Floating Beer Pong Table

For many people here, it's summer time now. For many of those people, summertime means parties (namely ones outdoors). For many of those people this includes a pool at some point. And since a party often includes beer pong for many (young) people.. Well, beer pong in a pool is much better.

So I decided that, rather than buying a floating beer pong table, I'd build my own... hence, this Instructable.

P.S. This is my first Instructable so, constructive criticism is certainly welcome.

This is what we're going to make:

Step 1 Gather Materials

For this Instructable you will need:

- Four or so empty water bottles of some sort.
- A couple pool noodles.. in my case, three.
- A beer pong table-shaped piece of hard wood...plastic...whatever you want.
- About 20 tie-wraps/wire-ties. (not pictured)
- You may need: A drill/bits.

And most likely:

- 14 Solo cups: 12 for beer, 2 for water
- 2 Ping-pong balls
- Enough of your favorite beer to get everyone at your party druuu- *ahem* inebriated.

Comments

[goodgnus]

Problem with the type of board you're using is it's fiberboard, it will swell up when wet and eventually disintegrate. You need something plastic. I agree with nullflux, I'd use a big piece of 2" thick rigid styrofoam insulation that has the aluminum film on both sides, cheap enough at the local home improvement store.

[chuckr44]

I was going to post that. Water is very very bad for the type of material you show (pegboard).

[xboxteen01]

pretty cool, i dont drink, but i see alot of creative tables and this is an awesome one. just a different way of doing it : use plexi glass so its clear, and if the sight of pool noodles and bottles doesnt work, paint a border on. just my 2 cents

[randempedestrian]

Great to see a fellow Eagle here! (though I am one that does drink, ironically, not beer. This table is just for everyone else haha). Anyway, I'll be making a nicer table at some point, and plexi glass is a great idea! I was also thinking maybe an LED lit trim that makes the water around it glow. Also, the flotation system will be well hidden next time :p

Thank you for your 2 cents; I'll take all the pennies I can get!

[xboxteen01]

well, your the 2nd or 3rd eagle scout i know of on here. id be interested to see the number of members who are also eagles. theres a certain ingenuity and drive we all have that helps with the building and stuff

[smartman13]

i am too i am eagle so there is three or four now hahah

[Esmagamus]

The same things happen when someone is born in Portugal... Ingenuity is part of life... not for the best reasons.

[randempedestrian]

Regardless, for all those with said ingenuity that desire/require it, it is a blessing :)

[Esmagamus]

The next step of ingenuity would be making a floating metal table and magnetic glasses.

[randempedestrian]

Roger that. I'm on it!

[NullFlux8ight]

Fantastic, As I was going through your Instructable I thought to myself use a section of syrofoamSM as your table top, this will float on its own. Cover it as you like. Maktack is a self adhesive film that comes in all sorts of colors(Can) and patterns. I would have suggested magnets as well but I think, if you cut the bottom of a plastic cup leaving a ridge to contain your beverage. This cup can be secured with velcro or two magnets one inbeded in the SM foam table and the other glued under the cup holder. Again Fantastic.

[shingonzo]

this is cool but why not just cut one noodle in half instead of using the bottles wouldnt they get all gross?

[randempedestrian]

Hey, anybody feel like hittin up those stars and giving me a rating? It helps my self-esteem lol :p

[masterochicken]

I'm going to have to admit: there is an extreme amount of awesome going on in this instructable.

[randempedestrian]

Haha, thanks man. Pegboard, 3 noodles and 4 bottles...and you have yourself the heart of an awesome party :)

[masterochicken]

Unless of course you lack a pool.

[randempedestrian]

touche

[Sgt.Waffles]

This gets my "Official Seal of Lol". Congratulations, good sir.

[randempedestrian]

haha It's an honor! Thank you, sir.

[Sgt.Waffles]

Also, using the bottom 1/4-1/2" of another cup, add a neodymium magnet or two, and then glue to the bottom of an actual cup. Should keep it on the table.

[randempedestrian]

So you're saying a couple cut off cups that magnet on that the actual cups can sit in, so they're still disposable? I was thinking instead of magnets, maybe have a rigid grid, almost like the plastic, bird strangling, soda can holders, only made of a hard plastic, that would be hinged to lay flat on the table, or fold up to about a 1/2" height that the cups can be set in. I think that'd have enough leverage on the cups to keep them from tipping, and would not require and permanent cup modification. Probably 6 & 1/2 dozen the other.

[Sgt.Waffles]

Or build a beveled triangular structure to hold the cups together. When it comes to something like this, you need a bunch of ideas, and then weigh the pros and cons, to see which one is right for your situation.

[randempedestrian]

Yeah very true, I'll have to make a list of possible cup restraint systems.

[Weissensteinburg]

But how do the cups not get knocked over? Especially in the tides. My suggestion? Magnetic cups.

[randempedestrian]

Yeah, this was a total impromptu project, so there's no cup holding system. I really like the magnetic cup idea though! I'm sure I'll be making a Ver.2 soon, and that will definitely be included, credit: Weissensteinburg

[Weissensteinburg]

Thanks..i'm glad you like it!

[a grain of alt.]

I think a cup restraining system would definitely be a helpful addition (and not be too difficult). I think holsters of some sort would work well and you could use new cups for every party then.