Topic: Dead spots on table

[Chief]

i just bought a table form one of my friends, for $60.  I think it's a harvard, not really but looks like some of the nicer Harvard tables i've seen.  Anyways, there seems to be a lot of dead spots all over the table.  Is there any repair i can do to the table or is there anyways to improve the surface?  I'll admit i'm pretty ignorant to the foosball world so any help would be much appreciated. thanks.

[EDGEER]

Define what you mean?  We mostly play on Tornado or Warrior Tables.  If you mean the ball rolls to a stop between the rods thats a good thing meaning the top is level.  If you mean there a soft spots or loose laminate spots that have a hollow sound then thats a bad thing.

[Chief]

thanks for the response edgeer,
right, the ball will just come to a stop between rods or against the wall where the players can
t reach them. To me this odd as most table i've played on are designed to keep the ball constantly moving (slants in the corners, etc).  I guess it shows my lack of experience as well.  Mostly seems to happen when i'm passing between players. Since i'm so slow in doing this, the ball just comes to rest sometimes.  So this is ok?  if the ball comes to rest do you just drop in the middle or what is the ruling on that?
thanks.

[bbtuna]

can you post some pictures? it will save a ton of time...take a bunch from different sides, ends, and angles

[Syronis]

I've played on a couple harvard tables. They seem to have a few dead spots near the ramps and sometimes along the side walls. I think what you should look for is like EDGEER said is look for any water (liquor) damage on the laminate, also consider how fast you're moving the ball around when it dies. If the ball is barely rolling then a stop on an even table would be natural, Tuna has the right idea, a few detailed pictures might shed some light on what your problem really might be. Could just be that you got a harvard table that someone actually took relatively decent care of, and that the dead spots are due to ball speed, and just the natural dead spots that I've seen on other harvard tables.

[Chief]

thanks for the help guys.. here's a few pics.
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/1.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/2.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/3.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/4.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/5.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/6.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/7.jpg
http://cynthiapacephotography.com/foos/8.jpg

took some general pics and few where you can see the ball stuck where no one can reach it.
there's a slight tear in the laminate in one area, put surprisingly it hasn't been an issue.  Should the surface be real slick, this one feels a little textured.  From what you guys are saying i think it may be due to the slow ball speed.
thanks again.

[bbtuna]

that pics help...those balls that stop between rods, that happens on every table, there is a dead zone between every rod and the next rod...if the ball is real slow then it would stop in between there probably a little more often than normal

the long side of the table...balls will stop there becaue there is no "side strip" which is a little ramp created to keep the ball from going dead at that spot...this table wasn't made with those strips...this isn't the end of the world, you just need to learn how to tap them to get them to come off the wall

your looks like it can reach those as well as those in the back corners...if that is just an optical illilusion then you probably have a ball that is too small for that table

table surfaces are differnet...don't know enough about Harvard or the Harvard clones to tell you but having a surface with some texture would not be odd

finding a good ball to play with on that table will probably reall enhance the play experience

that and cleaning it up real good and gettins some silicone on the cleaned rods and bearings

[Chief]

sounds like a plan.  thanks for all your help. i was feeling pretty bummed out about the table because i thought it pretty messed up.  But i think i'm in good spirits now.  thanks.

[bbtuna]

balls aren't cheap and there are some people on the board here that might know that table better than me, I could figure it out if I played on it but...all that to say, try some different balls

those look lite (weight) and small - the light weight on a textrued surface would also make them that much slower

try a Dynamo ball, a Warrior ball, and an old pink Tornado ball - Dyno is heaviest, then the pick Tornado, and the Warrior is much lighter but it is a terrific ball...I don't know how it would play on that table

again, others may know a better ball(s) for that table

good luck and have fun...if you get all caught up in it, and decide you want to get a good table, come back on line here first and we can help you with what to get

what city state you in?  have you seen local "tournament" foosball before?  be good to get you hooked up there if you have something close