Do it Yourself Pool Table

A pool table can be a fun addition to anyone's game room. While many types of commercial pool tables can be purchased and assembled, it's also possible to save some money and have the self-satisfaction of building a table yourself. It doesn't have to be as fancy as some other tables, and you can also customize its size to fit the dimensions of your room. You will, naturally, still need to get a set of pool balls and cues. Does this Spark an idea?

Size, Dimensions and Materials

A standard size pool table used in pool halls measures 9 by 4.5 feet with 30-inch-high legs, but home pool tables usually measure 8 by 4 feet. You can make your table a different size, but a general rule is to make it twice as long as it is wide. The tabletop has the playing surface placed on top of it with that surface covered by the cloth. The surface is usually made of slate, although wood can also be used, and needs to be 4 inches shorter than the table's length and two inches shorter than the width. Billiard cloth is made of wool or a wool/nylon blend called worsted cloth. A full-size table needs 21 to 24 ounces of cloth. The six pocket holes in the tabletop--four for the corners and two for the center pockets--are 3.5 inches in diameter with each hole's center 2 inches away from the table edge. The wooden rails that surround the table edges are covered with vulcanized rubber and billiard cloth on their inner edges. These rails should be long and wide enough to cover all of the table top not covered by the slate and also be 1.5 inches higher than the slate surface.

Construction

Cut the tabletop to the correct length and width, drill the pocket holes and attach the legs before you attach the slate. Position the legs so they are inside the circumference of the holes; start by gluing them to the underside and then nail or screw them from the top. Attaching side boards in between the legs will give them more support. Glue the slate board to the tabletop, centering it properly, and carefully cut away the parts of the board that overlap the pocket holes. Now apply the cloth. Glue it to the surface, stretching it tightly across one corner at a time, and then staple it to the edges of the tabletop not covered by slate. Attach the rails to the table edges, bolting or screwing them in place from the table's underside. Attach nylon or leather netting to the holes to make the pockets.