framed slate

[DeadCrab]

Perhaps someone can help with my questions regarding slate framing:

Is the purpose of framing slate to keep it from cracking at points not directly supported by the table frame? Other reasons for framing?

I see that MDF is commonly used for slate framing, which is suprising since it can be expected to lose it's flatness within a few years. Is any adhesive applied between the slate and frame, or just screws? Does the MDF hold it's shape forever if affixed to slate?

[scaramouche]

The cloth is stapled to the frame. If the slate is not framed, the cloth is glued to the slate.

Diamond makes tables with one piece slate without a frame. They are simpler to ship and set up and are used at tournaments.

[Scott Lee]

Generally the slate is glued to the frame. As was mentioned, the purpose of the frame is to staple the cloth to it. Diamond tables, the newer ones, as mentioned, can be 3 piece or one-piece slate. These tables have a unique 'leveling' system built into the table frame, so that the slate(s) can be leveled in 16 different places, with a special wrench. We saw these, and were shown how it worked, when we visited the Diamond factory, a couple of weeks ago, during the DCC. The best table out there, for sure!

Scott Lee