I've found different answers to this question. Everything from simply pulling the cloth flat to placing a knee on the edge of the table to get extra leverage to pull the cloth tight. What's right?????????
How tight to stretch cloth when recovering table
- Thread starter Bill the Cat
- Start date
Bill the Cat said:
The cloth needs to be stretched tight as possible & equally in all directions. You can even "spritz" some cloths with water, after it has been tacked in place, That helps some cloths shrink to their optimum stetch point.
If you key in "cover pool table" in Google, you might get some very good advice from some professionals
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One caution!
Tight as possible seems to make sense.....but one caution! Tables in the room where I play were covered by an inexperienced mechanic. He pulled the cloth too tightly over the "rails." This caused ripples in the leading edge of the rails, and consequently, unpredictable performance. He said that Brunswick told him the ripples would eventually work themselves out. However, they never did go away because the cloth was simply too tight over the rails, which as you know are not rigid like slate. IMO always pay the higher price for a mechanic who knows what he is doing. New mechanics would be advised to apprentice under an experienced master; as nice as the guy is who covered my room's tables, I would never trust him om my own table.
Tight as possible seems to make sense.....but one caution! Tables in the room where I play were covered by an inexperienced mechanic. He pulled the cloth too tightly over the "rails." This caused ripples in the leading edge of the rails, and consequently, unpredictable performance. He said that Brunswick told him the ripples would eventually work themselves out. However, they never did go away because the cloth was simply too tight over the rails, which as you know are not rigid like slate. IMO always pay the higher price for a mechanic who knows what he is doing. New mechanics would be advised to apprentice under an experienced master; as nice as the guy is who covered my room's tables, I would never trust him om my own table.
There are sites that show diagrams on how to properly install/stretch billiard cloth. Some are brand specific so be aware of that. Do you have framed/unframed slate? Using spray glue or staples?New or used cloth? Remember this, you can strecth/re-stretch the cloth until you get it right but you can only cut the pockets in once. Make sure you have enuff slack in the pocket area for a nice flat pocket, not a puffy,shreaded,loose or rippled pocket. I would suggest a few practice pockets with the old cloth or something similar. Good luck.