Knex Pool Table
Welcome one and all to one of my biggest and most favorite projects ever, my Knex pool table.
This is NOT a step-by-step instructable. I decided to document my project this way because it is easier to explain everything. Click here for instructions.
I tried to make this project as realistic as possible. Including some of these cool features.
As I said before this is NOT a step-by-step instructable. Each step explains a certain thing about the pool table and how it works. I am not going to post instructions of the pool table because of its size and complexity. I will however post instructions of the billiard ball holding area if enough people want me to.
Here is the video of the pool table, showing it in action! Enjoy! ~ KneXtreme ~
This is NOT a step-by-step instructable. I decided to document my project this way because it is easier to explain everything. Click here for instructions.
I tried to make this project as realistic as possible. Including some of these cool features.
- felt top
- bouncy sides
- triangle holder
- pool stick holder
- ball sorter
- the dots on the side
- hand painted Knex billiard balls
- cue and billiard balls holding areas
As I said before this is NOT a step-by-step instructable. Each step explains a certain thing about the pool table and how it works. I am not going to post instructions of the pool table because of its size and complexity. I will however post instructions of the billiard ball holding area if enough people want me to.
Here is the video of the pool table, showing it in action! Enjoy! ~ KneXtreme ~
The Underside
These are pictures I took without the top or tubing on so you can see the underside and what supports it. The way it's supported is by 4 beams going around the perimeter supported by cross struts. Then there are another 2 beams, one going vertical, and the other horizontal, forming an X. To fill in the gaps I used 2 yellow rods connected to a brown(orange) connector with a grey rod slid through the center. (As best seen in picture 2.)
The Base and Outside
Just some pictures of the base and outside.
The Triangle, Pool Sticks, and Cue Ball
This area is where the triangle, pool sticks, and cue ball are located. The cue ball is just a ordinary golf ball. The pool sticks are 3/8in. (9.525mm) oak dowel rods, 3ft. (91.44cm) long. They are also tipped with a bit of Sugru to give them some cushion.
The Pockets
Here are some pictures of the pockets and sides.
The Paths and Ball Sorter
The paths from the corner pockets (pics 1-3) lead to 2 central paths (pics 4-7) witch in turn lead to the ball sorter. The middle pockets (pic 8) lead directly to the ball sorter. Pictures 9, 10 and 11 shows the central shaft where all the ball drop down to go to the ball sorter. Picture 12 and 15 shows the ball sorter and the 2 paths the balls can travel on. All the sorter is made of is 2 green rods
(red rods) that gradually separate. Because the cue ball (golf ball) is slightly smaller it goes to the right. And since the billiard balls (Knex balls) are larger they go to the left.
Pictures 13 and 14 show the cue ball's path to its holding area and picture 16, 17 and18 show the billiard balls' path to their holding area.
(red rods) that gradually separate. Because the cue ball (golf ball) is slightly smaller it goes to the right. And since the billiard balls (Knex balls) are larger they go to the left.
Pictures 13 and 14 show the cue ball's path to its holding area and picture 16, 17 and18 show the billiard balls' path to their holding area.
Billiard Balls Holding Area
I based the design of the billiard balls holding area after a ball machine element I saw in nschmal1's Knex Ball Contraption - The Prize.
How to Make a Knex Billiard Ball
This step shows you how I made the billiard balls. Only classic Knex balls with holes in them will work.
First, for the striped balls I lined a piece of regular masking tape up with the center of the hole in the ball. (pic 1) Then I wrapped the tape all the way around the ball. (pics 3-5) After that, I painted the exposed sides. Once the balls dried I peeled the tape off and taped the painted sides. (pics 6 and 7) For the solid colored balls I just painted one side, let it dry, flipped it, and painted the other side.
To paint the circles with numbers in them I first took a chunk of wood and made some Xs with masking tape. (pic 8) After that I took a dime, put it in the center of the each X and drew a line around it with a pencil. (pics 9 and10) Next I took my pocket knife and cut out the circle. (pics 11 and 12) Once all that was done I peeled off all the Xs and put 2 of them (pics 13 and 14) on each ball opposite of each other. Once the circles were done drying I hand painted the numbers on. There you have it. That's how I made the Knex billiard balls.
P.S. Some balls take more coats of paint than others. For example, the green and blue balls needed only 3 coats of paint. While the purple and orange balls needed 5 coats of paint. If you are going to paint Knex balls I recommend buying the color yellow, because it's easier to paint over.
*KneXtreme*
First, for the striped balls I lined a piece of regular masking tape up with the center of the hole in the ball. (pic 1) Then I wrapped the tape all the way around the ball. (pics 3-5) After that, I painted the exposed sides. Once the balls dried I peeled the tape off and taped the painted sides. (pics 6 and 7) For the solid colored balls I just painted one side, let it dry, flipped it, and painted the other side.
To paint the circles with numbers in them I first took a chunk of wood and made some Xs with masking tape. (pic 8) After that I took a dime, put it in the center of the each X and drew a line around it with a pencil. (pics 9 and10) Next I took my pocket knife and cut out the circle. (pics 11 and 12) Once all that was done I peeled off all the Xs and put 2 of them (pics 13 and 14) on each ball opposite of each other. Once the circles were done drying I hand painted the numbers on. There you have it. That's how I made the Knex billiard balls.
P.S. Some balls take more coats of paint than others. For example, the green and blue balls needed only 3 coats of paint. While the purple and orange balls needed 5 coats of paint. If you are going to paint Knex balls I recommend buying the color yellow, because it's easier to paint over.
*KneXtreme*