How To Wax A Shuffleboard Table

 In Shuffleboard Maintenance

How To Wax A Shuffleboard Table

If you’ve never learned how to wax a shuffleboard table, you’ve probably noticed some inconsistencies in your ability to throw a puck. Think back. You’ve just slid the perfect shot, it’s destined to be a hanger and then all of the sudden… The weight’s momentum dies. Stops. Halts. Fineto. To keep your game flowing like a pro, you’ve got to treat your table like a pro.

What Speed Of Wax to choose

  • 9 to 12 foot Shuffleboard Tables choose speed 4 to slow down the pucks
  • 12-14 foot Shuffleboard Tables choose speed 3 for the proper speed
  • 14-18 foot Shuffleboard Tables speed 2 will play fast enough
  • 18-22 foot Shuffleboard Tables speed 1 is the professional speed

Should I choose Brown or Yellow Wax?

The yellow wax has a cornmeal base and the brown wax uses crushed nut shells so if you have any nut allergies in your home choose the yellow speed. However the corn meal will break down faster and does not last as long as the brown nut based wax.

Cleaning The Surface

When you learn how to wax a shuffleboard for the first time, it’s important to start by cleaning the entire surface of the table. At McClure, our tables are topped with a traditional piano finish, which should be treated differently than a plain lacquer shuffleboard. These traditional wood lacquer boards are tougher to clean, while our boards with a polyester piano finish can be handled fairly easily. We use a multi purpose cleaner but if you have an older board where the lacquer has worn off some then you can use something like a Johnson paste wax to help smooth out the dry spots where the lacquer is wearing off. We have a full lifetime warranty on our piano finish materials it is a very thin layer of a much harder surface than the poured two part polymer epoxy boards. But both styles our Piano finish or a polymer board are essentially like a plastic and can be treated like a laminated surface.

How To Wax A Shuffleboard Table1

To clean a table, it’s best to use a soft towel or a shuffleboard brush. Use these handy tools to push the existing wax off the board and wipe away any remaining grains. The best practice for a smooth game is to wipe off the board with a board sweep between match or games. McClure Tables with our Piano finish are designed for more frequent use but after a while the silicone spray layer gets a build up and it is best to clean the board one or two times per month depending on how frequently you use the table. Finish off the cleaning job with a simple spray and wipe of a multi-purpose cleaner or glass cleaner across the whole board.

Silicone Spray

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After you’ve cleared the table, apply a silicone spray in a sweeping pattern across the surface of play. Never use any silicone spray that is not specifically designed for shuffleboards, as it may be too slick or could potentially damage some surfaces.

How To Wax A Shuffleboard Table3

With the entire table coated, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently buff off the remainder with a towel. The silicone spray will work to increase the effectiveness and speed of your shuffleboard table.

How To Wax A Shuffleboard Table4

Waxing The Table

Shuffleboard wax goes by many names; cheese, powder, dust, etc. No matter your preference for jargon, the powdery material made from corn meal and silicone should be spread on your table the same way every time. In a similar swaying motion to the silicone spray application, dust the table with your shuffleboard wax evenly. Depending on your preference, there are two different types of wax (brown and yellow) with varying degrees of speed.

How To Wax A Shuffleboard Table5

With the knowledge of how to wax a shuffleboard table, you can truly tailor your surface to your favorite style of gameplay. After all, it’s important to learn each aspect of the game and work it to your advantage. Knowing a table and treating it properly for optimal performance is key to shuffleboard domination.

Bonus: Need to see how to wax a shuffleboard table in video form? Check out the clip below and learn how to wax your shuffleboard table.

Find out more on how to use Silicone and prepare a shuffleboard table for Game Play

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Showing 41 comments
  • Alps
    Reply

    Wish more companies would provide information as clearly as you do!

    Thanks.

    Alps

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      Thanks Alps! We’re happy you found the guide useful!

      -McClure Tables

  • Victoria
    Reply

    I also wanted to add that you can use the Xyron stekcir maker and print and cut the saints from paper and then run them through the stekcir maker. I only say this because I already have a stekcir maker. I can’t wait to try this!

  • Tom
    Reply

    Thank you for the very clear explanation on how to wax the board . Your explanation of terms was very helpful thank you.

  • Kleyboy
    Reply

    I think that I have read your website fairly well but cannot determine the difference between the brown powder and yellow powder. I have a 14′ table and think we play at an intermediate level, which powder would you recommend we use? Thank you very much !!

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      The Brown powder is always a little faster and does not break down in speed as rapidly. The base however of brown is made with crushed nuts so if any allergies to nuts in the family stick to yellow wax.

  • Christopher S Ortega
    Reply

    These instructions are very helpful for getting going. Thank you.

    One question I have is for ongoing maintenance. After the initial application you have clumpings and areas of wax powder buildup – and dead spots….

    What is the best way of re-treating the surface? Does one brush off the surface so that it is clean? Then apply a fresh silicone spray and more wax?

    Do you clear the wax at all – or just apply more?

    Silicone spray while wax is on the table?

    Thanks!

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      You should sweep off with a board sweep between games

    • Nick
      Reply

      Did you ever get an answer to this question:

      Do you re-apply silicone spray every game, like you do with the wax?

      • Todd McClure
        Reply

        No Silicone can be applied ones per day or week depending on the use of the table

  • Nancy
    Reply

    We are playing and the puck stops short all the time on both sides of the board and the middle

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      Do you have wax even across the board?

  • Phil
    Reply

    What causes the puck to (plow) the wax. I have sun glo pucks that may be worn a little.. They have black spots of wear showing in center of puck playing surface..

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      Could be your pucks are worn, also can be you have too much wax on the table, do you sweep the board clean between games? Also different waxes are better. we do make our own wax and think it is some of the best in the business you can try some here https://www.mccluretables.com/c-10-shuffleboard-wax-spray.aspx

  • darren
    Reply

    how do you stop the puck from plowing the wax?

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      We don’t make pucks ourselves but it has to do with the combination of the puck, perhaps yours are too flat, or often you have too much wax on the table. Most people don’t know you play one game then sweep off all the powder and apply a fresh new coat. The pucks tend to plow less on a light coat of wax.

  • Angie
    Reply

    After we play about 3 games, the puck starts to plow. Do I need to remove all the wax and reapply silicone? The only thing from your video I haven’t done was buff after I apply the silicone.

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      The pucks plow because of tracking do you have a board sweep? You need to wipe off all the powder and start with a fresh clean board sprinkle on a lite coat of wax, once it gets piled up starts to plow.

  • Angie
    Reply

    I just purchased the board sweep. I cleaned it again and applied a light coat of wax. Tried an hour later and it plowed. Could humidity be a factor? I am frustrated.

    • Angie
      Reply

      The table is a poly coated surface

  • Kelly Peek
    Reply

    In the rules of shuffleboard are u aloud to add more sand after game is in play.

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      Not supposed to add during game play

  • Steve Strawn
    Reply

    I am looking for a brush that allows me to redistribute the salt on the board. I used one before that was thin and had separated bristles to allow you to shuffle the board to redistribute your salt. Do you have such a brush?

  • Ward Warren
    Reply

    Wow! This thread is chalk full of good tips!

  • Moe Bennett
    Reply

    I was wondering if the silicon spray and wax has an oder. If so does brown have less of an oder than yellow.
    Thanks Moe

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      No smell on the wax the silicone does I suppose yellow would have more than brown as the base is corn meal verses walnut shells

  • Travis Chafey
    Reply

    What do you do with the excess wax on the sides after your sweep it off? Is it still usable?

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      You can reuse the wax but sometimes the carpet fuzz can get in with the wax people often filter with a window screen type material

  • Paul Laurn
    Reply

    I’ve watched championship play on UTUBE and the players seem to sprinkle a little wax on the area where they release the puck. You’ve stated this is illegal?

    Thanks for all the info!

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      It is up to the tournament director but typically no they do not allow to wax a table in the middle of a game

  • CHARLES BATTIATO
    Reply

    Do you sell the yellow wax that is nut free? I can’t seem to find any.

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      All of our Yellow wax and for that matter any companies yellow wax is nut-free, the base on yellow wax is cornmeal. You can buy our shuffleboard wax here

  • Dave
    Reply

    I have a new table (just built it). I have shuffleboard paste, shuffleboard silicone and shuffleboard powder. What order do I apply those to my table?

  • kenneth money
    Reply

    can i reuse the wax i brush off to apply silicone?

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      Yes you can

  • Dennis Red
    Reply

    Thanks, good information. Have an old table.
    30sor 40s)). 20+ feet long.
    Not playing regularly Since last time I cleaned, waxed ,
    & siliconed it; it hasn’t played as smoothly as previously.
    The cleaner, liquid wax were all purchased for shuffleboard tables but now are15 to 20 years old.
    I’m assuming tha it might have something to do with the change would you please comment & tell me what I should do & what products you could provide?

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      It sounds like a very old table, you might need to refinish the playboard. We don’t sell cleaner or paste wax but a standard Johnson style paste wax you can get from a home supply store. The paste wax is basically substitute for a finish that has worn off, you are trying to wax on a finish or something to fill in dull spots. You might also try some of our wax and silicone.

  • James Hoak
    Reply

    My name is Jim I live at desert Rose retirement center in Yuma Arizona. I probably already know the answer to the question I’m going to present you is there any way possible you’d be willing to donate a small table for us here as we are on limited income and would really like to have something other than just card games and puzzles to deal with if you can’t I totally understand and thank you for your time

    • Todd McClure
      Reply

      I am sorry we do not have anything in stock and would have to make it, if we had something here and you paid shipping we could consider a donation

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