Buying A Pool Table
The most important part of playing a good game of Billiards is playing on a good Pool Table. The main table surface should be made from slate. While less expensive models use wood or particle board. Slate is durable, long lasting, and gives a rock solid field of play There are different grades of slate Pool tables which are reflective in their final price. On the high end of the scale, the table will be made using 7/8 inch to 1 inch thick slate. The lower scaled tables will use 3/4 inch slate. In either case, the slate will extend past the playing surface to the ends of the table, thus allowing extra support for the rails.
The better Pool Tables will have a wood backing for the surface cloth to be attached. Some lower-end tables that do not have the wood backing will have the cloth attached with a spray adhesive, which can cause puckering or peeling especially if moisture and humidity are prevalent.
In older tables, rails were attached to the table with horizontal holes that were drilled in the slate edges and filled with molten lead. They had screws running through the vertical edge of the rail which were tightened into the lead-lined holes. In contrast, rails are attached to modern tables by inserting a bolt vertically through a hole in the slate and tightening it into the bottom of the rail, pulling the rail and slate together snugly.
After deciding on the thickness of the slate, you will need to choose a surface cloth for the table. Often there are more than 30 choices of colors. Surfaces are a lot like carpeting as they come in various weights. The common preferred weight is from 20 to 22 ounces. Be sure that it is a good nylon-wool blend. It is also possible to buy 100 percent wool cloth, but they make the ball roll faster which may affect your game on any other Pool Tables you may play on. The cloth used to cover the slate and the rails is designed specifically for pool tables. Although it is often referred to as felt (a fabric formed by compressing fibers rather than weaving), it is actually a woven fabric with a nap (exposed, short, fuzzy fiber ends) on one surface.
Your rails and pockets are all personal choices as far as coloring and materials. Most people who own a Pool Table in their homes consider it a piece of furniture as well as for entertainment, so be sure to get what you want and what fits into your lifestyle You can go plain to keep the cost down, or have carved rails with leather pockets, creating an ornate piece of furniture. It's really all up to you. Your playing surface and felt covering should be the main concern for quality. Diamond- or circular-shaped sights embedded in the rail tops are usually made of mother of pearl, abalone shell, or plastic. Pocket irons may be made of cast iron, zinc alloy, aluminum, rubber, or high-impact styrene plastic. Traditionally, pocket liners are made of leather (solid or net), but plastic or rubber is also used.
Regulation Pool Tables are have a width equal to half the size of the length. Seven foot is the most popular length for a Pool Table, however other common lengths are six and nine feet. Your Billiard Room should have enough room for the Pool Table plus at least five feet around the perimeter. Since most Cue Sticks are 57 to 58 inches long, a five-foot perimeter will leave you enough room to make your shots comfortably without bumping into the walls. If your room is not quite big enough, you can buy shorter Cue Sticks.
A Pool Table that is made well will last you for many years and bring much pleasure. Pool Tables vary widely in quality and cost. A casual player who wants a table for a few years of personal recreation can get one for around $600. So-called "popular priced" tables, are well-built, durable, attractive and may cost you $1,600-$3,000. When buying a Pool Table your primary goal should be for that of stability and durability. Remember, you get what you pay for.
