i have a few questions about pool tables... i'm thinking about buying one for my place.

where are some places around town that sell them? i've heard of rec warehouse, but are there others?

what should i expect to pay for a fairly cheap one? i don't have a ton of cash, but i'd like to get something halfway decent. maybe a used one would do?

thanks for any help/suggestions.

5/12/2006 11:09:26 PM

i'm guessing like 700 bucks for a cheap one?

5/12/2006 11:10:26 PM

yeah, i dont know if that includes installation

we got a brunswick at our house, it was an 8ft higher end table, got it from game world on atlantic springs road off of capital blvd, really nice though

also keep an eye out on craigslist, people seem to post them every now and then, you could probably pick up a real good deal if you have a way of transporting it

[Edited on May 12, 2006 at 11:22 PM. Reason : craigslist]

5/12/2006 11:22:10 PM

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/spo/159601471.html

5/12/2006 11:36:14 PM

oh shit man, thanks for sharing that!

5/12/2006 11:39:23 PM

hah "no slate, much easier to move" ...thats one way to look at it. least it'll be cheap.

but so you know, 3ft isnt very wide. sounds like a tiny wolve's den type table. they have a very different feel compared to a full sized (or least closer to full sized).

[Edited on May 12, 2006 at 11:45 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2006 11:43:21 PM

if i ever get a table its gonna be a 9 footer and nice as fuck

5/12/2006 11:47:53 PM

http://tinyurl.com/h9ocs

[Edited on May 12, 2006 at 11:54 PM. Reason : ,m.]

5/12/2006 11:53:38 PM

a shitty new one is aroung a grand installed, a playable new one is around 1500 installed, and a decent one is around 2gs installed. If you are serious about buying a pool table, and want to play pool on it rather than have it for looks, then buy something in the 2g range. A cheapo pool table does not last long, and after a while it really sucks to play on them.

5/13/2006 8:18:45 AM

if you are going to invest in a pool table, get slate.

slate pool tables start around a grand new, like ^ said

if you are somewhat handy, you can move and install one yourself, even recover it if the felt is in poor shape. you can find some deals on used ones that are neglected. as long as the slate and frame are in good condition, the looks of the table can be reclaimed.

for instance...i found a 3 pc slate table for $250. i spend $50 on a uhaul to move it (if i had a pickup it would have been free), I spent 250 on a complete recover kit (felt, rubber, featherstrips) from http://www.bestbilliard.com/catalog/ and about 15 hours of labor and i had a basically brand new pool table for $550

5/13/2006 9:24:55 AM

my family had a nice one growing up and it pains me to play on shitty ones now. the extra money is definately worth it. we ended up leaving it when we moved in my freshman year of college...so sad.

[Edited on May 13, 2006 at 10:51 AM. Reason : i dont think the ppl moving in knew we were leaving it either heh]

5/13/2006 10:51:30 AM

i've never played on a shitty pool table, how does it play different than a high quality one?

5/15/2006 11:24:47 AM

please dont get a 7 foot table, get atleast a 8, and i prefer a 9 since thats what i have. There is a different in rails, overall feel, etc.

5/15/2006 11:55:59 AM

like he said, just the feel. id liken it to playing putt putt VS real golf. definately different types of putting though it is the same concept.

5/15/2006 12:22:31 PM

different size tables will of course have a different feel to them. larger tables will have longer shot opportunities, though both tables will require skill with the angles.

as long as it is slate, it will probably play fine if it is set up right. (level, square, flat)

what you don't want to do is go cheap and get a slatron, or other wood based playing surface. wood based surfaces will warp over time and you will always be unhappy. balls will roll to some pockets and away from others, shots wont be straight, etc.

if you can't afford a basic slate table, don't waste your money on a table at all.

5/15/2006 1:34:27 PM