Cloth Care &
Maintenance:
Did you know that proper installation of your cloth can
prevent premature wear?
If cloth is installed too loosely, the cloth can
"bunch up" in front of the ball, thus greatly increasing the
appearance of ball burns or white marks on the cloth. Simonis is meant to be
installed tightly over the surface of the slate. This not only provides the
best playing conditions, but it will ultimately increase the usable life of
your cloth.
Typically, white marks
left on the surface of the cloth are referred
to as ball burns. Simonis' high wool content helps to reduce the appearance of
these marks. In addition, we recommend using phenolic balls to further reduce the
appearance of these marks. Ball burns from polyester balls are actually marks
left on the cloth from degradation of the surface of the ball itself. Phenolic
balls are much harder and are much more resistant to heat than polyester balls.
As
always, the cloth and the balls should be kept clean. Any residue that has built up
on the ball or on the cloth will eventually leave marks. Simple maintenance will prolong the
life of your cloth, the aesthetic appearance of your table, and your enjoyment
of the game.
Typically, balls are cleaned with special polishes. It is not usually recommended to use water to clean billiard
balls. Oils from your hands as well as other compounds can build up on the
balls and should be removed regularly.
The cloth can be brushed, but to remove the chalk and
talc powders, it can be vacuumed with a non-rotating brush-head attachment
that does not allow for too much suction to be formed. Some small vacuums
can pick up bowling balls, but this will only stretch the cloth on the table
and possibly harm the grouting of the slates as well. You should test your
vacuum and brush attachment off of the table first to make certain that it
is not going to damage the play surface. Less is more in this department.
After all, you are trying to remove a fine powder from a smooth cloth, so
don't overdo it.
The cloth can also be wiped with a damp (not wet)
clean towel. This should only be done after the table has been vacuumed
otherwise the dampness may cause the chalk dust to clump together (think
of it as adding water to dry clay). Once the dampness has
evaporated, a quick brushing is all you will need before playing as moisture
will cause the fibers in the cloth to stand up and a quick brushing will
smooth things out.
Stains on the cloth? Contact your local Dry Cleaners
as they have some pretty interesting and effective techniques to resolve
these incidents. Remember, Simonis is a worsted wool, so be sure to mention
that fact.
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