Help me design and build a ping-pong table

[TKHDebater]

Here's the deal, my roommate and i have been thinking about getting a ping-pong table but after deciding we didnt have $250 to throw down we decided we could build one. We went to Lowes and they said yup, just use some MDF board and that'll work perfectly. The part we're having trouble with is the legs.

How do we creat non-wobbly folding legs cheaply with Lowes material?? I'm an environmental policy major and he's psych so engineering stuff is not really our thing. Any suggestions?

Think we should attache the two haves together in the middle with hinges or just leave them so we can push them together? What do you think the best way to build a ping-pong table would be? The table is 9'x5' and 2.5' high. Thanks

 

[Lash444]

Just lay the MDF on the floor, and then saw your own legs off.

 

[sygyzy]

You and your roommates cannot afford $250 for a table? $250 doesn't even buy you all that much table.

 

[Hankerton]

Throw the MDF board on top of an already existing table with legs......boom done.

 

[Bootprint]

Find premade folding legs, like these.

 

[Beau]

Regulation Table Tennis table is 9'x5'. Your MDF is not large enough

 

[VictorLazlo]

Originally posted by: Hankerton
Throw the MDF board on top of an already existing table with legs......boom done.

Yea, get one of those $30 folding tables from office depot, or something.

 

[FungusFeet]

Originally posted by: Beau
Regulation Table Tennis table is 9'x5'. Your MDF is not large enough

Does MDF come any larger than 4'x8'?

 

[TKHDebater]

no, so we'd have to buy to sheets and have them cut into two table halves

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Beau
Regulation Table Tennis table is 9'x5'. Your MDF is not large enough

Get it somewhere other than Lowe's

I don't know much about the construction of a ping pong table, but this might meet your needs better. The surface would definitely hold up to abuse better.

Edit: I just love the way the new Fusetalk clips hyperlink text...

 

[TKHDebater]

so how do i build cheap sturdy folding legs?

 

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: TKHDebater
so how do i build cheap sturdy folding legs?

With a soldering iron.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: TKHDebater
so how do i build cheap sturdy folding legs?

Buy a cheap folding table and take the legs off. Or buy two sets of sawhorses (Sears has a set on sale for $10) and use them.

 

[nakedfrog]

Just buy some poster mailing tubes and hot glue/duct tape them to the bottom of the board.

 

[DrPizza]

while you're at Lowes, ask them if they have sawhorses. Buy 4. (2 for each half)
I'm guessing around $10 to $15 a pair - buy the brackets that you insert pieces of 2x4's into... cheapest (or the steel sawhorses run around 12 or 13 apiece.)

But, if I were you, I'd just go with a 4x8 sheet of MDF.. Besides.. you're just going to be playing beer pong on it after about a week (once you discover the joys of beer pong)

 

[Imdmn04]

Statics engineering owns you, draw it out on paper first.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: TKHDebater
no, so we'd have to buy to sheets and have them cut into two table halves

Cut both sheets into the proper size and attach high quality hinges at the junction. The crack in the surface will be directly under the net.

Get some metal legs and attach them to the underside at the opposite ends of the hinges.

Make sure that you paint the board with many coats, will create a better surface to play on.
Put some clear coat over the final green base & white stripes.

 

[TKHDebater]

good ideas with the sawhorses and taking apart the folding table for the legs... thanks.

Think it matters what types of paint we use on the table?

 

[pkananen]

i'd say find one used or something

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: TKHDebater
good ideas with the sawhorses and taking apart the folding table for the legs... thanks.

Think it matters what types of paint we use on the table?

I'm not sure, but I'd prime it first. I think I'd use satin paint if it were me so you can clean it, but it's not too shiny. Or you could get a piece of laminate instead of MDF and you don't have to paint it at all.

 

[MikeMike]

MDF takes a LOT of paint to get a decent look.

Maybe build it up, and then fiberglass the top of the table and then sand it down flat, it will make the mdf even more strong. and more bouncy. then sand it down and paint it.

MIKE

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
MDF takes a LOT of paint to get a decent look.

Maybe build it up, and then fiberglass the top of the table and then sand it down flat, it will make the mdf even more strong. and more bouncy. then sand it down and paint it.

MIKE

That's why you can prime it first. Heh.

Regulation paintball says that the ball must bounce 8" when dropped from a 12" height. I'm not sure about successive bounces, but I don't suppose that matters much, since the ball only bounces once on the table per hit (excepting serves, but unless you or the other person sucks, most serves result in continued play).