Instructions for Pool Table Felt

Clean the pool table slate with a soft cloth dampened in warm water to remove dirt, dust and other surface contaminants that could ruin the lay of your pool table felt. Allow the table to dry completely, or dry it with a soft towel, before continuing.

Stand at one of the short ends of your pool table. Designate this end as the head end, and the other short side as the foot end. All directions of "left" and "right" will be from the position at the head of the table.

Drape the pool table felt play-side (the smooth side with no nap) up across the table. Adjust the felt so that only enough cloth for attaching hangs over the head end and left side. The majority of the felt should hang from the foot end and right side of the table.

Staple the felt cloth on the left side of the table, five to six inches from the corner where the head end meets the left side. Hold the felt against the wood frame of the table and staple the felt in place three to four times, about two inches apart.

Move directly opposite your first stapling spot, on the right side of the table, five to six inches from the corner where the head end meets the right side. Pull the cloth taut from your first staple position. Staple the felt in place with three to four staples as before.

Go back to the left side of the table. Move to the opposite end of the side, five to six inches from the corner where the foot end meets the left side. Pull the cloth taut from the first staple position and staple the felt into place with three to four staples.

Move directly opposite your third stapling spot, on the right side of the table, five to six inches from the corner where the foot end meets the right side. Pull the cloth taut from the previous staple positions and staple the felt into place with three to four staples.

Stand by the side pocket in the center of the left side of the table. Pull the cloth tight from the head end of the table and staple the cloth in place two to three inches from the pocket. Repeat on the foot side of the pocket. Continue to use three to four staples, spaced about two inches apart, for proper hold.

Repeat step eight on the right side of the table with the other side pocket, stapling first from the head end of the table and then from the foot end.

Move back to the side pocket on the left side. Using a utility knife, cut a small slit in the felt where it lays centered over the pocket. With this slit as the marker of the center of the pocket, tuck the cloth tightly against the pocket and under the table. Staple the cloth in place to the underside of the table, using as many staples as necessary to hold the cloth in place tightly against the pocket.

Pull the cloth tightly to the opposite side pocket, and repeat step 10 on the right side of the table.

Move to the head end of the table. Stretch the cloth tight and staple it into place on the head end, five to six inches from each corner. Staple with three to four staples placed two inches apart, as before. Repeat this step on the foot end of the table to secure the cloth in place.

Start on the left side of the table, at the corner where the left side meets the foot end. Hold the cloth taut and staple the cloth into place every three inches up the length of the left side. Work your way around the table, continuing across the head end, right side and finally the foot end. Make sure the felt is taut as you go along.

Work through the corners of the table. It does not matter which corner you start with. Pull the cloth into the corner pocket area and staple it securely to the underside of the table. Continue until the cloth completely and tightly covers all four corner pockets.

Cut off all excess felt with the utility knife.