Need recommendation on billiard light

V

Vhal

Registered
i got my table all set up in my new house. running into an issue regarding the lighting.

1) my ceiling is vaulted
2) there is a ceiling fan installed right above the pool table, but it is not centered with it. the fan also has no light fixture.

i would really like a ceiling fan + billiard light centered over the table. i have only found 1 combination fan/light fixture, and the reviews i read on it say its cheaply made and over priced for what you get. im not spending $600+ on lighting and installation.

was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or recommendations. if anyone knows of a billiard light fixture that will attach to a ceiling fan, then i could just buy a new fan and attach the pool light to it.
 
Vhal said:
i got my table all set up in my new house. running into an issue regarding the lighting.

1) my ceiling is vaulted
2) there is a ceiling fan installed right above the pool table, but it is not centered with it. the fan also has no light fixture.

i would really like a ceiling fan + billiard light centered over the table. i have only found 1 combination fan/light fixture, and the reviews i read on it say its cheaply made and over priced for what you get. im not spending $600+ on lighting and installation.

was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or recommendations. if anyone knows of a billiard light fixture that will attach to a ceiling fan, then i could just buy a new fan and attach the pool light to it.
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Dump the whole fan thing. Buy a real billiard lamp with three lights, or 4 if you have a 9 foot table. Hang it 36 inches over the table, and turn in the prior electrical box that was used by the fan as a hook up for you pool light. Yes, you might need some long chain to attach, but so what... buy some hooks and mount that puppy...
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Dump the whole fan thing. Buy a real billiard lamp with three lights, or 4 if you have a 9 foot table. Hang it 36 inches over the table, and turn in the prior electrical box that was used by the fan as a hook up for you pool light. Yes, you might need some long chain to attach, but so what... buy some hooks and mount that puppy...
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yah ur dreaming... u gona have to scrap the fan
 
ChicagoRJ said:
... Buy a real billiard lamp with three lights, or 4 if you have a 9 foot table. ...
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Fluorescent tubes usually provide better light for a pool table than does a traditional 3- or 4-light fixture. Fluorescent tubes can be housed in nice looking wooden frames or in not-so-nice-looking shop-light fixtures. It just depends on your budget or construction skills.
 
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You can get a light kit at home depot that will add lights to most ceiling fans.

But I agree with the others, dump the fan, and add some hooks to the ceiling to hang a proper light on chains. You will not have to move the electrical box.

(Look on craigslist for a deal on a pool table light. I sold a nice light for $25 a few months ago because it was too big and blocked my view of the TV)
 
was really hoping to keep the fan fixture. i live in texas. so summertime is hot and its a fairly large room. just trying to think about over all cost and how it will look. dont want my utility bill jumping
 
Most ceiling fan lights are either 1 single bulb or 4 bulbs. The single is not good at all. The 4 bulb set up would be better but still inferior to long tubes. The only way to get the table lit to any drgree with 4 bulbs is to angle them to the corners, now they'll be in your eyes on certain shots.

Since money is the issue this probably won't work but can you fit 2 fans, one on each side of the table for symitry then install a couple of shop lights or build a box for the shop lights to make it look nicer.
 
well... i guess this was an omen.. i turned on the fan the other day and the piece holding the fan blades broke loose and just about fell on top of my beautiful new table...

so yeah.. i guess im gonna ditch it and get a proper lamp and just figure out what to do about the room heating up when it comes around.
 
Just a food for thought, there are several "home made" lights here on the forum (try doing a search) The diamond light is great but can be duplicated for much less. As far as air movement, some cheap box fans could easily be used to address when the need arises.

Good luck!
 
Vhal said:
well... i guess this was an omen.. i turned on the fan the other day and the piece holding the fan blades broke loose and just about fell on top of my beautiful new table...

so yeah.. i guess im gonna ditch it and get a proper lamp and just figure out what to do about the room heating up when it comes around.
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Vhal:

Not just that, but remember, ceiling fans MOVE from side-to-side when in operation. (Yes, you can do your best to "wheel balance" the fan blades with pennies taped to the blades as balancing weights, but they will always slightly wobble.)

This is especially true if you lower the ceiling fan with what's called a "downrod" -- the wobble will be accentuated.

What does this have to do with lighting your pool table? If you use the ceiling fan as your table light (i.e. replacing the ceiling fan with one that has a light kit), as you're shooting on the table, you'll notice the ceiling fan's wobble in the shadows projected by the balls -- the shadows will wobble (shrink/expand rapidly) also. It will become REALLY freaking annoying! (I speak from experience here -- had a friend who tried to do the same thing as you are, and when I played on his table, I left with a headache.)

Ditch the fan, and mount a proper table light. To replace the ceiling fan's functionality, is a swamp cooler an option for you?

-Sean
 
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Go to your local hardware store. BUY an 8 foot fluorescent "shop fixture" (make sure it can take 75 watt high intensity bulbs) that will take 4 bulbs. That is all the light you will need. Screw the "fan" idea, you are supposed to be a "pool player". Any carpenter (or even "yall") can encase the fixture in wood. Have him (you) put "light diffusing" plastic grating under the bulbs ( used both for lighting AND to protect the bulbs...." if youz is a nine ball player"...from the break). You can mount the fixture three and one half to four and one half feet above the center of the table. NOTE: when encasing fixture...make sure the top is completely sealed from any light "bleeding" upward. This will provide as much "light" as any fixture on the market (Diamond included). Good Luck!
 
thanks for the advice guys.

no not from Houston. Dallas

i was looking into building one. but i found a cheap 3 lamp billiard fixture on sears for $75 after taxes and everything. so im gonna try that out. playing during the day isnt too bad since i have lots of natural lighting. but at night yeah i get some wicked shadows. and it doesnt help that my felt is black
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Dump the whole fan thing. Buy a real billiard lamp with three lights, or 4 if you have a 9 foot table. Hang it 36 inches over the table, and turn in the prior electrical box that was used by the fan as a hook up for you pool light. Yes, you might need some long chain to attach, but so what... buy some hooks and mount that puppy...
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I have a 9 footer with 8 four foot T8's. Fluorescent is the only way to go if you are serious about pool lighting. What do they have in pool rooms?
 
Hey quick question for fluorescent lighting. For a 9', use 8' bulbs has been indicated. For a 7' I imagine 4' is enough, but what about 8' table?
 
9 on the snap said:
I have a 9 footer with 8 four foot T8's. Fluorescent is the only way to go if you are serious about pool lighting. What do they have in pool rooms?
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Everywhere I go they have the old fashion billiard lamp. I say get what you are going to play on in league in tourneys.

THus, if they have diamonds, go with diamond, but if they are using GC's with a 4 bulb billiard lamp, then go with that so you are use to it. Plus, I'm assuming cost is a factor here, and you can get a 4 light billiard lamp cheap if you don't want anything fancy.
 
Vhal said:
thanks for the advice guys.

no not from Houston. Dallas

i was looking into building one. but i found a cheap 3 lamp billiard fixture on sears for $75 after taxes and everything. so im gonna try that out. playing during the day isnt too bad since i have lots of natural lighting. but at night yeah i get some wicked shadows. and it doesnt help that my felt is black
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After all the suggestions, you now come out with the felt is black! I hope your room gets hot.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Everywhere I go they have the old fashion billiard lamp. I say get what you are going to play on in league in tourneys.

THus, if they have diamonds, go with diamond, but if they are using GC's with a 4 bulb billiard lamp, then go with that so you are use to it. Plus, I'm assuming cost is a factor here, and you can get a 4 light billiard lamp cheap if you don't want anything fancy.
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The pool halls I go to down here usually have large flourescent lights. I have a Gold Crown 4 with a matching GC4 light. Great even light, and no shadows.
 
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