New or Refurb?

Halfjack87

Halfjack87

In Training
Silver Member
Building a pool room, looking for my first pool table. My dealer is offering the Brunswick line, I'm thinking about a Tremont or Allenton, and is also suggesting refurb tables, a Century or a Sport King.

I understand that both of these models are slightly larger than 8 ft, the "pro" size, but I'm wondering about the dealers comments about Brunswick's "commercial" tables being better quality than the low-end "furniture" tables.

I understand the my dealer surely realizes more profit of refurbs, so I listen with a grain of salt, but I also know that commercial products are typically better made than consumer products (in general), but anything used could have problems.

Why buy used for the price of new? Does this make sense?

Would appreciate any comments! :smile:
 
Buy new and buy the best you can afford. And most importantly.....choose...be real fussy who installs it. Every dealer claims to have the best installers....research them.
 
Did you know that Brunswick is made over seas now? You would be better served with and older Brunswick Gold Crown or a new Diamond.

Cost versus value is interesting. You can end up spending way more on a used table over the long run than on a quality new table. Pool table repairs are expensive and a little work can add up quick and you will never see the return of the investment.

I would educate myself before committing on any table. They are easy to buy and hard to sell.
 
If you are a pool fanatic, and are currently or want to become a serious player, commercial tables are the way to go.

#1, they are better in every way (except maybe the wife won't like the aesthetics as much as a furniture style table)

#2, if you buy used, they are usually cheaper than a brand new homestyle commercial table.

A disadvantage is sometimes they will be missing parts or have mismatched parts if they came from a pool room. Best bet is to buy one from a good table mechanic.

Try posting in the Ask The Mechanic section, state where you are located, and ask if any of the mechanics there have a used commercial table for you.

If budget is not a concern, a brand new Diamond commercial table is about 5,500, plus installation. They are the top table, used in almost all the professional events for the past 20 years.
 
Sport King all the way! This is a jam up table if set up properly. It actually weighs more than a Gold Crown. SOLID table, the second in the Brunswick line after the Anniversary back in the 40's and 50's.
 
IF I were doing this again, which I've already done it 4 times now, I would answer these questions first.

What size room are you going to have.? What is planned for the decor...your ideas vs Wifey's ideas.

What kind of table do you compete on, on a regular basis.

Do you want a Furniture table or a commercial Table..???

Do you want 9 foot or BarBox... I chose an 8 footer as a compromise.

The old tables don't play like Gold Crowns or Diamond tables do. They were made a bit different. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy & play well, it just means they are a slight bit different in the table's reaction & response. A real good, over the top, table mechanic will know how to beef up a table, if needed, so a furniture table can be modified to play differently.

You also have to choose your lighting well & that won't be free...

Good Luck... send us a pic of your finished Pocket Billiard Room...
 
Lots of great feedback real fast - thanks! :smile:

To answer questions and clarify:

Budget is an issue, I'm a lot more comfortable with $2-3,000 than $5,000 or more.

Room size is not an issue (18 x 30 room), wife factors (actually) do not apply - this is bona fide man cave. The table will be primarily for me and my 2 adult sons.

I do like the 8' pro size, as that's what I play on when I'm out in town.

Not a skilled player - yet...

I'm Ft Worth, TX area.
 
Halfjack87 said:
Lots of great feedback real fast - thanks! :smile:

To answer questions and clarify:

Budget is an issue, I'm a lot more comfortable with $2-3,000 than $5,000 or more.

Room size is not an issue (18 x 30 room), wife factors (actually) do not apply - this is bona fide man cave. The table will be primarily for me and my 2 adult sons.

I do like the 8' pro size, as that's what I play on when I'm out in town.

Not a skilled player - yet...

I'm Ft Worth, TX area.
Click to expand...

8' is not a "pro size"...9' is. 8' (or what they call an oversized 8' which has more playing surface) are good compromise if your room can't fit a 9' and you don't want the 7' (bar sized) table. If it were me (and it was me, I'm about to accept delivery) I'd get a Diamond Pro or Pro Am. They're built like a tank, are the current pro tourney "industry standard" and have excellent resale value. If cost is a factor, check with Diamond and see what they can do for you with either a tournament used table (usually about 4.5K) or even a repossession...their sales department may have deal on something near you or keep you in mind should something come up.
 
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Halfjack87 said:
Lots of great feedback real fast - thanks! :smile:

To answer questions and clarify:

Budget is an issue, I'm a lot more comfortable with $2-3,000 than $5,000 or more.

Room size is not an issue (18 x 30 room), wife factors (actually) do not apply - this is bona fide man cave. The table will be primarily for me and my 2 adult sons.

I do like the 8' pro size, as that's what I play on when I'm out in town.

Not a skilled player - yet...

I'm Ft Worth, TX area.
Click to expand...

Oh, another option for new, is Diamond brand home style tables. Diamond's home style table is beefier and more substantial and closer to commercial than Brunswick. They are also in the $2500 range I believe. Check them out, you might like them.
 
West Point 1987 said:
8' is not a "pro size"...9' is. 8' (or what they call an oversized 8' which has more playing surface) are good compromise if your room can't fit a 9' and you don't want the 7' (bar sized) table. I
Click to expand...

I think the OP was referring to a Pro-8 table, an oversize 8', not referring to the 8' table as pro size.
 
8 Foot Brunswick (Converted to play like Diamond Pro) - Unique Table! $1750 Mad, WI

My friend has this table for sale, all the work was done by RKC and it plays great. Only for sale because he moved into a 9ft Diamond. Search for user Limpkinw if interested in the fs section, lots of pics.
 
Mr HalfJack... I was born in Fort Worth... lived in that area about 32 years... then went to BOEING in Seattle.

I used to go to the Texas Rec in downtown Ft Wort... that was a real Pool Hall, likening to AMES in the Hustler. 6th St Rec was also a great kids Pool Room in Ft Worth.

Those were the days...
 
Get the table you really really want and try to forget about cost as much as possible. A lot of table buyers only get to make this decision once in their lifetime so it's important to try and get something you'll always be happy with. If it were me, I'd buy a Diamond Professional or Diamond Pro/Am. After that, there are a number of great choices but all of them would be commercial models.
 
Ceebee, we also have the Marines in common, I was active duty 1985-89.

Been to Seattle several times on business - love it up there.
As far as Ft Worth pool goes, I slip over to Arlington for Clicks / Speed's - they're about as good as it gets locally, I guess.

Semper Fi!
 
I used to go those places when my Mother lived in Arlington, out there by Rusty's on S Cooper.

I really liked the Tournaments they had.

I was in the Marines from 1961- 1965, got hurt in a car wreck & the USMC set me aside.
 
Rusty's is recently deceased - went down there a few months ago and they had been bought out - played there from time to time as well...
 
I actually had the same question too. To buy a new table $2000ish or by a used (brunswick/olhausen) one? I love the idea of a commercial diamond, but not sure with that price tag and hard to find used where I live. I grew up playing on a furniture style 8ft Olhausen, but the rails on it seemed a little slow or dull to me from what I remembered when I compared it to others I played.
 
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