Billiard Slates

justnum

justnum

Billiards Improvement Research Projects Associate
Silver Member
After reading about how the Ivory ban challenged the billiard industry to develop a new material, for its balls. I became curious about new materials for the table.

Its the year 2023, has technology caught up to the point slate can be replaced with newer materials?

If pool tables were easier to move and store, then I suspect pool would be more popular.
 
measureman said:
Congratulations on a post that will inspire some serous thought.
Click to expand...

Ive been thinking about a modular pool table. It can play pool, snooker, pyramid and carom. But requires IKEA level assembly.

Base frame has different options to build it out. Similar to how aircraft can carry different packages for specific purposes.

I am ready to break my pool table. Playing with the cue stick and balls is too childish.
 
I'll feed him this time:)

You should design and market a 3D printer, that would print in cement and rubber. It would print in place a pool table of cement. Then print the rubber cushions. It would have a weaving attachment to take a sheep and strip off its wool, and weave it right on top of the cement bed, in place.

When the table needs to be put away to make room for a laundry folding table, it can be smashed with a sledge hammer and taken to the garbage can outside in lawn and garden bags. After the laundry folding is complete, the 3d printer can make another table. Fully automated.
 
In the PI there are many old slates and children are playing on less than proper equipment.

The modular design would be to support older hardware. Refurbishing a pool table is costly. Providing low cost alternatives to full priced replacement parts is my goal.

My target market is PI rural areas. Expansion of pool has always been in wealthy communities. Recreational pool is typically for underprivileged communities.

I serve the underprivileged.
 
justnum said:
In the PI there are many old slates and children are playing on less than proper equipment.

The modular design would be to support older hardware. Refurbishing a pool table is costly. Providing low cost alternatives to full priced replacement parts is my goal.

My target market is PI rural areas. Expansion of pool has always been in wealthy communities. Recreational pool is typically for underprivileged communities.

I serve the underprivileged.
Click to expand...
I'm sure they are ecstatic,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
I'm intrigued by the idea of a lighter weight slate material...that would allow table installation in houses in rooms that wouldn't handle the weight of a normal table...perhaps made of phenolic resin or some hybrid dyamondwood/carbon fiber type material. The down side would be the lighter weight is counter-productive to stability and keeping the table level...but I'm thinking there has to be a way around that.
 
measureman said:
Congratulations on a post that will inspire some serous thought.
Click to expand...
Not really. He's still stuck in fantasyland. The question is actually 'is the juice worth the squeeze?'. They don't ask that in academia.

No new materials need to be found. Many materials share functional properties found in slate...all are better/worse by some measures for billiard tables surely.

The problem is in the implementation. Is it worth it? Would production line, sourcing changes and increased costs to all- including final customers- be worth it to all affected?

A solution looking for a problem, imo.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I'll feed him this time:)

You should design and market a 3D printer, that would print in cement and rubber. It would print in place a pool table of cement. Then print the rubber cushions. It would have a weaving attachment to take a sheep and strip off its wool, and weave it right on top of the cement bed, in place.

When the table needs to be put away to make room for a laundry folding table, it can be smashed with a sledge hammer and taken to the garbage can outside in lawn and garden bags. After the laundry folding is complete, the 3d printer can make another table. Fully automated.
Click to expand...
I hadn't thought of that.

You changed my mind.
 
justnum said:
If pool tables were easier to move and store, then I suspect pool would be more popular.
Click to expand...

If pool tables were easier to move and store, they would be even more unlevel that current, and used even less often.

The weight of slate is a benefit (it is really hard to move a 600 pound table around.)
The grain of slate is a benefit (takes a grinding and stays flat ±0.000,3" forever without the grain of concrete)
The cost of slate is a benefit (it is really not that expensive)
The service live of slate is a benefit (one set of slates lasts 100's of years)
Slate is forgiving of things pounding its surface (jumping pool balls)
 
Renegade_56 said:
I'll add, that not everything requires improvement, there is a reason why wheels are still round after all,,,,,,,,,,,,
Click to expand...
1695235594546.jpeg
 
justnum said:
In the PI there are many old slates and children are playing on less than proper equipment.

The modular design would be to support older hardware. Refurbishing a pool table is costly. Providing low cost alternatives to full priced replacement parts is my goal.

My target market is PI rural areas. Expansion of pool has always been in wealthy communities. Recreational pool is typically for underprivileged communities.

I serve the underprivileged.
Click to expand...
redhawk we hate you
 
Bob Jewett said:
I hope there's a vegan option. 🐑🐑🐑 Maybe the fibers from asparagus -- they're pretty bothersome. And green.
Click to expand...
The thin and/or young asparagus won't work...too tender. The thicker/older stalks...you know, the ones my wife won't eat...those are the ones you seek for structural integrity. Could use the larger okras as well.

Also, you could have an entire series of tables that are pickled, to include spicy.

Please approach Diamond/Rasson/Brunswick post haste...I'm getting hungry and want to shoot pool!
 
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