Snooker Table Restoration

[Snoopy11]

Hi everyone.

Im new to this forum so I would first like to say hi to everyone.... Hello.

Last year I acquired a full size snooker table (12' x 6'), It was in pieces and not in the best of shapes. I made it my goal to restore it to it full potential if not better. My only problem is that I have never done this type of woodwork before (my experience is making dodgy tables). I have had a browse through these forums and taken on a few tips to get me going and start my project. In my opinion it is not looking bad at all! but that is my opinion, I want this table looking perfect! SO.... I thought it was about time I posted this up and got your opinion.

Now... what I want with this table is a nice gloss deep red finish and a red felt. The felt will not be a problem because I will just buy it and get someone else to fit it... The finish on the other hand will not be so easy I think, and I dont even know If it is possible with this type of timber. So my first question is what type of timber is this and is it possible to get what I want out of it??? My second question is what are YOUR opinions on this project and do you have any god like input you could give me to finish this off???

I have attached a range of photos, some before I set the frame up and some after, you will see what the paint job was like before I got it and then some of the sanding I have already done.

Thanks guys
Eli

[antiphile]

Hello and welcome, Snoopy. (Tell Linus and Lucy hi from me next time you see them).

You potentially have one very valuable piece of furniture (as I'm certain you know). I notice Heron & Smith are still alive and manufacturing, restoring and repairing Billiard Tables but hey are now in Milton rather than Roma Street in the City.

On their website they have some antique tables for sale (which need some restoration) for $15,000 and $6,000! Ouch!

It may be a gaood idea to drop in and see them and they'll be able to tell from the pics the particular model, a very close estimate to the age and possibly even the exact provenance of your table. They'll certainly know the wood (from what I saw on their website, it may be Tasmanian Blackwood, but I won't swear to that).

For specialty makers, I've often found that since they love and appreciate high quality goods, they are often really eager to help people with suggestions and advice, and are really interested in seeing you have every opportunity to get it right.

Sorry I can't offer any concrete advice, but I'm really keen to see how this project progresses, so please keep us all informed with your work in progress.

Cheers
Phil

PS. They are here.

[Chief012]

Hi Snoopy,

Welcome and congratulations on the new project. Looks like it will be a lot of fun during and after restoration!

Not sure about the red finish with the timber unless you stain it. No advice from me on that, staining is one step above painting on the crimes against timber ladder in my opinion!

Looks to be Kauri pine to me, and as antiphile suggested I am sure that H&S could confirm that and with the serial number may well be able to provide you with some more infirmation regarding it's age. Depending on how long they keep records! I would guess it was turn of last century - late 1800's - early 1900's. Look forward to seeing how it comes along and would be interested in hearing what H&S said as well!

Cheers

Cam

[Snoopy11]

Thanks for the reply guys,

By the looks of it, it was previously restored by H & S, I havnt been in to see them yet but it is on my "to do" list. there is another plaque up the other end of the table that is much much older and I can only just in the right light make out the the table was in fact made by a bloke called B. WINSTON.

I will definatly keep everybody updated on how it is going.

Not sure about the red finish with the timber unless you stain it. No advice from me on that, staining is one step above painting on the crimes against timber ladder in my opinion!

What do you think would look nice? (Maybe add a picture because im new to all this )


Regards
Eli

[Snoopy11]

found a similar table to mine that isnt in pieces. ( here ) not fetching as higher price as I would have hoped, Nether the less I cant complain since I picked it up for nothing. Will still post up the progress.

Regards
Eli

[China]

Looks like an interesting project it is not realy complicated, I did one a few years ago for a friend, personaly I would strip all the paint off and stain and polish, it is hard to tell what the timber is from the pics, could be mahogany ( one of the various types) do you have the slate etc.

[fubar]

I did mine god was it really 20 years ago. No wonder I cant remember where I got the replacement rubbers and felt (think I asked alcocks here in melb)
It was manufactured by alcocks circa 1908
Solid Jarrah construction
The legs were sanded back to bare timber and finished with an indoor oil did the same for the cabinet
the top rails were sanded back and I used a wipe on poly for a semigloss finish
The toughest part was ensuring that all the top rails were the same heights needed to shim some and plane others.
The 4 peices of slate were in good nick just a few nibbles out of 2 edges used two pack epoxy to fill and a scraper to finish still havent shifted 20 years later
When trimming the rubbers to create the pocket size I left as much as possible to ensure tight pockets
Good luck with yours

[mungomunn]

Nice Table.

Good luck with the restoration. A lot of the timber looks similar to Qld Maple to my eye. Would need to smell it to be sure but that may be a possibility as it was built in Brisbane Qld. Would be good timber for this purpose,

Cheers,

Mungomunn

[billiardbrett1]

Hi Snoopy,

The table, is probably a standard H & S club table judging by the style of leg (possibly an Imperial Billiards table, they both had similar legs). They were a mass produced table design made mainly for clubs. A lot of this style of table found their way into Government facilities for staff recreation in the late 40's, early 50's eg. army staff messes, railway institutes etc. Most of the table manufacturers still around have hundreds of them in storage in their factories that they have traded in over the years and you can pick them up un-restored for as little as $500. You will find a serial number stamped on each major piece of the frame timbers which will give them some idea of the year it was manufactured, if the records still exist. The various billiard companies over the years, as well as private table fitters, used to gouge out the original brass plaques and replace them with their own brand when they worked on the tables. H & S and Imperial were particularly known for doing this. This also makes it hard to trace the origin of a lot of tables.

You may find it difficult getting the red cloth you are after as this is mostly made for smaller tables. You will need to specify that it is for a full sized table when you order it. I would suggest contacting Billiard Imports (07) 3343 5022 as they carry a full range of English cloth and spare parts for full size tables. Don't try and re-cover the table yourself, cloth is expensive and it is really easy to make costly mistakes. If you are going to re-rubber the cushions it would be a good idea to re-block them as well. this will depend on how much damage has been done over the years to the underside of the blocks due to the number of staples used in previous re-covers. Eventually there is little timber left to attach the felt on the underside. This also applies to the ends of the cushion rails which may need filleting so you have some meat into which you can staple or tack the cloth.

If you require some help or advice, I am an experienced table fitter and am on the Gold Coast. Give me a call on 0404287732 if you want to talk about the restore.