Ironing a table

[Leapfrog11]

Hi there

How often should a snooker table be ironed? (after how many hours of play?)

[pottr]

Around 10/12 I say

[throtts]

Blimey, I iron mine once every 10 days, which is around after 25 hours of play.

[karakiksi]

In our club we iron 3-5 times in a week.

[SnkrRef]

It largely depends on how much the table is used. When I referee at various (amateur) venues, tables are usually ironed before the start of each day's play (with brushing and blocking a couple of times or so during the day). By and large I would have thought that 2-3 times a week would be sufficient.

[Terry Davidson]

Besides the amount of play I think humidity plays a part in how often a table should be ironed. Another factor would be the thickness of the cloth. In locals where it is very humid I would say once per day at least if the cloth is a 6811 or similar with a thicker cloth perhaps morning and early evening depending on use.

With a cloth like the Hainsworth Precision which is designed not to need ironing it would only need it perhaps once per week or even less. My cloth is a Precision and I keep the humidity below 50% at all times and I haven't noticed any loss of speed and in 2 months I've only ironed it twice.

Terry

[Leapfrog11]

Thanks everyone

I am using Strachan championship cloth and I have trouble stopping the cue ball it is so fast!
I better get the iron out again its at least 40 hours of play since i last ironed yet its still super fast.

[jrc750]

If table runs so fast, is there any need still to iron it ? maybe just a brush and block ??

[Leapfrog11]

Thats what i was thinking jrc, however i always brush the table before play but i have never used a block.
Is the block necessary?

[SnkrRef]

Yes, the block will sort the nap out in a way in which the brush won't.

[Leapfrog11]

Ok I better get my hands on a block

cheers m8

[philip in china]

At risk of being accused of avoiding the question I would say "iron it as it needs to be ironed". A new cloth sometimes needs more ironing to get the nap to lay down and die. Humidity definitely plays a part in how much ironing a cloth seems to need.

[Animal]

Hope ye don't burn it lol

[philip in china]

Just seen this. Don't buy a block. An offcut of 4x2 is just as good. You can wrap a bit of cloth around the brush and get almost the same effect. My favourite, which I use on my table in China, is a short offcut of balustrade.

Ok I better get my hands on a block

cheers m8

[philip in china]

Hope ye don't burn it lol

I always keep a piece of bed cloth with the iron. I test the iron the scrap before I use it on the table.