"Steve B" wrote in message
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"Joe J" wrote in message
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We're moving and have a Fat Cat 8x4 ft pool table in the basement that I
would like to move. First, anybody know how to contact them? Internet
searching has been fruitless. I'm trying to find instructions on how to
disassemble it. The mover's opinion is that you have to tear off the
felt to get to the bolts holding the slate top in place. That just
doesn't seem right. Anyone have experience taking a pool table apart? I
can't find Fat Cat's web site but that is their manufacture name and
they've been around for years. Assembled weight is over 800lbs.
Thanks

I moved mine, almost by myself except for the pieces of slate.

First, do you just want to move it, or while you have it apart to recover
it?

This is the way I did it on MY table. Yours may be different.

Look under the edges for the bolts that hold on the rails. You will have
to take those off first. DO NOT take the bolts off all the way, just
loosen them. Then, you might have to pull the staples off the leather
pockets if you have leather pockets. Or there may be something holding in
the plastic pockets if you have plastic.

NUMBER EVERYTHING with two numbers on each place, one on the piece, one on
the slate or frame so that when it goes back together, it goes back in the
same place. DO NOT number where it can be seen.

Once the rails are off, CAREFULLY pull the staples with the proper tool,
or just a lot of care so you can reuse the felt. Mark it in some way, as
you will be surprised on assembly how easy it is to lose reference and
wonder if you are putting it back on as you took it off.

YES, YOU DO HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE FELT TO GET TO THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE
SLATE TO THE FRAME. There are countersunk holes in the slate where there
are #3 mondo Phillips screws. Take an ice pick and carefully clean out
the putty so you can get to them. Take one piece of slate loose at a
time, cleaning the holes and the putty along the seams while you have it
sitting there. Again, MARK THE PIECES OF SLATE. I just used a single
line, two lines, three lines, etc that went over the joint making it
simple to put back in the same order.

I have operated a forklift for years. I do not believe that a really good
pool table with slate could be moved IN ONE PIECE, even with a forklift or
a lot of guys. It's going to flex a tiny bit, and that will be enough to
break the seams, or chip the slate. Sorry.

MARK THE END OF THE SLATE AND THE END OF THE TABLE so on assembly, it goes
back the same way.

If you only take off the table top felt, when you put it back on, start in
the middle, at the side pockets. One staple on the side at the pocket.
Then, opposite, stretch it to desired tension, see if it is even, and
install second staple. Go to the end, and do one end in the center, then
the other. It helps to have two people to hold tension on the fabric
evenly while stapling. Then work your way out from center, moving in a
diamond pattern out from center, doing one staple at a time as you draw it
evenly across the table, and evenly towards the corner. If you ever get
out of whack, stop, pull the staples, and go back to where you screwed up.

WATCH THE HOLES IN THE FELT WHERE THE BOLTS GO. These will tell you if
you are putting it back on like it came off, and are your best guides.

Reinstall your rails in a circular motion, rail, pocket, rail, pocket,
leaving them loose. Once you get them all on there, use a stagger pattern
to tighten them, and just come down slowly on the bolts, making sure that
it's straight.

Bounce a ball off the rail to listen for loose rails. Retighten after a
few hours of play, and keep an eye on them for a few weeks.

It's time consuming. It is tedious, particularly if someone has used a
pneumatic stapler and too many staples.

JUST MARK EVERYTHING, WORK SLOW, AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE REFERENCE POINTS
(CENTERS OF POCKETS, BOLT HOLES, OLD STAPLE HOLES, ETC) AND PUT IT BACK ON
JUST LIKE IT CAME OFF UNLESS YOU WANT A LITTLE MORE TENSION.

Recovering the table is another thing.


Thanks to all for the answers. I've got to ponder this. Maybe I'll just
include it in the home sale. But thanks again for taking the time to reply,
especially you Steve B for the comprehensive instructions!!!