How much is an air hockey table remains one of the questions on the lips of most new player to the game. After playing it for the first time and getting caught up in the excitement, most people just can’t wait to get a table of their own – this points to just how great a game it is.

Just like most of the other products on the market, air hockey table come in different grades, sizes, and a number of other features, all these contribute to determining the final price of the table. Basically, air hockey tables prices vary based on certain specifications that they either possess or lack.

Why You Need to Know How Much is an Air Hockey Table

More often than not, air hockey lovers prefer to have their own tables in their houses or some other places where they can have very easy access to it. Air hockey tables usually come at a very wide range of prices and each table has a different set of specifications from some others. When it comes to air hockey tables, only a very few number of them are outstanding. However, there are some pretty good ones which would be worth the money spent on them.

A knowledge of the prices of air hockey table would help you budget the exact amount you want to spend and know the specifications of the table that you are getting. Similarly, knowing how much an air hockey table would give you a knowledge of how much to put aside especially if your plan is to save up.

Factors That Affect How Much an Air Hockey Table Would Cost

1. Size

When you are purchasing an air hockey table, you would have to consider the size of the table. Is you intend to purchase a small table for personal use only, then you wouldn’t be spending as much as you would  if you want to buy a commercial-sized table.

This kind of tables are about 8 feet long and 4 feet wide and can mainly be found in various establishments or in use for hosting tournaments. If you are not doing any of these, then you can go for a table that is about 4 -7.5 feet long which would help you cut down on cost and easily for into your home space.

2. Large Puck or Small Puck

Basically, puck size effectively affects the overall price of hockey tables. Usually, tables that are designed for small pucks usually come with a fan that provides just enough pressure to lift the puck off the table. This kind of table is suitable for use by children or teenagers. Also since these takes are pretty casual, they usually go for less than larger tables would cost.

Large puck air hockey takes which are mainly used in establishments are designed to last longer than the smaller and casual air hockey table and usually cost a lot more too. They also have a more powerful motor for lifting the balls which makes it all the more expensive.

3. Digital or Manual Scoring

Some particular tables usually come with a digital scoring that monitors and tracks very goal scored and keeps a record of it. For such a table as this, it is bound to be a lot more expensive than tables that come with manual scoring tools such as whiteboard or abacus instead. If you intend on cutting down on cost, then the manual table is the way to go.

However, if you intend to enjoy ease of play, then you should go for the digital scoring option. This is of course a lot more expensive than the manual option and offers more excitement.

Pricing of Air Hockey Tables

Air hockey tables come in very simple forms which are just perfect to be used as Christmas or birthday presents and in luxury, high-end forms too. Tables these days are designed to be affordable to a very wide range of people – this is the main reason why there are so many air hockey tables on the market. They are also suited to various skill levels, budgets and ages.

For instance, you can get a small tabletop hockey unit for about $20 during a sale. The only issue with tables like this is that they do not last very long and are not as durable as some other tables. If you want to get a good quality table, you should be ready to pay between $150 – $800.

This is for a range of tables with length of 4 – 6 feet. If you are targeting a 6+ foot table, the you could incurred a cost running into several thousand dollars.

Conclusion

Since this article serves to answer the question how much is an air hockey table, you should be able to decipher by now exactly how much cost you would incurred when you purchase a particular table. Similarly, the factors that lead to the pricing which are few but very essential are also included. With this, you are on your way to making the best decision for your next air hockey table.

Learning how to make your hockey table slide better is essential to ensuring that you continue to enjoy using your table for a very long time. This is mainly due to the fact that in making the table surface slippery, you’re inadvertently maintaining the table too.

This then results in an increased lifespan of your table and a greater amount of excitement to be derived. Similarly, having a table that isn’t very slippery could lead to the puck-stopping halfway across the table and in general, not make playing an act to look forward to.

Tips On How To Make Your Hockey Table Slide Better

In order to make your hockey table slide better, there are certain steps that you have to take and some provisions which you have to make. These include the following:

1. Clean and Lubricate All Surfaces

The accumulation of dirt from playing for a while could cause friction on the table surface and prevent the puck from sliding freely which could result in periodic disruption of the game due to stoppages or slow-sliding of the puck. This situation exactly why it is essential to clean and wax all surfaces including the table surface, the pucks and mallets.

To get the table certifiably clean, you would need to turn on the fan and wipe the table surface using cloth made of cotton material or a towel manufactured from micro fiber. To reduce friction when cleaning, you could dampen the cloth with warm water and add mild dishwashing detergent to get your cleaning done even faster.

2. Cautious Use of Silicone Spray Lubricant

In case you want to better enjoy playing on your air hockey table especially when you prefer fast-paced games, the use of a lubricant would effectively make the puck slide even faster all over the table. However, you would need to be very cautious when using it in order not to apply too much lubricant.

Excess application of lubricant could result in the table surface becoming too smooth and this would also lead to you not enjoying your game. In the event that you ever want to use lubricant, all you need to do is apply a small portion of the silicone lubricant spray on a soft cotton cloth or a microfiber towel and then apply it on the table surface.

3. Always Keep the Fan’s Blower Clean

In addition to lubrication keeping surfaces smooth, it is also very important to keep your fan clean at all times. Since air hockey requires constant infusion if air via the holes in the table, this makes it very easy for the Fan’s blower to get dirty. Cleaning the blower ensures that you get rid of the dirt which could have been trapped by the fan and are lurking around.

This dirt could slow down the speed of the fan’s blades and cause dragging of the motor. It is also advisable to inspect the blower on a regular basis and apply bursts of compressed air to dislodge caked dirt. This would require that you take apart the air hockey table to an extent which is why you have to be very careful so that you don’t damage or lose anything.

4. Ensure That Your Hockey Table Remains Covered When Not in Use

Keeping your big hockey table open at all times even when not in work could be bad business. This is because such exposure could lead to a number of components that fly around in the atmosphere settling on it and clogging the holes. In order to prevent this, you could cover your air hockey table with a table cloth when not in use.

This tablecloth effectively prevents dusts and other unwanted particles from settling on the fan, the surface and the holes. The tablecloth could be gotten in the same store where you purchased your air hockey table. In order to make the tablecloth effectively, you need to ensure that the length if the cover is exactly the length of your table i.e. it fits perfectly.

5. Keep the Table Holes Clean

Keeping the table holes clean and free of dust and dirt is one duty that you have to apply large amounts of diligence to. The table holes are about the most important part of the table since this is where the air blows through. To clean it, you could make use of a toothpick, a drill bit or any small object that would fit into the holes.

You would need to get rid of every speck of dust because leaving any fragments would result in gradual damage of the table there you shortening its lifespan. Similarly, it is not mandated that you clean the table on a daily basis instead a monthly thorough cleaning is sufficient.

Conclusion

Knowledge of how to make air hockey table slide better is essential to having a great usage experience. This involves maintaining the table which would in turn increase the table’s lifespan greatly. Similarly, this knowledge helps you cut down on the cost if outsourcing or having to repair due to damage incurred over lack onance. With this knowledge, you are guaranteed an exciting game time any day.

Air hockey is a very exciting game which is played for fun and does not require outdoor presence but there is still a very common question of how do air hockey tables work. Beyond the fun and excitement, players need to actually have an understanding of how this table works in order to play better or better manipulate their way around the table.

Air hockey tables usually possess an extremely slippery and smooth surface which effectively tones down on friction due to the puck being suspended on an air cushion. This makes motion on the table to be relatively unaffected by friction and ensures that there is a continuous motion across the table with a velocity that is relatively constant.

To understand the working of an air hockey table, the first step is to determine the components of the table. In order to play the game, you would be requiring the air hockey table itself and a puck. The air hockey table usually comes with a very smooth and large playing surface with a rail that goes round the entire length and breadth of the table to prevent the gaming equipment in use from falling off from the sides of the table. On each end of the rails, there are opening slots that serve as goal openings during the game. Just below or behind the goals, a puck return can be found there.

Also, the air hockey table is designed in such a pattern that it can easily decrease the amount of friction while boosting the speed of play. This is taken care of by a machine that is built into the entire set up which makes use of the tiny holes at on the surface of play to provide air support for the table’s surface.

However, maintaining this could be quite cost intensive and most manufacturing companies have come up with a way to help table owners cut down on costs by including eschewed on the air hockey table which they produce. Similarly, the surface of these tables is usually plastic.

The major reason that air hockey is very exciting is because the speed with which the game is played could be insane some times and it bears an uncanny resemblance to the actual game if hockey. Therefore, air hockey table makers have designed the tables to help players get the same excitement as is gotten from playing hockey by providing a cushion of air for the puck on which it sits.

The many small holes that mark and cover the entire table surface also have a very important function. They serve as the output source for the bursts of air which is constantly blown by the air compressor within the table. This air lifts the puck up slightly and helps to minimize friction since the puck does not exactly make contact with the table surface this increasing the speed or slide better.

Factors that provide answers to how do air hockey table work

Basically, there are many important components to the working of the air hockey table, but here are the very major ones:

• Air Flow

This is in actual fact the most essential part of the working of an air hockey table. The holes present on the table are the ones that air flows from. However, if the airflow from the holes does not come out with enough intensity, this can cause the puck to stop dead in the table’s middle. The measurement of air flow on an air hockey table is done in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

Top notch tables usually have a CFM rating of 350 to 400 and they are mainly used in tournaments and arcades. For tables with lesser CFM rates, they can be gotten for cheaper but air flow that is not strong enough may cause players to not enjoy the game.

• Motor

When considering the issue of air flow, the major determinant if air flow rate is the motor used to produce the air flow. Basically, the best pick for any air hockey table is a commercial-grade blower and this blower has the ability to produce up to 350 to 400 CFM.

Some manufacturers claim to have added turbo or dual fans to their air hockey table but these do not in actual fact possess enough power to generate up to 350 to 400 CFM. This implies that the motor that accompanies the air hockey table effectively determines its efficiency.

Conclusion

Similarly, the above mentioned factors go a long way in answering the question how do air hockey table work. Apart from purchasing a table that works pretty effectively, you also need to get one that would last and retain its quality for a very long time. In considering the question how do air hockey table work, you would need to look beyond the way it functions to the components that make it function – this is in fact at the core of the table’s functioning.

Many a time, the question “how big is an air hockey table” comes up among its fans. The game of Air hockey remains one of the fast-paced and thrilling games which in order to win requires you to have special skill set and practice.  Undoubtedly, it attracts the attention of everyone at all ages and definitely uplifts one’s mood.

This question, however, pops up in different scenarios, sometimes when you want to purchase your own table. Occasionally, this question can also come up when answering an inquisitive child. However, as the core equipment required for the game, you need to know as much as you can about it.

The air hockey table, although similar to the pool table has a number of features which sets it apart. In fact, we can differentiate air hockey tables based on a number of criteria. Some of which include their design aspects or construction.

Air Hockey Table Dimensions (full size air hockey table dimensions or regulation size air hockey table)

For those looking to enjoy the game of air hockey, you need to pick any air hockey table with full-size air hockey table dimensions. Tables of this size are perfect for adults and professional gamers, which means, they are big enough and offer maximum durability to survive the most aggressive match. Full-size air hockey tables otherwise called standard air hockey table size remains the most common table type in bars for those looking for a high-quality game table.

The United States Air Hockey Association (USAA) and the Air Hockey Player Association (AHPA) stand as regulatory bodies which made the standard air hockey table size 8-ft (in length). However, this is not the only size for a full-size air hockey table, but it is the only recommended size for tournament purposes. In subsequent sections of this post we will take a look at other sizes perfect for home or commercial game tables.

For instance, the full-size air hockey table for these categories vary from 5ft-8ft. Larger tables offer excellent playing experience but smaller tables fit for home uses are easy to fit into rooms.

How Big Is An Air Hockey Table Buying Guide

Unlike the general knowledge that purchasing an air hockey table is a daunting task, this guide will help simplify things. Unfortunately, this is possible only with the right knowledge of the different design criteria to consider.

Majorly, you will find air hockey tables in two broad classes: Large-puck models and the small-puck models. The large-puck models have full-sized pucks with a diameter of 3¼ inches or more. On the contrary, the small- puck models have lightweight pucks with a diameter of having 2½ inches or less.

As expected, the small-puck air hockey tables have a cheaper price than the large-puck tables carrying a hefty price tag. However, the higher the cost, the better the quality of the build materials.

Furthermore, small-puck hockey tables have weak airflow which means you need to use the lightweight and small-sized puck. We could go on to list a number of other features, but, the biggest advantage of a small puck table is its affordability. While its biggest downside is that the small-sized puck often flies off the table.

Different sizes of Air hockey table (in length)

The most significant factor to consider before making your purchase decision is the length of the table. This feature allows you to know how much space you will need for setting up the table. In addition, it helps to know how difficult the installation will be and the table’s portability and storage.

The range of Air hockey tables you can have varies from 2 feet of length to as long as 8 feet. However, alongside your budget constraints, available space, and personal choice, make sure you select the best-suited model for your needs.

2 feet (24 inches)

Due to their compact size, this table type falls under the category of tabletop air hockey table variations perfect for newbies and children. Also, they are fairly priced, purchasing from the right brand will end up with a reliable, stable and sturdy table.

You will find this table type in most retail stores because it has a relatively smaller size. Furthermore, they are manufactured overseas and the build quality can usually be trusted. To find small format/high-quality tables, you may have to go to specialty stores.

However, these models remain the best for children and small spaces. Largely because you can fold them down easily and quickly to a petite frame. Lastly, you can easily store them away under a bed or in a closet.

4 to 6 feet (48 inches to 72 inches)

This single class represents the majority of the tables found in the market today. This means it is a broad category and you will easily find tables of these measurements. If you are looking to purchase a table perfect for home-based recreational games, you should opt for a table of this size.

Furthermore, they have the right size fit for indoor use. Suitable for all ages, with the right playing surface, you can never go wrong with a 4-6 ft. long table. Lastly, you can sue this table type during fun nights of family games or for tournaments with your buddies.

7 to 8 feet (84 inches to 96 inches)

This is the last class of air hockey table sizes and thus you should expect a few differences from the other classes mentioned. However, it stands as a professional-level or Arcade-style air hockey tables in the premium category. This means tables of this size offer amazing playing experience.

This type of tables offers the standard size range perfect for tournaments or leagues. Furthermore, you will find them in arcades or business premises. However, enthusiasts looking to have the best can invest in this table type to be placed in their recreational rooms and basements.

Due to its build quality and very durable design, it is very expensive. Lastly, you need to endure you have enough space for the table before buying it.

Conclusion

Before you hit the markets and purchase your own air hockey table, you need to answer the question for yourself. “How big is an air hockey table” goes beyond the physical appearance and looks of the table. For instance, you would not want to fall in love with a table, only to find out later that you did not have enough space for it in your home.

Therefore, it is important to know the table size and to measure the space available to install the table before you begin to shop around.