Al’s Blog

As I previously stated there are many different grades and types of pool table cloth or felt as the jargon goes.  Felt is actually a very weak cloth which would last about an hour on a pool table.  Quality pool table cloth comes in various density, weights, and materials, not to mention every color under the sun.  Poor quality cloth, the type most often installed on non-slate or low end recreational pool tables consists of polyester, or some wool and much nylon woven with very low density or open stitching.  Because of the quality of the material and the low density this cloth burns easily and wears out very quickly. 

Burn marks most often occur when the ball is hit too hard.  They appear as white spots on the cloth.  The higher the density of the cloth the better it stands up to up to abuse. Standard pool table cloth is 19 to 21 oz. 75% wool to 25% nylon.  Standard wool has a nap or pile which causes the ball to stagger as it slows.  The ball will also not travel as far on wool with nap.  It plays slower.  The better the wool process the less the nap, but there is always some nap or pile to this level of cloth.  Worsted wool is a higher quality cloth, usually 85% wool to 15% nylon.  Worsted wool has no nap or pile.  The process is more expensive than regular wool therefore the cloth costs more.  The result is a smoother faster surface.  Also because there is no nap.  Chalk, lint and dirt will not stick to the cloth.  It stays cleaner and cleans better which helps it last longer.  This cloth weight is between 24 and 26ozs with around 144 stitches per inch.  Due to the density this cloth last much longer than standard cloth. 

A relatively new option is teflon treated cloth.  Spray ons are available but don’t last and are expensive.  Teflon treated cloth is better but since the cloth is coated the coating eventually wears off.  Finally there is cloth with a process that impregnates the threads with teflon.  This cloth is guaranteed to be stain proof to cold liquid as long as the cloth is on the table.  It also lasts 2-3 times longer than standard cloth.  The pros comment that the teflon may have an impact on english, but for most of us the quality of this cloth makes it worth the extra cost.  Quality cloth will range from $150. to $350. not including installation.  In our experience the most common reason for a recover is spillage.  Beer, wine, soda will cause standard cloth to stiffen and play very inconsistent.  There is really no way to clean it so it must be replaced.  Of course abuse and misuse can result in tears which cause the ball to roll poorly. 

As I stated every color under the sun is available.  Hot Pink and white don’t sell well but Clemson orangeand Nittany blue do.  It is important to consider lighting when choosing a cloth color.  The darker the color the better the lighting needs to be.

Cleaning the table after each hour of play will help the cloth last longer as will the use of a break cloth.  Simply put a remnant of cloth under the cue ball when breaking.  This will help lessen burns.  Alternate the ends of the pool table for breaking and the cloth will last longer as well.

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Used Pool tables are everywhere on Ebay, Craigs List, and Local Classifieds.  “Buyer Beware” tags should be posted on each of them.  What does it really cost to buy a used pool table?  What are the risks?  How can a buyer protect themselves from the unscrupulous seller? 

Would you buy a used car without a car fax history report?  How about without looking under the hood or having a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle?  Buying a used pool table presents some similar challenges.  Unless the seller will allow you to take the table apart, even a certified table technician can not tell the true condition of the table from a visual inspection.

You must also consider that there are no manufacturers guarantees on a used tables.  If you buy a used table from a reputable local dealer they will usually give an installation guarantee or offer to warranty the table through the dealership, like Certified Pre-Owned Warranty at a car dealership.

You must factor in the cost of the tear down, move, and reset of the used table as well.  Three piece slate tables are easily damaged when moved in one piece or by untrained individuals.  The charge for a reputable local dealer to tear down, move, and reset the table will range from $300 to $600, depending on the make, model, age of the table, and part of the country.  If the pool table cloth needs to be replace (which it usually does on a used table), be prepared to spend an additional $200 to $400 on a re-cover.  Be careful using contractors who work out of the trunk of their car.  They charge less but are not certified or insured, and will not usually guarantee thier work in writing.

You need to research the used table to make sure the manufacturer is still in business and builds quality tables.  Particle board tables with 3/4″ slate are next to impossible to keep level and don’t last long unless they were built by quality engineers (Major Manufacturers like Brunswick, Olhousen, Connelly)

How old is the table?  We recently had an inquiry about a used Brunswick.  The seller represented that the table was only 3 years old.  We identified that the model had been discontinued 10 years earlier and sold new for around $1200..  The seller was asking $1000..  Buyer beware. 

Even new tables are regularly misrepresented as quality wood when in reality they are a wood product such as MDF.  A gentleman proudly stated that he purchased a solid hard rock maple table for $895. delivered.  When it arrived I pointed out to him that it was a maple finish and not solid maple. He continued to insist it was solid maple until I pointed out that the box stated solid maple finish not solid maple wood, it was MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard or Particleboard).

Quality used tables range in price from $1,000. to over $100,000 for a true antique.  Remember, if the table was truly a good deal, wouldn’t the sellers friends, co-workers, or Family buy it before it had to be put in a classified ad?  The fact is, 90% of used tables “for sale” are in such bad condition or so out-dated in style, the seller is usually looking to get rid of it before it costs them any more money.  Remember these rules when looking for a used Table:

1:  Look for Major Manufacturer Tables less than 5 Years Old.  Check the Manufacturers Web Site or email them to confirm that the table was in production during the time frame the seller claims.  Avoid E-Tailers Tables Used (pooltablesusa, billiardsdirect, BilliardEX, ec.), you will not be able to get parts and they do not hold up well after the first few years of use.
2:  Inspect the Table in Person, Take Digital Pictures, Look under the Table for Damage, Play on the Table a Little, and Look for tables with relativly new billiard cloth (not worn or over 5 years old)
3:  Verify that the seller is the original owner, ask them where they bought it, and call that dealer to find out what they really paid for it!
4:  Always try to get the original dealer to Tear Down/Move/Reset/Recover the Table if possible, they prefer to work on tables they originally setup and might cut you a break on the price!
5:  Finally, Check your total investment against buying a new table from a local dealer, most of the time you will be within a few hundred dollars of getting a new table with a warranty!
 

Why does one set of pool balls sell for $29. and another $300.?   The Billiard Congress of America (BCA), standards for balls dictate that they must be of a certain weight and a certain roundness.  Polyester or plastic can’t meet those standards.  But more importantly they are very hard on billiard cloth.  Under a microscope you would see that they look like the surface of the moon.  Only phenolic resin balls can be made smooth enough and meet the standards of the BCA.  They also are not painted but made with the colors in the material.  By spending just over $100. on the balls you will save money on the cloth and on your game skills.  Keep shooting!!

Everyone is dealing with high gas prices, high food prices, and god forbid high beer prices in bars.  The good news is that those with a well outfitted game room at home are saving on all of the above.  They don’t have to drive to the pool room or bar for a pool game or other entertainment, they have it all at home.  The more seasoned of citizens enjoy quite time with their friends over a game of cards, pool, or darts.  The x gens, twenners, and teens, enjoy partying hardy with all the x-box or Merritt games on-line, and of course all enjoy the interactive WII games. 

With a nice home bar outfitted with a kegerator and other beverages, as well as good home “cookin” this lifestyle is not only catching on but growing fast, enjoy!!!

We use the term barstool to refer to a stool that ranges in height from 26″ to 44.”  They can be made of metal, wood, mdf, particle board, or other more exotic materials.  They can range in price from $99.00 to over $2000.00 per chair.   The variance in price is due to the materials, the swivel, and the manufacturing process.  Because of the height of the legs better quality materials and better manufacturing are necessary for the stool to last.  Emagine a 250 lb person sitting on soft wood or thin aluminum tube high stool.  Next time you are in a good bar feel the weight and sturdiness of the barstools.  That should be your benchmark for quality.  Now determine how much use your stools are going to get and how important the “look” of your room is to you, then start your search!

While you can’t, in most cases, change the square footage of a room figuring out what is the best use for the room is the first step.  We recently helped a family realize that the basement was not the best room to create a gameroom and a media area.  When they thought about it the living room never gets used and the dining room is used 3 to 4 times per year.  The family room next to the kitchen and eating area was the most used space.  But a constant battle of TV volume over cooking noises and other family activities in the kitchen area was a problem.  After talking it over and reviewing alternatives the dining room was converted to a home office, the living room converted to a state of the art media room, the family and eating area reconfigured into the game room including an 8′ pool table, flip top poker table, which serves double duty as an extra dining table and a large pub table with 4 chairs which is used for casual meals.  The basement is now used for table tennis, a WII and playstation.  Each area is being used far more than with the old layout.  The only real expense was the media room but what a great investment for family fun.  Think about your home layout and what is really important to your family before committing to a plan.

Just because a table is 30 or more years old it is not necessarily catagorized as an antique.  In 1947 Brunswick developed a new construction method called the floating nut plate system.  Prior to ‘47 rails were attached to the table with a screw through the side of the rail into the slate.  The result of the new system is that the rail can be pulled down onto the slate in a much tighter fashion which leads to livelier more consistent bounces.  I won’t get into angles of deflection now but save it to say that a pre-’47 table could not qualify for BCA standards today.  Most old tables, before 1947, are old pool hall tables consisting of wood laminate or veneer.  The “antiques” are the solid exotic hardwoods that craftmen like John Brunswick custom built for specific customers.  Some go for over $100,000.  So, buyer beware, don’t pay antique prices for old tables.

It will take many posts to cover every question we are asked about cue sticks.  Just like golf, technology has changed and complicated sticks.  But the good news is that technology has enhanced the characteristics of cues making them play more consistently and stay straighter longer.  Suffice it to say that most social or casual players will enjoy any smooth straight well tipped cue.  Wood is still the most popular material for the shaft, medium leather tips are standard for most medium priced sticks, and nylon or linen wraps most popular for the grip.  Designs, points, and artwork is important to attracting shoppers but price and feel are the most important characteristics.  Shop where you can stroke the stick on a table and see how it feels when you hit the cue ball. Much more later.

One of the most popular additions to a game room or family room is a bar.  Like most other wood furniture there are different levels of quality.  They all look good from across the room but belly up to the bar and the true quality of the finish and woodwork is obvious.  For occasional use the softer woods are fine but the more use the bar gets the harder the wood and finish need to be. These days bars come in all sizes, shapes, configurations, and finishes.  Brunswick even has a waterproof veneer over hardwood that solves the problem of spillage.  Give a lot of thought to the purpose of the bar before investing.