How to Disassemble a Pool Table
Disassembling a pool table can be rather easy, providing you have the right tools and manpower. The instructions listed here are for a standard wood frame home pool table with a slate bed and leather drop pockets. Coin operated tables and non slate tables have different instructions when disassembling.
Tools Needed: 9/16″ socket, socket wrench, Philips screwdriver. Marked sandwich baggies to place screws and bolts.
Definitions:
Rail Assembly: Contains the wooden rail, the cushion or bumpers to which the apron attaches to.
Bumpers: The rubber part of the rail. They are covered with felt.
Aprons: The wooded segments that attach to the rail assembly. Can be a permanent part of the rail assembly or can be screwed depending on manufacturer of table.
Felt: The cloth that covers the playing surface and the rail bumpers. Usually it is a 75% woolen 25% nylon blend.
Slate: The playing surface of the pool table. Usually comes in (3) pieces. Can either be wood backed or unbacked.
Frame: The base of the pool table which the slate sits on.
- First start off by detaching the pockets from the table itself. Usually the straps of the pockets are attached to the table itself with either screws, staples, nails or glue.
- Next using your 9/16″ socket and wrench; remove the rail bolts (12) located underneath each rail. Place the rail bolts in a marked baggie for storage.
- Take one section of the rail assembly (2 sides and top/bottom) and flip them over onto the covered bed of the pool table. Unscrew the pocket screws.
- Remove pockets from rail assembly and place to side.
- Place rails to the side. Some tables you will have to remove the aprons at this point.
- Remove felt from slate bed. The felt is usually either glued down or stapled to the wood backing of the slate. If it is stapled, remove each staple carefully, as not to rip the felt itself.
- Remove the slate screws and place in marked baggie. Sometimes all the slate screws will be filled in with either beeswax, Bondo or spackling putty. Carefully remove the product from each hole.
- Pull the slates apart and lift each one and place to the side.These are very heavy so please be careful.
- Disassemble the frame. Generally, most of the time if you are just moving the table a short distance all that will be required is removing the legs.
- Removed the bolt from each leg. Pick table up and remove legs and place to side.
