Straight edge for table bed

[hsn]

Hello
Can anyone having the experience of fitting a snooker table recommend me a straight edge please for slate installation and leveling. I am a DIY hobbyist.
thank you

[philip in china]

Come on, Geoff, we are all waiting...........

[Geoff Large]

Proper 6ft engineering straight edges are over a Grand to buy , yes over £1000
I was lucky enough to find one at army surplus store but it still cost me around £300

you can get the 72 inch starret ones from america https://www.amazon.com/Starrett-380-.../dp/B0006J4H4K but the shipping and tax would bump the price up .

you only use this straight edge to find if a slate is dipping along the width of a full size table
or to see if the slate is sagging , or after re floating and checking for trueness of slate bed .

as you can see 6ft straight edges in precision engineering grade are hard to find here is some and you can see a 3ft one ( 914mm) is priced at £451.00p

An engineers level is used to level a table and could also find out of you slate is bowed or is dipping
you can find these on ebay at some great prices for second hand here are a few
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LARGE-ENGI...4AAOSwTuJYusPP

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRECISION-...EAAOSwr~lYsL08

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rabone-12-...cAAOSwfVpYvqCA I prefer this two line type rather than the multi line type , but the multi line GG tube one is the more accurate .

some of the electronic levels are also good , but I prefer the old Rabone tube type .

[philip in china]

I know it would not be as accurate as an engineer's straight edge, but would a 6' spirit level give a good enough edge?

[Geoff Large]

No the accuracy is just not there , my ex MOD one was unused and brand new
they use them to check after skimming tank or large military vehicles cylinder heads and blocks , so have to be engineers straight edges .
most 6ft builders levels are just aluminium , some having really coarse ground edges , not really accurate

checking slate is no differnat to checking cylinder heads for warping like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4SzK_OjAkY

now imagine large military engines using a 6ft sized edge .

[chas6868]

you could try string lines, with same size packers at each end, pull it tight then check along the slate with the same size packer, DIY WAY.


and will take a bit of time but a good straight edge will cost mega......

[hsn]

Thank you all for answering, I really appreciate it.