Refinishing Pool Table - Removing Top Coat??

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TheGreek86

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I recently acquired a older pool table that is it half decent shape but I wish to refinish it with a gloss black paint job, red felt and polished up trim. What is the best way to remove the heavy top coat? I took my orbital sander to it and barely made a dent, Then I went and tried to use a stripping compound and the pool table wasn't affected in the slightest by it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
 
TheGreek86 said:
I recently acquired a older pool table that is it half decent shape but I wish to refinish it with a gloss black paint job, red felt and polished up trim. What is the best way to remove the heavy top coat? I took my orbital sander to it and barely made a dent, Then I went and tried to use a stripping compound and the pool table wasn't affected in the slightest by it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
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You can get special paint stripper for wood.
 
Red felt ? Bad idea.

Are you sure that's a top coat and not formica or dymondwood ?
 
Take it apart and send it to a professional to have it dipped. Try to avoid using an orbital sander because it can not only leave swirl marks but can change the natural shape of your pieces.

(that's if it's not actually a laminate like nevamar, formica etc...) maybe figure out if it's wood first.. :)
 
I use a furniture stripper called, Heirloom. It is glue friendly. brush a coat on and leave for 10 or 15 minutes. The finish totally bubbles and can be scrapped off with light brushes from a razor blade at 45 degree angles, back and forth.

Please don't touch it with an electric sander. If after you strip the finish, you can use a light grit sand paper to prep the surface.

One wrong move and you could cause some serious damage to an antiques. Slow and steady wins the race.

I know a guy that refinished a grand piano for a local judge that imported the piano from Austria. This is the way he did it and was rewarded handsomely for his time and effort.

Could you imagine the look of horror on the judges face if the refinisher had whipped out an electric sander.

I also know and east Indian guy, via Australia that learned his trade from German refinishers. His tool collection include some hand made German instruments to some of his own scrappers. There is a reason as to whay these guys can command a good dollar for their craftsmanship.
 
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Thanks for the replies from everyone. As far as not being sure if its a top coat, I am pretty sure it is as the area I sanded was in a hidden location and what I got down to was wood. The table says its a Schaaf, but not much more information it that I can find so far. From the research I have done it seems its up in the air as to if Shaaf actually made tables or just serviced them and took their logo and put it over the original.

JoeyinCali - why is red felt a bad idea? I was just intrigued by the looks of the contrast between red and black, does it for some reason not hold up as well?

Ralph Kramden - I was thinking of doing it that way but wasn't sure how well the primer would adhere to the the top coat.

Blue Hog ridr - Thanks for the info on the stripping compound you used, would you recommend that over just a light sand and painted?
 
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Red cloth plays like crap'lol just kidding! It's just not a desired color of cloth for a players table.


Rob.M
 
TheGreek86 said:
Thanks for the replies from everyone. As far as not being sure if its a top coat, I am pretty sure it is as the area I sanded was in a hidden location and what I got down to was wood. The table says its a Schaaf, but not much more information it that I can find so far. From the research I have done it seems its up in the air as to if Shaaf actually made tables or just serviced them and took their logo and put it over the original.

JoeyinCali - why is red felt a bad idea? I was just intrigued by the looks of the contrast between red and black, does it for some reason not hold up as well?

Ralph Kramden - I was thinking of doing it that way but wasn't sure how well the primer would adhere to the the top coat.

Blue Hog ridr - Thanks for the info on the stripping compound you used, would you recommend that over just a light sand and painted?
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If you took a poll probably a large percentage of AZ'ers would vote no for red cloth. I'm very partial to Tournament Blue but some players would also prefer Simonis Green. The red tires the eye quickly while the blue is very soothing after playing for several hours. Red cloth would look good in a bawdy house but not anywhere else. Either blue or green would contrast very well with black. Good luck in your quest for the right color.
 
Besides the opinions of red cloth, you all need to use red chalk to match the felt color.

Red caulk gets everywhere, and really makes a mess on a pool cue shaft as well.
 
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