Frequently Asked Questions
Questions regarding Moving a Pool Table
Q. I want to purchase a pool table, how big of a room do I need?
A. See chart
Q. How long will it take to move my pool table?
A. Average time to move a pool table and set it up is usually 3-4 hours. ( Dependent on factors such as traffic, weather, etc.)
Q. I want to save some money and move my pool table myself. I have a pick-up truck and several really strong friends that can pick the table up. Is that Ok?
A. We wouldn't recommend it! The reason is ALL pool tables except coin-operated, bar box style pool tables MUST BE COMPLETELY disassembled before moving them. Moving a pool table as one unit increases your chances of damaging the pool table ( breaking the aprons, shearing off the slate screws, shearing off the rail bolts, breaking the slate). However damaging the pool table is the least of the problems, there is an increased chance that you or your friends will be seriously injured. In the end, it will cost you more to repair your pool table or yourself than it would have cost to have the pool table professionally moved.
Q. How much does an average pool table weigh?
A. Anywhere from 700-900 lbs.
Questions In Regarding Refelting a Pool Table
Q. What is pool table felt?
A. Pool table felt is a cloth blend of 75% wool and 25% Nylon. Iwan Simonis is a "worsted" blend of cloth.
Q. What does "worsted" mean?
A. Worsted means "tightly woven". Worsted cloth does not shed or "pill". The smooth cloth gives you a superior playing surface and a faster playing game.
Q. I bought some "felt" at my local craft store, can I use that instead of pool table felt?
A. No. The felt you buy in a store is not designed for pool tables and will not give you any playability on your pool table.
Q. How long will it take to refelt my pool table?
A. Approximately 2-3 hours
Q. I am moving and my pool table will need to be moved; will I need to replace the felt?
A. Absolutely not. As long as the cloth is in good shape ( no rips or tears) it can be reused. We have clients who move every couple of years and keep the same cloth on their pool table. As long as it is meticulously removed, it can be reused.
Q. I just had my pool table refelted and now I have these "white dots" all over it? What are they?
A. Those white marks are called "ball burns". From the first games, you will notice that some small, usually white, dots appear on the billiard cloth. Do not worry, it’s normal, they are called micro-burns or ball burns. These ball burns are actually marks that remain on the fabric as a result of the degradation of the surface of the ball. Hitting a cue ball actually accelerates it from 0 to over 30 km/h (20 MPH) in just a fraction of a second. The resulting friction temperature between the ball and the cloth can easily reach 250°c (482°F). High-quality balls such as Aramith will prevent these burn marks. Aramith balls are the only ones made from genuine phenolic resin: their molecular structure is engineered to be wear resistant at these high temperatures, making Aramith balls far less vulnerable to abrasive burn spots. They hold their high luster and smoothness over a much longer period of time, resulting in minimal ball and table cloth wear. To reduce the appearance of micro-burns, the cloth and the balls must be clean.
Questions Regarding Room to Room Moves
Q. I want to move my pool table into another room, my friends said I can just "scoot" it over. What do you think?
A. I think you might need new friends after your table breaks...lol No seriously, it is not a good idea to try and move a pool table as one unit across the floor. You run the risk of breaking off the legs, breaking the aprons, and breaking the slate should the pool table fall! Always completely disassemble a pool table when moving, whether you are moving across the house or across the city.
Questions Regarding Buying A pool table
- Q. I really want to buy a pool table, but I do not know what to look for, can you help me?
- A. Of course, we can! I always tell my clients that buying a pool table is analogous to buying a car, do a thorough inspection prior to committing to the purchase.
- The first thing you want to make sure of is that you have enough space for a pool table.
- One of the most important words when buying a pool table; SLATE, SLATE, SLATE! Make sure the playing surface is SLATE. Stay away from non-slate pool tables. Even though non-slate pool tables are less expensive than slate tables, they are not worth the money you save. Non- slate pool tables are made of composite board and in time will warp. You cannot refelt or change out the cushions on a non-slate pool table, nor can you level a non-slate pool table.
- Look for name brand pool tables such as Brunswick, Olhausen, Gandy, ProLine, etc. Name brands such as Brunswick and Olhausen will most of the time hold their value and if you decide to resell it, you should be able to get what you paid for it, if not more! Imported pool tables generally lose 50% of the value after purchase and DO NOT hold their value. Furthermore, imported pool tables are poorly constructed and do not have the high quality of workmanship that you would find in a Brunswick or Olhausen.
- Inspect the frame and cabinet look for any damage, such as cracks, chips and believe it or not TERMITE damage! Many times, we have gone to move a pool table only to get there and find it destroyed inside by termites. It looks beautiful on the outside, but the inside is infested with termites. Check for cockroaches as well.
- Inspect the legs; look for any damage from pets. Dogs love to chew on "ball and claw" legs and they also love to "mark their territory". Cats will also "mark their territory" on the legs as well as the cloth. No matter how hard you try, you will never get rid of the smell.
- Inspect the rails and aprons, looking for cracks or broken wood.
- Inspect the rubber cushions-You can test this by rolling a ball against all the rails. Stand at one end of the pool table and with some force, roll the ball towards the other end. if the cushions are good, the ball should bounce back 3-4 times. If you roll the ball and it goes "thud", the rubber cushions are "dead". To replace the rubber cushions, you also have to replace the cloth.
- Inspect the pockets, looking for tears or rips.
- Inspect the cloth, looking for stains, rips, or tears.
- Ask about accessories
- Your new pool table is an INVESTMENT!