Table Maintenance

[BazzerLondon]

Greetings from a newbie

I have taken over responsibility for looking after the tables in my Club. Brushing and ironing present no problems (I've been doing that sort of thing on and off for the past 50+ years). However, I do have a query re table marking.

When we had new cloths, the fitters insisted on using conventional 2B lead/graphite pencil to mark the spots/lines. In the past, I've used a baulk marking pencil (similar to a black crayon) as supplied by the likes of Thurston etc.

The pros and cons of each seem to be :-

2B pencil. Markings are reasonably permanent (unfortunate when cloths are stretched as duplicate markings result) but "smudging" occurs when brushing

Baulk marking pencil. No smudging, but markings fade more rapidly.

The next time we have new cloths I may insist on white marking as I think it looks more professional, but I'm not sure what would be used initially, what should be used to remark when necessary and what would the effect be when the cloths are stretched.

Any help and opinions will be gratefully received.

[Redphex]

Breaking with tradition once again, I started marking my table with a white "uni-ball Signo" gel pen.
It has a 0.7mm tip, leaves nice clear lines about 1mm wide.

Brushes out to near invisibility after about half a year - in case a re-stretch is fancied.

[Geoff Large]

The tippex white uni ball pen is no go for me but I often get asked to use one as the customer see the pro tables marked out with them ,
be it their decision not mine , white is used for TV for the camera's to pick up , the black pencil is the type to go with .
White pens usually leave the cloth fibres glued together where it is applied and a ridge when it is new , even ironing for a few times will not get the ridge out , you have to wait until you have worn the crust of the white ink away to get rid of it , don't believe me then try it .
A soft lead pencil like a carpenters pencil is what I use
I get mine in packs of 10 from screw fix , I find the Baulk pencils too soft and not fine enough to work with , any soft lead pencil that can be erased with Acetone is the preferred type to use .
as for acetone to remove old baulk line , try and buy pure acetone from chemist , as nail varnish remover which is a good percentage of acetone often has oil added into it , this could stain the cloth when we use it to re-stretch and mark out.
Whatever anyone says do not use Sharpie's black ink pens or any permanent marker , it is ok to use black ink sharpies on pool tables which do not have to go through a re-stretch .
but not on a Billiard table that you intend to have re-stretched cloth in it's life time.

[BazzerLondon]

Grateful thanks to Redphex and Geoff Large for quick responses. Looks like our table fitters used similar to you, Geoff, so I'll probably go that route. Good tip re acetone as well.

B

[coomsey76]

Welcome aboard Bazza.....

Looks like you've been given some sound advice there,

Where's about's in London do you play?? It's always good to hear about clubs doing well.....