Introduction: Materials
4 1/2 by 2 1/2 piece of wood
Many pieces of wood that can be cut to be used as borders, supports underneath the table, and an outline on the outside of the table.
Saw to cut wood
Nail gun
Wool and polyester felt
2 bike tires
Wood glue
Scissors
Miniature pool skimmers for pockets
Many pieces of wood that can be cut to be used as borders, supports underneath the table, and an outline on the outside of the table.
Saw to cut wood
Nail gun
Wool and polyester felt
2 bike tires
Wood glue
Scissors
Miniature pool skimmers for pockets
Step 1: Planning the Procedure and Beginning Steps
First, we wanted to make a pool table that was around half the size of a regular pool table. This meant we needed to make everything else on the pool table half size as well. Next, we needed good wood to build off of for our pool table.
Once we found it, we cut holes to act as pockets in the corners of the table and at the midpoint of the longer sides. We also put wood up as borders on the areas between the pockets
Once we found it, we cut holes to act as pockets in the corners of the table and at the midpoint of the longer sides. We also put wood up as borders on the areas between the pockets
Step 2: Pool Table Bumpers
As for the bumpers for the billiard balls, we used bike tires. We measured out the sections of the wood borders for the tires and cut them accordingly.
Next, we used a nail gun to keep the tires on the wood.
Along the way, however, we encountered several problems with trying to get the tires to work as bumpers. First, we had to cut off the inner most metal ring of the tires, which prevented us from bending the tires easily. Next, if we used the direct surface if the tire, then the balls would bounce too much off of the bumpers. We fixed this problem by bending the tires at an angle so that the rubber on the inner sides of the tire were on the wooden bumpers, allowing for ricocheting without the bounciness.
Next, we used a nail gun to keep the tires on the wood.
Along the way, however, we encountered several problems with trying to get the tires to work as bumpers. First, we had to cut off the inner most metal ring of the tires, which prevented us from bending the tires easily. Next, if we used the direct surface if the tire, then the balls would bounce too much off of the bumpers. We fixed this problem by bending the tires at an angle so that the rubber on the inner sides of the tire were on the wooden bumpers, allowing for ricocheting without the bounciness.
Step 3: Making the Pockets
Our next step was to make the pockets for the balls to fall into. We weren't sure what would work for the pockets for some time, but eventually found a good material. We found that if we cut off the handle of small pool skimmers, they make for good pockets.
We decided to use the nail gun again to put the skimmers on the areas where the holes were, but, we once again ran into problems. While we were using the nail gun, the nails started going too far into the wood and did not hold the skimmers in place. Later, we were told that the nail gun was at too high of a power setting. As a consequence for our mistake, the playing area of the table was damaged from all of the staples that went through the wood. So, we used a hammer to smoother the damaged parts.
We decided to use the nail gun again to put the skimmers on the areas where the holes were, but, we once again ran into problems. While we were using the nail gun, the nails started going too far into the wood and did not hold the skimmers in place. Later, we were told that the nail gun was at too high of a power setting. As a consequence for our mistake, the playing area of the table was damaged from all of the staples that went through the wood. So, we used a hammer to smoother the damaged parts.
Step 4: Applying the Felt and Outlining the Table
The last steps were the felt for the balls to roll on and more wood on the outer edges of the table to support the nets and hold the felt. We found two pieces of felt that added up to be about the same size as our table. Then, we tucked the parts of the wood over the bumpers underneath the bumpers and stapled them in place. We cut the holes out for the pockets and smoothened every part out from there. The part where the two pieces of felt met in the middle had to be shortened on one side because one piece was slightly longer than the other.
Finally, the wood on the outside of the table was placed using wood glue to support the final table. As you can see, we also put two strips of wood on the bottom of the table to act as a base
Finally, the wood on the outside of the table was placed using wood glue to support the final table. As you can see, we also put two strips of wood on the bottom of the table to act as a base
Step 5: Concluding Slide
Thank you. Any questions?
