Whether you’re remodeling your basement for parties, designing your man cave, or you’re a pool player wanting a great practice room, here are some important tips to remember when purchasing that big-ticket item. We went directly to the main source and interviewed Vice-President Chad Scharlow of Diamond Billiard Products, Inc., located in Jeffersonville, IN. www.diamondbilliards.com
What size of table is best for a home?
A lot of retail stores around the country recommend purchasing an 8-foot table for your home, but the reality is you have to tailor your space for what works best for what you’re trying to accomplish. If you just want some extra furniture for a blank space and don’t care about the size, then an 8-foot table would work fine. But if you’re an avid pool player and have the space, I would recommend getting a 9-foot table. It ultimately depends on the space you have to work with.
Another important thing to remember is that here at Diamond we offer 1- or 3-piece slated tables. In my personal home I could not get a 1-piece slate table down in the basement because of my stairs, so I had no other choice but to go with a 3-piece slated table. The space you have available may limit choices.
LINK: http://www.diamondbilliards.com
What size room do you need to have?
Taking into consideration that a standard pool cue is between 48-52 inches long, you need extra five feet of space surrounding the table. So, If you intend to purchase a smaller 3.5’ x 7’ foot table, your room needs to be a minimum of 13’ x 16′ ½”, for an 8-foot table a minimum of 13’ ½” x 17’, and lastly for a regulation size table your room size needs to be a minimum of 14’ x 18′. All of this minimal space is including stoking motion of your cue going back and forth on each shot.
LINK: http://www.diamondbilliards.com/index.php/about/pool-room-dimensions
What is the best surface to place a table on?
It does not really matter if it’s carpet, tile, or hardwood floors—most slated tables are heavy enough to overcome any flooring obstacles.
How much does a pool table weigh?
For slated pool tables, they can range between 800 to 1500 pounds.
How long does it take to put a table together?
Typically it take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending where the table is being set up. Is it going straight into a ranch-level home or into a basement? The ultimate goal for the mechanic is to make sure your table is level. If you purchase a 3-piece slated table, it would take extra time to seam the slates. The best scenario is that your room can allot for that perfect 1-piece slated table and not have to deal with putting the slates together.
Do you have good mechanics that people can use?
We are compiling a list of certified mechanics for our website. It will be available in the next few months.
What makes Diamond Tables special compared to the other brands out there?
First, the most important aspect of our brand is its near perfect 22-point leveling system that is built into each of our tables; it truly blows our competitors out of the water. Ask any table mechanic out there and he will tell you what it takes to level a table. Today, mechanics are still using old school adjustments by adding shims, cardboard pieces, or even playing cards underneath the legs to assure a level playing surface. Our tables allow for the mechanic to fine tune slates without ever removing the cloth or using those outdated leveling methods.
Second, older pool tables have a raised pocket that is not flush with the table. Diamond Tables don’t have that obstacle that forces you to jack up on the back end of the cue when shooting over the pocket.
Lastly, we use the best cushions in the world, Artemis cushions. These cushions, attached to our extra wide rails, give the customer the most consistent rebound and highest level of playability available.
LINK: http://www.diamondbilliards.com/index.php/about/why-a-diamond
Can a consumer purchase a pool table straight from the manufacturer like Diamond?
Yes, and it would take approximately 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.
Is there anything included with the purchase of the table?
Diamond pool tables come à la carte with Simonis 860 cloth. We can mix and match any accessories including matching table lights, balls, racks, and players chair units. We can even match your room’s décor with the different stain colors and wood species that we offer.
LINK: http://www.diamondbilliards.com/index.php/accessories/simonis-billiard-cloth
What colors of cloth would you recommend?
We actually had the company Pantone conduct a study about colors to find the best suitable color for playing pool. They found that the color blue is easier on the eyes and it associates with certain personality descriptors like calm, tranquil, constancy, patience, and perseverance.
LINK: http://www.diamondbilliards.com/index.php/accessories/simonis-billiard-cloth
Where does slate come from?
We purchase our slate exclusively from Brazil.
What are the five things people should remember when buying a pool table?
- Playability—test the table. Take a few shots if possible.
- Purchase a hard wood table.
- 1 inch or thicker slate—not imitations like Slatetron or plywood!
- A good leveling system is extremely important.
- Test the rebound of the cushions!
A very special thanks to Chad for taking time out of his busy schedule to offer our readers some help purchasing a pool table.
About the Author: Melissa Little
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