iTopSpin
Current Posts => Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science => Topic started by: Eric on May 04, 2011, 06:21:39 PM
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I started a new thread for this largely because my original pool ball top thread, "Nine ball in the corner pocket" had gotten so long. For reference purposes, here is the link to the previous thread: http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php?topic=1193.15 (http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php?topic=1193.15)
Now that I have a pile of tip assemblies from Maurizio (including OWB kits) I'm in the process making a bunch more tops; including more Pool Ball Tops ("PBT"). I actually have sort of a "formula" now that has reduced my turning time to 1 1/2 to 2 hours per PBT. My intention is to have a bunch of PBTs with me at Worlds for trade, sale, or barter.........
So, without further ado, here are the One Ball, the Two Ball and the Three Ball (in reality they are for me pool ball tops # 14, 15 & 16). All have complimentary color cast Delrin tip sections and buttons made from the ball:
(http://images59.fotki.com/v112/photos/2/35562/9670588/PoolBallTops1415and16pic1-vi.jpg)
The One Ball has a black/yellow string, the Two Ball has a blue/white string, and the Three Ball has a red/yellow string. Also, the Three ball has a matching cast blue Delrin bearing tip top, and the One Ball and the Two Ball crown are cut exactly to fit Maurizio's standard top tip crowns. More pics:
(http://images59.fotki.com/v111/photos/2/35562/9670588/PoolBallTop14pic1-vi.jpg)
(http://images56.fotki.com/v127/photos/2/35562/9670588/PoolBallTop16pic1-vi.jpg)
(http://images58.fotki.com/v156/photos/2/35562/9670588/PoolBallTop15pic1-vi.jpg)
Stay tuned.....more to come... ;D ;D ;D
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Very cool Eric. They are works of art.
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Beautiful. So colorful. They are exciting to see and I imagine they are thrilling to touch. Need I say how wonderful they must be to throw?
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Oh Eric,
they're beautiful!
Trevor
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Those are really nice looking Sir, you are a true artist.
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Oy! Those are great!
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I have a 9 PBT top from Eric and not only looks great but plays sweet!
I just need to find a cue ball big enough to put it in the corner pocket! ;D
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I have a 9 PBT top from Eric and not only looks great but plays sweet!
I just need to find a cue ball big enough to put it in the corner pocket! ;D
I am beyond jealous of you Ta0
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Right on Eric!
I love the "matching" buttons...
This is getting too easy for you. How about a Sophia style top with 2 pool balls? ;)
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Kinda got a MU vs. KU color scheme going on there. A bit heavy on the KU... :D
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I always get excited when I see an Eric post... Eric, you do eye candy right!
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Awesome as always, there should just be a button to answer with a random word like awesome, beautiful, super for new tops by Eric.
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Wow, these are great. I'm definitely going to need to go to Worlds this year...
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WOW GREAT! there are so beautiful, compliments love the yellow top and the strings colours idea!
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Eric,
How I would love to watch you turn one of your beautiful pool ball tops. They are wonderful and that from one who turns tops. :)
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Just stunning! Every one of your creations Eric.
That 1 ball sends me over the top! 8)
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Amazing!
True works of art!
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Beautiful sir Eric :D
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woahooohh ! eric : they look BAD !
and what you say of the time gained is very important :
a high level athlete can achieve a "perf" a "top", when he is liberated from all thinking during the course of a precise gesture (s), this student i have who practises archery at the institute of sports always points me out the importance of the repetition of each action when i watch him training
i e I'd like to watch you at work
work of art :
billard balls are not only inspiring because of their shape and colour but also because they are here , in our unconscious memory of pool bars and cigar smell ( chester himes , ed mac bain , dashiell hammett, B&W movies and pulp .
how to get rid of them ?
you said "sell trade or barter"
i'd rule out barter right away except if the deal took place in a Vegas Go-Go bar at 3 am on a par day
trade would suit me but i would have to produce 20 non - wobbling tops to match the deal and that's very unlikely
now for sell : it's the most sensible and the good thing is that you can choose the buyer.....it might not be me as my banker has warned me for the 3rd time in a year that i spend over my possibilities...
eric , you're a Champ and we luvs U
jim
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Hey Eric,
I hope you make it to the Nats this year
and have a few left / I really need at leasts one
of your creations for my collection before i die.
Richy from Chico
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poptop wrote:
How about a Sophia style top with 2 pool balls?
All I need is a little bit of encouragement...........
Over the weekend I made two pool ball Sophias (actually i used my Titti as the model).
Warning.....these are not easy to make. Besides the normal problems associated with making bearing tip pool ball tops, the shape of the Titti presents some unique issues. The diameter of the top section of the Titti/Sophia is 2.35".......the diameter of a pool ball is 2.25"; so the whole thing had to be scaled down slightly. More importantly, the radical angle of the top section, as it moves away from the widest point makes it a real challenge to save any significant portion of the pool ball's number. It's worse on the lower section where the diameter at the widest point is only 1.8". As you can see from the pictures below, the lower section of #1 (the 9 Ball - the yellow and black one) is an 8 Ball and the number completely vanished as I turned it down.
As a result of these issues, my two Pool Ball Titti tops are not proportionately accurate, they're close, but the top sections are a bit too small in diameter (there is a picture with the real Titti for comparison). They both have Maurizio's bearing tips, both weigh around 84 grams, and both play very well.
(http://images108.fotki.com/v613/photos/2/35562/9670588/PoolBallTitti1and2pic1-vi.jpg)
(http://images112.fotki.com/v106/photos/2/35562/9670588/lBallTitti1and2andoriginalpic1-vi.jpg)
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I like the look and how you are pushing the boundaries of what can be done. You sir are amazing i wish i could make it out to the competition so i can get my hands on one but that is life, thanks for showing your work.
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That is a real tour de force! Amazing!
I guess the depth of the number plug may change between brands. It would be nice to find out which brand has the numbers going deeper.
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Very Nice! I knew you could do it.
What I can't understand is how you do it so quickly and accurately!
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Ta0 said:
I guess the depth of the number plug may change between brands. It would be nice to find out which brand has the numbers going deeper.
I wish that there was a way to figure that out. The first few pool ball tops that I made came from balls acquires on eBay and at a local thrift store. The numbers on those went pretty deep. The two sets that I got last fall are pretty, but the numbers don't go more than 1/4" in. these sets we about $30+ each. Based on my research/experience, I believe that the "pro" sets (such as those from Aramith, the Belgium based manufacturer of the balls used in most international tournaments) do have numbers set deep into the resin, but...........they are well north of $200 a set. I'm just crazy enough to buy some ..... :o ..... but if I'm going to spend that much $$ I'd like to be sure.
poptop said:
What I can't understand is how you do it so quickly and accurately!
.............practice, practice, practice....................
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Wow Eric, these are beautiful! the 7 ball titi looks almost identical to the real McCoy! Salute! :D
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hi eric and the crowd
very fine work as usual despite the obstacles :
i have checked the Aramith website and the euro dealers
a complete set of balls is not that dear : it goes from 40 € to around 170 €
but of course they don't mention the depth of the markings
http://www.eurobillards.fr/billes-billes-billard-am%C3%A9ricain-c-32_8_66_19.html (http://www.eurobillards.fr/billes-billes-billard-am%C3%A9ricain-c-32_8_66_19.html)
that is indeed "north of 200$ " ;)
so what is next ?
a sophia di legno : for sure 8)
cheers
jim