A Guide to Replacing Laminate on a Pool Table
For a thorough pool table restoration, some individuals choose to refurbish even the hidden areas. Before putting down fresh acrylic felt, you might consider applying new laminate to the table's bed. This job demands careful planning and a steady hand, yet with fundamental skills it can be completed quickly.
By Elliot Bailey8 steps
Some people who restore pool tables choose to refurbish every part, even those that are not visible. Before installing a new layer of acrylic felt, a restorer might decide to re-laminate the table's surface. Re-laminating calls for patience and preparation, but with basic skills it can be done in little to no time.
Laminate is a durable type of surface for countertops, tables and even pool tables.
Step 1
Take measurements of the pool table's bed to determine the size of laminate sheeting you need, and then buy the sheeting from a local hardware store.
Step 2
Do a test fit by placing the laminate over the top of the pool table. The laminate will cover only the bed, not the walls or edges. Use a black marker to trace the outline on the back of the laminate so you can cut it.
Step 3
Feed the laminate into the guides of a table saw, and cut along the traced lines to match the existing pool table top.
Step 4
If the old acrylic felt is still on the table, take it off, then sand the bed first with coarse grit and then with fine grit to remove any bumps or bulges. When you are done, clear away the sanding dust.
Step 5
Put a thin, even coat of contact cement on the back of the laminate, and let it dry until it feels tacky (about 10 minutes).
Step 6
Apply a thin, even layer of contact cement to the pool table's surface.
Step 7
Lay dowel rods across the old table bed every couple of feet, but do not press them down. Place the new laminate over the dowel rods, and position it exactly where you want it to be glued.
Step 8
Starting at one end of the pool table, pull out one dowel rod at a time. After removing a rod, press the bed and laminate together with the J-roller so that no air remains between them.
