Hi Doug,
Online I found assembly instructions for some tables and you can ideas
from that. Stiga uses 25mm MDF (they call it just plain Fiberboard on
their outdoor tables and from 10 to 25 mm Melamin Resin board for
their all weather tables, which I assume shouldn't be left out in the
rain. I don't see why this can't be done and end up with a great
table for under $200. And if something happens to the surface, I'll
be able to replace it.
It seems that getting the wood is possible. My friend's father makes
furniture and I bet he can get me the wood. I'll have to handle the
wood without damaging it.
Actually, once I have the wood and paint it, I can put the two pieces
on some kind of pre-formed legs, especially if the table will be
somewhat stationary. However, I'd rather have it fold up into itself.
I'm not sure if the playback is really practical; what do think? I
think I could get away with making the base out of the pvc pipes.
They're easy to cut and connect and there is no welding, which I
couldn't do anyway.
From the base, I can have the pipe go up to the table top and I think,
by putting two brackets into the wood and two holes through the PVC
tube I can connect the legs from the base with a bolt threaded on two
sides for some kind of nut. I think I can buy the legs for the back
of each top. Of course, I have to put everything in the right place
or else the table will either have a big gap or an overlap preventing
it to open properly.
The base can be made out of 2 or even 3 inch pipe. It needs to be
very sturdy for that mass of wood. I can put casters on them. But
the legs coming up from the base will be smaller so that the
connection to each table top will be easier. The base has to have
some strength because of all that wood and I'd like it to be stable.
Most of the premium tables have a big wood apron around all the edges
except the two edges that come together but even there you can recess
a brace. Are the edges enough to prevent warping They are probably
connected with buscuits and glue.
I wanted the plans was because all this has to fit together without
too many mistakes and planning the sizes and positions have to be very
precise. Could be scary!
Thanks for the invitation to play but I'm in NY. I actually joined
the USTTA about 10 years ago. I went to the US Open when it was in
the Nassau Colliseum and that was quite a thrill.
I know I should probably just by a Stiga table but the idea of doing
this myself is a real kick!
Original from dlcpa
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I am thinking about making my own Ping Pong Table. I want it to be a
good one, like some of the professional tables, so I need 1 inch of
25mm MDF. The two table tops would be 5 x 4 1/2 each, which is not an
easy size to find. Any idea if that can be dound? Looking on the
internet, I did see some wholesalers that have something like 2600mm
x 2260mm or close to that, Some may be moisture resistant.
Do any of you have blueprints for making a table that folds up and
has casters?
I was thinking of using PVC piping instead of square metal tubes for
the legs. How does that sound? They key will be to make it so that
the table tops meet or come within 5/16 to a half inch of each other.
I would think, if I don't use the PVC, making a metal base might mae
the project out of the question.
A good table, made out of 25mm MDF sells for from $500 to $1,000.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Fly-by-Night CC )
I am thinking about making my own Ping Pong Table. I want it to be a
good one, like some of the professional tables, so I need 1 inch of
25mm MDF. The two table tops would be 5 x 4 1/2 each, which is not an
easy size to find.
You might also consider birch cabinet plywood (of the Baltic or
Russian Birch variety) - not your standard Borg plywood - visit a
hardwood dealer supplying cabinet shops. These sheets come in 5'x5'
dimensions and have smooth surfaces with no divots or nasty voids.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Doug Miller )
PS -- if you live in or near Indianapolis, email me offline (see my
sig for the real email address). We oughta get together and play a few
games sometime. And I can tell you where to buy the MDF if you're
still set on making your own table.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Doug Miller )
In article ,
wrote:
I am thinking about making my own Ping Pong Table. I want it to be a
good one, like some of the professional tables, so I need 1 inch of
25mm MDF. The two table tops would be 5 x 4 1/2 each, which is not an
easy size to find. Any idea if that can be dound? Looking on the
internet, I did see some wholesalers that have something like 2600mm
x 2260mm or close to that, Some may be moisture resistant.
The home center stores don't carry MDF any wider than 49", but dealers
that supply cabinetmaking shops do. It's typically available in 5x9,
5x10, and 5x12 sheets. These are all 1" oversize, so a nominal 5x9 is
actually 61"x145", which is long enough to give you two 60"x54" pieces
even after allowing for the saw kerf across the middle.
Do any of you have blueprints for making a table that folds up and
has casters?
Can't help there. But I suspect that you're getting into the territory
where it might be more practical to buy one.
I was thinking of using PVC piping instead of square metal tubes for
the legs. How does that sound?
Better go with _at_least_ 1" Schedule 80 pipe for stiffness. How will
you attach it?
They key will be to make it so that the table tops meet or come within 5/16 to a half inch of each other.
I would think, if I don't use the PVC, making a metal base might make the project out of the question.
You'll need some sort of frame for it anyway, to prevent it from
sagging under its own weight. Aluminum angle might work.
A good table, made out of 25mm MDF sells for from $500 to $1,000.
Any table made of 25mm MDF would fall into the "premium" category, not
"good". Likewise, anything in that price range (assuming you mean US
dollars) falls into the "premium" category. You can get a perfectly
fine table, with a 3/4" MDF top, for US $300 to $400. Here's one
example:
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...ductId=1761289
If you're sufficiently serious about the sport that you truly need,
and can benefit from, a premium table -- and you may well be, for all
I know -- then you're also serious enough about it that, before making
one, you'll want to visit the USATT's web site www.usatt.org and
have a look at the specifications for tables. In particular, I'd think
that, before going to the expense and effort of buying and
transporting a 5x9' sheet of 1" MDF (it's heavy, and you can't lay it
down flat in a pickup truck), you'd want to make sure that it actually
meets the bounce height specifications -- especially making sure that
the ball doesn't bounce too _high_. It probably does meet
spec, but I'd check first if it were me.
And if you're *not* that serious about the sport, then you should be
looking at something *much* less expensive, for example
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...ductId=1334938
You can buy that, or something like it, cheaper than you can make one.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check with some local cabinet shops. They can (if they will) get you
a 5' X 10' sheet that actually measures 61" X 121" so you can get your
desired sizes without losing anything to saw kerfs.
I'm making a very wild guess that in 1" thickness this will cost you
about $80 per sheet.