DIY Ping Pong Paddle

HELLO!!!!
We are going to show you how to make a simple and viable table tennis paddle.

This project takes around hour, excluding time spent waiting for glue and finish to dry.

This project requires minimal materials, the only elusive material are the ping pong rubber sheets, but they can be bought online or at select stores.

Supplies

1 x 12"x16" Sheet of Wood

1 x 8"x30" Sheet of Wood that yields 4 x 2"x5" Pieces of Wood

4 x Sheets Table Tennis Rubber

Glue Sheet (optional)

Wood Glue

Wood Finish

Knife/Scissors

Saw

Sandpaper/Powersander

Step 1: Gather Materials

Start by gathering wood and calculating desired dimensions.

For recommended dimensions refer to picture above.

Step 2: Laser Cutting

Place the 12"x16" sheet of wood in a laser cutter. Upload picture or drawing of desired paddle into a program compatible with a laser cutter. We used Adobe Illustrator. Adjust image to desired dimension, run program and cut.

Step 3: Cutting Handle

Use a saw to cut out 4 x 2"x5" Pieces of Wood. These will be used for the handles on both paddles. If you only plan to make one paddle, just cut out 2 pieces. Note that these pieces are much larger than the handle of the finished project, and excessive sanding is necessary later on.

Step 4: Glueing Handle

Apply Wood Glue to piece of wood, and stick to handle. Use clamps for precise glueing. Be sure to place the wood pieces so that they align with the inner handle. Repeat this process for all the pieces of wood, and then let glue dry.

Step 5: Sanding

Sand down handle thoroughly until it fits the original outline that you cut out. Most table tennis paddles are about 1-1.3 inches wide, and 1 inch long. This is more of a reference, and you can customize your handle to whatever best fits your needs.

Step 6: Coating

Apply finish so that the the handle feels smooth and wont absorb too much sweat.

Step 7: Finishing Touches

After finish is dry, re-sand the handle lightly, then apply glue sheet or glue to paddle. Place the rubber sheet on the paddle and make sure it sticks. If you used glue let the glue dry. Repeat this process three more times for each side of both paddles. Finally use scissors or a sharp knife to cut away the excess rubber. And you are done! Enjoy your new cool ping pong paddle!