has to be taken off very carefully .

Many thanks to Steve for supplying the photo’s .

Sam K steels take expert trained fitters to set up , they are very complicated pieces of cue sports equipment , having hundreds of bolts and screws and all are vital to make the table spot on .
if you start to miss screws and bolts out of these type of tables , then they will never play right .
when buying one please make sure it is all complete .