How a Routine Simonis Cloth Replacement Taught Me to Disassemble a Pool Table the Right Way

It All Started with a Call About the Simonis Cloth

Last August, I got a call from our office manager. The ball return on our in-house pool table was jamming, and the felt had a noticeable burn mark near the foot spot. She asked me—the guy who handles purchasing—to find a solution.

I’d ordered supplies for our break room before, but never simonis cloth. A quick search showed that simonis 860 pool table felt is the tournament standard. But replacing the cloth isn’t just about buying the felt. It’s about getting to it. And that’s when I realized: I had no clue how to disassemble a pool table.

The First Call: A Crash Course in (Not) Disassembling a Pool Table

I called our usual vendor. “Sure, we can sell you simonis tournament blue for $X,” they said. “But we don’t provide installation. You can figure out the tear-down yourself.”

I was about to say yes when I paused. I’ve learned the hard way to ask: “What’s NOT included before what’s the price?”

“So,” I asked, “do you have a guide? Or can you tell me the steps?” The answer was no. They just wanted to sell the felt. I hung up, feeling stuck.

Honestly, I was kind of annoyed. The vendor’s pricing for the simonis 860 pool table felt was fine, but the total cost—including my time researching, the risk of damaging the rails, and potentially needing a pro—was way higher than the sticker price.

The Second Vendor: Transparent and Honest

I called a different supplier. This time, I asked differently: “I need simonis 860 tournament blue. I’m not a pro. Can you walk me through what’s involved?”

The rep didn’t hesitate. “You’ll need a staple puller, a mallet, and patience. The rails come off first, then the staples. If you mess up the rail alignment, the ball return will never work right.” They offered me a link to a manufacturer guide and even a 5-minute call with their service guy.

It wasn’t the cheapest quote—maybe 10% more on the simonis 860 pool table felt itself. But the transparency was a game-changer. I placed the order.

Step-by-Step: How to Disassemble a Pool Table (From Someone Who Did It Once)

The cloth arrived. A beautiful roll of simonis tournament blue. I laid it out on the table and took a deep breath.

Here’s what I learned about how to disassemble a pool table:

• Step 1: Remove the pockets. This was easy. A few screws, and they came off.
• Step 2: Take off the rails. Each rail is usually attached with bolts underneath. I used a socket wrench. The trick is to label everything. I used painter’s tape and a sharpie. Trust me, you’ll forget which rail goes where.
• Step 3: Gently pull the old staples. I used a flathead screwdriver and some pliers. The old simonis cloth (yes, it was actually an older version) came off in strips. It was basically a fossil.
• Step 4: Remove the old cushion panels? Actually, I hit a snag here. I wasn’t planning on replacing the rubber, but the old staples had left deep grooves. I called the vendor’s tech guy. He said, “You don’t have to replace the whole rail. Just sand down the bumps lightly. Or, if you want it perfect, order new cushion strips.”
• Step 5: Install the new cloth. This is the part where you actually need two people. Stretching simonis 860 evenly is an art. I used a staple gun and followed a guide from a YouTube channel I found.

It took me about 4 hours total, including two false starts where the cloth wasn’t aligned right. The feeling of putting the balls back on the fresh simonis tournament blue surface? Totally worth it.

“I have mixed feelings about doing it myself. On one hand, I saved $200 in labor. On the other, I spent 4 hours and a lot of frustration. But the learning experience was invaluable. If you’re a B2B buyer, knowing how to do this gives you leverage with vendors.”

The Vendor Who Listed All Fees Upfront

Here’s the thing. The first vendor—the one who couldn’t tell me how to disassemble a pool table—assumed I’d just buy the felt and figure it out. Their model was: low price on the product, high cost on the hassle. The second vendor? They listed everything upfront. The felt, the staple pack, the cushion adhesive, even the cost of the phone support call. It looked higher on the invoice, but the total cost of the project was actually lower because I didn’t waste time or buy wrong tools.

This is why I believe in transparency. I’m not sure why some vendors hide information. My best guess is they’re afraid of looking expensive. But in the end, the vendor who tells you “this might be tricky, let me help” always wins my budget.

Final Thoughts: What This Taught Me About Ordering Simonis Cloth

• Always ask what’s NOT included. The price of simonis 860 pool table felt is just the beginning.
• Know your limits. If you have zero handyman skills, hire a pro. I’m average, so 4 hours was fine. but if you’re not careful, you can damage the slate.
• Simonis tournament blue is genuinely great cloth. It plays fast and clean. But installing it right is key.
• Vendor support matters more than a 10% discount. The second vendor earned my trust—and my next order for simonis x1 cleaner.

This approach worked for us, but our situation was specific: a single table, a motivated admin, and a vendor who was willing to help. If you’re dealing with a whole fleet of tables for a bar or a tournament hall, your calculus might be different. You’d probably want a pro to handle the disassembly entirely.

Anyway, that’s how a routine cloth replacement turned into a lesson on how to disassemble a pool table, evaluate vendors, and appreciate the value of a transparent partner. Seriously, the next time you see a simonis 860 tournament blue cloth, remember the guy who spent his Saturday learning how to staple felt.