DIY: Refelting a Pool Table

After years of wear and tear, you may find it necessary to refelt your pool table. While this can be done professionally, it can cost you upwards of $800. A cheaper alternative is to refelt the pool table yourself. With the right materials and some basic carpentry skills, you can save yourself a lot of money.

Instructions

1

Remove the rails from below the pool table using a socket wrench. It is a good idea to mark their location with a pencil so you know where they go during reassembly.

2

Remove the staples holding the old felt to the underside of the pool table, using a heavy-duty staple remover.

3

Draw a line using a straight edge in the very center of the feather strip (the metal that is used to hold the felt in place). Again, this will be a guide for reassembly. Carefully lift the strip off of the pool table, using a screwdriver, if necessary, to get it started.

4

Remove the cushions from each corner of the table by gently pushing them up with a screwdriver. Set the cushions aside.

5

Lay the new cushion on the edge of the rail and mark the angle of the cut and the curve of the pocket. Each corner can have a different angle, so be sure to repeat this process for each corner.

6

Cut the cushions to the appropriate sizes you marked in the previous step. Use a utility knife, preferably with a new, sharp blade. Take your time and use care in making your cuts.

7

Apply contact cement along the edge of the rail. Wait a few minutes until the cement takes on a whitish shade, then place the new cushion in place, making sure it is as straight as possible and lined up at the corners. Press the cushion down firmly, working out any irregularities.

8

Lay out the new felt evenly across the pool table. The felt should be at least 12 inches longer and 12 inches wider than your pool table.

9

Make two small cuts in one of the long ends of the felt, one at six inches and another at twelve inches. Grab the material and tear it across. The material is manufactured so it won't fray. Set the excess felt aside as it will be used later on to recover the cushions.

10

Repeat step nine on the short edge of the felt. These strips will be used for recovering the side rails.

11

Fold the long pieces you tore off in step nine in half and use the scissors to cut them. These pieces will be used on the cushions.

12

Lay the felt over the cushions and replace the feather strip using the mark you made before as a guide. Starting at one end, move down the strip, gently tapping it into place with a rubber mallet. Don't go all the way, just enough to hold it in place. Keep the felt as smooth and straight as possible. There should be about a quarter-inch of excess felt running down the length of the cushion

13

Cut the excess felt using the utility knife.

14

Hammer the feather strip all the way back in using the mallet. Work your way from one end to the other.

15

Flip the table over and wrap the felt tightly over the side. Starting in the middle of one of the long sides and working your way around, staple the felt in place using the staple gun, making sure it is pulled tight the entire time.

16

Recover the side rails using the felt you tore off in Step 10, using the staple gun to secure it.

17

Cut any excess felt that remains using the utility knife.