How to re-felt a pool table?

[spidey07]

So I got a pool table with the new house but the rails are dead as a door nail. Taking them in to the local builder for new rails (steepletons of Louisville). I asked if they could come out and re-felt the table and they're saying "it's easy, you can do it".

They suggested I get felt from the same cut as they're doing the rails as that way color would match perfectly. But apparently all I need to do is stretch the felt and staple it to the frame.

Having fun trying to figure out how to get the pockets off the rails, I sure as heck didn't want to mess with the pockets.

So is there much more to it than stretching the felt across the slate and stapling? Any prep work to the slate?

 

[IamDavid]

Call someone....... I promise it wont turn out well....

 

[eldorado99]

I would have no idea how easy it is but it is also one of those things I would be very frustrated with trying to get right. I would pay to have it done, besides if is that easy, it probably doesn't cost much to get it done then right?

 

[spidey07]

Call someone....... I promise it wont turn out well....

That was my thought as well.

 

[OutHouse]

Call someone....... I promise it wont turn out well....

this. if you have never done it, dont have the tools or a clue then hire somebody. its not as easy as it sounds.

ive seen it done once and it was a two man job. one guy pulled the felt as tight as he could get it while the other guy secured it. i thought it was going to rip

 

[lxskllr]

It's probably like doing window tint. Easy as pie after you've done 100 or so. The first dozen otoh...

 

[quackagator]

Ive watched people do it 4 or 5 times there is a knack to it . Hire it out

 

[spidey07]

That's what I was thinking. Thanks. I've got the rails off and detached the pockets. That felt is on there like afreaking drum. No way I could replicate that.

 

[KK]

I seen a show, I can't recall if it was How's it Made, they were putting together a pool table, they had the two slate pieces and they filled the seam with wax or something like that. Then they laid the felt down and tacked it up underneath. It seemed pretty detailed and probably not something I would attempt.

 

[IGBT]

that's a specialty. It's not like making a bed or spreading a table cloth.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I seen a show, I can't recall if it was How's it Made, they were putting together a pool table, they had the two slate pieces and they filled the seam with wax or something like that. Then they laid the felt down and tacked it up underneath. It seemed pretty detailed and probably not something I would attempt.

I've also seen it done on TV, not something I would try myself.

 

[Lifted]

But apparently all I need to do is stretch the felt and staple it to the frame.

Sounds easy enough. Give it a shot and post some pictures of how it turns out.

 

[edro]

Felt is like $100 and the pockets are usually attached with 2 large wood screws.
I have re-felted 2 tables.
You can start in a corner and have someone pull it tight (down the long side) as you staple down the long side.
Then have someone pull it tight on the opposite side and staple down the short sides.

It's all about having someone else pull tight while you staple. You cannot do it with 1 person.

A pro can get it super tight, but you can get it pretty damn tight yourself. The rails are the hard part and you are having them done by a pro.