Billiards Table

The billiard tables as we know them went through a couple of changes over the years to result in the billiard table we know today. The first billiard table may have originated in France in the 1600s, but the details are not clear. The billiard tables with pockets are easier traced from England in the 1800s. The English it seems brought the croquet game indoors and moved it off the floor by adding legs to a flat surface. They soon discovered the balls would roll off the playing surface. The wooden borders were added to prevent the balls from leaving the playing surface. The sides were crude, but they still learned to use them for bank shots. Then rubber cushions and tablecloth were soon added. The billiard table, as we know it today has not changed since 1845.

Slate is the most common material used as a playing surface on most pool tables today. However, hardened fiberboard is used on some of the starter tables. The tables have been constructed in several ways over the years. Some have been made with six legs, some with eight legs, and of course with four legs. The lengths have also varied from 7-feet, 8-feet and even large as 10-feet many years ago.

When you are choosing a billiard table, there are two elements of the construction, which are very important.

The material used to make the table. Solid wood is the best material to use when making a pool table. The wood veneers covering processed particleboard with laminates make up a good table, which will last a few years and is not as expensive as the solid wood tables. The slate tables with a 1-inch thick slab are the better tables. The tables made with a thinner thickness of slate will move when you bump into the table. The finish of the solid wood table is very important. If polyurethane is used in the finish, the finish will be cloudy after you have owned the table for a while. The best is the hand rubbed oil or polished varnish finishes.

Construction Techniques are also very important to the making of a quality table. There are some things you will want to look for in the construction of the billiard table before you make the purchase. You want to look for dado joints in the base and the slate bed. The dado joints are stronger than brackets and screws. This makes for a more solid base. The slate should have added support in the way of cross members and a center beam. The legs should have reinforced wood around the leg mounting system to make for a more stable billiard table. When you bump a table and the table vibrates or moves, you will know you have a billiard table, which has been constructed poorly. If it is a new billiard table and it behaves this way, it will only get worse. You may want to avoid this table.

When making your table choice, you want a billiard table, which will fit your needs. You will need to consider how the table will be used and if kids will be using the table. You will need to know the size of table you have the space for and still be able to play comfortably. You will also want to consider if the furniture will be a considered a furniture piece. If kids will be using it, you may want to get a starter table, which will cost you around $500. Billiard tables used to say match your living room furniture will cost you $2500 to as much as $10,000. To find the right size table for the room you have, measure the space of the room where the billiard table will reside and then you will want to find a Room Dimension Chart. This will help you decide the size of the table you can use in the space you have.

Purchasing billiards tables is a big investment. Make sure you do your research to ensure the investment will last you a lifetime.