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What to look for when buying a used pool table. I have seen it a lot where someone picks up a table for $200-1500 and ends up putting $1000+ into the move and repairs to get it playable. Hope this will help you with your next pool table purchase.

Over the years I have tried to help people with pool table purchases and how to inspect the table. Last thing you want is to find out that your new used table isn’t going to play right without putting unexpected money into it. Stick to the major name (Connelly, Olhausen, AMF, Brunswick)brands if possible. Not saying don’t buy other brand just pay closer attention when inspecting. I stress NOT to buy American Heritage table due to their rail rubber and construction issues.

Don’t judge the table by looks. For a table to play good it HAS to be slate and have good active bumpers. Easiest way to check if it’s slate is to look up under the table it should be grey and also it’s going to heavy. You can also drop a ball from about 3” inches. If it sounds hollow it more then likely wood and if it sounds like two pool balls hit together it’s slate. Tables come in 3 piece and 2 piece construction. Both tables will play the same if installed correctly. 1 piece slate table (valley, dynamo, Fischer, diamond) are big and heavy and don’t break down so most companies won’t move them up or down stair flights.

Most important is check the bumpers. I have moved many tables where they say it looks good and hasn’t been played on forever. Rubber goes bad from age, quality of rubber, lack of use, and sunlight. Think of it like a car tire. You can drive around all year with no problem but you let it sit in the yard for 3 months and it starts to weather check and get hard. New bumpers is an expensive job to have done so very important if you want a good playing table. You can check the bumpers 2 ways. If there is a ball bounce it off all the bumpers in multiple spots. It should have fast bounce back with little noise. If they make a thud noise and don’t bounce they have gone hard. Second way to verify ball bounce technique is to take your thumb nail and push into the point of the bumper. It should flex and spring back to shape. If they feel like wood they are bad.

Cloth can be damaged and not noticeable. Cats love pool tables and if not covered they will put little holes in it. Cue tips also can leave c-shaped cuts in the cloth. At first glance the cloth can look good if the cloth is a darker color and and holes blend in with the gray slate. Also the cloth will relax over time and I have seen cue tip c cuts that were hidden until cloth is re-stretched and then show up. Besides a visual inspection the best ways to find any issues is to rub your hand over the cloth. You sometimes can feel the cut or knots in the cloth. Other way is to put both hands on the table and stretch the cloth by moving hand away from each other. Finding damage in cloth isn’t alway the easiest to find. We put it up to light before reinstalling it to see if any light shines though.

Table construction can vary by beam, solid wood, or particle board.

The material that the table is made of isn’t that important as the slate and bumpers. Things to look for is water damage to the bottom of the legs. Solid wood legs can split and particle one can break down. Check the under construction to see if the table has been modified and that nothing looks damaged or missing.

Hope this information was helpful.