Pool Table Felt Replacement

A pool table's playing surface, typically made from slate or a synthetic material, should be flat and covered with a layer of felt. This fabric allows the balls to roll smoothly and evenly in any trajectory on the table. With regular play, the felt in time can become damaged or faded and require replacement. Fortunately, pool table felt replacement is a job that can be done without the need of professionals. However, the job will require a couple of hours and some common hand tools. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Loosen all nuts on the rail bolts underneath the perimeter of the table with a socket set. Remove the rails and set them aside. Be sure to keep track of where the rails are removed because they will need to be reinstalled in the same spots.

2

Use a flathead screwdriver to pry up the staples holding the felt around the perimeter of the table. If any staples break, pull out the broken pieces with a pair of pliers. Discard the old felt.

3

Roll out new felt over the table. Align one edge of the fabric with one end of the table. Attach the felt to the perimeter with a staple every 2 inches along the end.

4

Move to the opposite end of the table. Gently pull the fabric taut in the center of the table. Hold the fabric in place with one staple in the middle of the end of the table. Then, work outward from the center, pulling and smoothing out the fabric and holding it in place with a staple every 2 inches along the end of the table.

5

Step to one side of the table, and smooth out the fabric by pulling it slightly to remove any wrinkles. Place a staple in the center of the side, then work outward from the center, pulling and stapling every 2 inches.

6

Move around the table to the opposite side and pull the fabric taut in the center. Once again, place one staple in the center of the edge of the table, then work outward from the center, pulling the fabric and smoothing out wrinkles and placing a staple every 2 inches.

7

Feel your way around the table's perimeter and tap down any staples sticking up a little with a hammer. Trim off excess fabric from the four sides with a pair of scissors.

8

Pull the fabric down into one of the corner pockets, eliminating any wrinkles in the corner. Make three long, vertical slits in the fabric with a pair of scissors or utility knife, beginning 1/2 an inch down from the bottom of the slate corner. Tuck the three strips under the slate so that there is no pucker in the fabric of the pocket. Adhere the strips to the underside of the slate with felt cement.

9

Repeat the previous step with the other five pockets around the table.

10

Feel through the felt for each of the bolt holes for the rails. Poke a hole in the felt through each bolt hole to accommodate the rail bolts.

11

Replace the rails on the table in the positions from which they were removed in Step 1. Tighten the nuts onto the bottom of the rail bolts to secure the rails to their proper positions.