Advice on buying and moving a used pool table.

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cue8chalk

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So I found a 10 year old 8' Olhausen table for sale. It appears to be the Reno model.

It has already been "disassembled by professionals" according to the seller and I would just need to "pack and move" it.. so the slate isn't crated.

I read in other forums that many people who move pool tables often don't crate the slate because it's just going to get uncrated when it gets to the destination... in my case though, I won't be setting up the table right away, so I have a few questions about this scenario.

First, how should I move and transport the un-crated slate?

Second, once it's home, how do you suggest I should store it until I get a pro over to set it up for me?

I haven't seen it in person yet, but I'm considering having new felt put on; I don't know why but I just can't really stand the color green on pool tables lol so I'd like to change it and I figure maybe putting simonis felt on? What are your thoughts on that? Is it worth doing even if the current felt is usable?

I guess that brings me to my last question (probably the first question I should really be asking) which is, since the table is already disassembled, what are the things I should be looking out for?

FYI the seller sent me this pic of the tabletop. Not the highest res, but it's all I have to go by until I go see it in person.
 
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I never put together a table, never took one apart, never even put felt on a table... but this don't look right. I'm pretty sure you would not remove the legs of the table before taking the 3 piece slate off, carefully....

so, not sure what they were smoking.... How much you pay for the table ??
 
I've taken apart a table or two, if this is a 3 piece 3/4 inch slate, and it's on the floor on once piece like that, I'd say you'll have one hell of a time lifting it again. Must of taken a few fellas to place it on the floor like that.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
I never put together a table, never took one apart, never even put felt on a table... but this don't look right. I'm pretty sure you would not remove the legs of the table before taking the 3 piece slate off, carefully....

so, not sure what they were smoking.... How much you pay for the table ??
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I haven't paid for or seen it in person yet. I probably will go check it out within the next couple of days... so you're saying it looks like the slate is under the felt there? I thought it might've been laid out this way just to show what the top looks like. I guess I'll find out soon enough...
 
cue8chalk said:
I haven't paid for or seen it in person yet. I probably will go check it out within the next couple of days... so you're saying it looks like the slate is under the felt there? I thought it might've been laid out this way just to show what the top looks like. I guess I'll find out soon enough...
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Yeah.. why else would he not take a pic BEFORE he took it apart... again, i'm betting you can NOT take the slate out without removing the rails.

How much you paying for this table? You still gotta pay for cloth and set up... figure another 6 hundo... so then how much you got into this....

Used pool tables values drop like a ROCK... I know, I have a Brunswick that is 12 years old, and I'll be lucky if I can get a 4 or 5 hundo for it... I paid $3500
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Yeah.. why else would he not take a pic BEFORE he took it apart... again, i'm betting you can NOT take the slate out without removing the rails.

How much you paying for this table? You still gotta pay for cloth and set up... figure another 6 hundo... so then how much you got into this....

Used pool tables values drop like a ROCK... I know, I have a Brunswick that is 12 years old, and I'll be lucky if I can get a 4 or 5 hundo for it... I paid $3500
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I'm looking at paying about 400 for this table. I figured it'd cost me about what you said for cloth and set up, so if I can make this work I think it could be a good deal... but that's why I'm here lol because this is my first time doing this.
 
cue8chalk said:
I'm looking at paying about 400 for this table. I figured it'd cost me about what you said for cloth and set up, so if I can make this work I think it could be a good deal... but that's why I'm here lol because this is my first time doing this.
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But I'm guessing that was no $3500 table 10 years ago... heck, you might be able to buy a NEW olhausen for $1200 to $1500, with cloth and installed.... and not a scratch on it...

Not saying not to buy, but man, the price is getting to close to NEW when everything is factored in......tough call...
 
ChicagoRJ said:
But I'm guessing that was no $3500 table 10 years ago... heck, you might be able to buy a NEW olhausen for $1200 to $1500, with cloth and installed.... and not a scratch on it...

Not saying not to buy, but man, the price is getting to close to NEW when everything is factored in......tough call...
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They said they paid 4k for it originally. Hard to verify without knowing exactly what it is :/ I'll have to take more pics and ask more questions when I see it.

I've never seen an Olhausen for less than 2k-3k. If I can get one new at that cost, I'd consider it. Could you point me in the right direction?
 
cue8chalk said:
They said they paid 4k for it originally. Hard to verify without knowing exactly what it is :/ I'll have to take more pics and ask more questions when I see it.

I've never seen an Olhausen for less than 2k-3k. If I can get one new at that cost, I'd consider it. Could you point me in the right direction?
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Start hunting at the places that sell tables.. my nephew picked up a new olehausen a few years ago for $1200 on clearance.... the economy was bad.. just like now, and they will wheel and deal.... keep looking.....
 
instead

cue8chalk said:
So I found a 10 year old 8' Olhausen table for sale. It appears to be the Reno model.

It has already been "disassembled by professionals" according to the seller and I would just need to "pack and move" it.. so the slate isn't crated.

I read in other forums that many people who move pool tables often don't crate the slate because it's just going to get uncrated when it gets to the destination... in my case though, I won't be setting up the table right away, so I have a few questions about this scenario.

First, how should I move and transport the un-crated slate?

Second, once it's home, how do you suggest I should store it until I get a pro over to set it up for me?

I haven't seen it in person yet, but I'm considering having new felt put on; I don't know why but I just can't really stand the color green on pool tables lol so I'd like to change it and I figure maybe putting simonis felt on? What are your thoughts on that? Is it worth doing even if the current felt is usable?

I guess that brings me to my last question (probably the first question I should really be asking) which is, since the table is already disassembled, what are the things I should be looking out for?

FYI the seller sent me this pic of the tabletop. Not the highest res, but it's all I have to go by until I go see it in person.
Click to expand...

buy my table and I'll work out the rest! 8ft AMF Playmaster.
 

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ChicagoRJ said:
Start hunting at the places that sell tables.. my nephew picked up a new olehausen a few years ago for $1200 on clearance.... the economy was bad.. just like now, and they will wheel and deal.... keep looking.....
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It still sounds like I could save myself a chunk of money with a scenario like this. Even if I were to find a new table for 1200, I'd still have to pay for shipping and set-up, right?
 
You need to let us know what area you are in so that we can point you to someone that can see it and do the job right. That person may even have a table for you.

I don't think any pool-mechanic that 'professionally' breaks down a table does it in the way that one appears to have been done.

I presume you have checked craigslist and ebay for local listings? There are a lot of tables out there and somebody might pay you to come and get one out of his house.

You will love having a table at home.
 
Black-Balled said:
You need to let us know what area you are in so that we can point you to someone that can see it and do the job right. That person may even have a table for you.

I don't think any pool-mechanic that 'professionally' breaks down a table does it in the way that one appears to have been done.

I presume you have checked craigslist and ebay for local listings? There are a lot of tables out there and somebody might pay you to come and get one out of his house.

You will love having a table at home.
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I'm in Elizabeth, NJ. I've checked local listings. Haven't come across anyone who was looking to get rid of a pool table like that outright, but then again, I have just been looking for tables for sale. I'll keep an eye out for stuff like that. In the meantime, any suggestions are more than welcome.

Thanks in advance!
 
Okay, I'm going to take a look at the table tomorrow.

So far, pretty much all the responses seem to have been to steer me away from this table based on the one picture, but no one has really given me any pointers on what to look for when I actually see this thing... Any advice (besides taking lots more pictures for everyone here to inspect)?
 
I have moved my Gold Crown III four or five times. Took it across country one year for my kids to use.

From the photo posted I would check the rails to make sure they bounce right. Make sure you have all of the parts and check against the assembly manual. You can get a manual online if the owner doesn't have one. Make sure that none of the threads are cross threaded where bolts connect.

If you replace the bed cloth, replace the rail cloth as well. It is no more difficult than replacing the bed cloth. If you check around online you can save quite a bit buying new cloth from a good dealer. It usually comes with rail cloth and that is what you should buy.

Consider getting a small hand held metal brake tool from Home Depot for accurately stretching the bed cloth.

You can move the table with a Dodge Caravan. All of the pieces will fit in one run. I use packing blankets (or similar) between the pieces of slate (lay slate flat in the van). In the past I have used cardboard between the slate with no problem. You do need a blanket on top of the last piece of slate. This keeps the rails etc. from damaging the slate during transit. Just be careful. It take two men to carry the slate.

Store the slate flat when you get it home. This keeps the edges from getting small cracks. If chips or cracks develop use Bondo to fill and sand with a finish sander.

With two men here are my estimates:

Dis assemble and load in Dodge Caravan about two hours.

Reassemble about four hours including leveling.

Install bed cloth about two (maybe three) hours depending on your experience

Install rail cloth about three hours (lots of staples).

It is best to have help from someone who has done this before to avoid stupid mistakes the first time, like bumping the slate on corners etc.

$400 is an excellent price. I sold my 25 year old GC III for $1,000 when I retired to Florida about four years ago.
 
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To properly move that table they should have removed the rails & pockets before taking the slate off the legs & frame. If you look at the right rail & the two end rails near the right side, the cloth has large wrinkles.I think when they lifted the top off or let it down to the floor,the bolts that hold the rails down to the slate may have pulled out of the rails.Somethings not right, why would someone partialy disassemble a table then take a picture & put it up for sale.
 
mohler said:
To properly move that table they should have removed the rails & pockets before taking the slate off the legs & frame. If you look at the right rail & the two end rails near the right side, the cloth has large wrinkles.I think when they lifted the top off or let it down to the floor,the bolts that hold the rails down to the slate may have pulled out of the rails.Somethings not right, why would someone partialy disassemble a table then take a picture & put it up for sale.
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But...but...but...the seller said it was professionally disassemsbled!
 
From what I saw it looks like some one simply placed stuff together so the buyer could see what it would look like. Just check everything carefully. Pool tables are not fine watches. They are pretty durable equipment if they come from a reputable maker.

There is no way they could have lifted the top off the legs and set it on the floor. Tables don't work like that.

Undoubtedly they removed a few bolts to get the rails off and then simply put the bolts back in when it was set on the floor. To move the table the pockets should be removed and the rails detached.
 
cue8chalk said:
Okay, I'm going to take a look at the table tomorrow.

So far, pretty much all the responses seem to have been to steer me away from this table based on the one picture, but no one has really given me any pointers on what to look for when I actually see this thing... Any advice (besides taking lots more pictures for everyone here to inspect)?
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't think the slate is actually in the photo...
Looks like the rails are just laid out on top of the cloth.
As mentioned above, it would be practically impossible to remove just the slate and rails together...

Plan on replacing the cloth. You do not want to re-use that cloth.

Obviously check the slates for cracks or major damage. If cracked, don't buy it.
Scratches and pits can easily be fixed. Cracks are much harder to deal with.

Check for stripped nuts bolts and threads, especially on the bottom side of the rails and where the legs bolt to the frame.

Check where the pockets insert into the rails. If the wood is chewed up or cracked, don't buy it.

Check slate support beams for cracks and warpage

Check all legs and frame pieces for cracks or damage. If cracked, don't buy it.

If you do purchase it, store it somewhere with a steady temp. And protect it from direct sun and water. If you store the slate horizontally, only do so on a hard perfectly flat surface or you might warp slate. Otherwise store slates standing up.
 
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