Damp wiping makes cloth slower?

Patrick Johnson

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day
Silver Member
I've (vacuumed and) damp wiped my practice table daily for years, trying to keep the chalk accumulation in the cloth to a minimum. It works OK, but I've noticed a possible drawback: my "OCD clean" table actually gets a little slower over time compared to tables recovered at the same time with the same cloth (860HR) that were just vacuumed.

I've also notice that "my" table's cloth feels a little more "rough" to the touch than those others, which makes me think the daily dampening swells the threads in the cloth and drying doesn't shrink them completely back to original size.

Anybody else experience this? Any opinions about whether or not my suspicion is true?

Thanks in advance,

pj
chgo
 
I think you are imagining that. Damp cloth is looser, but when it dries it returns to normal tension. Just my opinion of course, but I don’t think cleaning with a damp cloth makes any permanent changes to cloth that will affect play. Yes it might fade quicker though. I don’t mind the fade though. In general cloth gets a bit looser over time.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I've (vacuumed and) damp wiped my practice table daily for years, trying to keep the chalk accumulation in the cloth to a minimum. It works OK, but I've noticed a possible drawback: my "OCD clean" table actually gets a little slower over time compared to tables recovered at the same time with the same cloth (860HR) that were just vacuumed.

I've also notice that "my" table's cloth feels a little more "rough" to the touch than those others, which makes me think the daily dampening swells the threads in the cloth and drying doesn't shrink them completely back to original size.

Anybody else experience this? Any opinions about whether or not my suspicion is true?

Thanks in advance,

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
I used to have 20 or so tables damp-cloth wiped every evening over the course of several years. It kept the felt in much better shape over time, imo. I did not notice any slowing effect over normal wear and tear, but there was little to no chalk residue getting on the balls or the patrons. My 2 cents.
 
Lawnboy77 said:
Damp cloth is looser, but when it dries it returns to normal tension.
Click to expand...
That sounds likely, but it's not what I'm talking about - I'm talking about the individual threads getting thicker in diameter when they're damp, but not returning all the way to their original thickness as they dry (NOTE: this only becomes noticeable over fairly long periods of time - months at least).

Thanks for the response.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I've (vacuumed and) damp wiped my practice table daily for years, trying to keep the chalk accumulation in the cloth to a minimum. It works OK, but I've noticed a possible drawback: my "OCD clean" table actually gets a little slower over time compared to tables recovered at the same time with the same cloth (860HR) that were just vacuumed.

I've also notice that "my" table's cloth feels a little more "rough" to the touch than those others, which makes me think the daily dampening swells the threads in the cloth and drying doesn't shrink them completely back to original size.

Anybody else experience this? Any opinions about whether or not my suspicion is true?

Thanks in advance,

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
Could aggressive ‘wiping’ action be loosening the weave (?). My impression is that the thicker cloths loosen more often than the thinner 760 (which tends to eventually speed up with wear).
 
DynoDan said:
Could aggressive ‘wiping’ action be loosening the weave (?). My impression is that the thicker cloths loosen more often than the thinner 760 (which tends to eventually speed up with wear).
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I suppose that's possible, but not what I do - I wipe in one direction only, once over only, with gentle pressure.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
I suppose that's possible, but not what I do - I wipe in one direction only, once over only, with gentle pressure.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...
When I had my own table I damp wiped it often with a clean, mild damp cotton cloth- do the same now on the semi private table I play on now- damp wiping it once or twice a week- cloth is just damp - not wet at all- gentle on the 860 cloth- no vacuuming- never noticed the cloth slow down. I doubt that a slightly damp cloth gently wiping down a Simonis style cloth could have any unwanted results- just keeps everything cleaner, and a cleaner cloth should actually be faster IMO- less particles to slow it down- one of the big reasons why keep it clean.
 
mikemosconi said:
When I had my own table I damp wiped it often with a clean, mild damp cotton cloth- do the same now on the semi private table I play on now- damp wiping it once or twice a week- cloth is just damp - not wet at all- gentle on the 860 cloth- no vacuuming- never noticed the cloth slow down. I doubt that a slightly damp cloth gently wiping down a Simonis style cloth could have any unwanted results- just keeps everything cleaner, and a cleaner cloth should actually be faster IMO- less particles to slow it down- one of the big reasons why keep it clean.
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If you don't use X-1 or light vac doesn't a damp cloth just make chalk/dirt problem worse? At my home 'hall they've started using an X-1 and its pretty impressive how much dust/chalk come off with that thing.
 
garczar said:
If you don't use X-1 or light vac doesn't a damp cloth just make chalk/dirt problem worse? At my home 'hall they've started using an X-1 and its pretty impressive how much dust/chalk come off with that thing.
Click to expand...
I think it really depends on how often a table is used and wiped down. any table that I ever used the wipe down method always had very little play between being wiped down, the balls used were always clean, so there was never any real build up to be ground into the cloth- it is just gently lifting off a thin layer- I actually do each table in quarters - folding the cloth into a square that- with both sides utilized- wipes each quarter of the table twice- the second wiping always reveals almost no chalk or dirt residue left on the table.

I would not do this without the X-1 or light vac on a more dirty table- Agreed!
 
Lawnboy77 said:
... Damp cloth is looser, but when it dries it returns to normal tension. ...
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A related story... A top carom billiard mechanic was installing new, expensive cloth in the room where I played. He was stretching it pretty tight, and suddenly it tore lengthwise about where it would go down to be stapled losing the cloth that was going to be stapled through. He got out a spray bottle, got the whole cloth nice and damp and started stretching. He ended up with enough for the stapling. The table played fine after he got finished.
 
I vacuum mine and then use the X1.
Then wet a white cotton hand towel and ring it out pretty good, put it in the microwave for
one minute, and wipe the table and cushions down aggressively.
Amazing how much chalk is on the towel after vacuuming and using the X1.
Have seen no ill effects on the table after doing this about once a week.
 
garczar said:
If you don't use X-1 or light vac doesn't a damp cloth just make chalk/dirt problem worse? At my home 'hall they've started using an X-1 and its pretty impressive how much dust/chalk come off with that thing.
Click to expand...
Is X-1 a vacuum?

pj
chgo
 
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mikemosconi said:
I think it really depends on how often a table is used and wiped down. any table that I ever used the wipe down method always had very little play between being wiped down, the balls used were always clean, so there was never any real build up to be ground into the cloth
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I practice daily on the same pool hall table before opening, but it gets used in between by paying customers - that's why I vacuum and wipe it every morning.
mikemosconi said:
I actually do each table in quarters - folding the cloth into a square that- with both sides utilized- wipes each quarter of the table twice- the second wiping always reveals almost no chalk or dirt residue left on the table.
Click to expand...
I do it similarly, but only once.
mikemosconi said:
I would not do this without the X-1 or light vac on a more dirty table- Agreed!
Click to expand...
What's an X-1?

pj
chgo
 
philly said:
I vacuum mine and then use the X1.
Then wet a white cotton hand towel and ring it out pretty good, put it in the microwave for
one minute, and wipe the table and cushions down aggressively.
Amazing how much chalk is on the towel after vacuuming and using the X1.
Have seen no ill effects on the table after doing this about once a week.
Click to expand...
What do you suppose heating it in the microwave does for you?

pj
chgo
 
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