Moving a pool table without taking it apart is a challenging task.
Ardent pool players will certainly like to know how it’s done since taking a pool table apart and reassembling it is intricate, onerous, and tedious.
There is a high risk of damaging the pool table in the process.
However, there is an easy way out.
The Basics of Moving a Pool Table
If you want to haul the pool table over a short distance, for instance to the next room, then it does not make sense to pull it apart.
Before delving into the details, bear in mind that moving a pool table on your own is not exactly the best idea. Unless you have experience in moving heavy stuff, you should consider calling an expert for this job.
Pool tables are not just heavy, but they are also surprisingly fragile. One mistake can lead to major defects like a warped or broken surface. There is even the risk of a serious injury, accident, or property damage while moving a pool table.
Moving pool tables requires physical prowess and meticulous planning in equal measures. Although the deed can be done if you take due care, the task certainly involves strenuous effort and a lot of precaution as well.
If you want to accomplish this arduous task independently, then here’s how you can move a pool table without taking it apart.
Preliminary Precautions When Moving a Pool Table
Keep in mind from the very beginning that your pool table will remain intact if you move it over a very short distance.
For instance, if you want to take your pool table out of the room to lay a carpet, you can do so without dismantling the table. However, if you want to take your pool table to a different floor, then there is no choice but to dismantle it.
Of course, all doorways and passages that come in the way should be wide enough to let the table through. If not, there is no choice but to take your table apart.
So, you should carefully examine the path along which you will haul the pool table. Take measurements of all doors and passageways that the table will pass through.
You will also need a couple of helpers to assist you with the moving process. The table is both big and heavy so you should not try to move it on your own.
With more hands-on, the deck, the risk of injury and damage will reduce.
Get the Gear to Move the Pool table (Furniture Dollies)
You must keep at hand about 4 furniture dollies. There are a few good models that you can opt for at Amazon. They are sturdy, reliable, and inexpensive.
Moving heavy furniture with these dollies is much easier and far less painful. The task won’t exactly become a cinch but the burden will be substantially reduced.
One good practice is to wrap the edges of these dollies in fabric or carpet. With this measure, you will avoid inadvertently scratching the pool table legs with these devices.
Keep the dollies right next to the pool table legs. Putting the dollies in position will allow you to slide them beneath the legs easily.
Clear the Path
Make sure that the area is clear and uncluttered so that you face no difficulties while loading the table on dollies.
In particular, you must be careful about any folds in the carpet, if the floor has any. Carpet folds can severely hamper the movement of dollies and frustrate your efforts.
Also, throw away any pieces of cloth or fabric lying around. They can entangle the dolly wheels and stall the moving process.
When all of this is done, you are ready to load the pool table on the dollies.
Load the Pool Table on the Dollies
Lift the pool table from one of the longer sides. Two legs will rise above the ground. The pool table will be extremely heavy so you should take the help of assistants.
Do not attempt to lift the table alone. Too much strain might result in a serious pull or back injury. There is also the risk of damage. With more hands, the risk of injury and damage will be mitigated.
Since you and your assistants will be lifting the pool table together, two legs will be lifted off the ground. Hence, you should keep helpers ready at both of these legs so that they can immediately slide in the dollies as soon as the legs come off the ground.
So after you are done with lifting one long side, there should be two dollies beneath the legs of this side.
You can then repeat the process for the other side to place the remaining two legs similarly.
When the table leg is lifted off the ground, your helpers should slide a dolly underneath it. When the dollies are in place, you can gently lower the pool table so that the leg settles firmly in the middle of the dollies.
Do not attempt to lift the table and roll the dolly underneath simultaneously. This is very risky and extremely difficult.
How to Lift the Pool Table
Make sure that you and your assistants take proper care to reduce the chances of a back injury.
Do not lift with your back – that is, by hunching over and then straightening your back. You should never attempt to lift anything heavy in this way. Rather, you should use your legs. Here is how you do it.
Lower yourself by bending your legs. Keep your back straight. Straighten your legs (while keeping your back straight) to raise your body while firmly clasping the pool table side with your hands to lift it safely.
Lock the Dolly Wheels
After you have placed the legs from one long side on the dollies, you should lock these dollies so that they remain stationary and do not move.
This is an important safety step that you should not miss. Otherwise, when you apply force to lift the pool table from the other side then the dollies might move.
Locking the wheels of the dollies will ensure that they remain in one spot as you heave from the other side.
Lift the Other Side
You should repeat this process for all the legs of the pool table. Following these steps and safety measures will allow you to efficiently and safely load the pool table on dollies.
Before repeating these steps for the other tasks, ensure that all dollies are next to the legs and that your helpers are ready to roll them in place when the legs are lifted.
Unlock Dolly Wheels
Once all the legs are securely installed on dollies, the pool table is ready to traverse a short distance. To enable this, unlock all wheels of the dollies.
Recheck the Passageway
Make sure that the path is all clear. If there is any bunched-up carpet in the way then straighten it out lest it hampers the movement of the pool table.
Moving the Pool Table
While exerting force on the pool table to move it, keep its high inertia in mind. High inertia simply implies that the object is not easy to stop. So even if the pool table gathers moderate speed, it may prove too difficult to stop. Therefore, move it slowly to keep its movement under control.
You may need to exert a high amount of force, to get the table to budge. But once the pool table starts moving, the force to be applied will be somewhat less. That is because static friction is higher than rolling and sliding friction.
Keep in mind that moving the pool in a straight line is relatively easy, but navigating it around corners is not.
As with the lifting process, you should not attempt to roll the pool table on your own. Enlist the help of able-bodied assistants for this task.
Unload the Pool Table from the Dollies
Once your pool table has moved to the new spot where it is to be installed, you will be faced with the job of unloading it from the dollies.
Before heaving the pool table off the dollies, make sure that you have it in the right spot. Once you take it off the dollies, the pool table will be very difficult to move.
Lock the wheels of the dollies to ensure that they do not move anywhere while everyone is exerting force to unload the pool table.
Also, have two helpers ready by the pool table to remove the dollies when the legs are raised.
To remove the dollies under the pool table legs, lift the table along one of its long sides with the help of your assistants. When the legs on that side lift a little, the helpers should remove the two dollies from under them. When this is done, you should try to place the legs back on the floor as gently as you can. Make sure that the landing is as soft as possible because if it is too violent then the pool table may suffer damage.
When you are done with one long side, you can repeat the same process for the remaining long side.
The pool table will now be in its new place.
Inspect the Pool Table
Once your pool table is in its new position, you will have to inspect it to make sure that it is fine. Moving the table around can damage it.
Check all the screws and bolts to ensure that they are all tight. These should turn out to be fine.
You will have to carefully inspect the level of the playing surface before playing a game.
If the pool table surface is not perfectly level, then hitting the balls along one side may be easy will striking them in the opposite direction may be problematic due to the slight incline.
The best and most convenient way to check the level is by placing a flat plate of smooth glass in the middle of the pool table. You should then put a marble in the center of the glass surface. If the level is fine, the marble will remain stationary.
Carry out the same test by placing the flat glass plate on all sides and corners of the table.
If you do discover a problem with the surface level, then you will need to mend it on your own or get professional help.
Conclusion
Once again, it is best to seek professional help to move a pool table without taking it apart. This will minimize the risk of injury, damage, and inconvenience.
Moving a pool table in this way is not for everyone, so it is best to play it safe and leave it to the professionals.
You may also like the following articles about Pool/Billiards:
- Exact Room Size Requirements For Pool Tables
- How Are Pool Tables Measured?
- Can You Put a Pool Table Outside?
- How To Maintain Your Pool Table: Ultimate Pool Table Maintenance Guide
- Can You Put Pool Table On Vinyl Plank Flooring?