Have you ever wondered how to make a ping pong table top for a pool table? This is the best way to use your pool table differently, and it’s not as difficult as you might think.
In fact, with the right strategies, materials, and tools, you can make your new ping pong table top for a pool table.
In this post, we’ll show you how to make a ping pong top for your pool table in 10 easy steps. so without further delay let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Type of ping pong table tops we Can make for the pool table
Type
There are many options to choose from when choosing a ping pong table top for a pool table. A common mistake that all people make is thinking that the surface must be rigid or hard. The truth is the opposite, and it really depends on what you’re going to use it for. You can get all sorts of surface materials, such as wood, vinyl, glass, or steel. The surface should be resilient and flexible to prevent damage.
Sizes
We can create two sizes of Ping Pong table tops for a pool table, one for smaller pools (6 ft. x 8 ft) and the other for larger pools (8 ft. x 10 ft).
Tools and things
To make this DIY ping pong table top, you’ll need these tools
1. Drill
2. orbital sander
To make this DIY ping pong table surface, you’ll need these things
1. one — 4X8 feet ¾ inch plywood
2. Stain — we used Weathered Oak and Minwax Dark Walnut
3. The Polyurethane — Using Rain Guard or Water-Based Helmsman
Spar Urethane
4. Tape — Painters Tape, ( Masking tape) option
5. Four – ¼ inch x ½ inch Coarse Thread Hex Bolts
6. Four– ¼ inch Wood Insert Lock Nuts
7. One – ¼ inches Machine Screw
8. Two – 5 inches Corner Brace
9. One- ¼ inch Hex Nut
10. sandpaper
11. Using one can of black spray paint
12. table tennis table net
13. Grip Tape
how to make a ping pong table top for a pool table in 10 Steps
Step 1: Selecting the Right Wood
It is essential to select the right wood for this project. First, you need to decide which wood is best suited to your needs.
The common types of wood are pine, birch, maple, cherry, oak, and hickory. The type of wood you choose will depend on a few different factors, including price and the look of the end product. If you’re looking to build a cheap, small ping pong table topper, then you can opt for a cheaper, softer wood like pine or cedar. On the other hand, if you want something that’s more durable and will last through the years, then hardwood and plywood like oak or mahogany might be the best bet.
For this project, we are using 4/8” plywood. This plywood is easy to cut and drill, and the thickness will give the ping pong table topper enough support. The piece of plywood has the advantages of being light-weight and easy to find at home improvement stores.
Step 2: Cut The plywood
The process of creating a ping pong table top out of plywood is pretty straightforward. The first step in building a ping pong table top for a pool table is to cut the plywood in half. To do this, you can use a jigsaw, or if you’re feeling extra confident, a circular saw and a straightedge.
Once the plywood is cut, you have to get it into a proper position on the table. This can be done by using a jigsaw or by marking out the edges of the wood with a pencil. After that you have to glue it down with wood glue. Once the glue has dried, you have to use a rotor to cut the grooves at the edges.
Option
if you do not have tools or if you cannot cut the plywood then you have a second option. You can buy 4/8” plywood from the local hardware store. And ask the local hardware store to cut it in two.
Step 3: Pre-Drill One Piece
Before you start drilling, you need to choose the best point in your piece to start the hole. To avoid mistakes, make sure that you are drilling at a perpendicular angle to the wood grain. If you drill a hole at the wrong angle, the drill bit’s tip may end up wandering and causing more damage than necessary.
So the first thing to do when prepping a piece of wood for a drill is to make sure it’s straight. Drill four holes in one half of the plywood to install the wood inserts. For now, just pre-drill do.You’ll install the inserts later. Make sure that the diameter of the holes is a little bit smaller than the diameter of the inserts.
To locate holes, take one of the five-inch corner brackets. Place it on the edge of the plywood and draw marks for both holes using a pencil or pen. repeat the same for the second side. While you’re drilling, you’ll see the pencil line and know exactly where to stop the drill.
You can also do this on a flat surface like a ping pong table. If you’re working with a piece of lumber that’s too big to move easily, then you can hold it in place with your hand or clamp it down with clamps. We extended the curvature of the bracket beyond the edge of the plywood to extend the net.
Step 4: Sand the plywood
First, you’ll want to sand the plywood. Sanding the board makes it smoother and more pliable, which will help it wrap around the ball easier. If you don’t sand the wood first, it will tend to warp and crack as it gets exposed to heat. Also, sanding before painting makes it easier to paint the board flat and level.
You sand the wood by using sandpaper. Sandpaper is a type of material that will take the texture off of the wood and smooth out the surface. There are different grades of sandpaper, which can be used to get varying levels of smoothness. For example, the 80-grit would be suitable for a kitchen countertop but not suitable for a ping pong tabletop. so we will be using 180 and 220 grit sandpaper. which is best for the ping pong table playing surface.
The third point to consider here is the amount of sandpaper you are using to remove surface scratches and other imperfections. If you choose to use medium grit sandpaper, you should do so in a small Increase. If you want to make sure you don’t scratch the finish of your table surface, then use high-grit sandpaper.
Step 5: clean the tabletop
If you’re working with wood, you’ll find that the dust created when sanding will get everywhere. Clean it up! To clean the table tennis table top, you will use a Wet Cloth and You can also use a sponge and microfiber cloth to clean the conversion table tennis top.
Step 6: Stain and paint
You can stain the tabletop first, and then paint it. If you’re using a wooden ping pong table, you’ll need to stain it. There was only one bar in the middle of our favorite table. This is as simple as it gets. We will stain the whole table surface using weathered oak. It will give your table a nice wood-like look. Remember, for the hex bolts and the corner braces we will be using spray paint.
When the stain was dry, put a tape in the middle of the board. We took one straight twin and attached it to the tape. After, on the other side of the tape, we run the razor blade. That is why it is done that the Deep color stain does not bleed. In case the razor blade cuts through part of the tape, So remove the excess tape before staining.
Now it’s time to stain the tape. Start stain on both sides of the tape and leave for a few minutes. Once when the stain is dry, remove the tape and Check the line is clean in the middle.
Step 7: Apply a Top Coat
In the market, there are several types of sealants. but after my research, I found polyurethane sealant, which is the best for the ping pong tabletop.
In polyurethane, we have two brands. first The Rain Guard Water Sealer SP-8002 Wood Sealer Concentrate and the second is Water-Based Helmsman Spar Urethane By Minwax 630500444. and you can choose between two brands. These two brands will make a ping pong tabletop waterproof. And Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane is the option.
The process is simple. We will use a clean brush for this process. First of all, we apply a thin coat, when the first coat is dry. Then we apply a second coat. After that, we will just wait for the second coat to dry. Remember that, you will sand the tabletop after each coat.
Step 8: Install wood Inserts
First of all, take a threaded machine screw. After that, put a hex nut on it. Once you put a hex nut on it then insert them into the wooden insert. Now adjust the hex nut flush with the top of the wooden insert. and then Turn the machine halfway around inside the wooden insert.
In this way, drag all the wood inserts into the holes you drilled before. Make sure the entrances are straight and not tilted.
Step 9: Apply Grip Tape
First, make sure you have enough grip tape available. Second, measure the area under the table that needs to be covered. If there is more than one layer of wood underneath the table, you may need to purchase two pieces of grip tape.
Apply grip tape under your table tennis top. Remember, It is the side that will touch the pool table. By applying grip tape, you will prevent possible scratches on your pool table that may occur when placing this ping pong top on the table. In this way, the ping pong will stay in place. make sure to place the grip tape on the edge of the plywood where it will fit on the rails of the pool table.
Step 10: Install
ping pong pool player, you will understand this part of the pool table well. You need to place the ping pong table top or playing surface in a way that it does not move from its position and that it does not affect the playing pool game.
Net
Fit the net on the ping pong table top. First of all, fit the steel clamps on both sides of the middle of the ping pong table. and then using the steel clamps install the net.
remove the table tennis conversion top from the pool table
when the ping pong table conversion top is not in use you can remove the ping pong conversion top from the pool table. First, unscrew the steel clamps and then remove the net. Once you remove the net then unscrew the hex bolt and remove the bracket. And then keep these things in a safe place.
Is a ping pong table the same size as a pool table?
size
A ping pong table is not the same size as a pool table, right? In fact, it’s the other way around. The pool table measures 45 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 26 inches tall. While the ping pong table is 42 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 21 inches tall. So a pool table is bigger than a ping pong table.
playing area
It depended on both sizes. but generally, A pool table may have a smaller playing area because of its design, but a ping pong table may have a larger playing area than a pool table because of its construction. Read more
Conclusion
when you make a ping pong table top for the pool table. just keep in mind some things. First of all, measure the pool table. Second, select the right wood. The third thing, which type of ping pong table top do you make for a pool table? Besides, follow all the steps in this post. and we hope you have understood all the steps and instructions in this guide. and this guide will help you to make a good pool table.
FAQS
Can I use my pool table as a dining table?
The answer is yes, Pool tables are a great way to bring a new perspective to your home. While you might be accustomed to seeing a billiards table in your living room, you can also use a pool table for other purposes.
The biggest challenge when converting a pool table into a dining table is that it requires extra space. and the second one is you make sure that the table can accommodate four or five people comfortably. In other words, a pool table can afford four or five people along with that eating things, during eating. Besides, a pool table can be a great addition to any room in your house.
Is a pool table the same height as a dining room table?
I would say that pool tables are about 15 inches shorter than dining room tables. So, if you’re sitting in a high chair at the kitchen table, you’ll probably be comfortable at a typical bar height table but not at a typical dining room table height.
What is the difference between a slate pool table and a wood pool table?
A slate pool table is a type of billiards table that is made from slate (which makes up the base of the table) with a wood playing surface. The slate pool table, also known as a “slate-top” table, is much heavier than a traditional wooden-top table.
This is because the slate table top is thicker and wider than its wooden counterpart. Because of this thickness and width, slate pool tables are generally used in high-end homes where a larger table is preferred over a standard wooden table.
What game is played on a pool table without pockets?
The game played on a pool table without pockets is called carom billiards. It’s played using a pool table with no pockets.
Can I turn my pool table into a dining table?
If you are thinking of turning your pool table into a dining table, consider the size of your table. The width and length of the pool table must be the same as your table’s, or you will not be able to use it as a table. after that, just leave it inside your pool table cushion, and it instantly turns into a solid surface for dining.