Major Differences Between Non-Slate and Slate Pool Tables If there’s any inconsistency to the velocity, if the ball takes an unexpected curve, or the path is not straight, it’s not a slate table. If you don’t want to look under the table then hit a few balls and look at how they move. If the bottom of the table is bluish-gray, then it’s a slate table. The bottom of the table is not felted, so the raw material will be showing. The quickest way to tell if a table is slate or non-slate is to look underneath. How to Tell if a Table is Slate or Non-Slate This is the most commonly used non-slate pool table. It is constructed by squeezing pieces of wood together and gluing it all into one board. This is a material you might have had exposure to in the past. The last option is Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). The geometry of the honeycomb is very strong. Honeycomb is another option, it’s a hard plastic honeycomb pattern between two sheets of hard plastic. Permaslate or Slatron are synthetic materials that are essentially just layers of plastic on top of a particle board. There are three common non-slate pool table types. Slate Pool Table Vs Non-Slate Pool Table Slate Example: Cross Creek Slate Pool Table w/ Dining Top, 8ft Pool Table This measurement also comes from tradition, there are some table manufacturers that opt for thicker pieces. If the piece is too thick it will be too heavy to be used.
VALLEY POOL TABLE SLATE BAD CRACK
If they opt for a piece that’s too thin, it will quickly crack and crumble. The thickness of the slate on your pool table will range between three-quarters of an inch, and one inch. What is the Thickness of Pool Table Slate? But the weight also makes the table a lot more robust, so it’s a catch 22 for slate pool tables. The weight is a big downside of the table because it makes it a lot harder to move. Typically the slate on a pool table weighs between 400 and 600 lbs. The weight of the slate depends on how thick it is. It’s actually so durable that there are a lot of pool table manufacturers that will give a lifetime warranty for their slate tables. Wood tends to warp and bend over time, but the slate will retain its shape for much longer. This means the playing surface will be nearly perfect.Īnother natural advantage of slate is how durable it is. Slate is also very smooth, and like most rocks it is easy to smooth it further. Tables can be mass-produced with slate, the problem is the time it takes to achieve the flatness desired. The material is really inexpensive, and it’s super easy to work with. There are a couple big reasons why people use slate to construct a pool table. Why is Slate Good for Pool Table Construction? For example, Brazilian slate is more durable and Italian slate is softer and easier to work with. If you see a marking on your table that says “OIS”, good news! It means it’s Original Italian Slate.Īs odd as it might sound, the slate that comes from each country actually differs in material composition. The top four exporters of slate are Brazil, China, India, and Italy.įor slate snobs, the Italian-produced slate is considered the highest quality. A few countries have a much larger supply of slate and are the top exporters of this material. Since slate is a naturally-occuring mineral, it comes from the great outdoors. Where Does the Slate Come From? SMcCandlish / CC BY-SA The manufacturer will stretch felt along the top of the slate and staple it to the wood backing. There is a wood backing that goes under the slate. Other holes are drilled through the slate which will help in final assembly to the table framework.ĭue to the size and weight of the slate, some manufacturers will opt to break the slate into three pieces so it’s easier to ship around the world. Holes will be drilled in the corners and on the sides for where the pool table pockets will be. Next, they’ll polish and grind the slate so it’s square, smooth, and flat. Rough cuts are quick and work to reduce the overall size and weight.Īfter that, the manufacturer will cut it to the correct dimensions. A rough cut is when you cut a piece into roughly the final dimensions.įor example, for a pool table that’s 88 inches long by 44 inches wide, the manufacturer might rough cut it to 96 inches long by 58 inches wide. The manufacturer will first take a chunk of slate and do a “rough cut”. The slate naturally breaks into big chunks. How is it Made? Image by PIRO4D from Pixabay There’s much more to know about how these tables are made, why slate is the preferred material of construction (and why it’s better than other, cheaper materials), and other considerations, so let’s dive in to the details. A pool table is, obviously, the table you play billiards, or pool, on. It’s a bluish-gray rock that’s found in nature. The logical first question, what is a slate pool table? If you didn’t know, “slate” is the type of material that is used to make the pool table. 3.5 Slate Pool Table Prices What is a Slate Pool Table?
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