| | | | | tables, which had once been the privilege of the very |
| Prior to the introduction of MDF into the industry, | | | | wealthy, was that the game of pool was brought to |
| pool tables (as well as snooker tables and billiards | | | | a much wider audience. Whereas before you had to |
| tables) had always been made from hardwoods. | | | | join a club, or be old enough to go to a pub to play, |
| | | | | people could now enjoy the game in their own home. |
| The term ‘hardwood’ designates trees | | | | |
| usually from the deciduous family, and typically | | | | The major disadvantages of using a cheaper, |
| broadleaved. As the name suggests the wood from | | | | manmade composite like MDF are that it is not as |
| these trees is harder and more durable than that | | | | durable as a natural hardwood, and must more |
| from their softwood relations. | | | | susceptible to variations in humidity and temperature. |
| | | | | In order to maintain the appearance of a |
| The most common hardwoods used in the | | | | ‘real’ pool table, these MDF bed tables are |
| construction of pool tables are mahogany, oak, birch | | | | usually finished with a wood effect veneer (typically |
| and rosewood. The durability of these woods makes | | | | of mahogany, rosewood or oak) and domestic quality |
| them ideal for holding the weight of a slate playing | | | | cloth/rubber. |
| surface, without the risk of warping over time. Not | | | | |
| only are these woods extremely hard wearing but | | | | The use of MDF has also extended to some slate |
| the grain and finish of the wood adds to the | | | | bed pool tables. In a similar fashion to MDF only pool |
| character of the finished pool table. | | | | tables, the cabinet and legs of the table are finished |
| | | | | in re-enforced MDF. A wood effect veneer is then |
| Mahogany was particularly prevalent in the pool and | | | | applied to the MDF to finish the pool table off. The |
| snooker industry up until the early 19th century. | | | | two main benefits of finishing a pool table like this |
| When polished it displays a deep red brown finish | | | | are: |
| which darkens over time, and straight grain. While it is | | | | |
| still regarded as one of the best choices for larger | | | | 1. Production costs are kept down, as MDF is much |
| pool tables, intensive deforestation has increased the | | | | cheaper (not to mention environmentally kinder) to |
| cost immensely. The same is true to a lesser extent | | | | produce |
| of other hardwoods, and this has led to the | | | | |
| introduction of MDF as a cheaper alternative. | | | | 2. A much wider variety of finishes can be applied to |
| | | | | the table, rather than just a traditional polished |
| The introduction of MDF to the pool table industry | | | | hardwood as before |
| created a wealth of cheaper, less durable models | | | | |
| which, for the first time, made pool tables affordable | | | | It is a shame that traditional methods of pool table |
| to almost anybody. The main reason for the | | | | construction have dwindled as the need for cheaper |
| introduction of cheaper, smaller pool tables was for | | | | consumer goods to be produced, however as we |
| the domestic consumer market. These tables are not | | | | have seen above it is not all bad news. While |
| hand crafted/finished as their predecessors were, but | | | | reducing the use of hardwoods in pool tables may |
| machine made. | | | | offend some, it has the advantage of reducing |
| | | | | deforestation and preserving the shrinking supplies of |
| The main benefit of the wider availability of pool | | | | hardwoods. |