building a table

Texas Carom Club

Texas Carom Club

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i wanted to make a classic 6 or 8 leg carom table just for myself
, but will probably end up 9 legs, for center table support,
most im confident i can do, APART from the rails of course

what wood is hard enough or suitable to hold up the 2500 or so lbs
want to turn wooden legs

does the wood need to be treated or any other processing or is sealer enough?
 
wood for table legs

I made my own 9' table some years ago. If you are turning your own legs, I would suggest you use a common American hardwood such as cherry, walnut, ash, oak, etc. Google the terms "Janka wood hardness" where you will find a list of many woods and their relative hardness. If you like a wood such as walnut, but it's too expensive, look at its Janka hardness and simply pick a wood in the same hardness range that is more affordable and attractive for your project.

Speedi
 
Finish for table legs

Just sand the legs to minimum 220 grit and apply several coats of polyurethane so that they are easier to clean. No other finish is necessary.

Speedi
 
Very cool project! As far as strength of legs, the hardness can tell you something about the durability, and hardwoods are just going to look better. More important, though, is the resistance of the wood to buckling. This website allows you to calculate the maximum end load that various kinds of structural lumber can withstand.

If you have 2400 lbs distributed over 8 legs, that's 300 lbs per leg. I calculated the load that a simple 3-foot-long 2x4 can support and it's over 4,000 lbs, so if your design involves legs made of anything bigger than that (with grain aligned along the length of the leg!) it will be bomb-proof.
 
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Some good info offered so far.
I would also suggest not using a leg that is entirely one piece of turned wood. Under even a small load there is an increased chance of warp or splits.

Also keep in mind that hardness doesnt always equal strength, and some of the strongest woods are the worst when it comes to climate stability. ie when you are working with wood you are also working with water.

-PZ
 
thanks for thatalso

i had given thought but the wood isnt available in sizes i want,

so then i thought about possibly stacking pieces to get the rough size i want then glueing

how does that sound?

i will want to turn them into a semi nice looking design
 
beneath_the_sur said:
thanks for thatalso

i had given thought but the wood isnt available in sizes i want,

so then i thought about possibly stacking pieces to get the rough size i want then glueing

how does that sound?

i will want to turn them into a semi nice looking design
Click to expand...

When used correctly, woodworking glue such as Titebond makes a joint that is stronger than the wood itself. Many destructive tests have been performed over the last years that prove this conclusively.

Speedi
 
Any sources on slate?
Who can or does manufacture slate or granite big sizes

I'm putting together a parts list, slate is where I'm not finding anything

My goal is to make an American carom table that's up to the standards of the European bramds

High hopes I know but this man needs to stay busy
 
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I'm a pretty experienced woodworker and I wouldn't touch building a table with earls plus Shane's 10' cues put together!

A table seems like the sort of project you'd never get to a "players" standard on the first, or even third try.
 
iusedtoberich said:
I'm a pretty experienced woodworker and I wouldn't touch building a table with earls plus Shane's 10' cues put together!

A table seems like the sort of project you'd never get to a "players" standard on the first, or even third try.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply
As the op states it's going to be for me,
If you fail, who cares, really, This is something I want to do for my self

The only thing I don't expect to get right the first time is The rails, that's where the whole game lies
Frame? Sturdy enough, don't affect what goes on between the rubber cloth and ball, legs? If they are made right and don't move, don't affect play
So many like to over complicate/over think things
I like to keep them simple
And if I fail, again I don't care, it's my money wasted
Thanks for contributing
 
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mchnhed said:
Slate
http://www.lakesidebilliardsupply.com/pooltableslate.html

You Could Buy a Pre-Made Leg and Then Turn It Down to Your Style.
http://www.lakesidebilliardsupply.com/pooltablefeet.html

The Leg Company that supplies to Lakeside is in the US.
Contact Them and I'm Sure They Would Sell You a Block of Wood for You to Turn Down.

Plans
http://www.pooltableplans.com/room size.htm

How to Build a High End Pool Table - Great Tips, Lists, Prices
http://pooltable.kirchelconsulting.com
Click to expand...
Just another cabinet maker thinking he knows something about building a pool table...LOL
 
i came across a chinese factory that seemed to just be up and running now

slate at stupid cheap prices, ya it aint italian

i really dont care, or know what would be wrong with cheap slate unless it warps

at 50mm and 600 shipped for a 10ft carom set

im ok finding out the hard way,
so now i can start planning my build around this slate

i have a local guy that can make rails, ill just poplar to start
 
Ralph Kramden said:
Glen- Is that just your assumption?
How can you know what he knows?

I'll bet that his table turns out great.
.
Click to expand...

145 degree corner pocket miter angles with a 10 degree down angle, 105 degree side pocket miter angles with a 10 degree down angle.... who the hell builds pocket dementions like that? No one i know of...LOL i started out in this industry building pool tables and have more than 500 tables under my belt for experience, and can say witb total confidants all he did was build a cabinet that looked like a pool table when he was done.
 
beneath_the_sur said:
i wanted to make a classic 6 or 8 leg carom table just for myself, but will probably end up 9 legs, for center table support, most im confident i can do, APART from the rails of course.
Click to expand...

Big Job and Expensive. Look to Spend at Least $2,000+ USD for the materials.
Plus, Do You Have the Tools and A Large Shop to Do This In?

Yes, the Rails Are the Hardest and Most Important Item to Get Right.
Most Current Table Manufacturers Can Not Do Them Right.
Just Using the Wrong Types of Wood Inside the Rail Can Cause Future Problems.
Did I Hear You Mention Poplar Wood?
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=196313

9 Legs? You Must Not Trust Your Design.
Do You Mean 3 Sets of 3? Or a Lone Center Leg on a 8 Legged Table?
Why Not 12? 4 Down the Center on a 8 Legged Table?
Your Questions About Wood for Legs and Not Finding Big Pieces to Turn Shows That You Need to Do A Lot of Research Before Doing a Table.

Buy a Used, Quality Carom Table.
Do the Legs and Panels Your Way.
It Will Play Better Than Anything You Could Build.

Read the Article that I Gave You on "Building a High End Pool Table". There is a lot of Very Speacial Details that go into Any Pool/Carom Table.
Mess Any of Those Up and Your Table Will Play No Better Than a Cheap Import.

You Seem to Not Know How to Search the Web for the Info You Need.
It Took Me All of 15 Minutes to Find the Four Links I Sent You.
Read, Study, Search the Web, Ponder and I Think You Will Find That It is Not Worth the Labor and Money.

Good Luck With Your Project.
Be Sure to Take Photos of Your Progress and Create a Page on the Web So We Can Follow It.
 
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thats good thanks for the info

i have no idea what it takes to make a good playing carom table,

so im just going to do this one and see how it plays

ive already sourced all my materials, 2k tops is what i believe itll take

i have no intention of frankensteining and ruining a good table, as the op states this is all about me making one from scratch

how it plays only depends on the rails and cloth install, and of course very clean balls as always needed in carom, regularly cleaned after 4 or so hrs of play to keep playing conditions optimal

if most current table makers dont do rails right, and they sell them anyways, who cares, a handful of ''top'' players? this table isnt for them


which rubber im not sure if i need to go with the best artemis carom rubber on this one or a generic substitute as im am no wear near as picky as many who play carom, that couldnt even tell the difference in klebler or artemis simonis or royal pro cloth,
i may infact go with a lesser rubber for the hell of it

im certain ill be happy with a finished product no matter what anyone else thinks, its going to be mine

10ft or 9ft


9 legs, of course i want to ensure its stability, never having done this who would trust something the first time you do it with that kind of investment?

i do like your idea of 12 however good input, and 4 legs on the outstide has always looked great to me, verhoeven st louis is one that comes to mind

as well as snooker tables
 
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