Replacing Your Own Billiard Table Felt

Be sure to buy the best, most durable fabric available when replacing your own billiard table felt. For the time it takes to do it, you want it to last for a long time and give you the best performance. Before you begin the replacement, remove the rails, make sure your table is clean, the slate is level, screws are tight, and joints are grouted with a flexible filler.

What you will need:

• Felt billiard cloth
• Staples
• Staple gun
• Adhesive
• Cutting tool
• Screwdriver
• Flexible filler (no paraffin or plaster of paris)

1. Lay Billiard Felt Replacement Cloth on Table. The first step in replacing your own billiard felt is to lay the replacement cloth down one long side and one end just long enough to staple it. Let all the extra material hang over the other long side and other end. You will need the excess to cut out the material for the rails.
2. Begin Stapling the Billiard Felt. Place three staples 2” apart near the corner of the long end (#1). Next, stretch the billiard felt across the short top side and place three staples 2” apart on the corner of the other long side (#2). On the first long side, stretch the cloth down the long side from #1 and staple it three times 2” apart on the long side near the bottom short side (#3). Stretch the material from #2 and straight across from #3 to make it smooth. Put three staples in the remaining corner on the long side (#4).
3. Stretch Billiard Felt Around Side Pockets. There are six pockets on a billiard table which are located in the middle of the long sides and in all four corners. Start stretching the felt from #1 toward just before the pocket on the long side and place three staples. Stretch the felt from #3 to the other side of the same pocket and place three staples. Repeat this same action for the other side of the table. Be sure to stretch the felt tightly from one side of the table to the other. Cut a small slit on the center of the side pockets and staple the felt to the underside of the billiard table making sure to stretch the felt tightly to keep out wrinkles.
4. Stretch Billiard Felt Around Corner Pockets.  Stretch and staple along both long sides and the two ends in three places. Keep stretching and stapling around and across the table until the felt is smooth. Staple on each side of the corners with 3” centers, leaving a little slack at each corner. Stretch felt on each side of the corner pockets and staple to the slate frame. Cut slits if necessary to keep out wrinkles.
5. Cut Off Remaining Felt. Once the billiard table felt is smooth and stapled and pockets are completed, cut off the remaining felt all around the table. This felt will be used on the rails if you are recovering them. If not, attach the rails back on the table and you are ready to use your newly covered billiard table.