Pool Table Care Guide - Keep Your
Table in Shape
Your
pool table is an expensive investment. This maintenance guide will help you keep your
investment looking and playing good for years to come.
Pool Table " NEVERS "
Never sit, stand, lay
on, bump hard, or lean heavily on your pool table. Never try to lift or
move your table. Any of these things can damage your table.
The
slate bed on your table comes in 3 pieces. An excessive
force can cause the seams to split or an individual piece of slate to crack.
A split or
"popped" seam can be felt under the cloth. This not only affects the way
the balls roll but will also wear out the cloth prematurely.
A player should not
lean heavily or lay on the table to make a shot. A bridge or rest should
be used on long or awkward shots.
If you
need to have your table moved contact the Billiards Plus Service Department. By trying
to lift or move your table without the proper tools and "know how" a lot of
damage can be done. At least, the table will be "out of level". At worst, a
slate could be cracked, a rail apron could be broken, or a leg could be twisted.
If
your table becomes "out of level" for any reason you should contact the
Billiards Plus Service Department. Leveling is a difficult
process that could involve shimming the legs or the entire slate table bed.
Cabinet Care
Your tables wood
surfaces should be cleaned frequently with a damp cloth followed by a soft dry
cloth. From time to time the wood surfaces should be polished with furniture polish.
This removes the oils that your hands leave behind from touching the table.
Cloth Care
A new cloth can
considerably affect ball roll. Until the cloth is "broken in" the ball may
wiggle slightly when moving very slowly. This is normal. By brushing
your table more often during the first 3 months of use the cloth will normalize
faster.
Always brush your
table in a straight line from the head of the table ( where the nameplate is
located ) toward the foot of the table ( where the balls are racked ). This
will brush the cloth's nap down. Never brush in a circular motion.
The table's cloth should be brushed once a week.
White Spots
When the cloth has
been used for a short period of time small white spots will appear on your
cloth. This is common and the spots fade after a period of time.
Masse' or Jump Shots
Masse and jump shots
are pretty impressive. When they are not done right they can rip or tear
the cloth. Then the cloth will need to be replaced. By outlawing
these shots on your pool table your cloth will last much longer.
Temperature and Humidity
Your cloth can
wrinkle and become loose if it is subjected the extreme temperature or humidity.
Take care to regulate both.
Pocket
Care
Most pool tables have
leather pockets. Pockets that are not leather are usually plastic drop
pockets that are used on commercial tables.
Leather pockets can dry out
and should be protected from heat and sunlight. The pockets can be treated
with saddle soap or a similar product.
Avoid
storing the balls in the pockets for extended periods of time. The weight
of the pool balls will stretch the pocket webs.
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