AboutBill Newsted Expertise I can answer questions related to shot-making, aiming, position play, strategies, practice, mental preparation and the psychology of the game. Also, rules as they vary from venue to venue and how to become a winning player. I have experience recovering and maintaining tables and will also answer questions related to cues and billiard equipment. However, I prefer not to make brand recommendations.
Experience I have played for forty years in every state in the US (except Alaska).My experience is largely in pool rooms but I have also played extensively on bar tables and in league organizations. I have directed numerous tournaments up to the professional level and have played several world champion players. I am a former Billiard Congress of America instructor.
Organizations APA
BCA
Education/Credentials B.S. in Visual Communication
M.A. in Education: Career and Technology Education
Expert: Bill Newsted Date: 6/26/2008 Subject: Piecing slate back together
Question I just bought a used pool table and I was hoping to refelt it this weekend. In the move of course we took it apart and the slate is in 3 pieces. Is there a certain kind of epoxy I should buy at home Depot or do I have to go to a specialty pool store?
Answer Hi Trevor,
No, you don't want to use epoxy on the slate. There are three materials popularly used to fill the seams between pieces of slate on a pool table; Beeswax, Durhams Rock-Hard Water Putty, and automotive body filler like Bondo. Each has its benefits. Some people used to use plaster but that was 50 years ago.
The thing to remember is that you want to do all the leveling and positioning of the slate and get it perfect before you cover the seams between pieces of slate. What ever you use at the seams its purpose is only to fill in the tiny gap where slates meet. Seaming material is NOT used to correct a difference in height between two pieces of slate. That needs to be corrected through leveling and bolting the slate in place.
I've switched over to using poly filled resins like Bondo exclusively for seaming table slates. If beeswax has been used previously though it would be easier to use it again. But if the slate is in only fair condition and there are chips or large gaps at the seams I recommend taking the time to clean the old beeswax off by scrubbing it with turpentine. A couple of applications and some elbow grease may be necessary to remove all the old beeswax so the Bondo will stick to the slate. I also recommend mixing just a little bit of acetone into the Bondo to make it just a bit thinner than normal. It goes on like butter and can be sanded to a perfect surface using fine sandpaper. Be careful not to sand the slate.
Most pool tables have tree-piece slates so this is quite normal. It's how we do this.
If you use beeswax get it at a craft store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby where you can by a pound of it for about $10. They really get a big buck for beeswax at billiard supply places. Durhams will be at your local hardware store but maybe not at Home Depot and Bondo is on the shelf at WalMart.
Hope this helps and let me know if you need any more advice.
