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Another important (not so much) thread. I'm in the market for a decent one but without breaking the bank and was wondering who's got one, what kind and where purchased.
I understand there's a boat manufacturer that makes pool tables on the side but they're too rich for my blood. When I can buy one of their boats for less than one of their pool tables then I know something's wrong.
The biggest problem with home tables is lack of room, or too big a table in too small a room. I would want at least 6 feet clear all the way around, so a 9X4.5 table needs 21X16.5 of clear floor space, before you get to the furniture.
That said, Craigslist in my area has 3 or 4 every day, plus a professional mover who also sells used tables.
Pool tables are like exercise equipment, a lot of good intentions, and almost no use, in a lot of cases. When the wife wants that room, the table goes, usually at less than half price. Never buy a table new.
Thanks. Yeah, I have been trolling Craigs list of course but you have to just hit that at the right time. 9X4.5 is a big table for a home or at least my home. I was thinking more like 8x4. I printed out room specs from the website of a major pool table maker, and it all depends on cue length of course, but for an 8x4 table with 48" cue they recommend minimum of 11'8"x15'4" room which I think I can swing. Now just to find a quality table for not alot of money.
I left a pool table with my last house when I sold it. I shot on it regularly for 5 years and then it just gathered dust. I would buy whatever size you are used to shooting on. My friend had a 9' when we were kids. I bought an 8' and loved it. The slate is the main thing to consider.
I bought one from that boat manufacturer for the Freedom Compound about 7 months ago. I looked at good used tables, but by the time i paid for moving and re-felting, i wasn't saving that much over a new one with a lifetime warranty. I ended up paying about $1,900 for a 4x8 table with 1" slate. Very happy with it.
Do not buy a 1 piece slate. No Floor i completely level and you will never get it perfectly level. Secondly moving it is next to suicide. Tournament play is on 3 piece slate because it so much more level then a 1 piece table. Secondly make sure you buy a table with oversize slate. (It goes under the rails). Otherwise the rails will sag. Any used table you buy you should put new cloth on, the old cloth is pretty useless once you disassemble the table. For a real nice table, and for my own table I have gone with Simoniz cloth. My suggestion is to buy it from a reputable dealer who can set it up. You cannot do this yourself.
Olhausen, Brunswick, Connelly, and Diamond are probably your best bets. There are other good tables but it may be harder to separate the good from the bad.
3 piece slate is the way to go. One piece is very difficult to move and level.
3/4" or 1" slate is fine. The 8x4 is your best bet. 9x4.5 is a big table for people who don't play regularly, and as you know you need to have enough room around the table.
Hydro makes a good point about buying used. You need to get is substantially cheaper than new for it to make sense because it will cost you $2-300 to have the table professionally moved and installed/leveled, plus another couple hundred for new cloth. I too like Simonis cloth. With $500 into moving and setting up, you need to save $1000 or $1500 to justify going used.
If you buy from a store, look for a small family owned business as opposed to a big chain as you are likely to get a better price and service.
In general, tables from Olhausen and Brunswick are pretty good, and the pricing difference is mostly the amount of wood (some are part real wood and part particle board, which is just fine) and the craftsmanship (woodworking curves, legs, etc.; inlays; and finishes).
JEVLACH - 1/22/2009 2:20 PM Thanks. Yeah, I have been trolling Craigs list of course but you have to just hit that at the right time. 9X4.5 is a big table for a home or at least my home. I was thinking more like 8x4. I printed out room specs from the website of a major pool table maker, and it all depends on cue length of course, but for an 8x4 table with 48" cue they recommend minimum of 11'8"x15'4" room which I think I can swing. Now just to find a quality table for not alot of money.
I saw this the other night and had typed in a response but the site went down and I forgot to come back. Anyway.....
To me, a9 x 5 is a snooker table, you don't see many 8 ball tables that size. I built my room around the table, no obstructions allowed. [img]../images/emoticons/nono.gif[/img] Keep in mind the playing surface (rail to rail) on a 4 x 8 table is actually 44" x88". The length of a standard cue is 58". My 'shorty' stick that came with the set is 48". If you're a player, you will not like playing with it all the time. Minimum size to not have any obstruction is 13' 4" x 17'. That only comes into play if the ball is against the rail and your shot is perpendicular to the rail, probably doesn't happen that often so a little under these dimensions will be 'clear' most of the time. I agree withmost of the other comments. 3 piece, 1" slate absolutely, and Ilike the Simonis as well.Mine is a Brunswick and I think it was about $3000 6 years ago.A quality installation is just as important as the table, a $10,000 table that isn't level ain't worth a dime IMO. Be there when they put it together, it's very interesting to see how it's done and you can confirm it's right before they put thefelt on. Good luck![img]../images/emoticons/thumbsup.gif[/img]
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A 9x41/2 is a regulation table!!the 4x8 and others small ones are bar room tables.A Brunswick Gold Crown is nice table if you have the room and money.
When I was a kid there was a pool room in Baltimore[Kliens]the best in the world would come into town and play there.I have the distintion to have my a$$ kicked by the great Willy Masconi when I was 15,he was warming up to put on an exhibition later on that night.Kliens also had a couple of 5x10 tables and they were like playing on a golf course.
A 9x41/2 is a regulation table!!the 4x8 and others small ones are bar room tables.A Brunswick Gold Crown is nice table if you have the room and money.
When I was a kid there was a pool room in Baltimore[Kliens]the best in the world would come into town and play there.I have the distintion to have my a$$ kicked by the great Willy Masconi when I was 15,he was warming up to put on an exhibition later on that night.Kliens also had a couple of 5x10 tables and they were like playing on a golf course.
Thanks, I did know that about table sizes. Although I've seen 8x4 labeled as
"home size" and 7 x 3.5 is generally bar size I believe. That's awesome that you saw Willy Mosconi in action, still holds the record I believe of over 500 consecutive balls, amazing.
My friend and I were playing in a pool hall in Greensboro about 15 years ago when Earl Strickland walked in a put on a show for everyone. Definitely not a genleman like Mosconi, but what a pool player.
Anyway, based on all the good I think I'm gonna go new with one the well known makes. Thanks for all the tips.
A 9x41/2 is a regulation table!!the 4x8 and others small ones are bar room tables.A Brunswick Gold Crown is nice table if you have the room and money.
When I was a kid there was a pool room in Baltimore[Kliens]the best in the world would come into town and play there.I have the distintion to have my a$$ kicked by the great Willy Masconi when I was 15,he was warming up to put on an exhibition later on that night.Kliens also had a couple of 5x10 tables and they were like playing on a golf course.
Thanks, I did know that about table sizes. Although I've seen 8x4 labeled as
"home size" and 7 x 3.5 is generally bar size I believe. That's awesome that you saw Willy Mosconi in action, still holds the record I believe of over 500 consecutive balls, amazing.
My friend and I were playing in a pool hall in Greensboro about 15 years ago when Earl Strickland walked in a put on a show for everyone. Definitely not a genleman like Mosconi, but what a pool player.
Anyway, based on all the good I think I'm gonna go new with one the well known makes. Thanks for all the tips.
When i bought my table from a Brunswick dealer, he told me that the basic construction of the Brunswick tables was pretty similar throughout the line. You pay extra for the type of wood and ornamentation. My table is in a loft above my garage, so looks were secondary to good construction. I looked at LOTS of different tables before choosing the Brunswick (forget the model name right now). Salesman told me that the ball-in-claw legs were solid wood, so i went with that option since it didn't cost any more. I opted for 1" slate over the standard 3/4" and i think that was a good move, and they told me that they would give it to me for "free". Get the best quality felt available - that's important.
Pool tables are great fun, but i think you need to accept the fact that many people who buy them end up selling them for lack of use. If you're OK with that, then go for it!! I'm glad i did.
Hydro - 1/25/2009 7:52 PM
Pool tables are great fun, but i think you need to accept the fact that many people who buy them end up selling them for lack of use. If you're OK with that, then go for it!! I'm glad i did.
Agreed but I haven't played in years and I have a full finished basement, just yearning for one.
Pool Table... 
