How do I get the best performance out of my table?

[truetwitch]

Hi. First post so apologies if this has already come up.

I will be getting a Supreme Winner in my garage soon and want to know how best to heat the garage/table to ensure the performance of the table is still good.

Would it be best to get the tube heaters directly under the table? If so which size and wattage and how many would be best for a 7x4 foot table?

Or would it be best to heat the garage as a whole with a radiator or oil filled radiator? Any other suggestions?

[Geoff Large]

You will not benefit from tube heaters directly under the table or inside it as this will warp the thin slate and carcass fiber boarding .
just normal room temperature , or a gentle heat around the table .


I know of a person who tried heating with tube heaters inside a Supreme winner table , his table just swelled and shrunk and twisted , the table was useless after he had done this .

UK pub type pool tables are not like thick slated snooker tables , they react more to heat and with their thinly made fiber board carcass body it distorts which in turn distorts the slate bed

Damp ingress is a probem in garages , but a normal oil filled radiator set at 60f on the thermostat will be enough to keep the damp at bay near but not close to table , if you can put thick insulation on the back of the up and over door , put carpet thick tiles down to keep damp coming up , cover table with a good peradon table cover place a thick 2 inch thick section of insulation board cut to exact size of table top then cover over .

insulation sheeting http://www.diy.com/departments/celot.../307367_BQ.prd

peradon cover https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peradon-S...dI2vCXkyRG40_Q

after putting peradon cover on then insulation board then a good heavy duty long skirt cover like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Snooker-P...gAAOSw2iNZZPCd

Heating under the table will only heat the bottom board maybe get one side heated the side with access holes for clamps .

so unless you make holes under the bottom boarding the heat will go no where near the slate bed , heating inside the table can only be done down each side the center section is boxed in for ball return so heating inside will only heat the out side edges of the slate , but it will warp .

As a billiards fitter , I have even seen thick 2 inch slate warp from heat under the slate .

Professional tournaments recommend and use heat tubing and matting for snooker , but long term use damages the slate beds and they are always changing and selling off the tables during each tournament so the problem is not going to be theirs .

just keep the damp out of the table and background heat is all that is required .
changing the thick club cloth that comes as standard on supreme tables is also a good start to speed the table up , you can have fitted anything from 6811 tournament to match cloths to speed cloths .

of course heat the room up when you are in it to a much higher temperature than the back ground heating .

if attached Garage extend Gas powered radiator heating system into garage

[Hello, Mr Big Shot]

Wow, had no idea slate could warp!

I'd have one in the house if i could stop the noise, but they make an absolute racket and i doubt the neighbours would thank me for it.

[the lone wolf]

Try and get your garage up to room temperature.
What is the ventilation like and does your garage get damp?
My concern would be dampness especially during winter months.

[truetwitch]

Thanks for your time in responding Geoff!

Table will have a Strachan 6811 cloth on it. Considering bricking up the up and over and having a window in place somewhere instead of the up and over.

What wattage is best for the oil radiator?

Also, the garage has some flooring down already, it's not carpeted but it has that metal effect rubber like flooring. Tend to see it in the gym, hope you know what I mean. Would this help prevent damp somewhat?

[truetwitch]

Try and get your garage up to room temperature.
What is the ventilation like and does your garage get damp?
My concern would be dampness especially during winter months.

I'm not too sure as it's a new house I'm moving to. When I've been in it, it does feel quite cold. It has a pvc door and window and an up and over door.

[Triedandtested]

Excellent Insulation is key for any table to play at its best potential including a dehumidifier.

Get rid of the strachan cloth too, to much maintenance for little benefit.

[truetwitch]

Excellent Insulation is key for any table to play at its best potential including a dehumidifier.

Get rid of the strachan cloth too, to much maintenance for little benefit.

The Strachan cloth is what's coming on the refurbished table I'm getting. Once it's ready for recovering, I'll most likely get the hainsworth cloth.

[DeanH]

How do I get the best performance out of my table?

get a heater and a temp and humidity monitor into the room now before you get the table to get some data to see what is happening. then sort out any issues before the table arrives

[Geoff Large]

Nothing wrong with tournament strachan cloth 6811 , it is the lack of brushing and ironing that is a problem and that goes for any cloth used .

the only reason people put match cloth on is to try and get more speed out of it ,
with regular brushing and ironing the 6811 tournament will be just as good , I know of pubs requesting the match hainsworth , but even that plays rough if not looked after .

at the end of the day speed cloth is the fastest cloth but the 6811 is the most used , and the most you will come across when playing for teams and in tournaments .

it is like the tyres on F1 cars they all use the same tyres in F1 and have a choice for conditions

it is the same for cue sports cloth , they use Strachan at pro level for a reason .
it is 100% pure new wool unlike the mix fibre of Hainsworths .

I got nothing against hainsworth match cloths just that I know as a fitter which is more requested and which is more used .

just do not have the 6811 CLUB cloth though that stuff is thick and slow .
if they are covering your table int hat say no and request Tournament 6811 cloth

you will require an iron of some sort , new full size irons are £220 for a UK made one .

but you can use one of these https://www.decathlon.co.uk/waxing-iron-id_8319488.html

and at just £29.99p they do the job for a 7x4 pool table .
try it on the ball rack skirt first before you use it and it heats up in only three minutes .

[truetwitch]

Geoff,

Would a napping block replace the job of an iron at all? Why is a napping block used?

At our club we just tend to use the napper and not an iron...

Also, how often would it need ironing or napping? After each play?

[Triedandtested]

Geoff,

Would a napping block replace the job of an iron at all? Why is a napping block used?

At our club we just tend to use the napper and not an iron...

Also, how often would it need ironing or napping? After each play?

You're going to have to trust me on this one & get a Simonis 861 cloth fitted on your table. No need to iron as long as conditions in your room are right & brushing it takes about 20 secs after around 10 games.

The accuracy of the table is something special, also none of this woolen fluffy cloth that you have to brush hard, brush where you want in any direction, miscue if you want where on a strachan cloth you'll mark the cloth.

Yes they're £120 but you'll have the best pool table playing cloth out there.

[ben1234]

it needs to be fully insulated with some kind of a permanent heating system . needs to be cosy as possible otherwise you will never go in there during the winter months . my brother in law had one in his garage he hardly used it and the table got totally ruined because he didnt bother doing all the necessary work needed not to mention the extra expence . good luck.

[Geoff Large]

Geoff,

Would a napping block replace the job of an iron at all? Why is a napping block used?

At our club we just tend to use the napper and not an iron...

Also, how often would it need ironing or napping? After each play?

napping block is after use of brushing to lay nap flat and remove settled dust , then iron .
just a piece of old cloth wrapped around your brush ,then use the back of the brush as a the block , and is as good a napping block as these £30 ones one bay .

[philip in china]

I just have a block of oak about the size of a brick. It is an excellent napping block.