Instructions for Installing Pool Table Felt

The felt for a pool table is usually made green to represent the grass of the fields of England and France, where the game of billiards was originally played like croquet on an outdoor court. When installing your own pool table, the way you attach the felt to the slate is extremely important. Bumps, curves or uneven edges can ruin your game. If you follow some basic installation instructions, you will ensure your pool table is smooth enough for a fun and fair game every time you play.

Things You'll Need

  • Washcloth
  • Warm water
  • Pool table
  • Soft towel
  • Felt
  • Staple gun
  • Scissors or knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dampen a soft cloth with warm water and wipe the pool table slate clean. Remove any dust, dirt or other material from the slate to ensure that the felt will lay perfectly flat. Dry with a soft towel or allow to air dry before continuing.

    • 2

      Stand at one of the long ends of your pool table. The short end to your left is the head end; the on to your right is the foot end. You are standing at the right side of the table (from the head), and the long side directly across from you is the left side.

    • 3

      Drape the pool table felt over the table and shift it so that the head end and the left side have only enough felt to secure it to the side of the frame.

    • 4

      Stand at the corner between the head end and left side. Staple the felt to the frame three inches in from the corner on the left side. Apply four staples in a vertical row, each 1 inch apart. This area is now location one.

    • 5

      Stretch the cloth completely across the table to the point on the right side that mirrors the first stapled section. Staple the cloth to the frame the same way you did in step four. This area is now location two.

    • 6

      Repeat the stapling process near the corner between the left side and foot end of the table. Attach the cloth 3 inches in from the corner on the left side; this is now location three.

    • 7

      Stretch the felt from locations two and three toward the corner between the foot end and right side of the table. Repeat the stapling process three inches in from the corner on the right side of the table; this is now location four.

    • 8

      Staple the cloth near the side pockets. Stretch the cloth from location one to the side pocket in the left side and staple into place as before. Repeat by stretching from location three to this same pocket, and on the right side of the table by stretching from two and four to that side pocket.

    • 9

      Move to the side pocket on the left side of the table. Locate the area of the felt that is centered with pocket opening, and cut a small slit in the cloth there with scissors or a knife. Grasp the cloth just above this slit and pull it firmly into the pocket. Staple the cloth to the underside of the frame all around the pocket opening until it is secured in place. Repeat with the side pocket on the right side of the table.

    • 10

      Secure the cloth into place as before, three inches from the corner pockets on the head end and foot end of the table. You should have to secure four more locations, two at each end of the table. Be sure to line the staples up carefully like you did for the first four locations.

    • 11

      Secure the remainder of the cloth at the left side and head end of the table. Staple the remaining cloth to the frame, spacing the staples 3 inches apart for proper security.

    • 12

      Stretch the cloth tightly toward the foot end so that it lays flat against the slate. Secure the remainder of the cloth at the foot end, with staples space three inches apart. Repeat the stretching to the right side and secure; all four sides of the table are now secured with the felt.

    • 13

      Pull the cloth that is covering the corner pockets securely into the pockets and staple to the underside of the frame.

    • 14

      Trim off an excess cloth hanging over the edges or in the pockets with the scissors or a knife.