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How to Repair a Pool Table Cloth

Pocket billiards, or pool, has been a popular game for several centuries. Though the popularity of the game has changed greatly in the past hundred years, the manner in which it is played has not. So too, the manner in which pool tables are repaired and maintained has remained largely the same as it was when pool was first played. Repairing a pool table's cloth covering ensures that you are able to continue playing this popular game.

Things You'll Need

Flathead screwdriver
Phillips head screwdriver
Spray adhesive
Needle
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the decorative casing on each pocket of the table closest to the damaged part of the cloth. You will likely need to work with at least three pockets, unless the damage is directly in the center of the table, in which case you may need to remove four or even five.
- 2
  Loosen and remove the staples holding the cloth down onto the table that were revealed when you removed the decorative casing on each pocket. Do this with a flathead screwdriver.
- 3
  Unscrew the bolts connecting the felt to the railing, from the railing closest to the damaged area. Use a Phillips head screw driver.
- 4
  Gently pull the felt off of the slate surface of the pool table.
- 5
  Examine the damaged area of the felt as it is pulled away from the slate.
- 6
  Begin your repairs. If you are working with a tear, sew the edges of the tear back together using extremely fine thread and don't knot the end of the sewing. If you are working with a run, iron the felt over a towel or small ironing surface with steam at the same ironing temperature you would use for silk. If you are working with a larger bubbled run, attempt to fold and iron the bubbled part together before sewing it over.
- 7
  Spray the slate surface with a gentle spray adhesive and reflatten the repaired felt back over the surface.
- 8
  Rescrew the bolts connecting the felt to the railing.
- 9
  Restaple the felt into the pockets, using the original staples, before replacing the decorative pocket covers.

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