Topic: Dimensions and concerns for a custom build

[ShopTeacher]

Hi everyone,
I am relatively new to foosball and I am a teacher in a public high school. A group of students and I are in the process of building a foosball table. I purchased a cheapo table on craigslist to salvage the rods (5/8" solid) and some hardware. The goal on the cheapo table measures 6-3/4" wide with the trim on it. I have an old TS table at home with a 7-1/4" wide goal and I have been reading that goals on competition tables are 8-3/8" wide. I have had difficulty finding standard foosball dimensions online (other than overall sizes) so I would like your help.

1. What are the actual goal widths for Tornado, Shelti, Bonzini, Warrior, Garlando tables? Are they all the same? If not I may use an average.

2. I plan on spacing the rods at 5-7/8" on center and leaving 3" between the goalie rod and the goal wall. This would lead to a playfield size of 47-1/8" length. I also plan to make the width of the table 27" because I found that this is an average size online... My TS table and the cheapo at school are both within a 1/2" of the 27". Do any of you see any errors in the playfield size decisions I have made?

3. I plan to use 3/4" MDF as a base for the playfield. I have printed the playfield graphics on a plotter on mylar and I plan to sandwich the print between the the MDF and a piece of 1/4" plexigless that will be sanded (with a random orbital sander) with 60 grit for grip. Does this seem to be a legit play surface?

4. Do you think there will be problems if I leave the playfield assembly as a floating playfield?

5. How might you suggest creating a really loud clank when I fire a pull shot off on a 9th grade noob.... I really want this to be loud. Should I use a piece of loose sheet metal at a 45* angle or luan or something else?

Im sure more questions will be on the way.... Any other considerations or comments I may not even be thinking about are welcome. The kids at school are really getting into foos but the cheapo table is low in the center which leads to a lot of wandering balls and we want to get as close to a competition table as possible. BTW we are all set that a single goalie is the way to go so if you have any ideas on creating the ramps please let me know.

Thanks in advance!

[FabMan]

I just built one and modeled the dims and specs. off a Tornado T3000

1. 8.375" wide goal opening. Top of field to top of goal is 3", upper corners radiused.
2. I did 6" centers to make it easy and allow for player length error (custom made players), but your measurement spacing is correct. Tornado is
    27 1/16" wide.
3. I started with a MDF backed play field. Glued it and compressed it with 1000 lbs evenly spaced weights. Dang MDF absorbed the glue and warped.
   This will be the most important part of the table, and the trickiest to do and keep level, IMO.
4. Floating is a good idea. Makes it easier to level separate of the table and also ease of replacement if needed.
5. A piece of steel screwed to the back stop should do it. Maybe put a small spacer between the metal and the back stop so it's hollow and not tight
    against the back stop?
I bought some plastic corner ramps from an on line vendor. They can be screwed or 3M taped into the corners.

[TheFoosballTable]

Hey FabMan,

I'm sorry I can't answer the above 5 questions as I'm also in the process of learning as much as I can about foosball tables.

However, I can give you ideas on creating "ramps" for 1-man goalie foosball table.

The first idea is not that aesthetically pleasing, but it works Attach a plastic soda bottle cap on the corners. Side-up or side-down, either way is fine.

Another way (although it's not an idea for "ramps") is to just re-serve the ball everytime it gets stuck in the corner.

If you want more tips for deadballs slowing down your gameplay, visit http://thefoosballtable.com/foosball-table-corner-ramp/