An Olhausen is the kind of pool table people dream about for their game room: solid hardwood, real slate, and built in the USA. A used one puts that same table within reach for less than buying new. But it also raises fair questions. Will it play like it should? Does the lifetime warranty come with it? And how do you know which model you’re even looking at?
Those are the questions that matter when buying a used Olhausen pool table, and the answers aren’t always obvious from a listing. Here’s what we tell our own customers, based on 40+ years of selling, servicing, and moving Olhausen tables across the Delaware Valley.
Why a Used Olhausen Pool Table Holds Its Value
A used Olhausen pool table keeps its value because the parts that make a table play well don’t really age. The parts that do wear are the ones designed to be replaced.
Built in the USA With Solid Construction
Olhausen builds its tables in Tennessee, and most of its home models use solid hardwood like maple or tulipwood rather than particleboard or MDF. Many models also carry Olhausen’s own Accu-Fast cushions, which are made in the USA as well.
That construction is why an Olhausen can go through disassembly, a move, and reinstallation without losing its shape. A well-built frame stays square. A cheaper frame can twist or sag once it’s been taken apart a couple of times, and then no amount of leveling will fix it.
The Slate Doesn’t Wear Out
Most Olhausen tables use 1-inch framed slate. Slate is stone, so it doesn’t warp from humidity, dent from normal play, or wear down over years of games. A 15-year-old slate bed that’s been handled properly plays as true as a new one.
Handled properly, the slate is the one part of the table you should never need to replace.
What Actually Wears: Felt and Cushions
On a used table, the cloth is usually the first thing that shows its age: pilling, a worn path near the break area, or fading. Cushions can lose some bounce over time, especially on older tables or ones kept in a damp basement.
The good news is that both are a refresh, not a rebuild. New cloth is a routine service, and cushions can be replaced without touching the frame or slate. On a solid Olhausen, fixing those two things brings the table back to how it played new.
How to Identify an Olhausen Model and Its Age
Knowing the exact model helps you judge what you’re paying for and whether the table fits your room. With Olhausen, that takes a little detective work.
Where to Find the Model and Serial Information
Most Olhausen tables don’t have the model name or a serial number printed on them. You’ll usually find an Olhausen name plate, but not a model tag. That surprises a lot of people who are used to finding a sticker on the underside of furniture.
Instead, a model is identified by its design details: the leg style, the rail shape, the pocket type, and the wood and finish. Those get compared against Olhausen’s catalogs. Sometimes there’s a date stamped on the underside of the slate or the frame, which helps narrow down the age. This is also where a dealer who has handled hundreds of Olhausens has a real advantage over a private listing that just says “Olhausen, 8 ft.”
Models You’ll Commonly See Used
Our used inventory rotates, but here are a few Olhausen models that have come through our floor recently:
- Olhausen Huntington: Solid maple with clean panel legs and a modern look. It fits well in farmhouse, industrial, and transitional rooms.
- Olhausen Wentworth: Solid maple with traditional carved legs. It’s the classic “heirloom” look many people picture when they think of a slate table.
- Olhausen Pinehaven: A rustic, lodge-style table with knotty wood, heavy post legs, and shield-style pockets.
If a seller can’t tell you the model, photos of the legs, corners, and pockets are usually enough for an experienced dealer to identify it.
8′ vs. 8′ Pro Sizes
Olhausen offers both a standard 8′ table and an 8′ Pro. The Pro 8′ has a playing surface about 2 inches wider and 4 inches longer than a standard 8′. That gives it a feel closer to a tournament table while still fitting in many home game rooms.
Those few inches matter when your room is tight, because you need space around the table for a full cue stroke. Measure your room before you fall for a specific table.
What to Expect When Buying a Used Olhausen Pool Table
When you’re buying a used Olhausen pool table, most of the surprises come from four areas: the warranty, the rails and cloth, how the table is moved, and how it’s inspected.
Rails, Cushions, and Cloth: What’s Normal on a Used Olhausen
Some wear is completely normal and easy to fix:
- Cloth that’s faded, pilled, or worn in spots. Expect to replace it at some point, if the seller hasn’t already.
- Pockets with scuffs or stretched leather. These are cosmetic and replaceable.
- Light finish wear on the rail tops or legs from years of use.
What’s worth a closer look is how the cushions play. Roll a ball firmly into each rail. It should come off lively and consistent on all six. A rail that sounds dull or kills the ball is a sign the cushion rubber needs replacing. That’s a fixable job, but it should factor into what you pay.
Why Disassembly and Re-Leveling Have to Be Done Right
A slate pool table isn’t moved in one piece. The rails come off, the cloth is removed, and the slate pieces are unscrewed and carried separately. At the new home, the slate has to be re-seated, leveled, and the seams filled so the surface plays flat.
If any of those steps is rushed, you get roll-offs, bumps at the seams, or loose rails. That’s why we don’t recommend treating a used table as a DIY move.
A Quick Pointer to the General Inspection Checklist
The checks above are specific to Olhausen. For the basics that apply to any used slate table, like looking for cracked slate, frame damage, and wear patterns, see our full rundown on whether used pool tables are worth it. It covers what to inspect before you commit.
Why Buying From a Dealer Makes a Difference
With a used Olhausen, the table is only half the purchase. The other half is who inspects it, moves it, and sets it up. With a private sale, all of that usually falls on you, and if something goes wrong during the move, there’s no one to call.
Every table in our used pool tables section is professionally reconditioned before it’s sold. We inspect the slate, replace the cloth when it needs it, and make sure the table plays true. Then our own crew delivers and installs it, the same way we would with a new table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a used Olhausen pool table a good investment?
For most home game rooms, yes. The frame and slate are built to last for decades, so you get the playing quality of a premium table without paying for a new one. The key to buying a used Olhausen pool table well is making sure it’s been inspected and installed properly, since the factory warranty won’t carry over to you.
How long does an Olhausen pool table last?
With reasonable care, an Olhausen can last for decades. The slate and hardwood frame are the long-lasting parts. The cloth and cushions will need replacing along the way, but those are routine services, not signs the table is wearing out.
Can a used Olhausen be re-felted in a different color?
Yes. Changing the cloth color is one of the easiest ways to make a used table feel like yours. Options range from standard wool blends to faster worsted cloth.
Is a used Olhausen better than a new budget table?
In most cases, yes. Many budget tables use MDF or particleboard instead of slate, and they don’t hold up to years of play or a move. A used Olhausen with solid wood and genuine slate will usually play better and last longer than a new entry-level table.
What’s included when you buy a used table from a dealer?
It varies by dealer, so always ask. At Royal Billiard, used tables are inspected and reconditioned before they’re sold, with new cloth when it’s needed. Our in-house crew handles delivery and installation. Check each listing or call us for the specifics on a particular table.
Find Your Used Olhausen in Colmar
We’ve been selling, servicing, and moving Olhausen tables for more than 40 years, and our own crew is the one that sets up every table we sell. So when you’re buying a used Olhausen pool table from us, the people who inspected it are the same people who deliver it, level it, and come back if it ever needs service.
Our used stock changes often, so the best way to see what’s available is to stop by our showroom at 515 Bethlehem Pike in Colmar, PA, or contact us to ask about a specific table. You can also browse and buy through our online store anytime.
