Pool Table Care Guide - Keep Your
Table in Shape
Your
pool table is an expensive investment. You will want to maintain it so you will have
fun using the pool table for many years. 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. The 3 matching pieces are
fitted and the seams are sealed when the table is installed. Any excessive
force can cause the seam 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 your local Billiards Store 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 your local Service Department. A
table that is not level is no fun to play on. 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. Never use glass cleaner or any harsh cleaner on the wood finish.
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.
If you use spray polish be sure to spray it on a cloth, not on the wood directly
because it may overspray onto the pool table's cloth.
Brushed or polished
aluminum components usually have a clear coat finish that does not need to be
polished. Cleaners such as "Never Dull" can scratch and dull the finish.
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.
Your table's cloth
can be vacuumed periodically if you're careful. Vacuuming is a great way
to remove dust, pet dander, and chalk that has collected between the cloth and
the slate. Again, as with brushing, go in a straight line from the head to
the foot of the pool table. Use the upholstery brush and use the light suction
setting on the vacuum. Vacuuming only needs to be done every few months.
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.
These are caused 2 different ways.
Miss-cue
If someone tries to
put too much backspin on the cue ball the cue strikes the cloth and removes some
of the fibers from the cloth.
Friction
A white spot can also
result from striking the cue ball with excessive force. This is common on
the break shot. On the break shot the cue ball is accelerated from 0 to
over 20 miles per hour in an instant. This creates an incredible amount of
friction which produces heat. Typical pool cloth is a combination of wool
and nylon. The nylon in the cloth actually melts.
Masse' or Jump Shots
Masse and jump shots
are pretty impressive. Watching the cue ball do things that look
impossible is great. These shots are also very hard to do correctly and
are very hard on the cloth even when done right. 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 and is an easy way to help maintain your table in good condition.
Temperature and Humidity
Your cloth can
wrinkle and become loose if it is subjected the extreme temperature or humidity.
Take care to regulate both. Opening the windows and doors in the room that
has the pool table on the first nice spring day will affect the tautness of the
cloth considerably.
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 has been
proven to be perfectly suited for pool 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. You must make sure that the surface
is clean and dry before playing again or a residue can get on the balls and then
the pool table's cloth.
You should also 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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