Happy new year.
My kids want a pool table, but anything decent seem to be too expensive.
I am not really asking if anybody built one as I am thinking to, but I would like to ask if you, even to 75%, agree to my guesses.
I was thinking of using a sheet of mellamine covered MDF to replace the slate. This will be covered with felt. Should I resurface the mellamine with dulled (sanded) formica? Is there a surface quality of the slate or the general hardness of stone (even with felt cover) that makes the balls roll the way they do? At first I thought the slate was only to maintain the flat, but some people comparing Slatron to real slate don’t seem to think so. Of course, I am not trying to duplicate the slate top table, but I also don’t want the ball to slow down too much? The bounce probably will not be the same.
The base frame could be 3/4″ plywood cut to 8″ strips and doubled. I thought this would not flex even with an adult leaning on it. The frame will also have cross braces (not diagnal). I thought series of bolt type floor levelers attached to the braces and to the top MDF could be used to adjust for any warping. I plan to use my levels and either the factory edge of plywood or my 8′ straight edge as guides for flatness.
The legs will have their own levelers. Table will be in the basement with dehumidifier in the summer. We are all beginners, although I always wanted a pool table.
I got general idea from internet sources and some ideas from Bestbilliard.com. Adjusting the top with floor levelers is my idea but I don’t know if it will work in real practice. Small points of support could make the warping worse and I might be adjusting them all the time?
Thank you all in advance.
Replies
'anything decent seem to be too expensive'
Check out craigslist and local ebay items for sale. Got mine for $300 with 3 piece 3/4" slate. Seemed to me at the time I'd spend more time building one and finding the rubber, etc than buying one.
slate examples today:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/for/2141224276.html $375
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/bar/2140311061.html wow -- $100, ya cant buy the balls, cues, rubber and felt for that
You really do want a slate or other stone top that will stay flat (a steel or aluminum plate would work also if you have a cheap source)
If you have very low price limits and can find the rubber and felt cheap, and really want to use mdf, I'd put formica on both sides and seal the edges with oil based sealer, etc. Good luck.
I always thought the slate was about being flat and staying flat. Others ive seen sagged in the middle.
i remembwr a mechanix illustrated article on this about 45 years ago. 2 layers 3/4 hardboard maybe osb. matrix of screw levewlers under -- maybe every 18 in.
pool table
Thank you all for the replies. I went to ebay but no such deals in this area, nj. I did not think of craigslist, but will try that too. I think I should stop over-thinking this and keep it simple. Thank you all for the ideas.