Close Topic Options

Make My Own Air Hockey Table

Make My Own Air Hockey Table

I'm thinking of making my own air hockey table for the kids. I saw one in the store made rather cheaply in my opinion and yet it cost US$250. I could probably make it for US$70 and with better materials. The fan used in the store was one of those medium level server fans that you can find on your PC but a bit bigger. The hardest thing will be putting all the little holes accurately on the board. I will leave this open and keep you updated.

See how one person did it cheaply: Source 5

Table Hockey Air Own Make

Making the holes accurately might not be all that bad just time consuming. My uncle just marked out every inch in width and length and drew the grid then dilled in the corners. It was 4X8 he used good plywood (triple layered with 1x3 and 2x4 framing on the outer edge.)for the bottom and top. It made a nice fairly air chamber and had two fans hooked to the bottom. Not sure what kind of fans as they came from the refuse pile at his work placed. He then waxed the surface and used to use wood dust from a belt sander as extra lube. It was a fast table.

Make My Own Air Hockey Table Reviews RPG & Card Board

I am sure that if one used a plastic window piece and spray painted it white you could pretty much replicate a table. Using a power drill and a small bit it would not take much more that a couple hours to drill all the holes. The most time spent would be laying out the pattern of where you want the holes. I know you can get large sheets of plexiglass at most lumber yards. Using a 3/4 inch 4X8 sheet of plywood as a base to mount the fans to is what to use. The edges would be 2X4s with 1X3 or 1X4s to finish it out.

Table Hockey Air Own Make

It is not the number of holes that concerns me, it is getting a bit that small (almost pin size) to make all those holes.

Now that is a good idea and I would not even paint it if the effect of colored plastic might do well for cosmetics. I will have to weigh in on the costs of both to see which one is better.

Table Hockey Air Own Make

If you have access to or own a dremel mini-tool the chore of drilling the small pin holes may go better. I have not priced the plastic lately but the last time I bought some I was buying a 30 X 30 inch sheet for $10 USD. I did not price the larger ones as I did not need a big size. They run about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. I think a colored glass would work too.

Make My Own Air Hockey Table

Glass would be nice but not sure on its durability, the plexi glass would work very nice for the top layer though. As far as the hole size I am sure the smallest bit would be ok. The only issue on being bigger hole is a larger CFM would be needed on the blower motors.

Just thought about the pattern the sheet that you use for sewing measurements would be great as you could tape it down and use the exiting pattern on it. I think they are fairly cheap.

Make Own Air Hockey Table

I was thinking of using a 1/16th inch drill bit with my dremel tool. I can get the holes done. The big thing for me is getting the fans and getting them mounted so that I have no dead air space on the top. I was thinking of four small fans wired together to run off 110 ac current. This way you can plug into any standard plug.

I think using 1X4 boards along the sides and end to seal the fan board and the plexiglass board to with clear silicon caulking would make the basic board. I would attack the 1X4s to a 2X6 before sealing the main board.

Yeah I have a very clear picture of all this in my head now.

Make Own Air Hockey Table Board Card & RPG Reviews

Air hockey is pretty fun for the first 20 games and then it gets sort of boring unless you have lots of different people to play. It's more fun on a very big table. The small ones are way too easy.