How to maintain a pool table?

DH2K9

Anybody got any good tips on cleaning a pool table (7ft x 4ft)? Starting to get a bit dirty.

oneillMan999

Short but plentiful brushes in the direction of the nap, with a medium strength hand brush to the bottom cushion, then hoover it up and use a cold iron running with the nap and bobs ur uncle and maggies ur aunt

zack01

Would it not be better to run a hot iron on the cloth as in a snooker table?

oneillMan999

zack01 wrote: »

Would it not be better to run a hot iron on the cloth as in a snooker table?

Well not if you want the cloth to last, a hot iron, used over time, will drain all the goodness (for want of a better word) from the cloth. So i would stick to a cold iron.

zack01

Only reason I say that is because the irons the snooker table fitters and the irons used in snooker clubs have a light on the iron, once the iron is plugged in and heats to the correct temp the light goes out and is then ready to use, is this not the same for a pool table cloth, pool table cloths are heavy but surely not much heavier than the 6811 stratchan cloth used on most snooker club tables?

DH2K9

oneillMan999 wrote: »

Short but plentiful brushes in the direction of the nap, with a medium strength hand brush to the bottom cushion, then hoover it up and use a cold iron running with the nap and bobs ur uncle and maggies ur aunt

What exactly is the nap?

zack01

The nap is the way the cloth is woven, normally cloths are laid baulk end to black spot with the nap running the same direction. If you rub your palm this direction it will feel smooth, if you run your hand in the opposite direction it will feel heavier hence against the nap.
Always brush the cloth with the nap, this will help clear the cloth of dust, chalk etc and then iron in the same direction.
I would advise against using a Hoover as it may lift the cloth of the slate bed and leave the cloth sagging.
When finished you wiil find the cloth to be clean and smooth and will play better.

DH2K9

Just one final question. How often should I brush and iron (cold) the pool table?

Cheers.

zack01

CrossGuns brush their tables every day, I suppose it boils down to how much play is on the table, a light brush every second day will keep your cloth right.