How to Recover a Snooker Table

Table 1 – Before Recovering

Table 1 is the first of two tables that had their cloths replaced by Trevor Sanders of “Sanders Snooker and Pool Table Services.” Trevor has been recovering the tables at Petersfield Bowling and Snooker Club annually to ensure they remain two of the best tables in the Midhurst and District Snooker League.

Removing the Cushion Cushions

To start the process, Trevor has to remove the six cushions of each table to gain access to the cloth surface. This is a good time to take a look at how the snooker cloth is pinned to the side and how the cushions are fixed to the main section with bolts. It’s nice to see Trevor still using all the traditional tools.

Removing Pocket and Runners

Well, all the cushions have now been removed so they can be worked on individually . When the cushions have been removed the pockets and the ball runners are ready to be placed aside. We had our nets replaced at the same time as it would save unnecessary work in the year.

Preparing the Snooker Cushions

Once the snooker cushions have been removed, Trevor gets started on removing all the pins that hold the cushion cloths in place. Once the pins are removed he then sets about removed the thin strip of wood that wedges the snooker cloth to the cushions so the remainder of the snooker cloth can be separated from the rail.

Recovering the cushions

Trevor has cut strips of snooker cloth from the roll and and now needs to re-affix them to the cushion rails. Once he’s happy he has the right size of snooker cloth he sets about wedging them back to the cushion rail using the those strips of wood he removed at the beginning; any damaged ones get replaced at this point.

Completing the Cushion Rails

Here you can see the finished article which is nice and neat, it’s now ready to be placed aside and ready to be re-fixed when the snooker cloth has been fitted. Trevor obviously gets started on the other five cushion rails before he can move on to the main snooker cloth; certainly not a quick job and very fiddly!

Removing The Snooker Cloth Pins

Well for us mortals, the tables now look very strange as you don’t normally get to see them without cushions. Now starts the very tedious process of removing all those pins that keep the cloth perfectly fitted to the outside bed of the table. You can just see the pins if you look closely at the first tab.

Removing The Snooker Cloth

With all the pins removed, Trevor can start the process of recovering. Seeing the ‘actual’ slate on a snooker table is also something us mere mortals rarely see. What I liked was looking at the two tables and seeing how table one had the slate pockets ground down years ago to take the sharp edge off.

Recover with a New Snooker Cloth

Well Trevor gets his first, “What time do you reckon they’ll be finished mate” from a couple of passing members. I’m sure he’s been asked that a few hundred times over the years. Anyway, time to lay out that new snooker cloth all the members have been looking forward to.

Laying the New Snooker Cloth

The snooker cloths are usually the most talked about topic in snooker clubs when it comes to table performance. Everyone wants that super fast slick cloth so they can tap the ball around with the minimum of effort. Do they have the skills to cope with it? That’s another story…………

Fitting and Stretching the New Cloth

Trevor has cut strips of cloth from the roll and and now needs to re-affix them to the cushion rails. Once he’s happy he has the right size of cloth he sets about wedging them back to the cushion rail using the those strips of wood he removed at the beginning; any damaged ones get replaced at this point.

Refitting the Snooker Cushion Rails

Well, the snooker cloth has been stretched the right amount whilst fitting the pins until the whole snooker cloth has been relaid. At this point in the process it’s nice to see a brand new cloth without a mark on it. The cloth looks absolutely amazing, still not quite ready top play on yet though!

Fitting Pockets, Leathers and Nets

With the side rails on and the brass pocket supports slotted into the rails, Trevor now starts to fit the new nets and refit the original pocket leathers with pocket lace. The pocket lace is weaved in and out of the leather holes with the net in between to secure the top of the net.

Checking the Pockets with a Template

The snooker cushions and rails are now fitted and the pockets leathers and nets are complete. The rails need to go back in the right order to ensure you have the same pocket dimensions as before. Trevor is checking the opening and entrance are correct with this template, all’s good…..phew.

Refitting the Bolt Covers

If you look on the side of your table you probably (and I say probably!) won’t see any of the bolts keeping the cushion rails in place, this is because they are covered by a wooden slat that slides over them. As you can see here, Trevor is re-fixing them so we all wonder how the rails are fitted.

Refitting the Runners and Leather Straps

Now the rails are complete it’s time to refit the leather straps at the right height for the ball runners so the balls fall to the end and sit nicely. No, that’s not Trevor’s employee, it’s the club champion off work early and helping Trevor so he can be first on the new cloth; well good luck with that, I think I’ll be first!

One Re-Clothed Snooker Table

After a pretty long day, we have a couple of re-clothed snooker tables that look absolutely gorgeous. Any blemished on this picture are on my camera lens, the table playing area looks stunning. As you can see my cue’s on there as I’m just about to christen it. Another great job by our friend Trevor Sanders.

If you would like some free friendly advice or to arrange a visit please contact:

Ian (Griffiths) 07778743802 (mobile) or

07950 585681 or 07778 743802

If you would like to just email with your details then please use the contact form on this website and we will pass it onto Ian or email him directly on:

griffithsianw@gmail.com

Our normal working area is within a 50 mile radius of Portsmouth and is usually Bournemouth to Newbury to the bottom of South London and across to Brighton but always give us a quick call if you are just outside those areas.

Sanders Snooker and Pool Table Services pride themselves on their workmanship and level of service whether its renting a pool table or re-clothing pool or snooker tables.

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