Table tennis construction

[nightvision]

Hi all,
I'm intersted in buying a nice 8x4 piece of plywood to construct a table tennis (ping pong) table top. I've seen some pieces that goes for about $35 with a very nice smooth finish at Home Depot. It will be out door all year long. I'm planing to stain it and put poly urathane finish on it to protect it. I might even screw it down to the table I currently have to prevent warping. Would several layer of poly urathane be good enought to stand up to rain and extreme sun exposure? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I know 8x4 is not regulation size, but it's fine for us. We had a ping pong converstion top but it warped over time and did not do well in the outdoors even though we covered it. I know that an aluminum converstion top is the way to go, but those goes from $500-$900. That's of our price range for now. It might be a must have item when we get better though.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Table tennis construction

Enamel paint would work too but the elements are going to destroy whatever you leave in the weather.

Make it folding and store it upright so water will not stand on it.

Green paint is the given color and you can use white electrical tape for the lines.

In for a penny in for a pound....... come on make it 5 x 9 like it should be

 

[avenger79]

Re: Table tennis construction

I'm not sure plywood is "dense" enough to give good action for the game.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Table tennis construction

The ball has to free fall 12" and bounce back at least 8 3/4" and the surface just needs to be the same all across. Pretty sure 3/4 should do it.