Is there any advantage of buying a pool table with slatex bed verses a slate other than price?

Question

Is there any advantage of buying a pool table with slatex bed verses a slate other than price?

Answer 1

1 Would be in a month you can still play on slate

The other 2 guys are right its just a toy and a total waste of money if your really going to play on it

Answer 2

Who is the table for?

   If the answer is for kids age 9-16 then maybe get a non slate table.  Kids haven't learned the finesse of the game and will most likely destroy what ever table they play on.   Save the money.

   If you are buying for grown kids or adults a slatron or press board table will not do for many reasons.  First off, the table will not hold a level.  The table is too light and will only wobble more over time.  The play field itself will warp, and make game play frustrating to say the least.  Some brands of non slate tables are completely press board and come completely un-assembled.  Usually the cloth and accessories(cues, balls, etc) are of low quallity.  

  Another consideration is life span of the table.  Quallity tables last for decades and can be re-felted time and again. They can be taken apart and put back together again and again.  The same cannot be said for a press board table.  The press board doesn't hold up to the test of time and disintegrates when taken apart or recovered.  Most table installers won't recover non slate tables because once apart, they may never get them back together.

   Press board tables are great for kids if you are worried about abuse. (P.S. Some adults abuse tables too!)  Slatron tables are also a good way to see if the table would get played.  It would be a bummer to spent $2000+ only to find out pool was only a passing interest.  Buy the cheaper table now and then get a better table when you know the interest is there.  

   Bottom line:  Nothing will play like a real slate table.  If you are a serious player, don't waste your time or money on any n on slate table.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

A pool table with anything but slate is no better than a child's toy. It will not play properly, and it will not hold up for a long time. Unless you're buying a table for your small children to play on, get real slate.