Olhausen Pool Table Disassembly: A Buyer's Checklist Before You Touch That Wrench

Listen, if you're reading this because you've got an Olhausen pool table sitting in a venue that's being renovated—or maybe you just bought a used one and need to move it—I've got a checklist for you.

I'm the guy who's made the classic mistakes so you don't have to. I've been handling B2B orders for commercial pool tables and game room equipment for about six years now. And in that time, I've personally screwed up the disassembly process on three Olhausen units. Combined? That error cost us roughly $1,800 in damaged parts, rushed tech calls, and lost venue time.

So here's the deal: I put together this checklist for my own team. Now I'm sharing it with you. It covers the exact steps to disassemble an Olhausen pool table safely, the tools you'll need, and the one thing most buyers forget—the thing that'll cost you if you don't plan for it.

Who This Checklist Is For

This is for anyone buying, selling, or moving an Olhausen pool table for a commercial space—bars, entertainment centers, hotels, or corporate event venues. If you're a facility manager, a venue owner, or a buyer who's handling the logistics yourself, this is for you.

I'll be blunt: if you've never disassembled a pool table before, you're about to learn a lesson the hard way. But with this checklist, you'll dodge the worst of it.

Step 1: Know What You're Working With

Not all Olhausen tables are built the same. The brand has a few different cabinet styles—Sheraton, Belmont, Eclipse—and each one has slightly different bolt configurations. Before you touch a single tool, you need to identify your model.

Look for the model number. It's usually stamped on the frame somewhere near the leg joint or on the inner rail. If you can't find it, check the Olhausen website for a model reference. (Should mention: the Olhausen support team can help if you email them the serial number off the side of the cabinet.)

Why does this matter? Because on a Sheraton, the rail bolts are hidden under the corner cap. On a Belmont, they're visible from the side. If you try the same method on both, you'll end up cracking the corner cap—$180 part, plus a two-week wait for a replacement. Ask me how I know.

Step 2: Gather the Right Tools—and the Right Help

You'll need: a socket set (metric and standard), a screwdriver kit, a rubber mallet, a level, and some thick blankets. Oh, and a tape measure.

Here's the thing most people miss: You need at least two strong people. Four is better. An Olhausen table can weigh 800 to 1,200 pounds depending on the model. That's not something you handle with just a buddy and a hand truck. We once had a three-person crew try to move a 10-foot model. Bad idea. Ended up tilting the slate—$450 in damage plus a 1-week delay while we waited for a replacement slab.

Step 3: Drain and Remove the Ball Return Tray

If your table has a ball return system—which most Olhausen commercial models do—you need to empty the ball tray before you do anything else. This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people skip it.

Why? Because if you lift the table with the balls still in the tray, they'll slide around and jam the return mechanism. Or worse, they'll fall out when you tilt the slate. We saved a $900 repair by catching this once.

Just open the top, scoop the balls out. Takes two minutes. Do it.

Step 4: Unbolt the Rails—Carefully

This is where most people make the rookie mistake. Most buyers think you can just unscrew everything at once. Nope.

Start with one rail at a time. Remove the corner caps (if applicable), expose the bolts, and unscrew them. Keep the bolts organized—I use a ziplock bag for each corner. Label the bag with a marker. Trust me, you'll thank yourself later when you're reassembling and can't figure out which bolt goes where.

Also: some rail bolts are longer than others. On the Eclipse model, the center rail bolts are a quarter-inch longer than the corner bolts. If you mix them up, the shorter bolt won't thread properly and the longer one can pierce the rail cloth. Another $200 mistake.

Step 5: Remove the Slate

The slate is the heavy part. Most Olhausen tables use three-piece slate—each piece weighs about 75–100 pounds. That means you're handling them one at a time.

Slide the slate sections off the frame, starting from the middle. Don't try to lift them straight up; you'll strain yourself and risk dropping them. Instead, slide them onto a blanket or a padded dolly.

One more thing: the seam between slate sections is usually held together with wax. Don't pry the sections apart with a screwdriver. That'll crack the slate. Use a rubber mallet to gently tap them apart. Slow and steady.

Step 6: Disassemble the Frame and Legs

Now that the slate and rails are out, you're working with the frame and legs. Unscrew the leg bolts (they're usually large hex bolts) and separate the legs from the frame.

Keep in mind: the frame itself is heavy, so you'll want to lift it as a unit, not try to move it piece by piece. Use furniture sliders if you need to move it across the floor.

Step 7: Pack and Label Everything

Okay, so you've got a pile of parts: rails, slate, frame, legs, bolts, corner caps. Now what? You pack them carefully.

Wrap each slate piece in a moving blanket and secure it with tape. Wrap the rails separately—they have cloth that can tear if something rubs against them. Put the bolts in labeled bags. Take photos of the table before disassembly—you'll want those for reassembly.

And here's the thing I learned the hard way: Label the slate pieces. Mark them with a piece of tape: "Section A," "Section B," "Section C." When you reassemble, you'll match them up by the seam alignment. Trust me, you won't remember which went where three weeks later.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Alright, I've made these errors myself. Learn from them:

• Don't disassemble in poor lighting. I once started at 7 PM in a dimly lit bar. Misidentified a bolt head. Stripped it.
• Don't skip the ball return tray. Most buyers focus on per-unit pricing and completely miss setup fees, shipping, and disassembly costs that can add 20% to your total.
• Don't assume you can do it alone. The question everyone asks is, "How hard can it be?" The question they should ask is, "How much do I value my back?"

People think disassembling a pool table is simple because it looks like a big piece of furniture. Actually, the precision required—especially with Olhausen's Accu-Fast surface—makes it more like a piece of sports equipment. The perception of quality is directly tied to how carefully you handle it. A scratch in the cloth from a sloppy disassembly? That's the first thing your customer notices when the table's back in action.

Bottom Line

Disassembling an Olhausen pool table isn't rocket science, but it's not a job for someone who's never done it before. Use this checklist. Take your time. And if you're buying a used Olhausen for your venue, budget for a professional movers or at least four strong people.

When you're looking for headphone deals or trying to figure out how to lose weight on a treadmill, this checklist is the opposite of that—no shortcuts, just careful work. The $50 you save by doing it yourself might not be worth the hassle if something goes wrong.

Good luck. And if you have questions about specific Olhausen models or want to know how to prep your venue for a commercial pool table, drop me a note. I've got stories.

Pricing is for general reference only. Actual costs vary by model, venue, and local labor rates. Verify current Olhausen model specifications at olhausenbilliards.com.