Shuffleboard Table Set up and Installation

Setting Up and Installing Your Shuffleboard Table: A Comprehensive Guide

Setting up a shuffleboard table can raise questions about the expertise and tools required for proper installation. At McClure Tables, we provide specialized services for **shuffleboard table setup and installation**, but we have encountered a few challenges in this area.

**Understanding the Shuffleboard Table Set Up and Installation Process**

Many companies we collaborate with sell factory-built shuffleboard tables while operating local retail stores. These companies often feel jaded when customers choose a handcrafted, custom-made table from McClure tables rather than a factory-made table from their stock. Moreover, most of them sell only a handful of shuffleboard tables each year, focusing primarily on pool tables. Unlike shuffleboard tables, pool tables require intricate setup expertise, including precise leveling and upholstery skills; attempting this without professional help is not recommended. Interestingly, even employees from these retail stores and many game table manufacturers may lack knowledge about shuffleboard tables. For example, we once encountered a contractor with over 25 years of experience who was surprised to learn that a shuffleboard table should be set up with both ends slightly elevated.

**Why Shuffleboard Tables Are Different**

A shuffleboard table is relatively easy to set up and does not require exact leveling. However, understanding how to make adjustments is crucial, as wood can shift with changes in temperature and humidity. This is why the adjusters on the bottom are called "climate adjusters" and require occasional tuning. For climate adjuster tuning and long‑term care. To learn about wax on a Shuffleboard Table we have all the information you need in our Maintenance & Wax Guide

During our in-house **shuffleboard table setup and installation** service, we take the time to explain to owners how to make these adjustments. The table should have a slight incline at both ends to ensure the puck slows near the end and gameplay remains consistent on both sides. If you attempt to level the table perfectly, you may end up with uneven play.

Additionally, the board itself is concave, causing the pucks to drift slightly toward the center. In fact, we can set up a shuffleboard table without using a level at all! However, when we contract out this service, many installers are not that familiar with shuffleboard tables. One thing, as a consumer, to see if your installer knows what they are doing is: after setting up, they will throw pucks to check the level, and then follow up by giving you the same instructions we do when we set up tables within our area on how to adjust your shuffleboard table.

**Shuffleboard Table Set up and Installation Challenges and Solutions**

The second challenge contributing to the cost of shuffleboard installation is that larger tables may require two to four people for carrying. Installers must also handle the disposal of crate materials and boxes, often spending more time on this than on the actual setup process. If the table is already unpacked, our team can typically set it up and adjust it for play within 30 minutes to an hour. Unloading a shuffleboard table is difficult and requires several people. For delivery timing and freight expectations, visit our Shipping Policies page.”

**Shuffleboard Table Set up and Installation in areas with tight access or up and down stairs **

Setting up a shuffleboard table in homes with tight access, narrow stairways, or sharp turns often requires extra planning, but McClure Tables is uniquely equipped to handle these situations. Many installations involve carrying the heavy, one‑piece playboard down staircases or maneuvering it through tight hallways, and in more challenging cases, customers may need solutions such as two‑piece playboards or cabinets built specifically for limited access. We have several good installation articles on our blog, even showing examples of boards being brought through windows or carried down difficult stairwells to complete the setup. For homes with extreme access limitations, McClure can build custom two‑piece boards connected with a dowel system to ensure proper alignment once inside. These options give homeowners confidence knowing their shuffleboard table can be installed safely and correctly, even in spaces where a standard playboard won’t fit

**DIY Shuffleboard Table Set up and Installation**

We encourage customers to consider setting up the shuffleboard table themselves. If lifting is a concern, hiring strong individuals or a local moving and storage company can effectively assist with the **Shuffleboard Table Set up and Installation**. Anyone with basic handyman skills and the ability to lift heavy objects should find the **shuffleboard table setup** manageable. We also offer a collection of videos with tips on handling the playboard and guidance on setting up and leveling your shuffleboard table.

In conclusion, whether you choose to hire professionals or embark on a DIY shuffleboard table setup, understanding the installation process is key to enjoying this classic game in your home. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can ensure your shuffleboard table is ready for play in no time!

We have a complete library of Videos below for more information on Shuffleboard Table Set up and Installation. Some of these are older, and we mention a couple of things, like brass seam covers, that we no longer use.

This is a longer video, but it shows a full setup of a 22-foot Shuffleboard Table with difficult Installation. Showing how to handel the playboard through a window

FAQs

Setup and Installation

Setting up a handcrafted shuffleboard table is easier than most customers expect, especially if you understand what to expect on delivery day. Whether you're planning to install the table yourself or prefer professional installation, this guide walks you through the entire process — from bringing the components into your home to leveling the playfield with climate adjusters. We also explain your options for handling tight stairways or challenging access points, ensuring your table is installed safely and correctly for years of reliable play.

No, installation is quite simple. Each Shuffleboard Table comes with a set of installation instructions that you can find on the product pages below the description

Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.

Yes, you can place a Shuffleboard Table in a covered sunroom. However, be aware that the board may undergo slight shape changes, such as becoming convex or concave, due to seasonal variations. These changes can be easily adjusted using the climate adjusters, which are designed to ensure the board performs to your preferences. For most users, a Shuffleboard Table in a climate-controlled home will maintain consistency. In a sunroom with higher humidity during the summer, you may need to loosen the adjusters, while during the dry winter months, tightening may be necessary. Please note that we do not currently manufacture outdoor tables.

You need to carefully inspect your room access. Because everything we build is made to order. We have also had to make two-piece 12-foot cabinets and three-piece 22-foot cabinets to accommodate limited access to the room. Additionally, we have videos available that provide more information on moving the tables. You might see this blog post here showing a two-piece board going up stairs. The Lexington and Concord models come standard with two-piece cabinets and boards.

All of our 14-foot-long shuffleboard tables have the cabinet in two pieces. We can also make a 12-foot cabinet in two pieces at an extra cost, or split other models into three pieces. We also offer all our tables with the playboard in two pieces if needed.

Yes, on most models, shuffleboards are shipped with the playboard in a crate and the cabinets on top of that crate. You need to unpack and assemble the table. Our tables are packed very well to ensure they arrive safely at your home, where you will need to assemble them.

Typically, white glove is a term some companies use, and they may have general-knowledge contractors experienced in setting up simple furniture. We try to use experts in the game industry, but you can also consider contracting with a local moving and storage company to pick up your table, bring it out, and set it up. White-glove services lack the expertise of a professional-standard installation service.

Tools Needed to Set Up a Shuffleboard Table

Setting up a shuffleboard table doesn’t require advanced tools or professional‑grade equipment. Most installations only need a few basic items to help position the cabinet, place the heavy playboard, and make the initial climate‑adjuster tweaks. Because shuffleboard tables are designed to be simpler than pool tables — which require specialty leveling and upholstery skills — homeowners can usually complete setup with standard tools and a small team of helpers

Simple hand tools are enough; a good power drill is handy, since the crate has many screws. You need to open. Most of our legs bolt on with Allen screws, and we include that size wrench with the assembly hardware. A simple bullet level will also be handy.

You mostly use the pucks, and it isn't that technical; on longer tables, you want both ends slightly higher. If you are using a level, have the bubble not in the center but favor towards the end of the table. The boards are already factory-set with a slight concave, but you may need to adjust them slightly. See this video on how to level a shuffleboard table.

It is not difficult; we have some dowels like a table leaf, and then some tight-joint allen-wrench connectors on the side that you tighten up. You do not need any specific adjustment; the two pieces will fit together as a glove, and the pucks slide on the wax, not the board. You will feel a slight seam with your hand, but will see no effect on the gameplay.

How Many People You Need to Move and Set Up Your Table

Moving and setting up a shuffleboard table requires careful planning, as the components—especially the solid hardwood playboard—are extremely heavy and must be handled with care. Since all McClure shuffleboard tables arrive by curbside freight, the carrier does not bring the table inside, meaning you must have 2 to 4 strong helpers ready to unload the crate and carry the parts into your home. The playboard alone can weigh several hundred pounds, and freight deliveries require customers to provide adequate labor for unloading and safely maneuvering the table. Larger tables or installations involving stairs, tight corners, or basement access may require additional people or special handling, such as two‑piece playboards or modified cabinet configurations, which are options supported in McClure’s installation practices

Shuffleboard tables include heavy components — especially the playboard, which can weigh several hundred pounds. Because freight carriers only provide curbside delivery, you will need 2–4 strong helpers to move the table from the truck, bring it indoors, position the cabinet, and place the playboard. Larger tables may require additional assistance due to stairs, tight corners, or access challenges. It depends on the size of the table; we recommend two or more people for the longer tables with playboards that can weigh 450 pounds.

Setting up a shuffleboard table is not difficult; anyone with basic handyman skills can do it. However, the playboards are quite heavy, weighing between 150 to 420 pounds depending on the size of the table. The cabinets are long and bulky, so it's advisable to have at least two people to assist with the setup. For larger tables, you may need four people to handle the playboard safely.

Every home is different, and access can be one of the biggest installation challenges. For tight stairways, narrow hallways, or restricted room entry, McClure Tables offers solutions such as two‑piece playboards or two‑piece cabinets on custom builds. Our team can also help evaluate photos of your space to determine the best installation approach