Build A Pool Table

By: Jaleanna

Break Studios Contributing Writer

If you know how to build a pool table you can save thousands of dollars over a purchased table and have just as much fun. Pool is a favorite past time and a terrific addition to a man cave. Once you have built your own pool table, you don’t have to go to the pool hall and wait for a table to open up, just invite all your buddies to your cave.

Things you will need to build a pool table:

Basic Power tools
Wood
Plywood
Felt
Sandpaper
Staple gun
Nets
Brackets
Bolts with nuts
Level

Measure the size of your room that you will keep the pool table in. To build a pool table to the professional tournament dimension you will need a room to accommodate a 9-foot by 5-foot table. If your room is smaller, consider the more frequently used 7-foot by 39-inch table.
Choose a flat piece of plywood for the surface. A bent or warped surface will make the pool table unusable from the beginning. Mark six places for holes on the plywood. Each corner will have a hole and the middle of each long side will have a hole.
Select an attractive piece of wood and cut it 5 ½-inches wide. Cut four pieces. Make each piece the length of the surface. You will have four pieces cut the same width, two will be shorter than the other two. These boards will show after you are finished building the pool table.
Cut four 4 by 4 inch pieces of wood to the height you want the table to be. Sand all wood pool table pieces. Paint or stain the pool table. Once you build the table, you are ready to cover the surface with felt.
Place a single piece of felt over the table surface. Do not piece the felt. Staple one long edge of the felt to the edge of the table. Go to the opposite side of the table and pull the felt tight. Staple in place along the edge of the pool table.
Use the nuts and bolts to secure all the table pieces together. Place brackets underneath the table to secure the legs in place. Be certain not to obstruct the holes you cut in the surface. Place nets at each of the cut holes. These nets will catch the balls.
Place a level on the top of the playing surface once the pool table is built. Look at the bubble in the level and ensure it is between the two guide lines. Move the level every eight inches. If the table is unlevel, add shims under the leg to make it level.