The removal of that old pool table is not quite as simple as throwing out an old hat, but once you take into account its condition and get in touch with the appropriate people, it will be out of the house in no time. Continue reading, you will learn more about pool table removal.
Table of Contents
How to Get Rid of An Old Pool Table?
Here are two methods listed as follows.
Standard Slate Table
The pockets should be taken off the table. If you have any, take the pocket liners out. Take out the staples or screws holding the pocket straps to the table. The staples can be forced out with a flathead screwdriver if you don’t have a staple remover. Put the pockets in place for the time being.
- Usually, doing this from under the table is simpler. To protect your eyes from flying staples, put on goggles.
Each rail’s bolts should be unbolted. Typically, each rail has three to four bolts under it. Use a socket wrench to remove them.
- A special bolt with two holes may be present on older pool tables. A forked tool can be ordered from a pool table supply shop to remove these.
Rails and pockets should be taken out. If any rail segments come apart easily, remove them and set them aside. If two rails are joined at a corner, flip them over onto the table with the assistance of a second person, then separate the two pieces. Also, set the pockets aside.
- When flipping the rails, be careful not to damage the side pockets and set them down carefully.
The slate bed’s felt must be separated. Usually, the felt is either stapled or glued to the slate’s wood backing. If it is stapled, carefully remove each staple to prevent tearing. If glued, pull the edge of the felt backward very gently (never up or forward), working your way around the table Fold the felt careful after removing it. Do not press the fold lines to prevent creases and wrinkles.
- Consider tearing off the worn-out felt during reassembly and replacing it with a new felt if necessary.
Utilizing a drill, remove the slate screws. In addition to the center beam and sides of the table, these screws may also be found there.
- If the screws are covered in putty or beeswax, carefully scrape the material off with a screwdriver to expose the screw head without damaging the slate.
Each slate should be raised and set aside. Three slate slabs, each weighing up to 250 lbs (110 k), make up the playing surface of most tables. Ask a couple of friends to assist you in moving them carefully. A ding or chip in one of the three slates could ruin the table, necessitating an expensive replacement for all three.
- Slates in one piece can weigh as much as 800 lbs (360 kg). To move these, enlist the aid of several powerful people.
The frame should be disassembled. Detach the legs’ bolts and turn the table over. You can now proceed after disassembling the last few small components.
The slate should be moved with caution. The slate tabletop, which is both heavy and fragile, is the part that is most challenging to transport. assemble a group of strong individuals to help you tip the slate onto a furniture dolly. Using a furniture strap, firmly secure the slate in position. If using a truck, secure the strap to the slats of the truck and around the slate. Use a liftgate if you can to load it into the truck.
- When storing a pool table, go with a climate-controlled space or one with little temperature and humidity variation. Place the slate on top of the plastic sheeting and cover it with more plastic sheeting using tape. The neatly folded felt should be kept in a sealed plastic bag, and the other parts should be wrapped in moving blankets or other protective materials.
Mechanized Or Non-Slate Pool Table
A coin-operated table should only have its rails and legs removed. Using a socket wrench, remove the rail bolts and separate them from the table. You might need to flip two rail lengths over before gently separating them if they are joined at a corner. Flip the table over carefully, then remove the legs’ bolts. Without expert assistance, do not attempt to disassemble the rest of the table because doing so could make reassembly challenging or impossible.
- The rail bolts on some Valley Dynamo coin-operated tables are covered by metal trim. After removing the screws holding the trim in place, slide it toward the corner and then lift it up and out.
With ball return systems, exercise caution. Some tables from the 1970s or 1980s have a simpler mechanism than the majority of tables with a ball return system, which is coin-operated. It can be challenging to remove the mechanism from some models without harming the table. Keep the ball return mechanism attached while being transported unless your model comes with a manual.
- As stated in the typical slate table instructions, you can typically disassemble the rest of the table.
Non-slate tables must be transported intact. If your pool table surface is made from fiberboard (MDF), wood, or any other non-slate material, it is most likely a low-cost “disposable” table. Even a trained professional shouldn’t attempt to disassemble one of these. The table should be transported intact.
- To make transportation simpler, some of these tables have collapsible legs.
What Are the Tips About Old Pool Table Remove?
You might be considering selling your old pool table if you just bought a new one or if you need to make room in your den.
Sell the Old Pool Table
if it’s still in good shape. You can do this by placing an ad in the newspaper, auctioning it off online, or contacting potential buyers directly. Keep in mind that you might be in charge of transporting the pool table to the buyer.
Your old pool table should be renovated before being sold. You might be able to get rid of it and make money at the same time if it’s in a condition that can be easily fixed but has seen better days. Rolling a cue ball in a straight line from various points around the table is a great way to assess its condition. If the ball doesn’t roll straight, there is likely structural damage to the table that will be challenging and expensive to repair. But if the table’s side only needs a few minor scratches here and there, refurbishing it might not be too difficult.
Give the Old Pool Table Away.
In the newly renovated den, it might seem a little raggedy, but in the neighborhood community center, it might fit right in. Before throwing something out with the trash if the recipient doesn’t want it, see if friends and family are interested.
Call Local Removal Services
Call a local garbage removal service if the pool table is too worn to be used any longer. A pool table cannot be left on the curb and is expected to be picked up. If you call in many cities, there’s a good chance someone will come out to get it—or at the very least, they’ll let you know who can.
How Much Does Removing a Pool Table Cost?
A pool table removal typically costs around $400. Disassembly may be an extra expense in some circumstances. The size and type of pool table you need to be removed will affect the cost of the removal.
Do Old Pool Tables Come Apart?
Pool tables do come apart, though it’s a fairly labor-intensive process. A pool table requires at the very least the removal of the legs in order to be removed. You will also need to remove the rail bolts, rails, pockets, and slate top if your table is too big to fit into corners.
A drill with flathead and Phillips head bits, socket and ratchet wrenches (14mm and 15mm), a staple puller, several furniture dollies, moving blankets, and tape are all necessary to disassemble a pool table. Work with at least one other person to lift the table onto two furniture dollies after the legs have been taken off. You can move the table more conveniently with the help of the dollies.
We provide professional disassembly as an add-on to our stress-free pool table removal service if you lack the necessary tools or are uncomfortable taking apart a pool table yourself.
What Charities Pick Up Pool Tables?
When you have an old game table that is still in good shape, you probably want to know how to get rid of a pool table but also want to see it go to a new home where it will be well used. Many youth organizations like Boys and Girls Club or The United Way would love to have a pool table for the kids to play with, but might not be able to pick it up from your home. To see if they can pick up your old pool table for donation, you can also try contacting nearby churches, community centers, centers for troubled teens, or even group homes.
Pool tables typically have a donation or recycling option, but you might need to make some calls to find someone who needs it. An international junk hauler like LoadUp can assist if you hit a brick wall! We always try to find the best possible way to dispose of your unwanted stuff, including donating working items to charities.
Conclusion
It takes the right equipment and some serious strength to disassemble a pool table. Typical pool tables for homes have a wood frame, a thick slate bed, and leather drop pockets. Coin-operated tables, tables with ball return mechanisms, and tables with a fiberboard surface are much harder to take apart.