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Disassembling a pool table takes the right tools and a fair amount of muscle. A standard home pool table has a wood frame, heavy 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.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Standard Slate Table

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  1. Remove the pocket liners if present. Remove the screws or staples that attach the pocket straps to the table. If you don't have a staple remover, pry the staples out with a flathead screwdriver. Leave the pockets in place for now.
    • This is usually easier from under the table. Wear goggles to protect against falling staples.[1]
  2. There are usually three or four bolts under each rail. Remove them with a socket wrench.
    • Old pool tables may have special bolts with two holes. To remove these, order a forked tool from a pool table supply store.
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  3. Pull apart any rail sections that detach easily and set them aside. If two rails are attached at a corner, flip them over onto the table with another person's help, then pull apart the two sections. Set aside the pockets as well.
    • Set the rails down carefully when flipping them, and take care to avoid bashing the side pockets.
  4. The felt is usually either glued down or stapled to the wood backing of the slate. If it is stapled, remove each staple carefully to avoid tears. If glued, pull the edge of the felt backward very gently (never up or forward), working your way around the table.[2] Once you've removed the felt, fold it carefully. To avoid wrinkles and creases, do not press the fold lines.
  5. These screws are usually at the corners of the table, but could be along the sides and center beam as well.
    • If you find beeswax or putty over the screws, carefully scrape it off with a screwdriver to reveal the screw head without scratching the slate.
  6. Most tables have a playing surface made from three slate slabs, and each one can weigh 250 lbs (110 kg).[3] Get a couple friends to help out and move them as carefully as possible. A scratch or chip in one slate could ruin the table, requiring an expensive replacement for all three slates.
    • One-piece slates can weigh up to 800 lbs (360 kg).[4] Enlist several strong people to help you move these.
  7. Flip the table over and unbolt the legs. Take apart the final lightweight pieces, and you're ready to go.
  8. The most difficult part to transport is the slate tabletop, which is both heavy and fragile. Recruit several strong people to load the slate onto a furniture dolly, on its side. Fasten the slate in place tightly with a furniture strap. If transporting by truck, fasten the strap around the slate and onto the truck slats.[5] If at all possible, load it into the truck using a liftgate.
    • If you put the pool table in storage, choose a climate controlled storage unit, or a room with minimal variation in temperature and humidity. Lay the slate onto plastic sheeting, and tape more plastic sheeting over it. Store the carefully folded felt in a sealed plastic bag, and all other components in moving blankets or other protective materials.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Mechanized or Non-Slate Pool Table

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  1. Remove the rail bolts with a socket wrench and detach them from the table. If two lengths of rail are connected at a corner, you may need to flip them over before you detach them gently. Carefully flip the table over and unbolt the legs. Do not attempt to disassemble the rest of the table without professional help, since removing the coin-operated mechanism can make reassembly difficult or impossible.
    • Some Valley Dynamo coin-operated tables have a metal trim covering the rail bolts. Remove the screws holding the trim in place, slide the trim toward the corner, then lift them up and out.
  2. Most tables with a ball return system are also coin-operated, but some tables from the 1970s or '80s have a simpler mechanism.[6] In some models, removing the mechanism without damaging the table is difficult. Unless you have a manual for your model, leave the ball return mechanism attached during transport.
    • You can usually disassemble the rest of the table as described in the standard slate table instructions.
  3. 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. These are not usually meant to be disassembled, not even by a professional.[7] Transport the table in one piece.
    • Some of these tables have folding legs to make transport easier.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How many slates do I need for a pool table? How much do they weigh?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Generally pool tables will have 3 pieces of one-inch slate, weighing 100-300 lbs each.
  • Question
    What does the ball return configuration look like on a coin operated table?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It varies by manufacturer, but generally open chutes fashioned from metal rails or troughs that mount on the wooden table pieces or other location-designed braces to keep all the troughs at the correct angles to feed the balls to the return tray. Once the upper playing bed is removed, the chutes can be removed, repaired, or disassembled; but, every piece should be labelled as to it's exact orientation and placement to be able to reassemble it. It's not recommended, as any bending of the rails or misalignment of the attachment points can cause problems such as balls jumping the rails or getting stuck during play. Not fun.
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Tips

  • Keep resealable bags handy to hold screws and bolts as you remove them. Label each bag to make re-assembly easier.
  • Most pool tables either have adjustable legs, or small wooden shims to level out the playing surface. You will need to level the pool table again after moving it. Some tables also require shims glued to the side of the slate, to hold it level despite a weak or warped frame.
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Glossary

  • Bumpers: The rubber part of the rail. They are covered with felt.
  • Rail Assembly: Contains the wooden rail, the cushion or bumpers and to which the apron attaches to.
  • Felt: The cloth that covers the playing surface and the rail bumpers. Usually it is a 75% wool 25% nylon blend.
  • Aprons: The wooded segment that attached to the rail assembly.
  • Slate: The playing surface of the pool table. Usually comes in (3) pieces. Can either be wood backed or unbacked.
  • Frame: The base of the pool table which the slate sits on.

Things You'll Need

  • Socket and socket wrench (usually 9/16")
  • Philips screwdriver
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Marked sandwich baggies to place screws and bolts.
  • Drill with screwdriver bit

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 341,652 times.
106 votes - 84%
Co-authors: 14
Updated: December 5, 2023
Views: 341,652
Categories: Cue Sports
Article SummaryX

To disassemble a standard slate pool table, start by detaching the pockets by removing the screws or staples holding them in place. Then, remove the rail bolts underneath each rail using a socket wrench, and lift the rails off of the table. Next, remove the felt on the table by pulling out the staples or carefully peeling it off if it's glued down. Finally, unscrew and lift off the slate bed before disassembling the wooden frame. To learn how to disassemble a mechanized or non-slate pool table, scroll down!

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    Paul Stull

    Jul 24, 2021

    "Thank you for posting this info. My owners have a table in the basement, we think installed in 1950 during..." more
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