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Looking at adding a pool table to my new smoke room. Does anyone have any experience with the $1200 pool tables available at Walmart? Minnesota Fats 8" Covington or similar. Considering my age and player level I'm not necessarily looking for a premium, "forever" table, just something to mess around with while smoking a cigar and watching the ballgame. Any experience with these types of tables?
 
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I use to have one for years and years. Im not sure about walmart billard stuff honestly, you can buy pretty nice name brand tables on craigslist. Putting them together is tedious and leveling slats and the table itself is exhausting. There are a lot of billard companies that can move and put tables together where you want it that charge 150 bucks or so which would be worth it to my patience and back.
 
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Ok. I looked up Walmarts tables and they use wood instead of slate. Im going to say steer away and find a deal on craigslist for a real pool table. People practically give them away.
 
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Can’t say much for those at Walmart. We have a Billiards table we bought new probably 13-14 years ago. It’s a damn nice table I thinks called world of leisure its the brand but I actually think they went out of business. It was about a 4K table that we got for 3k. My pap was really the one who wanted it but they didn’t have room in there house ( my grandparents live in the same neighborhood as me probably 20 houses down so I was very close with them) so my mom and him split the cost. We played a good bit at first but slowly less and then after my pap passed it really just started to collect dust for a while because it made us all sad. Nowadays we might play A a game or 2 a month when I’m home. Personally I’d look at quality used tables in good condition which should be reasonable with $1,200-$1,500.
 
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Also a few things to keep in mind
You will want a slate pool table no matter what, slate is much better for durability, level and playability. You can refelt it if needed.
A table with real pockets and not plastic ones because they will crack fast
Strong rails and no soft spots.
 
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On the other hand for something to play with a $400 table will do i suppose just remember the resale value is pretty much out the window as soon as you buy it and its most likey not going to last long. The problem with wood top vs slate top is they absorb moisture and warp causing the playing field to be ruined. Pool tables have to be leveled to be playable period, and a wood top table if its not warped now, it will be eventually. But if you just want to have some fun and have 400 bones to play with sure go for it. I did see they (walmart tables) are already put together. Just need 2 guys and a truck to get it home and put together.
 
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I'm curious at what humidity the table will warp. It will be in my smoke room so the dehumidifier will be running year round, I normally keep things at 60%. The Minnesota Fats table I mentioned has a 3/4" Durabond Play surface, just haven't found a definition of "Durabond"
 
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I'm curious at what humidity the table will warp. It will be in my smoke room so the dehumidifier will be running year round, I normally keep things at 60%. The Minnesota Fats table I mentioned has a 3/4" Durabond Play surface, just haven't found a definition of "Durabond"
Read its particle board injected with resin. May be a pretty good table from reading reviews.
 
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Just hard to justify a slate table for the additional expense involved.

I keep asking my wife to decide on what furniture she wants in the rest of the house. I'll take what's left over for the cigar room. Apparently the time of day I speak to her determines if I have room for a table or not.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm going to try and find a local shop that works on them and see if they have any used tables at a reasonable price before deciding on the box store tables.
 
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Just hard to justify a slate table for the additional expense involved.

I keep asking my wife to decide on what furniture she wants in the rest of the house. I'll take what's left over for the cigar room. Apparently the time of day I speak to her determines if I have room for a table or not.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm going to try and find a local shop that works on them and see if they have any used tables at a reasonable price before deciding on the box store tables.
Good decision and good luck
 
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Just hard to justify a slate table for the additional expense involved.

I keep asking my wife to decide on what furniture she wants in the rest of the house. I'll take what's left over for the cigar room. Apparently the time of day I speak to her determines if I have room for a table or not.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm going to try and find a local shop that works on them and see if they have any used tables at a reasonable price before deciding on the box store tables.
That would be my suggestion. Craigslist could be useful too.
 
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