Whether you are refinishing an old Ping-Pong table or building a new table from scratch, the playing surface is an essential consideration. The table must have a smooth, durable surface, and a specific type of paint is required to finish a table in accordance with official table tennis regulations.
Paint Type
Alkyd paint is most commonly used to finish Ping-Pong tables. Also used on the surface of chalkboards, alkyd paint is durable and resistant to scratching and abrasion. It can be used to coat a wooden Ping-Pong table, along with properly prepared metal, plaster, slate and wallboard surfaces. Alkyd paint is sold under a variety of brand names, and is available at many home improvement stores, as well as specialty retailers that sell Ping-Pong supplies.
Characteristics and Specifications
In addition to paint type, a few other considerations are important to ensure that your Ping-Pong table complies with the official specifications published by the International Table Tennis Federation. The table surface must have a matte finish -- easily achieved with alkyd paint -- and must also be smooth, even and free of marks and surface texture. A paint roller or paint sprayer is required to apply the paint.