How to Re-Felt a Coin-Operated One-Piece Slate Pool Table

Re-Felting also known as recovering a pool table is an involved process. These directions assume that you are not re-cushioning and that you have some patience. There are several places that you can order supplies and instructions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Putty/putty knife
• Cloth
• utility knife
• tacks (if you lose the ones you pull)

1. Remove the old covering. This means taking off the side rails and pulling the tacks from the frame. Should go fairly quick with a bit of practice. At this time you want to make sure the table is level. When you have the old cloth off clean your slates and make sure the plaster has not eroded. If it has fill with your putty using your putty knife and let dry. When the putty has dry sand it down so that your slates are completely smooth and level. (For one piece tables skip the joint filling process and go to Step 2)
2. What you should Have at this point. Lay the bed cloth over the slates, nap side up and running from head to foot of the table. If you aren't sure about the direction the nap is run your hand over it. The resistance will show you that you are running against the grain. Leave only enough excess cloth on the head and left side to allow for tacking to the wooden slate frame. Leave the balance of cloth draped over the foot and left side, you can trim later.
3. Where we should be now. Tack the left head side with two tacks 3" apart. Stretch and smooth the cloth across table and use two more tacks 3" apart. At this point your head end should be tacked on left and right sides, if not retry.
   
   Now, stretch your cloth from the left head side down straight down to the left foot side. Secure with two tacks 3" apart. (Number three in diagram)
4. We're a getting there. Now we've got to secure the right foot side cloth. Take a hold of the corner and stretch across from the left side while pulling from the left head side. This maneuver shows up as a blue arrow and number on the diagram.
5. Now that we've got the four corners tacked we can start doing the tedious part. Starting at point #1 on the left head side, work your way down to the side pocket opening and tack. (#6). Repeat the process at the left foot side and going up to the side pocket.
6. Moving to the right side of the table Stretch the cloth straight across from point #5 and tack, repeat on the other side of the pocket.(Points 7 and 8).
7. From here on you'll need your utility knife. Cut a slit centered over the left side pocket. Grasp firmly above the slit and pull cloth into the pocket tacking to the underside of the slate frame. Complete the tacking around the pocket making sure that you are placing your tacks on the undercut of the slate frame. Stretch cloth tightly across to the right side pocket and repeat.
8. Moving back to the left head side of the table repeat the tacking on the head side (point #11) maintaining a uniform overhang. Pull the cloth straight down to the right head side and tack. When the head side is finished stretch cloth from left head side down to left foot side and tack.(Blue arrows)
9. Then, pulling straight down from that point (13) and from (11) tack the right foot side. (Red Arrows)
10. It's time to go back and finish tacking. Tack all of the left side on 3 inch centers while keeping cloth even on slate frame (red 1). Tack remainder of head end (red 2) and then move towards the left foot end. Make sure to stretch the cloth towards the foot and tack along 3 inch centers the remainder of the foot (red 3). Repeat on right side.
11. Stretch the cloth into corner pockets and tack to undercut of slate frame. Trim excess cloth with a sharp knife and check your work. When satisfied that you have finished, cut holes in the cloth for your rail bolts and reassemble the table.

Tips & Warnings

• To re-tighten simply remove one end rail and one side rail and tauten the cloth. Re-tack and replace rails.
• Carom tables are a bit different. You'll need to contact a professional, as I've had no experience.