This is my first real review and it's fairly long. I wanted to help others that could have the same issues I had....First let me say, I love this table. It is amazing, however, I need to mention a couple of things regarding the assembly...
The slate is very heavy, which actually is a good thing, however, make sure you have a couple of people nearby to lift it safely. You also are going to need a strong screwdriver or crowbar and hammer to get the slate out of it's packing crate. Careful when sliding the slate out so you don't damage it. I had a few guys around and 2 people were able to carry the slate pieces. I would say each piece weighs between 150-200 pounds and there are 3 of them.
Basic frame assembly went well. All the bolts matched perfectly and it was very steady. There are some guide holes on the wood that did not line up with the end plates though. If you use the guide holes it sticks up over the top of the frame and since the slate goes on top of this, you can't do it. Just make your own holes. Not difficult at all, but I just wanted to mention it.
Once assembled, the frame was very easy to level with a 36" level.
The slate comes next. It actually lined up very well. I highly recommend drilling guide holes. This will make screwing down the slate much easier. The plates went together so evenly that I did not have to use any of the shims :)
After the slate is attached, you then have to cover the seams and the 4 middle countersunk holes. The compound they give you is very difficult to work with. Mainly when it comes to sanding. It is more like a resin or epoxy then a joint compound. Be careful when applying it, because it dries very hard and is very difficult to sand. I even used an electric sander and it took a very long time to smooth it out. Other people have recommended using Water Putty. I didn't do this, but you may find that much easier to work with.
I had an issue using water to clean the slate. it got very gritty, so I waited until it was dry and used a dry cloth instead. This seemed to work much better.
Once the slate was dry I used a pool ball to level the table. This worked extremely well. Not only did it make the table very level, it also helped me locate any high spots that still needed sanding. Just roll the ball slowly on the slate and make adjustments wherever needed.
The next thing you do is attach the felt. Since I have done this before, I knew it wasn't as scary as it looked. I did have one huge issue though, the spray glue tip clogged on me several times. Be cautious of this. I was able to get it going again, but when you are trying to glue something down quickly, this gets very scary. All in all the felt attached very well.
After the slate is down you have to build the frame. This is done upside down. Be careful about scratching the top of the frame. I recommend putting a towel under all the chrome pieces as they are assembled to avoid scratching them.
Once the frame is built, you have to turn it over, fully assembled, and place it over the pool table. I recommend 4 guys to do this. The assembled frame is the size of the pool table itself and is a bit heavy.
The last thing I want to mention is attaching the frame. Since the felt is on the table it is covering the mounting holes. The instructions NEVER mention this and show the assembly as if no felt was attached. I called the support line and asked if I should make guide holes. They said they weren't needed. I was going to just put it on without them, but when I got back to the cellar, my brother had already made them. I told him they said it wasn't needed and hoped that it would work anyway. Truth is, I recommend making them. When you place the frame over the table, it doesn't exactly line up. Without the holes, I never could have seen where the bolts go and I did have to adjust it. Since the holes were there I was able to stick a Phillips screwdriver in the hole and push it to the side. Once I did this, the holes lined up fine. I made sure all sides had screws started before I tightened it down.
In the end, this table is incredible!!!!! I love it! It is perfectly level and plays like any professional table! Everyone who has tried it has said the same thing. Once the assembly issues are dealt with, you end up with a very sharp looking, awesome table at an amazing price.
Sorry this review is so long, but I wanted to help others with the issues I had. Once again, I highly recommend this table, just keep in mind these assembly issues. If you have any issues or questions, feel free to respond to this review and I will get back to you if I can be of any help. Have a great day and enjoy this wonderful pool table!!!!!
PROS:
Slate Top (Nothing replaces slate; including SL8 or SLATRON)
Adjustable Legs (French style legs are nice, but very hard to level the table)
Fast playing surface (Incredibly smooth surface play)
CONS:(There really aren't any cons, but maybe a few concerns.)
Don't expect to get 5 guys together to move this table. The sides are fairly thin and would certainly break under pressure. If you want to move this table, you're going to have to disassemble it
Buy Mizerak P5223W1 Donovon II 8-Foot Slate Billiard Table Now
I have for about a month the table and I can say that is a good purchase according to what you pay.Slate is good and very easy to work with.Instructions are right probably a little short. Everything is included so you dont have to run to Home Depot I would prefer metal in the corners (silver plastic), but it looks nice and I suppose will last with good care.Good service on Amazon side.Armando Monterroso
Miami
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The table was a challenge to put together, but the instructions were quite helpful.The billiards since then has been great.It would be helpful if there was more information included about table care, though.Want Mizerak P5223W1 Donovon II 8-Foot Slate Billiard Table Discount?
I ordered this pool table on Christmas Day 2012.The delivery service arrived with the table on January 10th.Unfortunately, the carton and the contents were damaged, so we did not accept the delivery.Assuming that I eventually receive a pool table in good condition, I will return and give an actual review of the product itself.2nd Review Amazon.com was great in getting a replacement table out to me quickly.The second table arrived in better condition.There was one piece of the wood support section that was broken, but it didn't interfere with the use of the table, so I went ahead and used it.The slate box was extremely heavy, so make sure you don't have to carry it too far.The table went together fairly easily.It took me approximately 7 or 8 hours total time over two days to get it assembled.The other reviews seemed to capture most of the aspects of this table, so I won't repeat what has been said.We are very happy with the quality of the playing surface.This isn't exactly a fine furniture piece, as many wood tables are, but since it is in our basement, I wasn't as concerned about the appearance.If you want a real slate table and don't want to spend over $1,500, this is probably as good a choice as I have seen.I will say that the cue sticks are pretty cheap, as my daughter broke one of them the first night that we used the table.But all in all, we are very happy with the purchase.
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