Thread: Restoring Pool table

Hi everyone.
I got a free pool table from a mates dad (It was in his garage for 7 years and he offered to me when I told him I was gongi to buy one!!!)

Its only a 6ft table, and it has a slate top. Its heavy as all bugger and its very old and in bad condition.

The table needs to be sanded down to wood and re stained/varnished or whatever it is you do to a pool table.

It needs new rubbers an felts. i will be getting a pro to come in and refelt and re rubber it, however the sanding and staining I can do.

I have no idea where to start. I will be using an electric sander to take off the current paint (its painted brown...terrible) and get the nice wood grain look back into it. And then once the rough stuff is off I'll sand it by hand.

Could someone help me here. I dont know what type of stain/oil/varnish to use or how to apply it. I was told that you apply the oil stain, and then clear varnish and then sand down, and then revarnish and do that a few times to get a nice mirror finish.

Any other advice would be great as I am still a novoice with wood but I think I can do a decent job.

Oh and does anyone know what height the table should be..the Legs I got with it seem a little small...

Cheers.