Pool table assembly is a painstaking process. Once you have built the cabinet and base, you still have to contend with detail work like the rails, apron, pockets and more. Staining all those pieces and adding literally hundreds of finishing touches can take years.

Even avid home hobbyists usually leave this kind of project to the professionals, and with good reason. Probably the only kind of furniture even comparable to a pool table in complexity is a grand piano, and even those don't need to remain precisely level for years to come. Of all the major furniture projects you can undertake, only a pool table demands twin emphases on exacting constructing and gorgeous detail work.

Easier Ways

The good news is that there are some companies dedicated entirely to this kind of endeavor. The best of these manufacture pool tables at a fraction of the rate of the big factories, taking extra care to ensure each product is flawless when it arrives. That means using only the finest 3/4" Italian slate and the kind of thick, worsted cloth you see on TV.

When you work with boutique manufacturers, you will generally have a far better chance of seeing your own designed realized the way you like it. If you are the kind of person who favors individual touches in the products you own, you may be well-served by looking around California and New York for the top-rated private manufacturers. Usually, you can find a stunning product for a fraction of what it might cost to order online through the big table depots.