How to Build a Pingpong Table

Some consider it a game, others a sport, but pingpong has long been a popular activity for people of all ages. Fast game play and simple rules are among the reasons for its continued popularity, but there are drawbacks as well, such as the expense of the pingpong table itself. It is, however, easy enough for anyone who's handy with basic tools to build his own table. Doing so costs just a fraction of the price of a manufactured table.

Instructions

1

Measure and then mark four spots for the sawhorse brackets at the corners of the sheet of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). Each of the four holes needs to be 30 inches from the long end of the board and 18 inches from the short side. (Although standard MDF boards are 8 feet by 4 feet, home centers such as Lowe's as well as full-service lumber yards will special order the 9-by-5 sheet you will need for a regulation size table.)

2

Drill holes through the marked spots on the MDF board using a 1/4-inch drill bit. Insert the lag bolts through the holes from underneath so they extend straight up to accept the sawhorse brackets. Secure the brackets with 1/4-inch nuts while making sure they all face the same direction.

3

Cut the 2-by-4 boards into eight, 29-inch lengths to form the legs for the pingpong table. Insert the legs into the sawhorse brackets and secure with the included hardware. Once completed, the 29-inch legs plus the thickness of the MDF board and the sawhorse bracket will provide a standard 30-inch high table.

4

Turn the table over onto its legs with the help of another person. Once righted, use wood filler to smooth any dents left in the tabletop by the lag bolts. Allow to dry and then paint the surface forest green. Or, feel free to use blue, red or black paint instead as all are common colors for pingpong tables.

5

Apply electrical tape to form the white lines for game play. The lines will be applied to the top edge of the tabletop along its entire perimeter, as well as one line that bisects the table lengthwise creating a left and right side, just as on a tennis court.

6

Stretch the net across the center of the table and attach with the included clamps. Using a pre-made net is a wise choice as it's much simpler than trying to make one yourself, as well as being relatively inexpensive and readily available in sporting goods stores.