Introduction: Make a Table Tennis Bat!
I wanted to make my own table tennis bat and couldn't find any instructables on the matter, so I decided to make one. This is my first instructables so here goes!
Step 1: You Will Need:
- Table tennis bat rubbers
- plywood (no more than 9mm)
- Small planks for your handle
- Paper
- Pen
- Jigsaw
- Sanding/grinding wheel
- Sandpaper
- Varnish
- Some sort of flexible glue (like silicone)
- Wood glue (PVA)
- plywood (no more than 9mm)
- Small planks for your handle
- Paper
- Pen
- Jigsaw
- Sanding/grinding wheel
- Sandpaper
- Varnish
- Some sort of flexible glue (like silicone)
- Wood glue (PVA)
Step 2: Tracing
Trace the shape of your bat rubbers. You can freehand the handle, but I borrowed a friends bat and used it as a guide.
Step 3: Tracing
Trace your template onto your plywood.
Step 4: Cut It Out
Using your traced line and a jigsaw cut out the shape of your bat (sorry no picture) you can then neaten it up in a later step.
Step 5: Sanding
Sand your bat to remove burrs and splinters, first use a rough grain then move onto a finer one.
Step 6: Handle
Get or cut yourself some small planks that will fit your handle, decide on the thickness yourself, but I found about 9mm was good.
Step 7: Glue the Handle
Glue the handle parts onto your main body using wood glue (PVA) and clamps, leave it over-night to dry.
Step 8: Shaping the Handle
Using your sanding or grinding wheel (I was using a very hard wood and found a grinding wheel best) shape your handle until comfortable,keep checking how it feels in your hand while doing this.
Step 9: Varnishing
I recommend varnishing your bat, whether you use matt or gloss it helps prolong its life, I personally prefer gloss for looks. Varnish the handle and the edges, don't bother doing the middle as this will be covered by the pads later.
Step 10: Glue the Pads
Using your silicone or other flexible glue, stick the rubber pads (this is in place of sponge pads underneath) onto your base piece, leave to dry over-night.
Step 11: Refining the Shape
If your base piece is still visible around the edges of the pads, use your sanding or grinding wheel to fix this.
Step 12: Finished!
You have now made your own Table Tennis bat, well done, buy yourself an ice-cream, now go and try it out!