ironing the table

[philip in china]

NO!

A vacuum will suck filler out of the joints. Then you will be up the creek without a paddle. Brush it vigorously, block it and iron it. Do you have a "proper" table brush?

[Redphex]

A vacuum will suck filler out of the joints.

I doubt this.
Although I also would not see vacuuming the table as necessity, I know that the maintainers of a large local billiards cafe group do this on a regular basis and there is no sign of problems with slate joints and/or filler crumbs.

[philip in china]

You can tease the crocodiles 999 times and get away with it, but sooner or later SNAP.

I doubt this.
Although I also would not see vacuuming the table as necessity, I know that the maintainers of a large local billiards cafe group do this on a regular basis and there is no sign of problems with slate joints and/or filler crumbs.

[Terry Davidson]

To All:

Vacuuming is definitely NOT the thing to do. When I first got my table I used a low-power vacuum cleaner and stroked with the nap similar to using an iron. I don't think there was much danger in pulling out the grout HOWEVER I was using one of those vacuum cleaners with the clear plastic container and right away, even with low power, I noticed there was a lot of green stuff being sucked up.

It turns out that was my nap and in talking to some people who know about these things a vacuum cleaner has two negative results. The first is it will suck out the nap, probably reducing the life of the cloth and the second is it will make the nap stand up and thus make the table slower. No matter how much you block it afterwards that nap will still not be laying down perfectly.

Based on the best advice I could get I now just LIGHTLY brush the cloth with very little pressure and just enough to remove the chalk marks and any loose bits of debris and then I block it just once again without applying a whole lot of pressure. I do this either every day or every second day depending on usage. My snooker room has a dehumidifier so is quite dry and I only iron once a week now although those in more humid climates should iron more frequently but ensure you iron AFTER you've blocked the table.

I also have to say with using the Triangle Spruce chalk now I can't even see any chalk marks on the table but I know they're actually there and I can see the odd one if I look really close.

If you apply hard pressure with the brush the stiff horsehair bristles in the middle of the brush will also rip up the nap and probably half the life of your cloth, the same as a vacuum cleaner does, even a low power one

Terry

[philip in china]

Well if Geoff and Terry agree that is good enough for me.

[Deepscrew]

My fitter mate who sets up the premier league tables at the moment says you should only brush gently to get rid of the chalk marks and finger marks. Heavy brushing only drives the dust into the cloth he says.

[philip in china]

I suppose that that is why table brushes are so soft.

My fitter mate who sets up the premier league tables at the moment says you should only brush gently to get rid of the chalk marks and finger marks. Heavy brushing only drives the dust into the cloth he says.

[sberry]

A good hoovering every now and then gets the dust out.

[throtts]

A good hoovering every now and then gets the dust out.

Haha, I take it your joking. That's a no no..

[sberry]

Of course not, obviously don't walk about the table dragging henry across the cloth but a low setting and brush attachment does the cloth wonders.

[pottr]

You should NEVER vacuum the table. It pulls the filler out of the joins in the slate! This then get's deposited under the cloth. Sure fire way to ruin a table quickly!

Always brush gently to remove the chalk from the weave, never firm.

[Skywalker8]

ironing the table

Just using a normal iron would it not be a right pain with the cable (like mowing big lawn with electric mower). I get caught up enough just ironing a shirt!!!! Anyway why am I worried I gotta get a room and a table before I worry about which iron!!! Maybe I'll check back on this thread in 2050 when I can afford one !!!