Build a table?

M

mohrt

Student of the Game
Silver Member
I have an old US Billiards bar box. I recently put on ridgeback rails and new felt. It sits in the garage and works fine for practice. I am moving to a new house with a big basement, I want to install a nice looking table.

This bar box is a bit rough, noisy, and just doesn't look pretty.

What if I wanted to take the slate and rails from the USB table and build an entirely new table around this? What am I up against if I do this? I saw this site for some inspiration:

http://www.bestbilliards.com/resources/build/index.cfm

However my rails are a bit different, they bolt on from the sides. Is this worth the time and effort, or should I just buy another table?
 
mohrt said:
I have an old US Billiards bar box. I recently put on ridgeback rails and new felt. It sits in the garage and works fine for practice. I am moving to a new house with a big basement, I want to install a nice looking table.

This bar box is a bit rough, noisy, and just doesn't look pretty.

What if I wanted to take the slate and rails from the USB table and build an entirely new table around this? What am I up against if I do this? I saw this site for some inspiration:

http://www.bestbilliards.com/resources/build/index.cfm

However my rails are a bit different, they bolt on from the sides. Is this worth the time and effort, or should I just buy another table?
Click to expand...

Buy a Diamond 7ft ProAm and just be done with it as it'll outlast you and then some;)
 
mohrt said:
I have an old US Billiards bar box. I recently put on ridgeback rails and new felt. It sits in the garage and works fine for practice. I am moving to a new house with a big basement, I want to install a nice looking table.

This bar box is a bit rough, noisy, and just doesn't look pretty.

What if I wanted to take the slate and rails from the USB table and build an entirely new table around this? What am I up against if I do this? I saw this site for some inspiration:

http://www.bestbilliards.com/resources/build/index.cfm

However my rails are a bit different, they bolt on from the sides. Is this worth the time and effort, or should I just buy another table?
Click to expand...

I built my own 9' table from scratch a few years ago. Go to SEARCH in this forum and type in "speedi" to see my posts and photographs. My posts will also reference the Fine Woodworking article that I used to build my table. However, unless you are pretty well equipped with woodworking equipment and have better than average woodworking skills, I would not recommend that you take on such a task because you will end up with a table that will be marginal in durability, appearance, and playability.

If you can't afford a new table there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of tables on the used market at the present time that can be purchased at very good prices. You should have little problem finding an excellent bar box on ebay or Craigs list if you patiently do searches over the next few months.
Speedi
 
speedi said:
I built my own 9' table from scratch a few years ago. Go to SEARCH in this forum and type in "speedi" to see my posts and photographs. My posts will also reference the Fine Woodworking article that I used to build my table. However, unless you are pretty well equipped with woodworking equipment and have better than average woodworking skills, I would not recommend that you take on such a task because you will end up with a table that will be marginal in durability, appearance, and playability.

If you can't afford a new table there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of tables on the used market at the present time that can be purchased at very good prices. You should have little problem finding an excellent bar box on ebay or Craigs list if you patiently do searches over the next few months.
Speedi
Click to expand...

I will have help from a friend that builds outstanding solid oak furniture. I'll have a look at your project, thanks!
 
G-10 for table?

This thread reminded me of a conversation I had with some other players about denting tables when the balls came off the table and landed on the table again or when somebody takes the cue ball and smashes the head ball on a rack to make it stay in place.

It came up that tables could be much lighter and resilient if they were made with something other than slate, like a G-10 like material, that is super tough and maybe has enough elasticity to rebound back to shape. Does anybody here, who knows their materials, know why super materials like G-10 aren't made into tables?
 
Sounds like a pretty big undertaking. A lot would depend on your carpentry skills and your access to woodworking equipment. Good luck to you whatever you decide.
 
tech_nerd said:
This thread reminded me of a conversation I had with some other players about denting tables when the balls came off the table and landed on the table again or when somebody takes the cue ball and smashes the head ball on a rack to make it stay in place.

It came up that tables could be much lighter and resilient if they were made with something other than slate, like a G-10 like material, that is super tough and maybe has enough elasticity to rebound back to shape. Does anybody here, who knows their materials, know why super materials like G-10 aren't made into tables?
Click to expand...

While G10 probably would hold up to playing conditions, it is very light.

I think you really need the 600 lbs of slate to make a 1000 lb table for stability.

I had a Fischer 8 foot back in the 70's that was a one piece marble bed. That played just fine but took 6 big guys to move it.

Slate is also somewhat elastic. There has been some one that made a glass bed table and also a steel one .... I think. But it always comes back to slate.

Kim
 
tech_nerd said:
This thread reminded me of a conversation I had with some other players about denting tables when the balls came off the table and landed on the table again or when somebody takes the cue ball and smashes the head ball on a rack to make it stay in place.

It came up that tables could be much lighter and resilient if they were made with something other than slate, like a G-10 like material, that is super tough and maybe has enough elasticity to rebound back to shape. Does anybody here, who knows their materials, know why super materials like G-10 aren't made into tables?
Click to expand...

you could also build a stainless steel mousetrap with a motion-sensing laser that would turn the little critter into instant BBQ...

the technology is indeed there, but the 'perfect' design has met an economic threshold.
 
From what I can tell, I believe you would be able make a decent table.

If you are going to a larger basement, why would you want to stay with a 7 foot table?

If you have a lot of time and want the pride of saying you made your own table, then go for it (and share pictures with us!).

If you are looking for a "practical" solution to your situation, then (no brainer) buy another table from craigs list, and enjoy right away!

Good luck either way
 
Mr. Bond said:
you could also build a stainless steel mousetrap with a motion-sensing laser that would turn the little critter into instant BBQ...

the technology is indeed there, but the 'perfect' design has met an economic threshold.
Click to expand...

My point was that slate was super heavy and from what I know quite expensive to shape and ship and might be slightly dented by pool balls. I was thinking it might even be cheaper to use the super material.
 
tech_nerd said:
My point was that slate was super heavy and from what I know quite expensive to shape and ship and might be slightly dented by pool balls. I was thinking it might even be cheaper to use the super material.
Click to expand...

i do believe that something cheaper and lighter than slate could be engineered. (if it hasnt been done already) problem is, it's not as simple as just making a flat surface...

slate has some very specific (and desirable) qualities, so extensive engineering and testing would have to be done, which equals lots of money and time spent, before you'd even know how "substance x" compares to slate. money and time that thus far, nobody is willing to spend.

then of course if it works, you'll also need to convince the rest of the world that substance x plays better than slate, or else be treated like the red-headed stepchild of the industry.

but then what do all the real slate table owners do?
throw theirs away and get a new one?
no, they'd keep the slate tables, label them as "classic", and we'd still have them around, like we do our current antiques, for another 300+ years.

at least on a commercial scale, the "perfect" design has met an economic threshold. but that certainly doesnt mean it cant be achieved.
 
Dartman said:
That guy did a nice job of illustrating the project.

Regarding slate vs. a lightweight substitute - a simple bump to the table will help explain one reason why slate is preferred.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY!
Anybody remember the trick shot where you put two balls up against the rail at the foot and one ball on the rail above the balls and bet you can hit the one ball without hitting the other two?
Won't work on my Connelly Ultimate!:grin:

2" 4 piece slate.
 
If you build your own table, do it because you want to build a pool table, not to save money.

You will probably end up spending more than you would for a used table purchase regardless of how you build it, but the best start is to find a set of slates from a local dealer or table mechanic, and take them off of his hands for $100. Once you have the slate, you are + $500 compared to buying new slate, and can start the design.

But before you buy the slate, look up a standard subrail profile spec sheet.

Go out to the garage and mill the profile in scrap wood.

If you can do this, you have the necessary skill and tools to build a pool table. If you can't, think carefully before spending any more money.
 
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