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Table Cloth Care & Maintenance

Regular brushing is essential and is a major factor in maintaining a good table performance and appearance as well as making the cloth last significantly longer. Brushing removes dust/chalk particles in the cloth and re-establishes the nap direction.

Always brush in straight lines in the direction of the nap (from baulk line to spot), never against or across, otherwise the direction of the nap will be lost and the wool fibres will eventually bunch together, an effect known as pilling.

It is particularly important not to brush too heavily or use a brush with stiff bristles as this may damage the fibres.

Occasional dry ironing in the direction of the nap only after brushing is desirable as it makes the cloth play faster. How often it is done depends on table usage and temperature within the room but should be done more frequently in humid conditions.

Ironing should only be done after first making sure that the cloth is clean and has been well brushed so that the fibres are laid in the direction of the nap. Otherwise any marks that are not removed during brushing will be set in when the cloth is ironed.

The iron must be clean and should be tested for heat on a sheet of newspaper. If there is the slightest scorch on the paper, allow the iron to cool before use.

Never iron the cushions. Regular brushing is all that is required.

Important advice.

Colour fading will occur as the cloth ages due to ultra violet light, therefore it is advisable to avoid sitting tables near natural daylight, especially direct sunlight. Ideally use a table cover to protect the cloth when not in use and help preserve the brightness of the cloth colour. Hainsworth cloths have a special anti fade dye finish and has proven to keep its colour longer than any other cloth on the market.

Fibrillation

These are white marks which sometimes appear on the cloth.

Wool is a natural fibre with unique characteristics, one being fibrillation. When the fibre’s outer scales are broken down, the inner fibre structure is exposed, reflecting white light and causing white marks. This is basically an optical illusion and if you dampen the white marks they temporarily turn back to their original colour. Chalk dust exaggerates these white marks so brushing and damp blocking will remove most of them.

Fibrillation should not be attributed to a fault in the cloth. Over a period of time the wool fibres become more damaged in the areas of heavy ball contact and this will show marks. This is all part of the natural wear and tear process and has no significant effect on playing performance.

Cue marks

These are small spots which appear when the players cue tip literally ‘shaves off’ the nap surface after striking the cue ball below mid centre, often to achieve a back spin shot. Further still, a careless player could actually rip the cloth with their cue tip when taking this type of shot. These marks are most noticeable on a new cloth but gradually become less prominent as the cloth wears. Always check your cue tips as this type of damage occurs more frequently if the cue tips have become damaged or are badly fitted, also if the edges of the ferrule are rough or sharp.

Table Discipline

Encouraging and enforcing proper discipline amongst table users will also considerably extend the performance of the cloth and help maintain it’s performance.

In particular,

• Do not spin coins, drop balls or heavy objects on the table
• Do not use cues with sharp edges on ferrules.
• Do not drink over the table
• Do not chalk the cue over the table as chalk dust builds up and acts as an abrasive.
• Do not use worn or damaged balls and avoid excessively powerful shots.
• Do not sit or leave cues on the surface of the table.