Anyone can have fun playing pool; you don’t have to be an ultra-fit athlete to participate. A pool table adds a touch of warm familiarity to any setting. It is an entertaining game that requires calculated strategy and intense precision from players. Novices to the game may wonder why the small cube of chalk applied to the cue tip is always blue.
Pool chalk is blue as it adheres to the etiquette and traditions that developed with the game. It is highly visible on the cue ball, so it is noticeable to the referee. Blue chalk dust is not distracting or unsightly on the green surface during play. It is easy to pinpoint blue marks when cleaning.
Part of the charm of pool is that it perfectly blends simplicity and tradition. The small cube of blue chalk is a standard accessory alongside pool tables. Let’s find out why it’s blue and if other colors are ever used.
Why Is Blue Chalk Used In Pool?
While there is evidence of special ‘twisting chalk’ being used in England to apply to cues since the 1820s, it turns out that it was ordinary chalk being cleverly marketed. These early chalks were white, like blackboard chalk.
Blue pool cue chalk as we know it was only developed in 1897 by two Americans, William A. Spinks and William Hoskins. The substance isn’t actually chalk at all but rather a mixture of silica, aluminum oxide, color dye, and glue.
The distinctive blue dye coloring was originally green or green-blue to match the table. Although green residue is less noticeable on the surface, it also makes it hard to see when cleaning.
Blue soon became the color of choice for several reasons:
- Blue cue chalk matched the dark green surface of the table, but it didn’t clash. This made it noticeable but not distracting during play.
- The referee could quickly spot marks on the cue ball in professional matches.
- Colored blocks of special cue chalk made it instantly distinguishable from regular chalk – otherwise known as calcium carbonite.
- Using blue chalk on the green surface makes it easy to pinpoint spots that need to be cleaned without the surface looking patchy and untidy.
Once the custom of using blue chalk was established, it became the traditional color of choice. Although pool cue chalk is available in a range of colors, it is considered good etiquette to use traditional blue chalk, especially at higher levels of the game.
Is Blue Pool Chalk Toxic?
Unlike regular chalk, which is non-toxic if consumed in small amounts, pool chalk is formulated with silica and aluminum oxide. It is a specific chemical brew designed to create a gritty surface on the cue tip. The coating provides grip so that the cue tip makes solid contact with the ball, resulting in more consistent shots.
While most sources indicate that pool cue chalk is non-toxic, a study by the National Library of Medicine revealed that 3 of the 23 brands tested contained more than acceptable levels of lead. Similarly, the Missouri Poison Center specifically lists pool chalk as potentially harmful if it is accidentally consumed.
Fortunately, newer brands are less likely to contain harmful lead content than older ones. Since pool chalk doesn’t have an expiration date and can last for decades if kept dry, it is better to keep it out of reach of children and pets, just in case.
Will Blue Pool Chalk Stain Clothes?
Getting a blue smudge on your clothing is often an inevitable part of playing pool. Fortunately, marks are usually temporary and not difficult to remove. However, wearing your favorite light color shirt for a game of pool is never recommended.
Whether or not blue pool chalk will end up permanently staining clothes depends on a few factors, including:
- Whether it is just a surface layer of residue or if the pool chalk from the blue block, cue stick, or your fingers were rubbed against the garment.
- How long the mark has been on the clothing?
- What cleaning methods were already used? Some, like dabbing water onto it, may set the mark and make it harder to remove later.
How Do You Remove Cue Chalk From Clothes?
The approach to removing pool chalk from clothes will depend on how greatly you value the garment and how deep the marks are. It is never a great idea to wear delicate or valuable clothing while playing pool, as smudges from the blue cue chalk are often inevitable – especially if you are a regular player.
As tempted as you might be to immediately wet a blue cue chalk mark to remove it, that is one of the worst tactics. It could result in the dusty blue smudge becoming a set-in stain.
Always try to shake out as much dust as soon as you notice it. There are some first steps that you should try to move pool cue chalk from your clothing so it doesn’t look too bad and doesn’t become set in:
- Shake the clothing item – if you can’t take it off to shake out, try to agitate and gently beat the fabric around the mark so as much chalk dust as possible comes out.
- If you have a vacuum handy, try to suck off as much of the powder as possible – it may not lift it entirely, but it will remove any loose particles, so the mark will look lighter.
- A soft bristle or lint brush can also remove a lot of surface dust. These are good methods to immediately try to reduce the mark’s appearance, especially if you are out and can’t launder the garment immediately.
Most marks from cue chalk will come out with laundry detergent on a warm wash cycle. Pretreat the smear with a stain remover if it is particularly noticeable.
If you can’t take chances with the garment or if it is made from delicate fabric, have it professionally cleaned. The steam cleaners used by most dry cleaners will effectively remove pool cue chalk.
Is Pool Chalk Available In Different Colors?
Although blue pool chalk is most widely used because of tradition and etiquette, the small blocks are available in various colors. The color does not influence the material’s performance, although being faced with a larva rust color chalk (Available on Amazon below) may affect the mojo of some players who prefer using the traditional blue blocks.
While green pool table surfaces are the most common, they are also available in various colors. Many pool table owners like to use chalk that is the same color as the cloth, so those with black clothes use black cue chalk, green may prefer green color chalk, etc. That way, marks are less obvious, and everything matches perfectly.
Conclusion
Blue cue chalk is the traditional color used in pools. It is easy to notice build-ups of dusty powder on a green playing surface, but the color is not distracting to players and doesn’t look messy. The dark blue color also makes it easier for match referees to observe marks on the cue ball.
