Phil,
I wouldn't risk damaging a slate table by using hydraulic jacks to lift
it as you suggest. I would suspect that the joints between the slate
pieces would at a minimum crack or separate, and at worst the edges of
the slate (which are _very_ crisp, even sharp) might chip. Even if you
could do it safely, chances are it wouldn't be level after you've
finished.
That being said, you could minimize the costs to dismantle and
reassemble the table.
First, you could attempt to dismantle it yourself. The table should be
assembled with screws, nuts and bolts. Just make sure you save
everything and you are careful with the cloth. You don't have to
disassemble every piece, just the main assemblies.
A few things to note. Depending on the size of your table, the slates
can be _very_ heavy (the five slates on my 6x12 weigh upwards of 400
pounds _each_) and since the edges are sharp, you need enough manpower
to lift them safely off the table frame. Note: Slate weighs about 2,691
kg/cubic meter, so you can calculate the weight of the slates yourself.
The joints between the slate pieces usually have some sort of
bonding/levelling material; some of this stuff is soft and some is hard.
Just lift one edge of the slate a little and hopefully the joint will
separate easily. Store the slates on an edge (i.e. _not_ flat) and put
some soft wood between them and the floor. Once the slates are off the
table, the frame itself shouldn't be too hard to lift to get the carpet
out from underneath.
I would leave reassembly to the pros. They have the materials and tools
(especially the machinist's level which 99.9% of us don't have) to do
the job right.
When you lay carpet back down, do what I did: don't lay any carpet under
the feet of the table, but set the table directly on the floor
(actually, on spacers that will lift the table slightly to compensate
for the thickness of the carpet). That way, if (when) you have to
replace the carpet, you don't have to move the table again. If the
carpet is going over hardwood (as mine does), leave the floor under the
table exposed; if the carpet is going over sub-floor or concrete, patch
in matching carpet under the table and seal the seams.
Hope that helps,
John New
London, Ontario, Canada
On Mon, 2006-07-24 at 14:27 -0400, Phil Nase wrote:
> I have to replace basement carpeting which is laid underneath my very hefty
> pool table. The pros want several hundred $ to disassemble and reassemble.
>
>
> Anyone done this themselves without removing the slate? I was hoping to use
> two hydraulic floor jacks in some manner to allow me to lift it enough to
> remove the carpet pad one end at a time. The table is too valuable to
> damage.
>
> Anyone BTDT?
>
> Anyone need an Ohlhausen table?
>
> Phil Nase
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