Table Maintenance Tips

We have put together this short guide which should help you keep your pool and snooker tables running like new for a long time to come.

We have 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 to 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 realise that 50% 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 create minute cuts in the felt that develop into tears; and digging your cue tip into the cloth on jump shots is utterly devastating.

Sun Damage
You would 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 bleech 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- we can provide under table heaters specifically for this purpose. Humidity levels of 40 to 60% is the best possible environment for fine wood.

Also on the subject of light we warn against using incandescent bulbs above your table as the heat will dry out your cloth. Instead try our Direct Lighting System.

Sitting on the Table
The no. one thing people do with their pool table is sit on it. This will cause the rubber to fall off the cushions. They are typically 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 is one of the most corrosive things on the planet. So, keep your pets away from your table. In addition, you might want to keep keep water away from the wood. A caution that includes keeping all drinks off the cushions. Hard woods are much less conductive to absorption, whereas soft woods expand and contract more easily. In the case of unavoidable spills, it might be wise to apply a fabric sealant like Scotch Gard to your felt for protection.

Clean Balls = 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 or pool balls made with phenolic resin, which best resist the degrading effects of friction heat. Friction heat is generated when stroking the cue against the rails and the pockets, so avoid pockets with a glazed or painted finish.

The Woodwork
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 a silicone-based consumer product such as Pledge, 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. Snooker Direct offer maintenance contracts especially for this.

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 Direct can provide a thorough examination of your snooker or pool table to help you get the most out of your table.