Granite, Slate or Marble?

[Sikayeako]

Hi there :smile:

Just wanted to ask the experts about info on stones for billiard tables... I went through the threads but my eyes became fuzzy coz there were so many :grin: I sure hope you don't mind... :smile:

My questions are:

- which type of stone is best to use for billiard tables? Granite, slate or marble?
- typically if using a "thinner" type of stone slab (approx 2"), one must lay out cement (leveled) first before placing the stone on top. Would it in any way affect the "roll" of the ball due to the thinner stone slab?
- Usually the slabs come in three parts (for thicker stone slabs), when putting them together, what type of material would be best used to "caulk" the gaps?
- Re the use of different stone slabs, would each type of stone have a characteristic "roll" for the ball?

Humor my lack of knowledge in this, hehe... I just wanted to know directly from the experts... I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity :grin: TIA :smile:

 

[Crash]

My questions are:

- which type of stone is best to use for billiard tables? Granite, slate or marble?
- typically if using a "thinner" type of stone slab (approx 2"), one must lay out cement (leveled) first before placing the stone on top. Would it in any way affect the "roll" of the ball due to the thinner stone slab?
- Usually the slabs come in three parts (for thicker stone slabs), when putting them together, what type of material would be best used to "caulk" the gaps?
- Re the use of different stone slabs, would each type of stone have a characteristic "roll" for the ball?

I don't think the experts will mind me saying something here so I'll try ...

Slate ... for two reasons - 1) it is quarried, cut, and machined easier than granite or marble for mass production thus lowering cost, and 2) it absorbs moisture, evident in the arguments about moisture content between Italian, Brazilian, and Chinese slate.

Cement ????? You got me there. Anyone else want try this one?

Gaps ... if the slates are a "perfect" set use nothing, if not then use bondo, wax, or drywall plaster (can't remember which brand). Plenty of arguments for each.

Roll ... is affected by the type cloth, installation of the cloth, and humidity which affects the cloth. Heated slates are common in Carom Billiards to maintain consistency of play (see answer about slates ).

 

[Sikayeako]

Hi :smile:

Thanks so much for the reply :smile:

So the stone slab doesn't have any effect on the "roll" of the ball... It will all depend on the cloth. I see... Wow.

The reason I asked, is because many Filipinos (bcoz of their desire to produce ingenuine products) have also been trying to experiment on their own. I have played on different types of tables and I have (on occassions) encountered people saying that the table is not good to play on and thru my observation, when I ask about the cloth, these billiard halls typically use the same cloth - Simonis, Ytt, same series, so I had this question in my mind that if it has nothing to do with the cloth, then it might be the stone slab. But then again, you mentioned about humidity effect on the cloth. I have ruled that out coz the atmosphere of most pool halls here are the same and are airconditioned - smoking or non smoking. The reason why I focused on stone slabs is because the tables in every pool hall here are different from one another and some say its granite, slate or marble. Whew! thats a lot of thought, haha!

Yup... Cement. Cement and topped with a slab of marble. This process is already done - esp with kitchen countertops and have been applied to some custom billiard tables here. I played with this kind of table and when you toss a coin and it lands on the surface, it has a "hollow" sound, I think. Like wood perhaps coz the layers are 3/4 thick plyboard+leveled cement+2" marble slab. Just wanted to ask all these questions coz sometimes you just wanted to find out, hehehe... :smile:

Good day ! :smile:

I don't think the experts will mind me saying something here so I'll try ...

Slate ... for two reasons - 1) it is quarried, cut, and machined easier than granite or marble for mass production thus lowering cost, and 2) it absorbs moisture, evident in the arguments about moisture content between Italian, Brazilian, and Chinese slate.

Cement ????? You got me there. Anyone else want try this one?

Gaps ... if the slates are a "perfect" set use nothing, if not then use bondo, wax, or drywall plaster (can't remember which brand). Plenty of arguments for each.

Roll ... is affected by the type cloth, installation of the cloth, and humidity which affects the cloth. Heated slates are common in Carom Billiards to maintain consistency of play (see answer about slates ).

 

[Crash]

Slate used in billiard tables is mud and clay (shale) that has been altered by heat and pressure deep in the earth. These microscopic grains of mud and clay in slate are flat and parallel. This quality is not found in granite or marble where the grains are blocky.

FYI ... If anyone cares, Geologist use the term "sheet silicates" for the family of minerals (micas and clays) that compose the slate, and the term "metamorphism" for the process of heat and pressure that turned the mud and clay into slate.