The most common materials used to build a pool table playing surface are slate (rock) and wood. While pool tables all tend to use wood of some kind for the frame, the distinguishing feature for a pool table is whether the bed (playing surface) is made from slate or wood and if wood, what type.
A slate pool table will tend to be heavier, more expensive and harder to relocate and move but also more durable over time. A wooden pool table tends to be cheaper, lighter and thus easier to move but will also tend to suffice for the average person who simply wants a pool table for fun or is on a budget. It also tends to get more easily damaged over time than does slate.
A 7′ or 8′ pool table with a slate playing surface will typically cost $1,800 – $5,000 for most models but you can also find higher end models for $10,000 and more. Slate tables 9′ and larger tend to start at $3,400 and can easily cost over $10,000 at the high end. The greatest availability of slate tables tends to be in the 7′ – 9′ range.
Slate Pool Tables
Slate is typically either extracted from a slate quarry or tunneled from a slate mine. Spain, Brazil, Canada, Italy, USA, and the United Kingdom are all producers of slate. From a pool table owner’s perspective you may not be interested to know that slate is also acid and fire resistant but it does illustrate why slate is often a preferred substance for outdoor use by roofers and for cemetery headstones. It’s very durable.
Slate is a popular choice for higher end pool tables due to its inherent durability and specifically its resistance to stains, scratches and dents. Slate used to build a pool table is typically 3/4″ to 1″ in thickness although the ideal form of slate for tournament pool play is a 3-piece slate with 1″ thickness.
Keep an eye out for cheaper slate tables that may use a 7/8″ slate slab as they often come from China and use a slightly thinner slate thickness than 1″. The difference is often difficult to see with the naked eye. This sort of table might suit you fine but just know what you’re paying for.
Slate Pool Table Advantages
It’s important to note that when discussing a slate pool table we are specifically referring to the bed or playing surface of the table. A high quality slate pool table will use hardwood for the frame. It’s important to remember that due to the weight of slate, a good quality frame ensures an overall high quality pool table. While a slate table may have a wooden frame, the playing surface will typically be either a 1-piece or 3-piece quarried slate bed.
Other than the durability of slate and its resistance to damage as mentioned above, a slate pool table will also tend to last longer than a wood table. It’s less prone to warping and will therefore play more true and offer straight shots each time, over time as the table ages.
A 3-piece slate table specifically has advantages over a 1-piece slate table, too. It offers a better, more consistent playing experience, it won’t warp, it’s easier to transport since it can be taken as three separate pieces and there is less chance of stress fracture than a 1-piece slate.
Slate Pool Table Disadvantages
Slate pool tables tend to be more expensive to purchase and as they are heavier than wood tables, are more difficult to move and relocate. A slate pool table will need to be taken apart to be moved adding to the work involved.
A 1-piece slate table has the further disadvantage of being very heavy since it is one piece. A 1-piece slate is by definition in one solid piece which is heavier than three separate pieces and thus harder to transport especially up or down stairs. A 1-piece slate table is also more likely to have leveling issues and may turn uneven over time over a 3-piece.
Wood Pool Tables
When you read about a wooden pool table you need to look for the specifics. An all-wood pool table might actually mean it is made of another substance that is woodish but not actually wood. A wooden pool table with a hardwood bed or playing surface is your best bet for quality. Many wooden pool tables have a bed made of medium density fiberboard (MDF) or plywood which is cheaper and lower quality but may still suit your needs perfectly fine. You often see written ads for pool tables referring to the acronym MDF without specifying what it is.
You need to look at the material used to make the frame, too. Higher quality wood pool tables will use hardwood for all wood parts like a good slate table. Commonly used woods include oak, maple, mahogany, cherry and ash.
With a wooden bed pool table being lighter (and thus cheaper) than a slate pool table, you may find that wooden pool tables you are looking at also go cheaper on frame material. You may also see frames described as being made from timber, manufactured wood, or other materials that are cheaper than hardwood.
Again, read between the lines and get specifics. When you are told that a pool table is made from wood, you need to get specifics as to what parts are wood and what type of wood is being used. Also ensure that when hardwood is referred to that it isn’t just referring to the finish but the overall wood frame.
Wood Pool Table Advantages
As mentioned above, you first need to learn specifically what type of wood is being used and for what parts ie. bed and frame. Wood pool tables utilize wood or other material for the bed or playing area rather than slate. They tend to be lighter and cheaper but can still offer a good quality pool-playing experience for those who don’t have the budget for a more expensive slate table or simply don’t want to spend as much. Wood pool tables are also easier to move or relocate since they tend to be lighter than slate tables.
Wood Pool Table Disadvantages
Wood is susceptible to humidity, staining, warping and dents among other damage. Wood absorbs liquids that are spilled and this can affect the table over time and change table performance. Wood tables may play slower than slate as well despite what the manufacturer may say. Over time, wood bed tables tend to offer less consistent play than do slate bed tables.
Do You Have a 1-Piece or 3-Piece Slate Pool Table?
Most slate pool tables in the US are 3-slate but 1-slate tables are widely sold as well. A tournament-grade pool table is a 3-piece slate that is 1″ thick.
How can you tell the difference between 1 and 3-slate? Stand to the left of center of the pool table, on the left side of the center pocket. Look underneath the pool table directly at the center part that you were just standing in front of. If you see a gap or seam, this is an indication that you have a 3-slate table.
You can also watch the video below for a visual on how to tell what sort of slate pool table you have simply by standing to the left or right of the center pocket and feeling for the seam on the top of the table.
Final Thoughts
- Slate bed and wood bed pool tables each have positive and negative features.
- While slate bed pool tables are heavier and more expensive, long term they tend to last longer and offer more consistent game play.
- Wood bed pool tables tend to be cheaper and easier to move and while not as durable as slate, they are a good option for the average person who wants a pool table but doesn’t want to spend slate prices.
- To learn more about the pool and billiards industry in general, be sure to visit the Billiard Congress of America website for more information on rules and a history of the sport.