DIY Foosball Table
Buying a well-built, sturdy, top foosball table can be a considerable investment, so a DIY foosball table project can be an affordable alternative to purchase for many people. Playing foosball is arguably the most fun a person can have while standing in one place. Owning a table is a sure-fire way to have hours and hours of fun. But building a foosball table elevates this experience to an altogether another level.
To build a foosball table, you first need some plans, and you can find many different ones for free or purchase them with detailed instructions. You will also need some tools and materials and a little bit of adventurous spirit when starting this kind of DIY project. In this article, I will try to explain how to make a foosball table and show that it is much easier than you might think it is.
DIY Foosball table plans
All projects start with plans and drawings. The same is with the DIY projects. On the internet, you can find a wealth of different plans for making a foosball table, from simple boxy cabinets to some elaborately designed, or with digital scoring and similar bells and whistles. Your main concern should be who will use it and how much room you have for it. If you want to make a foosball table for kids, a tabletop design is good. For teenagers and adults, the free-standing design is more appropriate. Foosball tables are usually built 48, 55, 56, or 60 inches long. Another concern is how much space you have for it. A rule of thumb is 4 feet of unobstructed space around each of the four sides.
If you have some woodworking skills, you can take parts of complete plans and incorporate them into some other DIY projects. For those very confident in their own skills, building it without plans is also a viable option. Foosball tables are relatively straight forward designs and easy to make.
Once you have plans, we can go on with how to build a foosball table.
How to Build a Foosball Table (Step by step guide)
Some hardware stores where you can purchase materials for your homemade foosball table offer you to cut all the bits and pieces per your plans. Which makes this project just a matter of putting it all together. But if you would rather like to build it from scratch, here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a foosball table out of wood.
Step 1
The first thing you should do is get all the material together and making sure that they do fit the plans. The most important thing is that the material for sideboards is appropriate for the bearings you will use. Bearing, rods, players, and other necessary hardware can be made in a proper machine shop. Otherwise, it is conveniently available from practically all foosball tables manufacturers as replacement parts. Furthermore, there is a second-hand market for used parts, and there are also companies that sell aftermarket or universal parts.
Step 2
The next step is to cut sideboards, goal boards, and front boards to length, and drill holes for rod bearings and ball drop.
If you are uncertain how to lineup the holes, the safest way is to clamp both boards together and drill them at the same time. If you wish to hide screws and keep side panels looking clean, you should make furring strips and attach them to the inner side of the side panels. When deciding its location, if not specified by plans you should take into account the thickness of the playing field and the support frame you may need to build for it.
This is a point when you can paint or stain the sideboards, as later will be less convenient.
Next is to make cutouts for goals in goal boards, and attaching the top board to them.
Step 3
Because the playing field is a big piece of wood it will need a support frame to prevent sagging and twisting. If the one you have purchased is without such a frame, it can be easily built out of 2×2 inches wood.
Step 4
The next step is attaching the side panels to the playing field, making sure that they are properly lined up. If you are unsure of your skill to align them, you can temporarily install bearings for goalie rods and two rods. Thus aligning them perfectly. If you are using screws to connect parts together, this is easiest done with the playing field upside down.
Next, you should attach the goal boards screwing it to both the playing field and side panels. To keep the goal boards in the proper location while attaching them, it is a good thing to temporarily clamp the end boards.
Step 5
With end boards unclamped, you can proceed with cutting holes for ball catch in them, and building the ball catches.
After assembling the end panels you should attach them to the rest of the cabinet.
Step 6
With the cabinet construction practically finished, you can paint or stain it at this point.
And also make corner strips and install them on the cabinet.
Step 7
The next step is making legs. After cutting them to length, you should make sure that they are all exactly the same length.
The easiest way to do this is by clamping them together and sanding flush both ends of them. The best way to attach them to the cabinet is with nuts and bolts, this will allow you to be able to detach them later if needed.
Step 8
With the table almost finished, all that is left is installing the hardware, and then you can enjoy playing foosball on the table you have made yourself.
Video on how to make a Foosball table
Conclusion
If you wish to make your own foosball table, you are about to embark on an exciting journey. They are relatively simple constructions that can be made from widely available materials. Some parts are not easy to make but can be found readily available from manufacturers or the second-hand market. Building a DIY foosball table comes with several advantages. First, you will end up owning a very sturdy and long-lasting table for just a fraction of the price. Secondly, you can choose any custom feature you can think of. And most importantly, you will own something you have built by yourself, the experience of which is priceless.
