A ping-pong table can be made in just a few hours and is bound to inject loads of healthy fun into holidays.

 

 

 

 

Quick project guide

Hard labour 3/10
Skill level 4/10
Time needed about four hours
Finished size ±2470mm (L) x 1525mm (W) x 760mm (H)
Do it yourself for under R1 500

Project notes

• We used just one sheet of 16mm supawood for the top.
• We used 70 x 22mm pine lengths for the construction of our two foldaway base frames.
• As an alternative, you could use six regular pine trestles (two positioned at each end of the table and two placed at right angles in the middle to support the ‘join’).

Shopping list

Tabletop
• One sheet 16mm supawood cut to: four 137 x 762.5mm

Hinged bases
• eight 2400 x 70 x 22mm and two 3000mm pine lengths cut to: twelve 622mm lengths; eight 1200mm lengths; four 1306mm lengths

Plus

• wood glue
• four T-hinges
• piano hinge
• 70mm chipboard screws
• 16mm chipboard screws
• masking tape
• 60 grit and 120 grit sandpaper
• primer and paint
• paintbrush or foam roller

Get started

1 Place all eight 1200mm lengths alongside one another. Measure and mark a line across these 70mm from all the ends, on both ends. Use the trisquare to ensure the ends line up.

2 Use the 10mm spade bit to drill two countersunk holes at each end of both 1200mm lengths and 1306m lengths. Place the 10mm spade bit over the width of the plank and wrap a piece of tape around the bit to mark the depth to which you should drill the hole. We drilled ours about 40mm into the 70mm width so that 40mm of the 70mm chipboard screw would extend into the adjoining timber.
 

3 Fix the 622mm lengths between the ends of the 1200mm lengths and 1306mm lengths to make up the six frames needed for the two fold-away base units (see diagram). Glue and screw the ends together using the 70mm chipboard screws.

4 Construct all six frames. Measure 580mm from one side of the 1200mm lengths to mark the position of the hinges. Fix the T-hinges to the frames using the 16mm chipboard screws.

5 Measure the lengths of piano hinge and cut to size. Separate the four 1370 x 762.5mm lengths into pairs and lay them side-by-side along their length. Position the piano hinge – overlapping their lengths – and fix in place.

6 Lightly sand the edges. Apply a primer. Coat both sides of the boards and edges, to prevent warping.

7 Use masking tape to mark out the lines. Now paint the darker colour. Apply two coats for a smooth finish.

8 Remove the masking tape.

TIP Drill corresponding pilot holes into the ends of the 622mm lengths using a 3mm drill bit. Turn the screws through the 1200mm and 1306mm lengths until they just protrude. Then line up the 622mm lengths at right angles and press the ends of the screws into the ends to mark the positions for the pilot holes.

Diagram1

Diagram2