Changes in humidity and temperature will accelerate this process. The same unfortunately cannot be said for wood (MDF) tables. The bed of a slate table typically will never bend or warp. A slate bed table is normally 25% to 50% more expensive than a wood bed table. All of these labor costs as well as high freight costs add to the table price of a slate table. Once a piece has been mined, it must then be cost to size and leveled. Slate is a natural material that is expensive to source and machine into a true flat surface making it expensive compared to MDF. Weight/Portability : How they differ in weight and portability 1.The differences between slate and wood pool tables can be categorized as one of the following:
An MDF bed can be machined very easily to the required size and is a lot more cost effective than slate. MDF is a combination of hardwood and softwood fibres that are glued together with a resin. The wood that is commonly used in wood tables is MDF (Medium-density fibreboard). To make it easier to transport, the slate can be split into three slabs, weighing between 150 to 200 lbs each. The slate usually ranges from 3/4 to 1 inch thick and weighs between 450 and 600 lbs. Slate can be ground and polished into a perfectly flat surface fairly easily, which is why it is sought after for billiard tables. What is a slate pool table?Ī slate pool table consists of 1 or sometimes 3 pieces of slate (or machined rock) as the bed of the table. The table bed must be extremely flat so the balls roll straight and true. Underneath the felt of a pool table is the bed, and the composition of this bed will determine everything from how well the table plays, the cost, how long the table lasts and also the weight of the table. The slate should also be inside a wooden frame so that the felt cloth, once stretched over the slate, can be stapled or tacked to the frame, rather than adhered to the underside of the slate directly.A pool table is essential to every man cave but the without a doubt the biggest decision you need to make is whether to buy a slate or wood table. In a quality table, the slate is larger than the actual playing surface, extending beneath the rails of the table and therefore providing them with added resilience.
#Valley pool table slate professional#
While one-slate tables are available for purchase, most buyers prefer a three-segment table because it’s much easier to move it, and a professional installer can make the slate nearly as perfect as a one-segment slate table.
Of course, when the slate is reassembled, care must be taken to ensure that all three segments match up perfectly and the table is completely flat.
To make transportation easier, and to reduce the risk of fracture during transit, a slate is normally separated into three pieces. Therefore, it is not an easy or inexpensive proposition to ship one. With proper maintenance, a pool table with an Italian or Brazilian slate playing surface can last for generations.Ī slate for a typical pool table weighs between 400 to 600 pounds, or roughly 180 to 270 kilograms, and is three-quarters of an once to one inch, or roughly two to two-and-a-half centimeters thick. Also, due to its mineral makeup, it has an extremely flat surface. While much harder, Brazilian slate is also gaining a fan base, as it is more durable, will endure years of heavy use and is virtually impossible to bend or break. Italian slate is usually softer and therefore easier to work with. In particular, slate from the Liguarian region of Italy is traditionally considered the highest quality material for use in pool tables, and will typically be marked ‘OIS’, meaning Original Italian Slate. Slate is available in areas all over the globe, however Brazil, China, India, and Italy have become known as major slate exporters. Because it is so durable and known to last, many manufacturers will provide a lifetime warranty for a slate pool table. Wood, as well as table tops made from synthetics, can warp quite easily. While heavier and more expensive than wood, slate ensures that the play surface remans smooth and level. It is ideal for pool tables because it naturally splits into wide, level pieces, and can be easily ground and polished into a perfectly flat surface. Slate is a solid rock made of many minerals including quartz, clay and mica with a fine grain. Slate was the material that met all of these criteria, and is still used in superior tables today. He sought out a different type of material that could be used to make pool tables, one that offered a smooth playing surface, yet was inexpensive and easy to find, and one that would not warp due to moisture or absorption. A man named John Thurston became frustrated with the tendency of wooden pool tables to warp, rendering them difficult to play on.