Subject: Billiard Table

From: Clayton Fopp <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 20:18:31 +1030

Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a
billiard table?
Clayton Fopp
Australia
[email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked] (Michael John Hide)
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 15:15:30 GMT

Clayton Fopp <[email-masked]> wrote:

;Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a
;billiard table?
;Clayton Fopp
;Australia
;[email-masked]

Just remember if you get one from the US that it will not be the same
as  a real one[ UK type ],the tables here  are really pool tables
which are smaller and have bigger  pockets which makes every thing
much easier. Hey perhaps thats what you want.
                      mjh

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 22:27:04 GMT

On Sun, 09 Feb 1997 15:15:30 GMT, [email-masked] (Michael

>much easier. Hey perhaps thats what you want.

The man didn't ask about a pool table.  He asked about a billiard
table, which has no pockets, large or small.

Rick Marinelli
[email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked] (Michael John Hide)
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 01:30:26 GMT

;Does anyonr know where I can get hold of or download plans for a
;billiard table?
;Clayton Fopp
;Australia
;[email-masked]
Well after many e mails to various members of the group ,i think I
have finally convinced those who think that billiard tables have no
pockets ,otherwise .
 A good starting point is the web site which at the onset states that
billiard tables have six pockets .
http"//www.bca-pool.com/history/hist.htm  just dont let the word pool
fool you. after all isnt pool called pocket billiards ?

---

From: "Marty Miller" <[email-masked]>
Date: 11 Feb 1997 04:30:04 GMT

[email-masked] wrote in article <[email-masked]>...
> table, which has no pockets, large or small.

Don't know about any plans for a billiard/pool table, but the UK does not
have a monopoly on big tables with little pockets.  The smaller pockets are
typically used for snooker, and can indeed be found here in the U.S.  I've
seen quality billiard/pool tables ranging in length from 6 feet to 12 feet,
with the longer tables for snooker.  If you've ever played snooker, it's a
rather difficult game as compared to the familiar 8-ball played on a 6-8
foot table.  And, billiard table to indeed have pockets, although carom
tables (or carom billiards) do not.

If building a table, you'll probably get the most enjoyment out of an
8-footer.  Plus, most good pool halls in the U.S. use 8-footers (although
there is one here in Cincy that has 12-foot snooker tables), so why not get
good on an 8-footer then go out and win some $$$ to pay for new tools.

-- 
-----------------------------
Marty Miller
[email-masked]
Proprietor of The Triathlete's Web
http://w3.one.net/~triweb

---

From: Jeff Kavanaugh <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 10:48:11 -0800

Depending on where you live the terms billiard, pool, pocket, and snooker
will mean different things. For most Americans the following paragraphs
will apply. The term billiard was used in the early days of the sport to
describe most any table (one with pockets or without). But today it
usually follows the description below (exceptions may apply).

There are 3 different table styles. They are 1) Pocket Billiard
table(pool), 2) Snooker table, and 3) Billiard table (no pockets,
sometimes called a carom billiards table)

A Pocket billiard table has 6 pockets and for regualtion purposes the
length must be exactly twice its width.  There are very specific
measurements for the pocket dimensions (See Billard Congress of America
rulebook). The ball diameter is 2 1/4" (or for rec.ww - 9/4"). The height
of the table surface is another important mesaurement (Again See BCA
rulebook).  This is the table most Americans have played on and can range
>from  3x6, 3.5x7, 4x8, pro 4x8, 4.5x9 and 5x10.  Please observe that the
mesaurements for table size do not correspond to the inside rail to rail
dimension but to a more general overall size. Example: a 4.5'x9' table
will actually meaure 48"x96" from inside rail to rail. The outside
measurement will be closer to 4.5'x9'.

A snooker table once again its length is twice its width. I have seen
tables range in size from 4.5x9 to 5x10 and the English regulation size of
6x12'.  The balls are usually of smaller diameter than "pool" tables and
are 2 1/8".  Therefore the pockets are smaller and have a different
cushion profile (A more rounded entrance to the pocket). The height is
sometimes taller that a pocket billiard table and the cloth used is
different. (It has a nap to it)

A billiard table generally denotes a table that is 5x10' in size with no
pockets, just 4 rails. There are many different "billiard" games that can
be played on a "billiard" table, just as there are many games played on a
"pool" table. One game is called 3 cushion billards which uses balls that
are signifigantly larger and heavier than the 2 1/4" pool table balls.

Sorry for the length of this post but it seemed necessary.  

If one is interested in making a table, how about building a multi purpose
table.  The idea would be to build a 5x10' table with 4x4 timbers for the
supports and a 3 piece slate with pocket drops cut out in the slate. Then
build different rails that bolt thru the slate.  One set of rails would be
for billiards, one set for pool, and another set for Snooker.  This would
be the ultimate setup IMHO. Brunswick used to manufacture such a table. It
was 5x10 and you could buy billiard, pocket billiard, or snooker rails for
it. When bolting on the carom rails the 90 degree corners would cover the
pocket drops.

There are also companies that sell pocket inserts. These are short pieces
of rail that are inserted into the pocket openings so that a 6 pocket
table can now be used as a carom table with no pockets.

One note:  Carom billiards might be a better term to use in the place of
just "billiard".

There are several www sites that might help you plan such a table. Try the
BCA (Billiard Congress of America) site at www.bca-pool.com/hist.htm for
Michael Shamos' quick history of the sport. And try
http://www.bca-pool.com/rules/bca_spec.htm for BCA equipment specs. I
havent found plans for a table on the www.

If you cant find exact plans, try looking at some of the heavier duty
tables such as Brunswick Gold Crown III or the Connelly pro table made
form oak. These will give you good ideas on how to support the slate and
form the legs.  After writing all of this I would rather buy a high
quality table than make my own. But it would definitely be a fun project.

For slate and pocket sources check out billiard magazines such as
Pool&Billiard or Billiards Digest (USA Printed Mags)

Jeff Kavanaugh
[email-masked]