Introduction: Resurface a Ping Pong Paddle!

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About: I enjoy photography, horticulture and carpentry, and am almost always doing something relating to of those things.

I like using sand paper paddles, and all but one or two of ours have water damage, wrinkles, and are peeling off. Time for a make over! I've resurfaced one of the worst paddles we've got, and now you can, too!

While this is easier to do with a sand paper paddle, you could do it with rubber covered paddles that are no longer any good. And hey, if you don't play ping pong, use it for all your sanding needs!

This is really easy to do, and would make a great gift...think of dad's face when he sees that all of his old icky paddles have been resurfaced!

Step 1: Supplies

Consumables:

  • Very fine sand paper
  • Wood glue
  • Paper towels
  • Notebook paper

Tools:

  • Pen
  • Scissors
  • Sand paper
  • Exacto knife
  • Table, preferably wit ha 90 degree edge

Step 2: Prep the Paddle

Peel off the sand paper from both sides of your ping pong paddle, and and use the sand paper to get off as much of the glue as possible.

Step 3: Make a Stencil

Lay the notebook paper against the edge of your table, this will correspond to the bottom of the paddle's surface. The 90 degree drop is helpful because the handle of your paddle is thicker than the surface part. i.e. it won't lay flat in the middle of a table. On the edge, however, the surface will lay flat against the paper. Use your pen to trace the surface of your paddle.

Once it's all drawn, cut out your new stencil!

Step 4: Using the Stencil

Lay your sand paper upside down on the table, with the stencil on top of it. Draw a line around the perimeter of the stencil, and cut it out. When cutting, it's better to cut out side of the line, instead of inside. Repeat.

Step 5: Apply the Surface

Apply a thin layer of wood glue onto one side of the paddle with a balled up paper towel. Be sure to cover all the way to the edges. You want the glue to be as thin as possible. Carefully lay the sand paper onto the paddle, be careful to avoid wrinkles. Sandwich it between two flat surfaces.

Step 6: Trim

Now that the surface has been applied, lay the paddle, with the newly applied sand paper down, and use your xacto knife to trim any excess paper off.

Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the other side.

Step 7: Go Play!

You're done! Now it's time to go and try out your newly resurfaced ping pong paddles...or wrap them up in a box to be put under a tree.

Enjoy!