Buying a Used Pool Table: What to Check First

A used pool table can be a good way into the game. Tables change hands because people move, redo basements or lose interest, and plenty of them have years of play left. But a table that looks fine in a stranger's garage can have problems that only show up once it is in your room. A short checklist before you buy will save you from most of them.

One note first. Steve's Pool Tables Plus installs used tables, but the shop does not buy them. Because of the market value, it does not take used tables in, so this is advice for the person buying, not selling.

Find out what the playing surface is

The most important question is whether the playing bed is slate. Slate is the stone that keeps the surface flat, and a table built on a lighter board will not hold its shape the same way. Ask the seller directly, then check for yourself. Look under the table to see how the bed is supported, and ask how many sections the slate is in. A slate table is heavy for its size, so if it seems oddly easy to shift, that tells you something.

Look closely at the slate and the seams

With the cloth in place you cannot see the slate directly, but you can read a lot from the surface. Run your hand over the cloth from end to end and feel for ridges along the seams, which can mean the slate sections have shifted or the filler has failed. Ask whether the table has ever been moved, and whether the slate was ever cracked or repaired. A chip at an edge is common. A crack across a section is a serious problem.

Check the cloth and the rails

• Look along the cloth at a low angle for shiny patches, tears, burns and stains.
• Press down on each rail and listen for creaks or movement, which can mean loose fittings.
• Roll a ball off each rail and watch how it comes back. A dead bounce can mean hard cushions.
• Check the pockets for torn leather or webbing, and make sure every pocket is present.
• Look at the finish for water rings, deep scratches and cracked trim.

Worn cloth is not a reason to walk away, but it is a cost to plan for. Many used tables need new felt, and some need new bumpers as well. The shop notes that new felt and bumper replacement are an additional charge on a used table installation when they are needed, so factor that in before you settle on a deal.

Test the legs and the frame

Push on the table from the side. It should feel solid, with no rocking and no twisting in the frame. Look at where the legs join the body, and check for hairline cracks, loose bolts and signs of old repairs. A table that has been stored in a damp basement or a garage can pick up warping in the wood or rust in the hardware, so ask where it has been kept.

Ask about the move

Remember that a slate table has to come apart to move. If the seller says it can be rolled out as it stands, be skeptical. Ask how it was set up in the first place, who took it apart, and whether anything is missing, like rail sights, hardware or the ball set. Before you pay, decide who will take it down and who will build it back up in your room. A bad move can crack the stone you just bought.

Setting it up in your room

This is where the shop comes in. A used table installation at the shop includes the same setup as a new one: assembling the slate and sealing the seams, installing the felt and leveling the table. On a used table the felt is re-installed. If your table needs new felt or new bumpers, those are extra, so the price you were given for the table is not the whole story.

Check the room size before you commit, too. A table that is a bargain loses its appeal if it does not fit. The room size guide lists the minimum space for each table size and cue length. If you have an old table you no longer want, the shop can quote removal and disposal.

If you have found a used table and want a second opinion before buying, call the shop at (845) 597-5532 and ask for Steve. The services page explains the installation and recovery work in more detail.