Alternative to Slate

A

Anomaly

New member
I know, I know... I'm going to get slapped for even thinking about not using slate to build a table, but hear me out.

The only room in my house large enough to accommodate a pool table is my living room. There is a zero % chance my wife will allow such a takeover of the room, so my only options are either get a mini one (don't want to do that) or put it outside. If I do outside, I want to be able to bring it inside and store it in a deep closet (preferably without needing help moving it due to weight) anytime I'm not using it, meaning it must be light and partially disassemble-able. I'm willing to spend the time to build my own table to suit my exact needs, but the weight contributed by the slate threatens to foil my plans of making it lightweight enough to move on my own. Therefore, despite your cringing at the thought of a non-slate surface, what other surface materials would suffice?
I am no more than a recreational, couple-games-per-month player, so super high quality isn't top priority. I was thinking of using hardboard, but do you have any other suggestions of a (relative to slate) lightweight material I could use instead of slate?
 
Bar box and dolly

Why dont you just get a used barbox and pool table dolly and roll it back and forth when you need to. The leg levelers just spin so its easy to dial it in when you want to play, and if your careful about placing the feet in the same spot every time you would probably be able to go back and forth without even needing to adjust the legs after the initial setup. this is alot less work than trying to build your own table. Used barbox with new rails about $1000, pool table dolly and level <$500. And when your done you still have a nice used barbox to sell, just my opinion
 
A piece of pressboard covered in cloth sitting on top of 2 sawhorses = instant portability.
Of course for those few number of games I'd go to a bar and have a few drinks along with pool.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

While I like the ease of assembly and quality I would get with PUTT4DACA$$H's suggestion, I would still run into a problem of finding a place to store it.

i was going for something as portable as Dartman's suggestion. As long as it can be easily and quickly assembled with no help, it's good. The surface will probably need to be stored on its side, so I was thinking a piece of hardboard (i believe this is the same as or similar to the pressboard to which you refer), putting cloth on it, putting rails on it, and giving it some reinforcing beams of 2"x2"s or something on its underside, and using those reinforcing beams to hang it on a wall. Simpler yet would be to just let it sit on its side and lean against the wall, but i'm afraid that too much pressure on the rails would snap them off, unless I let the hardboard protrude past the rails, underneath them.

Anyways, I'll stop rambling on about the engineering of it... would hardboard/pressboard be a (relatively) acceptable playing surface?
 
I agree with Dartman. I have a table in its own room but guess what ... 95% of my pool is played on the same bar box against the usual suspects. Go figure!
 
Anomaly said:
Thanks for the suggestions.

While I like the ease of assembly and quality I would get with PUTT4DACA$$H's suggestion, I would still run into a problem of finding a place to store it.

i was going for something as portable as Dartman's suggestion. As long as it can be easily and quickly assembled with no help, it's good. The surface will probably need to be stored on its side, so I was thinking a piece of hardboard (i believe this is the same as or similar to the pressboard to which you refer), putting cloth on it, putting rails on it, and giving it some reinforcing beams of 2"x2"s or something on its underside, and using those reinforcing beams to hang it on a wall. Simpler yet would be to just let it sit on its side and lean against the wall, but i'm afraid that too much pressure on the rails would snap them off, unless I let the hardboard protrude past the rails, underneath them.

Anyways, I'll stop rambling on about the engineering of it... would hardboard/pressboard be a (relatively) acceptable playing surface?
Click to expand...

Check out the Pogo games site, they have a realistic game of pool on there that lets you play other people anytime you enter the site, so that'll take care of your itch to play a few times a week....and you don't have to lift a thing to move it around;) otherwise....Sears sells tables that can be stored in the cardboard box they come in when you buy it:D

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
Check out the Pogo games site, they have a realistic game of pool on there that lets you play other people anytime you enter the site, so that'll take care of your itch to play a few times a week....and you don't have to lift a thing to move it around;) otherwise....Sears sells tables that can be stored in the cardboard box they come in when you buy it:D

Glen
Click to expand...

The Miz table with the "slatron" bed..... All he has to do is find out what slatron is made out of and he's in business....

:cool:
 
laminated bondo and cloth with a thin coat of epoxy resin smooth as a surfboard add some wax for seams and your set. Or molded chop shott fiberglass layered like a car body sanded smooth with molded support or seams. light wieght easy to move a home owner can set up no more pro or hacks neede for set up Home Depot can sell a bunch of them and sell them supplies for repair.

Sorry couldn't resist sitting in my truck waiting for a tow broke tranny again or computer is out in truck. runs but no got forward but have limited reverse.


Craig
 
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