How To Buy A Used Pool Table

Played by Kings and commoners, rich and poor, men and women and hustlers and gentlemen, billiards have been around since the 15th century.  Having evolved from lawn games similar to croquet, billiards was born as an indoor form of the game with a green cloth to simulate grass.  Billiards grew in fame, played by all walks of life and was even mentioned by Shakespeare in Anthony and Cleopatra.

The popularity of billiards is cyclical, going through many highs and lows.  As the population increases, more people are purchasing pool tables to enjoy the game in their homes.  As lives change and interest changes, some pool table owners will decide to sell their pool tables.  These sales often accompany a move as a new home may or may not have the available space for a pool table.  These will be great opportunities to find a reliable table at a great price.  However, if you are not careful, you can easily be stuck with a costly problem.

Quality, name-brand tables hold their value over time and pose the least risk when purchasing a pre-owned table.  There are many options when purchasing a used pool table.  Classified ads such as the local paper or Craigslist will have many pool tables to choose from.  Your local pool table service companies will normally have used tables for sale as well.  When purchasing a pool table from an individual, you have to factor in installation costs.  It will run a few hundred dollars to have a pool table service company move and install your pool table.  This cost is normally factored into the final price when purchasing from a pool table service company.

Pool tables are manufactured all over the world and there are many differences between tables made in North American and overseas.  By purchasing a brand name pre-owned pool table, you will be able to lookup specific information on the pool table.

We do not recommend purchasing a pool table from an individual unless the pool table is assembled.  There is a lot of precision involved in creating the perfect playing surface.  It is almost impossible to assess a pool table that is not assembled.

The first test is to check the stability of the pool table.  Avoid tables that use wood screws to hold the frame together.  This system is not designed to be taken apart.  The frame will lose its integrity with repeated re-assembly.  A quick test is to simply bump the table with your hip.  A pool table is going to weigh over 600 lbs.  If your hip check is able to sway the table, you immediately know the table is not durable.  Do not purchase this table.

For many years of enjoyment, choose a slate pool table.  This will give you years of a consistent, level playing surface.  There are some tables that have are using wood or MDF in the place of slate.  These tables do not match the quality and durability of slate.  These tables need to be avoided.  Most pool tables incorporate a three slate system however there are still single slate tables.  A one piece slate table is very difficult and expensive to move.  The slate might not even fit in your home if you need to go around any corners.  An eight foot long, six hundred pound piece of slate is not flexible.

There are three main sizes of pool tables:  seven foot, eight foot and nine foot.  Pool tables are symetrical in a 2:1 ratio.  A 9ft table is going to have a playing surface 9 feet long and 4.5 feet wide while an 8 ft table is going to have a playing surface of 8 ft x 4ft.  When selecting a pool table for your home, consider the size of the room that is going to house the pool table.

Over time, the pool table cloth, cushions and bumpers will need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear.  With heavy use, a standard billiard cloth will last about 3 years while infrequent play can extend the life of the cloth to 8 years.  There are various types of cloths, each with their intended play specifications.  Pool table cloth can range from $150 to over $1000.  The typical range for installation of new cloth is between $200 to $500.  If the cloth has any tears or burns, it will need to be replaced.  Factor this cost into the final purchase price of the table.  Moving a pool table from one location to another is the perfect time to install new cloth as the table is already disassembled.  We recommend also having the cloth on the cushions replaced at this time to ensure a consistent cloth color.

It is important to check the rails as they are an integral component in playing pool.  Uneven cushions will affect your play.  Rail rubber has a long shelf life, but will wear in time due to exposure to moisture or cold.  The rubber can become hard or brittle.  Replacing the rubber on a pool table is an intensive process that should not be performed on site.  Do not trust a pool table company that attempts to repair your rails on site.  All rails will need to be replaced at the same time to insure consistency in your playing surface.  Rail replacement cost can range from $500 to $1000.

The pockets are easy for even a pool novice to inspect.  Cracks, rips and tears are the things to check.  There are a wide selection of pockets to choose as replacements which can be tailored to your personal preference.  However, leather pockets require leather pockets are replacements and plastic pockets require plastic replacements.  These items are not interchangeable.  Pool table pockets are purchased in sets of 6.  It will be very difficult to find a single replacement pocket.  The cost of this service ranges from $200 to $500.

There are no guarantees when purchasing a pool table from an individual so let the buyer beware.  Pool table warranties do not transfer with the sale of a pool table.  Do not let a seller try to tell you otherwise.  For this reason, it is best to purchase a used pool table from a trusted source as most pool table stores want to protect their reputation and will make sure your table is ready for years of enjoyment.