How to Apply Felt to a Slate Pool Table

On occasion, pool tables can require minimal repairs. One type of repair is re-felting, because of normal wear and tear. Re-felting an old pool table can get it looking and playing as good as new. Pool table felt comes in a variety of colors. Although re-felting a pool table can be somewhat challenging and time-consuming, it can be done if you have the proper tools, a couple of extra helping hands and lots of patience.

Instructions

Removing the Cushions

1

Locate the three bolts on the underside of each cushion. Remove the bolts that hold the rails. The remaining two bolts for each cushion hold the slate and do not need to be removed. Remove the cushions, setting them aside so you know which ones go where when reassembling.

2

Remove staples and old felt from the cushions. Mark the rails so you know where each rail goes when reassembling the pool table. Locate the metal feather strip that holds the felt in place.

3

Draw a line across the feather strip and the rail at the center. Remove the metal feather strip from the rail. Take care not to damage the wood.

Preparing the Felt

4

Lay out the new felt on your pool table. Inspect the felt very carefully for any flaws.

5

The felt should be 12 inches longer and 12 inches wider than your table. Make a cut at 6 inches and at 12 inches on one of the long edges of the felt. After making the small cuts, the felt will tear easily across without ripping.

6

Make marks at the 6-inch and 12-inch mark along the short edge of the felt. Cut a small slit and tear off the two pieces along the length to use for re-covering the side rails. Fold the long pieces in half and cut them to re-cover the cushions.

Re-covering the Cushions

7

Lay out pieces of felt along the rails of the pool table. Line up the felt using the center line made earlier and replace the metal strip, tapping it into place, but not pounding all the way in; leave approximately -inch of felt showing. Gently tug on the felt to keep it as straight as possible as you work to the end. Once you have reached the end, use the metal strip as a guide to remove the excess -inch felt.

8

Once the felt is in place, cut small slits around the pocket protectors, allowing the felt to hang down.

9

Use a small block of wood and finish tapping the metal strip all the way in.

10

Flip over the cushion, pulling the felt tight and staple into place. Start from the center and work your way out to the ends.

11

Wrap the corner of the cushion felt around the end, keeping it taut. Staple well. Trim the excess felt from the ends and the underside of the cushions. Repeat for all remaining cushions.

Re-covering the Table

12

Remove the staples from the bed and pull up the old felt; get any small pieces that stick on the table, as they cause bumps under the new felt.

13

Loosen the bolts holding the slate. Check the slate to see if it is level. Place shims where necessary to make it level. Once level, tighten the bolts back down.

14

Heat the joint between the two pieces of slate with a propane torch, then melt wax onto the surface of the joint, spreading about 1 inch on either side of the seam. After the wax hardens, use a putty knife or razor blade to scrape off the excess wax. Scrape down the edges along the pockets with a razor to avoid a ridge by adding more cement when applying the new felt.

15

Lay out the felt on the table. Start at one end in the center and begin stapling the felt down, pulling to keep it smooth. Cut off any excess material and wrap it into the pockets. Then cut three slits in the pockets, starting -inch from the bottom edge of the slate. Wrap the felt underneath and cement in place.

16

Reattach the rails. Locate where the bolts will penetrate the felt and make a small cut for the bolts to go through. Line up the holes with the rails and finger-tighten the bolts into place. Once all the rails are in place, tighten the bolts all the way.