OVERVIEW
We have a lot of respect for the Olhausen company because they’re a family owned and operated business. That sort of thing is becoming less common these days and the fact that they’ve been able to keep the company in the family for several generations is commendable.
our critique of their tables centers on 3 main concepts.
#1: The Playboard Material. Olhausen does use Maple wood in their playboards but there is an important distinction to make. There is Maple and then there is Hard Maple. Hard Maple scores about 500 points higher on the Janka Scale than regular soft maple. It’s a harder, longer lasting wood which is more difficult (read expensive) to manufacture and ship. So, many shuffleboard manufacturers just don’t use it. They say “maple” assuming that you won’t know the difference.
#2: The Plastic Polymer Playboard Finish. This is a thick plastic epoxy that is poured over the top of your playboard which means you’re essentially playing on plastic. The polymer wears down and can damage easily, and it tends to warp boards. Virtually every shuffleboard manufacturer that uses the poured epoxy doesn’t even bother with a premium hardwood playboard because the end-game is being played on plastic, not the actual wood.
#3: Their use of Dealer Networks. In order to purchase the Olhausen Shuffleboard, you’re going to have to buy the table through a dealer of some sort. This means that you’re paying for added shipping and the commission for the dealer.
COMPARING GOOD-BETTER-BEST
Unlike Olhausen Shuffleboards, At McClure Tables, we don’t use a good-better-best pricing model. That’s because we’re a small craft shop. We build and sell direct-to-consumer with no middlemen or distributors. We only use the best materials in every price range. Whether you buy a table for our entry level price of $3,895 or spend up to $28,000, the cabinet, legs, and playboard are all still made from locally harvested Hard Maple.
For comparison purposes, we’ll compare features on three McClure Models in the same price range as the good-better-best marketing approach.
GOOD
York
Sizes: 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 22-foot
Price Range: Varies by dealer
Playboard: The York has a 16″ wide playboard 2.75″ thick made of Maple
Playboard Finish: 1/4″ polymer resin top
Cabinet Construction: Tulipwood
Tulipwood is a better-sounding name for Poplar wood. Either way, this is a softwood that is used to cut down on manufacturing costs.
Customizations: Finishes
Patriot
Sizes: 9, 12, 14 and 16-foot
Price Range: $3,935-$5,985
Playboard: Hard Maple 20″ wide playboard which is a full 2″ thick (no thick plastic poured epoxy top) and made of North American Hard Maple
Playboard Finish: Lifetime Warranty Traditional Piano Polyester Finish (10 times harder than polymer poured resins)
Cabinet Construction: The Cabinet on the Patriot is constructed of Tulipwood the same type of wood a factory like Olhausen uses on the majority of their shuffleboard and pool table cabinets.
Customizations: Lights, Scoreboards, Score Beads, Cabinets, Wood Type & Finish, and add a logo to any model
BETTER
Breckenridge
Sizes: 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22-foot
Price Range: Varies by Dealer
Playboard: 20″ wide playboard 2.75″ thick made of Maple.
Playboard Finish: 1/4″ polymer resin top
Cabinet Construction: Pine
Customizations: Finish and scoreboard
Pine Ponderosa
Sizes: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22-foot
Price Range: $6,385-$7,585
Playboard: Hard Maple 20″ wide playboard which is a full 3″ thick (no thick plastic poured epoxy top) and made of North American Hard Maple
Playboard Finish: Lifetime Warranty Traditional Piano Polyester Finish (10 times harder than polymer poured resins)
Cabinet Construction: Available in both Oak or Pine wood choose your wood and finish options as everything is handcrafted custom made sold not though dealers but only directly to the end user
Customizations: Lights, Scoreboards, Score Beads, Cabinets, Wood Type & Finish, and add a logo to any model
BEST
St. Leone
Sizes: 14 and 22-foot
Price Range: $26,788-$44,663
Playboard: 20″ wide playboard 2.275″ thick made of Maple
Playboard Finish: 1/4″ polymer resin top
Cabinet Construction: Maple
Customizations: Finishes
Trafalgar
Sizes: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22-foot
Price Range: $25,995-$29,095
Playboard: Hard Maple 20″ wide playboard which is a full 3″ thick (no thick plastic poured epoxy top) and made of North American Hard Maple
Playboard Finish: Lifetime Warranty Traditional Piano Polyester Finish (10 times harder than polymer poured resins)
Cabinet Construction: The Trafalgar cabinet is made out of American Black Walnut
Customizations: Lights, Scoreboards, Score Beads, Cabinets, Wood Type & Finish, and add a logo to any model
McClure Handcrafted shuffleboard tables are simply better build using locally harvested hard maple to make the finest playboards in the Shuffleboard Industry. We are world renowned for our quality and far better value than any factory produced product like an Olhausen Shuffleboard Table.
