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.
References
Writer Bio
When Richard Corrigan isn't writing about the outdoors, he's probably outside experiencing them firsthand. Since starting out as a writer in 2009, he has written for USA Today, the National Parks Foundation and LIVESTRONG.com, among many others, and enjoys combining his love of writing with his passion for hiking, biking, camping and fishing.
