We
have put some information together for you that should help you keep
your Pool Tables or Snooker Tables running like new for
a long time to come!
It's simple, really. Just study this short list of
potentially destructive implements, interlopers and elements and keep
them away from the table:
Chalk. Cue tips. Balls. Dogs. Cats. Jewellery.
Coins. Heat. Moisture. Your bottom. Frisky neighbours and family
members. The sun.
That's right. Sometimes, a table's greatest
enemies are the game itself and its owners, especially if they forget to
treat the table like the piece of fine furniture it
is.
Of course, no one wants to keep a table locked in
a temperature-controlled vault or really large mayonnaise jar.
We asked some of the billiard industry's
leading manufacturers, distributors and service providers to spill some
maintenance tips you can follow - and a few common-sense
warnings you can observe - that will allow you to both enjoy your table
and pass it on to future generations.
Chalk - Too much is devastating
There may be nothing that looks cooler than the
absent-minded way a Pro chalks up between each shot, but the
lingering dust is playing a deadly game with your table felt.
The chalk is abrasive; it gets into the cloth and destroys it.
Brushing the table frequently - even after
every session - is a good start, but realize that 50 percent of the
chalk dust actually gets brushed into the cloth.
Suction with a small vacuum is the only way to go.
Otherwise, you could end up with a layer of dust thick under your felt.
This would create the impression that the table
was uneven.
But too powerful a vacuum could lift and stretch
your fabric. We suggest using a brush with soft bristles
for daily use.
Always brush in the direction of the Nap.
Coins you flip on the table creates minute cuts in
the felt that develop into tears;
and digging your cue tip into the cloth on
jump shots is utterly devastating.
The Sun- Damage!
"You'd be surprised how many people put tables in
a room with a big window, and after a year the cloth is faded.
Obviously, sunlight will fade the cloth. It can
also bleach the table's finish.
If you want to play on your table in the sun-
always use a Table Cover when you finish!
You also should gauge the level of moisture in
your environment.
Humidity levels of 40 percent to 60 percent is the
best possible environment for fine wood.
Also on the subject of light we warn against using
incandescent bulbs above your table.
"The heat will dry out your cloth," he says.
Sitting on the Table
The No. 1 thing people do with their pool table is
sit on it."
This will cause the rubber to fall off the
cushions They typically are glued to the cushion bodies, and can only
take so much weight before breaking off.
Sitting on the table can also make the legs become
loose and eventually cause the table to wobble.
Keep Pets at bay
Urine. One of the most corrosive things on the
planet.
So, keep the pets away from your table.
"You want to keep water away from the wood. A
caution that includes keeping all drinks off the Cushions.
Hard woods are much less conducive to absorption,
whereas soft woods expand and contract more easily.
And in case of unavoidable spills, it might be
wise to apply a fabric sealant like Scotch Guard to your felt.
Clean balls means a clean Table!
Balls pick up dust and chalk and then reapply them
to the table and cushions.
It would be wise to clean your snooker balls
after each session and the cue ball after each game.
Also be aware of the intense heat that is briefly
generated by a ball after it is struck and is skidding along the felt.
Some industry experts place the temperature of
that friction at more that 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's enough to
damage the felt and melt the exteriors of certain
varieties of balls, leaving track marks on tables.
"The white marks you see on old tables are
burn marks. We recommend using snooker balls or pool balls made
with
Phenolic resin, which best resist the
degrading effects of friction heat.
Friction heat also is generated when
stroking the cue against the rails and the pockets, so
avoid pockets with a glazed or painted finish.
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Will Show You Exactly How To Recover Your
Table In Easy Steps!
You Can Buy It Here-
FREE UK POSTAGE!
£5.99 Click Buy Now To Purchase The Manual As An Immediate Download
£9.99
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Protect your finish. For a hard, lacquer
finish - including polyester, urethane or catalyzed varnish
finishes - use lemon oil applied with a soft cloth.
DO NOT use a silicone-based consumer
product, which can eat into the finish.
For a painted finish use paste wax made
with carnauba wax, which provides a thin coating to protect the
wood and finish.
For leather pockets apply saddle
soap with a soft cloth, letting it dry for 15 or 20 minutes, and
then brushing
it with a shoe or billiard brush.
Table Maintenance
After your first year of ownership, you
should consider having a Billiard Mechanic come and give
your table the once-over.
Here are the areas your mechanic should
examine, plus a few tips for performing your own diagnosis:
Is the table slate still level? -
use a builders level to determine this.
Are the Cushion Rubbers still attached
tightly to the cushions? - Feel along the side of each
cushion for depressions
in the nose, which usually are created
by stapling the felt too tightly to the rail.
Are there any obvious signs of wear on
the cloth, and is it still tight?
You should be able to place your open
palm on the cloth and put your weight on it without moving the
fabric.
Has the table slate shifted, or have
seams opened up between the pieces of slate?
You can normally feel the ridge under
the cloth when ironing.
Are the rail bolts still tight?
You can check these with a heavy duty
brace.
Is the cabinet still sound and tight?
Physically check all nuts and bolts
Are there any surface cracks?
The timbers may be rotting if the table
has been stored in a damp environment.
If nothing else, have your table examined
whenever you change your cloth.
Snooker Solutions can provide a thorough
examination of your Snooker Table or Pool Table for you.
If you require any further advice, do not
hesitate to call us. We are only a phone call away!
Commonly Asked Questions About Pool Tables
Q: What are the measurements
for the Markings on my Pool Table
Many people wishing to purchase a new billiard table
are tentative because they feel they know very little
about the product. Indeed, most purchasers buy only one
table in their lifetime. We therefore offer the
following suggestions for guidance purposes only.
1. Billiard Table
Cushions The performance of the
cushions on a table is crucial, particularly the
speed and angle of response. As a means of minimizing
costs,
many new tables are available with cushions that perform
poorly. This is due to these tables being manufactured
with a cushion that has been constructed in a way which
we regard as inadequate. The issue of cushions is
important since replacement of cushions costs several
hundred pounds
2. The Cloth on the
Table The most highly
regarded billiard cloths are manufactured in
England and the best of these in the west of England.
A true English billiard cloth
is made from wool and has a directional nap on
the surface. If you rub it lightly in one direction, it
gives a smooth feeling to the hand.
Rubbed in the opposite direction it has a rough
resistant feel. The better qualities of billiard cloth
are very fine so that when the Snooker ball is in
motion it rolls on – there is relatively little friction
to arrest its travel.
The quality of cloth is important, as, once again,
replacement of inferior cloth with the high quality
article costs several hundred pounds.
3. The Pockets The brackets holding
the pocket nets should be of metal. Some are made
of plastic which tends to break; some of these have a
"metallised"
surface on the plastic so that they appear to be more
durable than they actually are. We recommend that the
pocket nets should be fastened to the table using a
strong wire. Use of staples tends to be inadequate – if
the nets are stapled to the underside of the table the
staples tend to come away under the pressure of heavily
struck balls. In this event while the nets may remain
perfectly good, the balls when potted will drop to the
floor damaging them or the floor surface, or both. The
metal brackets should be covered in strong leather which
protects the balls as they strike the bracket before
dropping into the net. We recommend that you check the
fitting of the leathers to ensure that there is no
position where the balls will actually strike the metal
direct, allowing such damage to occur.
4. Timbers Billiard tables
should be made from quality furniture timbers. Use of
custom wood or particleboard is not adequate. The table
framework must
be strong enough to carry the heavy weight of the
slate bed. Over time materials such as custom wood
or particle board are unlikely to continue to take the
strain.
5. The Slate A quality billiard
table will have a bed of slate. Slate should
provide more consistency in keeping the table level than
other known substitutes.
Such a level surface is essential if the balls are to
run true. When considering a table look underneath it.
The slate should be lying flat, totally resting on the
under frame. If this is not so, over time the slate is
likely to sink under its own weight until it does lie on
the surface of the frame.
That is, the table will move out of level. If you see a
series of wooden wedges between the top of the frame and
the underside of the slate, we suggest that you do not
buy the table because, here, the table has been
presented so that it is level temporarily. It is likely
to remain so only in the short term. Such wedges have a
tendency to become loose or they may drop out. Then the
position of the slate will change and the table will be
out of level. If a table is correctly constructed the
levelling process in your home is carried out by means
of adjustment from the base of the legs.
All new tables are made to look as attractive as
possible, which makes your choice difficult. We suggest
that if you are looking at a table which carries no
brand name, pass it by.
The Snooker & Pool Recovering CD
Will Show You Exactly How To Recover Your
Table In Easy Steps!
You Can Buy It Here-
FREE UK POSTAGE!
£5.99 Click Buy Now To Purchase The Manual As An Immediate Download
£9.99
Click Buy Now To Purchase The Manual On CD (Free Post)
WE WILL SEND YOU THE MANUAL AFTER PAYMENT- ONLY £5.99
