It doesn't hurt to have a couple of sets of balls. I have a beater set for drunken visitors and a good set for serious play. The more beers involved or the younger the players the more ball that end up bouncing off the floor and you don't want to have that happen with the good ones.

The top line tables which of course include the Olhausen ones all use a high grade, pure rubber, bumper that other than physical damage (cuts, tears, etc) should last the life of the table without losing their bounce, shrinking or separating. The cheaper lines of table, including some top name manufactures (i.e. Brunswick) will use a rubber coated neoprene bumper that will eventually dry out and shrink. When new or only a few years old it is almost impossible to tell the difference but as they age there will be visible deformities along the length of the bumper and it will very obviously start to separate from the side of the table.
Picking a quality table can be rough since there are so many small manufactures that make several grades and even though they all look the same there can actually be some substantial differences.

I have bought used pool tables. Make sure the bumpers all are still bouncy. If they have become stiff the table will have a "dead" spot. Also, the thicker the slate the better. Take your time. I bought a sweet modern table that is black and chrome with grey felt for $700. I love it.

Make sure your room is big enough. My room is 24 x 14, and I only have a 8 foot table.

The worn out cushions is why I double checked on the Olhausen. I'm thinking to avoid that issue I'll just keep an eye out for something that shouldn't have problems, but there's not many Olhausen tables for sale. Most of what I'm seeing on Craigslist are brands I haven't heard of and finding reviews for pool tables is difficult. There are a few places that give minor write ups, but it's not information in high demand. Slate at least an inch thick is ideal, so it's number one on my question list.


As for room, that seems to be one of the trickiest things. I'm actually looking for a new place too, so I'd like to force myself to wait until then to get the table. But I'm noticing so many houses with "entertainment" rooms that are like 24'x11' for some reason. It's impossible to find less rectangular rooms.

The odds of getting an Olhausen table with bad bumpers are pretty remote. Anything that is going to damage them is going to be obvious by sight or feel.

Yes table sales can be very regional but some of those custom one by the small manufacturers are actually really sweet. The easiest way to judge the quality of a table without knowing every single point to look at is to check if there is any particle or wafer board used in any part of it. If there is anything that is not real wood (even trim) then shy away from it as odds are there are other areas that were skimped on hidden away in the structure.

This is fun actually having a topic that I can claim to be an actual "expert" on for a change.

Yeah, that's why I'm looking for an Olhausen. I've been reading stuff for days and all the arrows point to them.

I'll look into local tables more closely as I find them though, just to keep things open. Though I'm waiting to hear back from a buddy who's parents might be selling their table. It's either a Legacy, or an Olhausen. If it's the latter then I'll try and snag it.

I wish I had an eye for those things. I'm not sure looking around a table I'd be able to identify fake stuff.

He has a bit of a bias since they sell new which is obvious by his repeated "it can be expansive" comments about fixing up used but shows what to look for pretty well.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcEYIIgxxCM"]How to Buy a Used Pool Table - YouTube[/ame]

I'm not sure how useful dredging this thread back up will be with @Tcoat MIA, but I've had a change of plan regarding the pool table. Instead of hiding it in the basement, it can get a prominent location upstairs if it takes on the guise of a dining room table. Some searching has yielded a few options, but not very many. It might be too limited a market, but I'd like to try and find a fairly affordable one. It doesn't look like the big brands make this type of table specifically, though.

this ones nice?
http://www.longs-billiards.com/image...eece-large.jpg

I need a TL/DR for this thread please

Oh man that table's gaudy.


The short version is I've been trying to settle on a pool table because I've wanted one for a long time. This was an info gathering thread that pretty much was settled, with much help from Tcoat since he used to install them. I've resurrected it because instead of just a pool table, I actually need one that is also a dining room table.

I see. Could you not get a big piece of wood to fill the play area and have a thin lip on it that goes over the edges then throw a table cloth over it?

It's entirely possible, while not going that route, that such an item as a dining table top that fits any table most likely exists. And if I go that route, it would probably work well enough. But a pool table has a distinct look, while the tables designed as dining tables look like nothing more than an ordinary table.

Attachment 132218
http://www.snookersports.com/dining_snooker_table.html

So do I get a cookie for this one?

Used is a good idea and if you really want to save on cost get a more commercial model/style.


might want to look into majestic, heritage and palason if you can find them. You should definitely be able to find something sub or around 2k that looks decent and isn't fugly looking

No, no cookie because it's fugly