Transporting Pool Tables Slates During Table Break Down and Move

R

Robotron

Member
Hey guys!


I'm buying a used pool table in a week or so, and doing the transport myself. It's a Brunswick Heirloom 9ft table, $1,200 used. So won't be paying $500 to have it transported for me, but quite handy so happy to do it myself.


It's a 3 piece slate (dowelled), and my question relates to transporting the actual slates.


I have a Grannd Caravan and intended to stack the three slates one on top of the other. I've Googled this and found one transport company saying that stacking them is the best way.


Any thoughts on this? How fragile are these slates? I'm assuming they must be pretty hardy things really as they get pool balls bouncing off them from jump shots etc and don't chip. But I'd imagine very hard so brittle, so a drop would smash them.


Is stacking them ok? Face to face, or all facing up? Is it ok to put some light things on top of them (with protection) to maximise space.


Any help appreciated! Thanks guys!
 
Yes, stack the slates in the middle of the van. I’d recommend lots of furniture blankets, a layer between each slate is a good idea. Everything else is just a giant jigsaw puzzle or game of Tetris.

I moved a Gold Crown 1 with a Honda Odyssey recently, worked out great.

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Thanks for the image, that's perfect and exactly what I'm looking to do!! I'd imagine the slate would have to be pretty tough really. Very hard so somewhat brittle, but also very strong.

I'm going to load up just the same as you have done here!! :)
 
Robotron said:
Thanks for the image, that's perfect and exactly what I'm looking to do!! I'd imagine the slate would have to be pretty tough really. Very hard so somewhat brittle, but also very strong.

I'm going to load up just the same as you have done here!! :)
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Yep, it’s solid stuff. Just don’t drop and it you should be good. I’d highly recommend hiring a reputable mechanic to install, money very well spent. I paid $700 for install with new Simonis 860HR.

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TrevorB said:
Yep, it’s solid stuff. Just don’t drop and it you should be good. I’d highly recommend hiring a reputable mechanic to install, money very well spent. I paid $700 for install with new Simonis 860HR.

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That is in fantastic condition! Restored or lovingly cared for?
 
I'm definitely doing the install myself. The table I have bought is $1200CAD, around $900USD. So I couldn't warrant spending $500 plus on the install, unfortunately. Plus, I'm very handy and a careful fussy worker, and like the challenge :)

It's a 9ft Brunswick Heirloom BTW.

Moving the slates safely actually concerns me more than the set up part o_O
 
Dead Money said:
That is in fantastic condition! Restored or lovingly cared for?
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It was in this condition when I purchased a couple months ago. It certainly has been restored at some point in its life, its a GC1 which came with painted skirts and legs when new, so someone has sanded the paint off and stained the wood. Thanks!
 
TrevorB said:
It was in this condition when I purchased a couple months ago. It certainly has been restored at some point in its life, its a GC1 which came with painted skirts and legs when new, so someone has sanded the paint off and stained the wood. Thanks!
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Nice. It really looks great. I love the "chalk holders" in the corner castings. Amazing. I want it! :eek:
 
Dead Money said:
Nice. It really looks great. I love the "chalk holders" in the corner castings. Amazing. I want it! :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I love the ashtray corners, I have two of them. They are a bit noisy when you make a solid shot in those pockets, but I’ll put up with that, I love the nostalgia. Perfect chalk holders too!


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TrevorB said:
Yes, stack the slates in the middle of the van. I’d recommend lots of furniture blankets, a layer between each slate is a good idea. Everything else is just a giant jigsaw puzzle or game of Tetris.

I moved a Gold Crown 1 with a Honda Odyssey recently, worked out great.
Click to expand...
Hey Trevor! Was yours a 9 foot table, and can I ask roughly how heavy do you think each slate was (1 inch thickness?) Was carrying them really tough work, or were you able to use a dolly at all?

It seems that the slates are by far the hardest bit!!!

Anyone else know the approx weight for a 1 inch 3 piece slate for a 9ft table??
 
Robotron said:
Hey Trevor! Was yours a 9 foot table, and can I ask roughly how heavy do you think each slate was (1 inch thickness?) Was carrying them really tough work, or were you able to use a dolly at all?

It seems that the slates are by far the hardest bit!!!

Anyone else know the approx weight for a 1 inch 3 piece slate for a 9ft table??
Click to expand...
200 lbs each seems about right.
 
Gold Crown slates on the one I moved was felt like they were easily 300lbs. Frame was cake to move. I just tilted it up right, slid into the middle and squatted up to carry it to the room. Slates though.....need a buddy no doubt.
 
Robotron said:
Hey Trevor! Was yours a 9 foot table, and can I ask roughly how heavy do you think each slate was (1 inch thickness?) Was carrying them really tough work, or were you able to use a dolly at all?

It seems that the slates are by far the hardest bit!!!

Anyone else know the approx weight for a 1 inch 3 piece slate for a 9ft table??
Click to expand...

Yes, I have a 9FT table. I’d agree, those slates are mighty heavy, I’d guess 200-225 lbs each. Mine were in a walk out basement, had to walk uphill around the side of the house, prob 200 FT. My 20 year old son was trying to jog up the hill, I made him slow down for my 50 year old, out of shape physique. Definitely the worst part of the move. If I did it again, I’d hire a 2nd 20 year old to help!!

Enjoy your table, share pics once you have it set up!


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Make sure the slate is supported underneath, no hollow area in the middle. Any weight in the center can snap them. They can be stacked. Just don't stress the center of them. Don't step on them either. Replacing slate us no fun.

If they are doweled, don't lift lift the end of one to seperate them or you will break out the female side of the joint. Wiggle them side to side a little, to seperate them.
 
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Robotron said:
Hey guys!


I'm buying a used pool table in a week or so, and doing the transport myself. It's a Brunswick Heirloom 9ft table, $1,200 used. So won't be paying $500 to have it transported for me, but quite handy so happy to do it myself.


It's a 3 piece slate (dowelled), and my question relates to transporting the actual slates.


I have a Grannd Caravan and intended to stack the three slates one on top of the other. I've Googled this and found one transport company saying that stacking them is the best way.


Any thoughts on this? How fragile are these slates? I'm assuming they must be pretty hardy things really as they get pool balls bouncing off them from jump shots etc and don't chip. But I'd imagine very hard so brittle, so a drop would smash them.


Is stacking them ok? Face to face, or all facing up? Is it ok to put some light things on top of them (with protection) to maximise space.


Any help appreciated! Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Please come back afterwards and tell us how much fun you had. Sounds like a nice table.
 
Hey guys!

So, the move went well! Brunswick Heirloom 9ft table into a Dodge Grand Caravan.

Pretty much identical to TrevorB's experience above. The slates were stacked, moving blanket and cardboard box flattened out between each one. I made sure that the bed of the minivan was level first, as it kind of drops lower towards where the rear seats would be by 1-2 inches. So I got that level first using some old timber. Then stack them carefully. No issues.

This left PLENTY of room for everything else. The two long (over 8ft) side sections had to poke between the front seats, and lay carefully on top of the slates with extra protection cardboard/blankets between them. Everything else fitted in the remaining space easily.

The car was pretty heavily loading and sitting pretty low at the rear, but drove fine. We had 30 minutes of unpaved and icy roads (!!!) to negotiate and then on to the main road. About 1.5 hours total, shoud be 1 hour but going slow.

Driving-wise, you would never know the weight was there. The car did not struggle in the slightest (good and new winter tires helped us here too!!)

So, paid CAD $1,200 on the table. Was releuctant to pay circa $500 on top of this for the move, and I actually WANT to set the table up myself as enjoy the challenge and learning new things.

The slates are NO fun to move. Very heavy, but doable with two guys. Just got to hope there are no stairs and it's a short walk!!

BTW, the slates CAN easily be put on a dolly as well. I did this at the other end to get them down into our basement. The slates are timber backed and so the timber is on the dolly rather than the slate itself, and on the bottom I put some timber so the end (technically side) of the slate was on timber there too rather than the metal bottom of the dolly. Still pretty hard to move on the dolly and heavy, but manageable.

I think that the slates are probably a lot tougher than you'd expect. They are structurally very strong, but with the strength comes being brittle. Kind of like a wall/floor tile. Strong as it is, and you could stack 100 on top of one another, or walk 250 lbs people over it all day provided it has a good bed below it, but drop one on to a hard floor from 12 inches or more and the tile will break. Kind of the same principal.

So, just be careful and sensible and you should be fine. And make sure that the floor of the car you are loading on to is level!!!
 
If anyone still notices this thread... when you say "stack" the slates in a minivan (Toyota Sienna for me), this means laying them down, correct? Is there not fear that they'll crack if you go over a bad bump? Seems like standing them up might be safer but don't see how to do that with a minivan and nothing to secure them to. Any engineering help is appreciated!
 
oscargrouch said:
If anyone still notices this thread... when you say "stack" the slates in a minivan (Toyota Sienna for me), this means laying them down, correct? Is there not fear that they'll crack if you go over a bad bump? Seems like standing them up might be safer but don't see how to do that with a minivan and nothing to secure them to. Any engineering help is appreciated!
Click to expand...

I layed mine down flat right over the axle, then placed a furniture blanket between each layer. Followed up with a 250 mile drive home. No issues. With the wood backing, I feel that gives a little cushion. I would imagine standing them up would be a little tricky to stabilize in a mini van. Good luck.


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