Getting a pool tables is great, and for a while you’re going to bask at the sight of your glorious table sitting there in your game room. But over time if you don’t maintain it properly you could find that it becomes riddled with problems and eventually your pride will turn into horror.
Maintaining a pool table is easy enough really, and all you need to do is keep an eye out for some of the factors that most often contribute to damaging it.
• Chalk
Most people chalk their pool cues, and it does provide better control – but it also damages the pool cloth, which is something that you were probably unaware of.
The truth is that chalk is abrasive and when it gets into the cloth over the long term it will damage it. That is why you should ideally brush down your pool table after every use, or vacuum it with a light vacuum. Be sure not to use anything too high pressured else you might damage the cloth yourself.
• Heat and Humidity
Heat is never good for pool tables. Even with the best tables you’ll find that the cloth fades and dries out quickly when exposed to heat, sometimes cracking in certain places – and with the lower quality pool tables you could find that the playing surface actually warps as well.
On the other hand excessively dry climates could cause the wood in various parts of the pool table to crack as well – which is why if you are in a very dry climate you might want to seriously consider getting a humidifier.
• Bad Practices
A lot of the damage caused to pool tables is by people playing with bad practices. For example not cuing up properly and gashing the table can rip the cloth, sitting on the side of the table can cause the rubber rail cushions to pop out, and snagging your ring when taking a shot will poke holes in the pool cloth too.
So long as you avoid damaging your own table, you’ll find that it lasts quite a long time.
See how easy pool table maintenance really is? One other thing that you should consider is cleaning the balls often as well – because dirt can build up on them and be transferred onto the table as well. Ideally all the game balls should be cleaned after every session, and you might even want to consider cleaning the cue ball after every game.
Assuming you follow these easy guidelines, you’ll find that your table is able to stand the test of time and continue to do you proud for years and years to come. In fact, you’d be amazed how long a well-kept pool table can last.
Factors to Consider When Buying Pool Tables
When you’re going to buy a pool table there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration so that you are sure that you get the right one. Otherwise, you could very well find that you have a number of different items that really don’t match and aren’t the type of pool that you intended in the first place.
• British or American?
For most people this is the first question that needs to be asked. ‘British’ pool is generally played on 6 foot or 7 foot tables whereas ‘American’ pool is played on 8 foot or 9 foot tables. Also the balls on American tables are 2 ¼ inch in diameter whereas the balls in British pool are 2 inches in diameter.
• Will it Fit?
To determine whether or not a pool table will fit in the room you’re thinking of placing it, just make sure that there is a 5 foot clearance on all sides. In other words, add 10 feet to the dimensions of the table – meaning that a 9 x 4.5 foot table will need a 19 x 14.5 foot room to fit in.
• MDF or Slate Bed?
Cheap pool tables that are collapsible or fixed leg structures are generally made from MDF – which is compressed wood dust and resin. These tables can warp after some time however. On the other hand the more expensive tables are made of slate beds, but will last much longer.
• Design
Tables for pool nowadays come in many different designs, and this includes everything from the pool table stand right on to the cloth that is on its surface. It is up to you whether you want to go for a specific design, but one thing worth noting is that bright designs on the surface of the pool table cloth can often be a distraction when playing so it might be better to opt for solid green instead.
• Delivery Costs
Because pool tables are generally big and heavy the chances are that you won’t be walking out of the shop with one in your hands. Instead, you’re likely to want it delivered so be sure to enquire about the delivery costs and whether or not they will help you to set it all up.
Assuming you take all of these factors into consideration you should find that you’re able to pick a great pool table. Frankly speaking, it really isn’t all that complicated to shop for one so long as you know what you should be taking into account and what your options are – which is why it would be a good idea to look around for a bit before making a decision.