|
How To Build It
1. Mill the end and side boards (B, C) to final size and cut the grooves for the bottom panel (A, Fig. A, below).
2. Cut the rabbets in the end boards (Photo 1). Use an auxiliary wood fence so you can run your dado blade right next to it. This setup also allows the auxiliary fence to serve as a guide when you cut the rabbets.
3. Cut out the opening for the goals using a jigsaw or scrollsaw (Photo 2).
4. Glue and clamp together two layers of 3/4-in. lumber for the corner blocks (D). Wipe off any glue that squeezes out. When the glue is dry, rip the board to 3 in. wide for the corner blocks. Make the goalie blocks (E) the same way.
5. Cut the corner blocks and goalie blocks to final size (Photo 3) using your miter saw or tablesaw. You’ll notice that the glued-up lumber stock is much longer than actually needed. This extra length gives you more to hold for safer mitering and crosscutting. Cut the net boards (F).
6. Use your bandsaw or scrollsaw to saw the sticks (G) and pucks (H) from either oak lumber or birch plywood. Make a couple extra pucks, so you won’t have to take a time-out if a puck flies off the table and rolls under the couch.
7. Sand and finish all the parts. We used water-based stain, paint and finish (see Sources, below). Water-based finishes tend to raise the grain after they are applied, which makes a rough finish. To prevent this, raise the grain first with a moist sponge. After the wood dries, do your final sanding. Then apply the stain to all the parts. When the blue stain on the bottom panel is dry, tape off and paint the zone lines and center circle (Photo 4). Finally, brush on the clear topcoat finish.
8. Assemble the hockey table with screws and finish washers (Photo 5). Drill shank and pilot holes in the sides to prevent splitting the wood or stripping the screw heads.
9. Attach the netting (J) over the goal openings with the net boards (F). The bottom net board goes inside the net and the top net board goes outside the net (Photo 6). Hold the netting in place with a bit of double-sided tape during assembly. You can substitute almost any kind of fabric for the netting, if you wish.
10. Attach corner and goalie blocks (D, E) with screws from the bottom.
It’s game time! Go for the goal!
Table Hockey Rules
You can play table hockey two ways. The first is free play. Players start with the puck on the center circle and both hit it around until a goal is scored. The only limit is that a player may not play the puck within the goal zone of the other player (see Fig. A). If the puck flies off the table during play, return it to the center circle and resume playing.
The second way to play is to take turns. Each player takes a predetermined number of shots. Two swings per player is common, but the exact number is up to you. You can handicap a better player by giving him or her fewer swings than a less experienced player. The entire rink area is open for play. If a puck is knocked off the table, it’s turned over to the other player, who then gets to take one additional shot during his or her turn. Of course, it’s also fun to make up your own rules!
|