How to Disassemble an Old Pool Table for Disposal

While having a pool table in your home can be a major convenience for those who love the game, disposing of a pool table when it gets old and worn out can pose a major challenge. Most wooden pool tables are quite heavy and difficult to maneuver when they are in one piece. With a few basic tools though, a pool table can be disassembled so that it is ready for removal and disposal.

Instructions

1

Take off all of the pockets. To remove the pockets from the table, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the screws fastening the pockets to the wood.

2

Remove the bolts from the underside of each of the pool table's rails with a socket wrench. The size of the bolts varies from table to table, so you must first test the bolts against different socket heads to determine the necessary size.

3

Pull the rails off of the table. If you can see one visible connection point in the center of each side rail, the rails should come off in two U-shaped pieces at either end. If the visible connection points are at each corner of the table, the rails should come off in four individual pieces.

4

Flip the entire unit over if the rails do not come off. Some pool tables are designed so that the rails screw together on the bottom or have some other type of latching system. If this is the case, remove the screws or unlatch the rails and pull them apart.

5

Pry any staples that are holding the felt in place from the edges of the table. If no staples are visible, the felt is likely just glued in place. Gently peel the felt upwards to remove it from the table and expose the screws that are holding the top of the pool table to the wooden frame.

6

Take out any screws that you see. Several screws may be used to hold the top in place or a total of four screws, one at each corner, may be used. If you do not see any screws, look for small plastic or plaster coverings that hide the screws. Use a hammer and screwdriver to remove any coverings and then remove the screws from the table top. Once the screws have been removed, take the top off of the pool table.

7

Turn the wooden frame of the pool table onto its side. Remove the screws that are holding each of the table legs in place, then remove the legs from the table. The disassembled pool table is now ready for disposal.