Slate is a natural rock that is formed from sediment. After millions of years of geophysical pressures, the sediment hardens into a rock. This rock is quarried from a variety of countries including Italy, Portugal, Spain, China and Brazil. It is important to note that slate is a natural substance. It has no exclusive origin. When properly mined and processed, it will provide an excellent playing surface for any table.

Slate is quarried from the ground in 7 ton blocks. Then it is moved to factories to be processed for specific pool tables. Once at the factory the blocks are cut into slabs of the required thickness. The slabs are then cut into three pieces and kept together for a matched set. The slate is now put through a computerized diamond honing machine that will grind both sides of the three pieces to +/- .0010 of an inch (half the thickness of a human hair) thickness of each other. Finally the slates are processed through state of the art drilling, pocket cutting, and beveling machines. At the end of the process the matched slates are crated together and allowed to cure prior to shipment.

Thanks to slates particular characteristics it is a unique irreplaceable material for playing surfaces of pool tables. It’s ability to absorb moisture keeps bed cloths dry providing a faster playing surface. Since it is pliable, it can be accurately leveled. Most importantly, slate is the only playing surface approved by the BCA for tournament play.

Slate is the most expensive component of a pool table. For this reason you’ll want to make sure you are getting the best quality for your money. Here are a few things to look out for when purchaseing a slate table.

Oversized full slate extends completely under the top rail, allowing the rail to be securely fastened directly to the slate. This provides a seamless bond and virtually eliminates any opportunity for vibration or misalignment. Short slate is a slate that doesn’t mount directly to the rail. The rail instead mounts to a wooden frame surrounding the slate.

The thickness of slate can vary but seven and eight foot tables should use a minimum of 3/4” thick slate and nine foot tables should use a minimum 1” thick slate. This is necessary to keep slate from warping between the cabinets bracing spans. Theoretically a cabinet can be built up to allow for thinner slate but then the table would not have the proper weight needed to keep it level. A heavy table is necessary so players can’t bump it off level during play.

Every major billiards competition has been settled on slate. That’s because slate provides the smoothest playing surface, and the truest roll. And that’s the same reason that slate is an essential component for any quality pool table. No other surface offers the performance, tradition or value of slate.

A slate support frame is mounted between the slate and the cabinet. The frame is used to aid in leveling the slate, squaring the cabinet, and attaching the cloth.

The frame itself can either be glued directly to the slate or mounted to the cabinet. A frame that is glued to the slate is usually made up of separate pieces of wood and does not aid in leveling or squaring but does provide a place to attach the cloth. This glued frame can sometimes split, crack or warp resulting in an uneven playing surface. Since it is glued to the slate there may be no way to replace it without damaging the slate.

A cabinet mounted frame can be made from separate pieces of wood or one seamless piece. Separate pieces will aid in leveling and cloth attachment but not in squaring the cabinet. The only way to get all three is with a seamless frame. Seamless frame’s are perfectly square allowing the cabinet to be mounted squarely to them. They also better aid in leveling with no interruptions of any seams or joints that will cause irregularities under the slate. In the unlikely event that a cabinet mounted frame fails it can be removed from the cabinet and replaced.

The frames are usually 3/4” thick hardwood or composite lumber. Hardwood frames tend to warp while composite lumber is 65% denser then hardwood with the same fastener retention values and is machined surfaced to the same tolerances of slate +/- .0010 of an inch. Plus it will not warp or crack and maintains uniformity regardless of changes in climate conditions.

Billiard cloth is a special blend of materials formulated for use on pool tables. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as billiard felt due to it’s texture. However felt is an inexpensive fabric made by pressing piles of fiber together. It will fall apart instantly if used on a pool table. Billiard cloth is made of several blends of thread woven together that will last years on a pool table.

Most billiard cloth is a blend of around 75% wool and 25% nylon woven together. The wool is responsible for the fantastic play and the nylon is what supplies the strength. This wool/nylon blend has proven to wear better and still maintain professional playability.

The secret to high quality billiard cloth is in the weave. A tighter weave makes a better cloth. To determine how tight the weave is ask for a cloth sample and hold it up to the light. You should see little to no light come through the cloth. A quality billiard store should also have comparison samples of cheap cloth. On comparison the weave on the cheap cloth will have more gaps and allow a lot of light to pass through it.

The finished cloths weight is determined by putting a linear yard (62”x36”) on a scale. It can be as light as 16oz.  and as heavy as 22oz. but don’t be fooled, a heavier cloth doesn’t mean a better cloth. Since cloth can be made up of different material blends, these materials can make up different weights. Hence a heavier cloth.

Finally billiard cloth is available in over 30 different colors, enabling you to color coordinate a pool table to fit any decor.

Pockets are a very important aesthetic and structural part of any table. The look and fit as well as their durability is an important concern.

You should look for high grade, soft, flexible, American made leather pockets. They play quietly and last for years. Imported pockets often use cheap hard leather which may crack on impact and become brittle and break.

Some pockets use die cast irons while others use sand cast irons. A die cast iron is precision made exactly the same way every time. This means that the first iron is exactly the same as the millionth iron. Every screw hole, size, bend, and turn is the same. However, no two sand cast irons are the same. This causes uneven gaps and heights between the rails and pockets. Sand casting is an outdated, inexpensive and inaccurate product.

Above all always make sure to get the brand of pockets that the table manufacturer recommends. They have built their rails to ensure an exact fit with that brand of pocket.