Table Cost and Availability?

J

JPB

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Once in a while I get the nutty idea of trying to open a pool room. Probably won't happen. If I ever did it tho, I would have a billiards table or two, partially because I like it, partially because we have enough of an immigrant population from places that seem to like billiards more than the U.S. So how does one go about getting a good table, and what are the costs involved? I also need to know so that if I am ever in a house that hold more than my current 4X8 pool table I'll be ready. ;)
 
There are limited options when it comes to good carom tables, though that is changing a bit lately. For a new table from Europe you are looking at roughly $9000-$11,000 each for one or two, not including the $800 or so for setup. The price comes down a bunch for several because of the shipping costs being much less when filling a container with tables. Roberto Rojas, the World Champion at artistic billiards is now producing tables in Mexico that are really first class in construction and playability. I played in this tournament:
http://www.3cushion.com/Other Tournaments/copaelitte2004.htm

On my web page you can see pictures of the tables. They are futuristic and he also makes traditional looking tables. However I would suggest the new table because of the all steel construction. In the tournament, the tables played great. They had a good angle, and were so solid that even pounding the ball into the rail produced little to no sound whatsoever. His successes in building tables stems from the fact that he uses very thick slates 2" (roughly the standard for billiards), and the same rubber cushions (Kleber) that are used on the Euro tables. The frame being all steel supports the slates and rails well. Essentially he is producing a Euro-type table in North America. Depending on the price of the Peso, I think his tables are only about $6000 each, delivered and installed in your home or pool room!

On the used market, you can sometimes find a Euro table here in the U.S. They almost never go for less than $4500 for the price of the table, not including delivery (at least $1000) or setup.

I will say this- there is a high barrier to entry to the billiard playing community...though in rooms with carom tables, they are the ones that pay the rent because they are being used all the time, especially during the day.

Deno Andrews
 
JPB said:
... So how does one go about getting a good table, and what are the costs involved? ...
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The cheapest predictable way is probably to go the the BCA Trade Show in April and buy one of the demo tables off the floor. I have seen brand-new heated tables with steel frames and 2-plus-inch slate sell for $5000 there.

A room here got two high-end heated Verhoevens for $15,000 total, but that was before the Euro took off.

Another local room got two Soren-Sogaards for about $4500 each from the company -- they had been used in tournaments.
 
Glad to have you here, Deno. I've been hoping a carom thread would be created.

At this years BCA in Vegas, I got the chance to try out a Gabriels carom table, along with the version of a pool table with magnetic rails. I'm considering adding one of them some time down the line at the pool room my partner and I are opening. Are you familiar with the longevity of these tables? Would they be worth the money, in your opinion?

Thanks,

-Padron-
 
Padron said:
Glad to have you here, Deno. I've been hoping a carom thread would be created.

At this years BCA in Vegas, I got the chance to try out a Gabriels carom table, along with the version of a pool table with magnetic rails. I'm considering adding one of them some time down the line at the pool room my partner and I are opening. Are you familiar with the longevity of these tables? Would they be worth the money, in your opinion?

Thanks,

-Padron-
Click to expand...
I don't know anything about a magnetic rail table. The Gabriels carom table is one of the finest ever made. They are expensive, but well worth the money in the long run.
Deno
 
Deno J. Andrews said:
I don't know anything about a magnetic rail table. The Gabriels carom table is one of the finest ever made. They are expensive, but well worth the money in the long run.
Deno
Click to expand...


The tables do seem rather sweet. The magnetic rail concept is something you'll appreciate if you see it. It converts a Gabriel Pro pool table into a carom table via magnetic rails. You remove the standard pool rail, which is held in by extremely strong magnets, and replace with longer rails. They meet in the corner just like a standard carom table. Nifty looking thing, and seems to play quite well. I hope to own a Gabriel one of these days. Just gorgeous tables.

-Padron-
 
A friend of mine bought a Gabriel table. It took about a yeat to get it b/c Joe Marra took his money and did not deliver the table.
He finally got a hold of the Gabriel people and got his table.
Great table.
 
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