Things to Consider When Buying Used Pool Tables

If you are a billiard enthusiast, you would want to play your favorite game all the time. Although that isn’t possible, you can still get to play pool whenever you want to by purchasing a pool table for your own house. Yet, with the current inflation, there may be a slight chance that you won’t be able to buy one of those sleek, brand new pool tables you had seen. Still, even used pool tables have their own charm. However, you must make sure of a few things before you pay its previous owner.

The Condition of the Slate

Slates are the basic components of pool tables. Slate for pool tables is usually found in different thicknesses and grades, thus you should find out which slate is being used before you put a price of the table you are buying. That way you won’t be stuck with a pool table which is worth less than what you had paid.

Once you know the quality of your slate, you should check it for damage. The easiest way to do that is to roll balls up and down the table to see if they roll smoothly or jump on the table. However, if you require a more thorough sort of test, you can do so by spraying the felt with a special cleaning solution and checking the surface of the slate closely.

The State of the Rails and Cushions

The next things you should check are the height of the rails and the overall condition of the cushions. In used pool tables, worn out cushions won’t bounce off balls. You can check the condition of the cushions by hitting the ball gently around the table. If you can’t hit all four cushions, then you should start looking elsewhere for used pool tables.

The Sturdiness of the Cabinet

After you had checked the surface of your table, check its cabinet. Cabinets are basically the frames of pool tables, thus you should make sure that they are strong enough to handle you and your friends. First check the legs of the table for mold or split wood. If you see both, then know that the table won’t last you long.

Also in the cabinets of pool tables are pockets. Make sure that they are made of vinyl as that material is durable and lasts long. However, if the pockets are made of traditional leather, you should inspect them for cuts or holes. The last thing you would want is to run behind cue balls all over the room.

Any Warrantee

See if the owner of the use pool table is ready to provide you with a warrantee. In the case of slightly-used pool tables, you may still have a chance of getting a manufacturer’s warrantee. However, if that isn’t the case, make the previous owner give you a guarantee that your “new” pool table won’t break down once you take it home.

When buying used pool tables, you will be taking a risk. However, these four factors can help you minimize those risks and even eliminate them completely.