ironing the table

[snooker matt]

can i iron the table using a normal iron and if so what setting do i use

[goshow]

Probably but i really wouldn't want to risk it.

[DavisFan76]

can i iron the table using a normal iron and if so what setting do i use

You're talking full size right? If I had a fullsize table, I wouldn't touch it with an ordinary iron.

[cueman]

You could but be careful, that is all I can say. Heat settings on a cloths iron are a lot hotter than a proper table iron. I would try it on the coolest setting and see how it is but run the iron quickly over the cloth. Also preferably use a dry iron and not with a steam setting on as that will add moisture to the cloth and could make it crap to play on, not to mention other long term problems it can cause.

[The Statman]

One problem with using a household iron is that it is not perfectly rectangular. This means you will not get an even finish and the parts of the table that have had the full width will have had different treatment from the parts that have only received the pointy end.

You will almost certainly be able to see this with a stripe effect running down the table.

With any iron, you should test it on something like an old newspaper first. If there is even the slightest scorch mark on a piece of newspaper after the iron has been placed on it, then it is too hot to use on the table.

Conclusion: don't.

[DavisFan76]

One problem with using a household iron is that it is not perfectly rectangular. This means you will not get an even finish and the parts of the table that have had the full width will have had different treatment from the parts that have only received the pointy end.

You will almost certainly be able to see this with a stripe effect running down the table.

With any iron, you should test it on something like an old newspaper first. If there is even the slightest scorch mark on a piece of newspaper after the iron has been placed on it, then it is too hot to use on the table.

Conclusion: don't.

Yuck, that'd make the table look like a football pitch or something!

[100-uper]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the weight of a household iron, which is far too light to get the nap down without applying additional pressure. It is almost impossible to try and do this consistently as you get towards the centre of the table. The whole point of the Dowsing irons is that they are effective under their own weight.

The curved edges of the household iron could tend to lay the nap inconsistently but I wouldn't say this was the main problem.

[moglet]

Just to confirm what 100-uper has said, the proprietary billiard table iron has much more mass in the "iron" part and is used disconnected from the mains, its mass holds the temperature up for considerably longer than a light-weight aluminium household appliance. The shape is important too, as he said, you aren't ironing a shirt.

For information only: the Dowsing iron can be used on No 9 setting, the highest, for West of England cloths, the temperature by the time you get to the table on this setting is around 190ºC. For Hainsworth cloths a setting just below No 8 is best, there is a small amount of nylon in the fibre mix, the temperature at this setting is around 165ºC. For the best results do half the table and then reheat the iron to do the other half.

For those of you that use wet blocking, make sure that the moisture has had time to evaporate before you iron, if you don't the cloth will develop an unsightly glaze and affect the playing quality of the cloth.

[DandyA]

could I ask a dumb question since I know nothing about table care ...
what does ironing the cloth do?

and on a similar note, I heard the commentators at a recent ranking tourney saying the tables had underbed heaters ... what does that do?

in the old days, the rubber cushions had to be heated to work ... but then someone invented vulcanised rubber (was it Mr Spock lol?)

top tennis players play with refridgerated tennis balls (presumably to make the rubber inside them harder) but why does an ironed or heated snooker cloth help?

[moglet]

Ironing fixes the nap at an even "height" in the direction you laid it when you blocked it, until, that is, some heavy, sweaty handed chap comes along and destroys the playing surface.

Under-table heating is used to keep the moisture content in the cloth low and hence increase the speed and reliability of the cloth.

Even the "new" rubber does not like cold temperatures, though the cushions don't need to be as warm as a heated bed, room temp is fine.

Cue sport players would not like to play with refridgerated balls, their balls need to be warm to get the best out of them, same thinking, just a different set of priorities.

[DandyA]

Ironing fixes the nap at an even "height" in the direction you laid it when you blocked it, until, that is, some heavy, sweaty handed chap comes along and destroys the playing surface.

Under-table heating is used to keep the moisture content in the cloth low and hence increase the speed and reliability of the cloth.

Even the "new" rubber does not like cold temperatures, though the cushions don't need to be as warm as a heated bed, room temp is fine.

Cue sport players would not like to play with refridgerated balls, their balls need to be warm to get the best out of them, same thinking, just a different set of priorities.

thanks for the reply moglet, I appreciate it and think I understand a bit better ... so ironing makes the nap more even and consistent than brushing alone can do ...

Ironing fixes the nap at an even "height" in the direction you laid it when you blocked it, until, that is, some heavy, sweaty handed chap comes along and destroys the playing surface.

what is blocking it? sorry to ask so many questions but I am interested oh and as for the heavy handed chap ... I play at Riley's Staines, played just yesterday on table 13 and there were "crop circle" kind of patterns all over it - clearly made by someone with a rest - how can anyone produce such marks with a rest I wonder ...

and then, when the current frame is over and they're re-racking the new frame, there's the peeps who play tennis on the table ... instead of rolling the balls from the baulk pockets to the chap with the triangle, they throw them into the bed and see how high they'll bounce ...

don't they understand a snooker table is a precision instrument!

[DavisFan76]

thanks for the reply moglet, I appreciate it and think I understand a bit better ... so ironing makes the nap more even and consistent than brushing alone can do ...



what is blocking it? sorry to ask so many questions but I am interested oh and as for the heavy handed chap ... I play at Riley's Staines, played just yesterday on table 13 and there were "crop circle" kind of patterns all over it - clearly made by someone with a rest - how can anyone produce such marks with a rest I wonder ...

and then, when the current frame is over and they're re-racking the new frame, there's the peeps who play tennis on the table ... instead of rolling the balls from the baulk pockets to the chap with the triangle, they throw them into the bed and see how high they'll bounce ...

don't they understand a snooker table is a precision instrument!

I'm amazed they don't get banned for doing that!! Surely that would damage the slate?

[DandyA]

I'm amazed they don't get banned for doing that!! Surely that would damage the slate?

me too! although there's no CCTV in the playing area (loads everywhere else) so I guess the staff (who are very good) don't see and probably don't want to see ...

I doubt it damages the slate though ... f**ks the cloth but I doubt it harms the slate ... but maybe the table experts could comment ...

that's not to say Riley's Staines is a bad place ... I love my once a week outing to play there ... afaik the only other place with snooker tables in Staines is the Conservative Club - keep meaning to check it out but I'm not really into politics

[moglet]

DandyA,

Blocking is done after brushing, ideally using a wood block covered with bedcloth taking the block parallel with the side cushions and following the nap towards the black (top) cushion. This "lays" the nap fibres so they all lie "pointing" toward the top cushion. It is a good idea to "block" the cushion nose as well, but never let the iron touch the cushions, the nap on the side cushions usually follows the nap on the bed, the baulk cushion from yellow side to green and the top cushion from green side to yellow.

[bongo]

This is always talked about a lot on here about if it is alright to use a household iron on snooker tables. But if you want a nice table where the cloth looks as new then take no shortcuts!