Cue sports is a popular sports category that comprises numerous skill-based games that individuals play using a cue. Out of all cue sports variants, the most popular is the 8 ball pool. The game is played by enthusiasts in both online as well as offline modes.
Interested individuals can play 8 ball pool game online on their smartphone without hassle. All they need is a reliable online pool game and a reliable Internet connection. Besides offering an immersive online gaming experience to individuals, Indulging in online 8 ball pool games also benefits players in multiple ways.
Coming to the conventional offline mode, players need an elaborate setup, including a robust pool table, to indulge in 8-ball pool matches. This article will shed light on the manufacturing process of pool tables along with numerous related aspects, such as the raw materials required, quality control, etc. Let us dive right into it:
Raw Materials Required
Like any other product, manufacturing a pool table requires numerous raw materials. Here is a brief look at some of the most important ones:
- Natural Slate
Even though cheap pool tables’ playing surfaces are made using synthetic slate or honeycomb sheets carved out of plastic, the preferred material when it comes to making solid pool tables is natural slate.
The heavyweight material keeps the table stationary during matches. The slate used for making the playing surface of pool tables is made at the quarry. Then, with the help of diamond-blade saws, it is cut into flat sheets. Before shipping the processed sheets off, holes are drilled for pockets, bolts, and screws.
- Wood
Another significant component that is used majorly in making pool tables is wood. In most cases, two types of wood are used. For instance, poplar, a hardwood variant that features top-tier healing properties, is used to create the table’s natural structure. To create appealing exteriors, wood variants like oak, maple, mahogany, etc., are used.
- Wool
Wool is the preferred choice of material when it comes to making the covering for the slate. Even though the material used is referred to as felt, it is actually a woven fabric featuring a nap on one surface.
The Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing process of pool tables involves two stages, i.e., components are initially prepared and then assembled. Here is a detailed look at both of them:
- Preparation
Step 1 – The edge liners of specific sizes, made out of lumber, are joined together using glue to the slate’s bottom side around the edge. The wider strips are carefully placed under the desired pockets’ location. The liners are attached safely to the slate until the wood’s glue gets dried up.
Step 2 – Pockets are sewn in the desired places through the liner. Besides this, holes, where screws and nuts are supposed to go, are drilled in the liner. This is done to match the cutouts made earlier on the slate.
Step 3 – Once the cutout-drilling part is over, three sides of the body’s frame are cut from specifically-sized lumber. When cutting the frame, carpenters must be precise to avoid mistakes. The frame is always made smaller than the slate to ensure that the latter overlaps the former by the required margin on each side of the table.
Step 4 – After the upper side gets done, the legs are made. A total of 4 legs are prepared for the table. As per the requirements, the legs can either be carved in decorative shapes or be left hollow. The leg supports are also glued and screwed into the frame’s corners.
Step 5 – A new slate frame is created on the body frame’s top edges. Strips of wood are also attached to it. A longitudinal support may be placed at the frame’s centre to ensure top-tier stability. Then, pocket holes are carved in the frame’s corners.
Step 6 – The upper and lower rail components are sawed using the suitable wood variant. Then, they are glued together to create six laminated sections. A groove is also cut parallel to the frame’s top edge.
Step 7 – Circle or diamond-shaped sights are intricately placed on every rail’s three locations. Then, an apron or a blind is cut according to each rail section’s length.
Step 8 – Finally, every component is stained, sanded, and given a finishing touch using chemicals like catalyzed varnish, lacquer, furniture wax, etc.
- Assembly
Once the components are prepared, they are assembled during the table’s installation at the buyer’s location. Here is how it is done:
- A total of 10 legs are fitted to the table body’s bottom using bolts of the appropriate size.
- All three parts of the slate are screwed into the right places on top of the table’s body.
- The cloth prepared for the slate is stretched very tightly and spread uniformly across the slate. The rail faces are also covered with cloth.
- The rail sections are placed together using pins of the pocket irons into the drilled holes present at each rail section.
- The blinds are attached using glue and screws to the rails’ bottoms as well as the edges of the slate liner.
As evident from the sections mentioned above, the manufacturing process of a pool table is very elaborate and requires excellent skills paired with precision. This is also why most pool tables feature hefty price tags. However, given how long well-built pool tables last, they are worth the investment. Individuals looking to purchase a pool table should compare multiple good ones and choose the one that checks all the right boxes.
