Pool Table Recovering
Pool table recovering is the cheapest and easiest
way to update your pool table. Change the cloth color and instantly your
room looks entirely different. Upgrade to a tournament style, worsted wool cloth and instantly
your table plays better.
Disassembly
To start recovering a pool table the top rails
must come off. Lifting the 6 top rails off the slate gets access to both the rail cloth and the cloth on the
slate bed.
Staples
Now comes the fun part. All the staples on
the top rails and the bed cloth must be removed. That's right; all of
them! Each rail usually has between 50 and 60 staples. And there is
at least another 200 staples to hold the bed cloth to the slate frame. A
grand total of at least 500 staples must be removed one at a time.
Seams
When the bed cloth is taken off the old chalk dust
should be cleaned off the slate. Now the seams of the slate can be
inspected. If the seams have cracked or separated they will need to be
redone.
It is also a great time to check and relevel the pool table.
Installing the Bed Cloth
The cloth will relax over time. If the cloth
is installed too loose, when it relaxes the cloth will bunch up when a person
rubs their hand across it. That is why it is very important that it is
stretched very tightly. It is also important that the cloth is stretched
evenly for the balls to roll true. Pool balls will actually follow the
weave of the bed cloth if it is not installed properly.
Rail Cloth
Rail cloth must be stretched evenly down the
entire length of the cushion. If the cloth is too tight it can cause the
nose of the cushion to "ripple" which will cause the balls to bounce funny.
If the cloth is too loose it will get in the way of the bouncing ball.
Table Reassembly
Reassembly is just a matter of reversing the
disassembly. There are some things to watch out for though. Don't
tuck the pocket flaps under the cushion rails as this causes the rail to warp on
the end and raises the nose height so the ball doesn't bounce very well.
Also, the middle pocket straps should be crossed to stop the balls from falling
out when the pocket is full.
The side rails should be aligned with a 4 foot
Carpenter's level placed evenly across the side pocket. This will assure
that a ball can run down the rail into the corner pocket.
Detailed Instructions
There are many websites on the internet that show
detailed instructions on how to install new cloth on the bed and rails of a pool
table. Unfortunately, most of these are just reprints of a
Brunswick Recovering Guide that was written in the 1960's. Because the
cloths have changed so much, both in composition and in construction, a lot of
the instructions that were excellent then just don't apply now.
Conclusion
This is a job best left to the professional. If you live in the Windsor to Chatham area,
Billiards Plus can give your
pool table a facelift in approximately 4 hours. We sell 4 different kinds
of cloth in at least 12 different colors from 3 different manufacturers .
We can do a great job and have your pool table looking like new again.
We can also recover your pool table when it is
disassembled during a move.
Our technicians know what to do so you don't have
to.
Stop in and let our
professional staff help you today.
Do you have a
question? Contact Us.
Telephone at
519-739-1822
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