If you own a pool table, you know that the slate refers to the playing surface of the table that is made of clay, quartz, or mica instead of wood. While these types of pool tables are usually more expensive, they are higher quality and will last you longer if you take care of it properly.
When the slate is in more than one piece, you are going to need to fill the seams to make the surface even and playable. It is most common to fill these seams with a certain type of wax because it applies and comes off easily. You can’t just use any kind of wax because not all wax works the same.
If you are thinking about using candle wax to fill the seams of your pool table slate, you should probably think again. It is strongly advised that you do not use candle wax for this job. This is because candle wax is fragile and will shatter easily. It is best to use a stronger wax, preferably beeswax, that won’t shatter under pressure.
What Kind of Wax Do You Use on a Pool Table Slate?
The most popular wax to use on a pool table slate is beeswax. This is what pool table manufacturers will use when they first build the pool table. It has the ability to penetrate through the seams of the slate and cools quickly. This results in a smooth, glue-like bond between the pieces of slate.
To check the current price and availability of Beeswax for a pool table, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
What Do You Use Between Pool Table Slates?
If you are moving your pool table and need to take it apart, you will also need to put it back together. You need to make sure to use the proper materials to ensure the slates stick together properly. If not, the pool table can fall apart and break when you start to play on it.
You will use beeswax between the pool table slates to hold them together. Getting the wax ready to apply is incredibly easy. First, you will need a saucepan that is deep enough to hold three inches of water and the pour pot for the wax.
Add about three inches of water to the saucepan and set it on the stove. Turn the burner on and bring the water to a boil. When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to let the water simmer.
With the help of a pair of tongs, place something like a cookie cutter on the bottom of the pan. This will help keep the pour pot in place and prevent it from touching the bottom of the saucepan and getting too hot.
You can start adding the beeswax to the pour pot. Cut the wax into one-inch cubes so they melt faster. Place the wax in the pour pot and place the pot in the water. Keep an eye on the beeswax the entire time to make sure it doesn’t burn. You will also want to stir to make sure there aren’t any clumps.
When the wax is completely melted, remove it from the heat. Take the pour pot over to your pool table and pour the wax in the seams quickly. The faster you work the better because you don’t want the wax to solidify before you are ready.
If the beeswax does start to solidify before you have finished, you can add the pour pot back into the simmering water to let it melt again. When you are finished with the beeswax, let it sit so it can cool. If there is excess wax, make sure you remove it to keep an even playing surface.
How to Prepare Pool Table Slate for Wax
The first thing you will need to do is put the pool table together with the screws that come with it. Make sure the surface is flat before you do anything else. If the surface isn’t flat, your game will be impacted. You are going to want to use a string to make sure the surface is as flat as possible.
On each end of the slate, place a quarter under the string. This will give you some extra space between the slate and the string to give you a better visual of how flat the surface is. The most important parts to pay attention to are the parts where the pieces of slate meet. If there is any difference in height between these points, there will be a very noticeable seam on the table.
After the surface is flat, you can actually level it to make sure it is all the same height. Check lengthwise first, then check the width. When you are certain the table is level, you can add the wax between the seams.
How to Remove Beeswax for Moving a Pool Table
If you need to move the pool table, you will need to take it apart. This will start with removing the beeswax that is between the seams of the slate. There are a couple of different ways you can remove the beeswax. First, you can use turpentine that is made from pine sap. This will quickly and safely dissolve the beeswax.
You can also use a lacquer thinner to remove the beeswax from the pool table. Since lacquer thinner is a mix of solvents, it can easily take the beeswax off slate surfaces. Do not use this on wood surfaces as it isn’t compatible.
Final Thoughts
Pool tables are really fun to have in your home but moving them can be complicated if you have a slate table. Since slate is so fragile, it is applied to the table in three parts. This makes it easy to take apart and move, but you will need to have the right materials to put it back together.
Some people might say that candle wax is a good option for a pool table, but this isn’t correct. Candle wax is too fragile and can easily shatter. The best wax for the job is beeswax because it is stronger and more durable than most other wax.