An air hockey table is a great addition to any game room, but it can be disappointing after the first few times you play if there is a large area that does not produce enough friction for your puck. By following a few simple steps, you will be able to fix your dead spot and enjoy many more games of air hockey.
Step one: Identify the location of the dead spot
A dead spot will often exist in one location without going further along the playing surface. If there are several dead spots, try using different pucks as they may not provide an equal amount of traction with your particular table top surface. Try two or three different pucks until you find one that works.
Step two: Use a coin to create more friction at the dead spot
Take a metal coin, such as a penny or dime, and carefully use it to add increased friction to that small area. Turn the table on, place your puck in the affected area, and make sure it does not slip. If it seems too difficult for you to control, continue granting additional adherence using the coin until you are satisfied with the result.
Step three: Clean up any excess adhesive from the playing surface
When creating increased friction with your quarter or other object is no longer needed, be sure to remove all traces of that extra adhesion so that gameplay will not be hindered again in that same spot in future games. Using water and paper towels, gently wipe the affected area to remove any adhesive that might affect how easily your puck will slide over the smooth surface.
Step four: Clean up excess water and dry the game table completely
After you have removed all traces of additional adhesion, be sure to clean up any excess water with paper towels to prevent damage or warping of the playing surface once it has dried completely. Once this is done, you should be ready to play air hockey again!
Many tables will come with dead spots already present due to the positioning of support beams beneath them during shipping. For best performance, try moving your table before determining whether or not dead spots are a part of its design. Make sure that each leg is supported equally by tabletop placement on solid flooring, and add extra weight to the corners of your table if you find that it is not heavy enough when placed on a carpet.
How do I make my air hockey table slick again?
If you don’t feel like following these steps, you can always take the top surface off of your air hockey table. Usually, just 4 screws hold it on, and once that is done then just pick up the slab and scrape down the playing surface with a putty knife. I recommend this for very small spots only.
How do I make my air hockey table slick again?
There are other methods to remove any adhesive residue left behind by coins or paper towels, but sometimes scraping will be necessary to remove unwanted adhesion from your game table’s playing field. Always move in one direction when scrapping down your tabletop to avoid damage – if you scrape diagonally, there is potential. You may need to replace the entire top layer of the table in order to eliminate dead spots on your game table. Here’s how to take off, inspect and clean your air hockey table top.
What is causing this?
Most commonly, dead spots are created when there is an area where frictional resistance does not exist. This can be a result of materials used during construction or an issue with a specific part of a given table surface. You should always look for assistance from individuals who specialize in repairs related to games before attempting any self-repair methods yourself as damage can occur if you make errors during these processes!
How do you clean a hole in an air hockey table?
In most cases of dead spots, the issue is a small spot on the playing surface that lacks adhesion from an adhesive used for this purpose during assembly. As a result, you may be able to fix your table by yourself without purchasing anything new. In order to clean up these areas, simply use water and paper towels to wipe away any unwanted residue remaining after cleaning up the area.
Do I have to replace my entire air hockey tabletop?
It’s actually easier than you might think! To begin with, locate the screws located on each corner of your air hockey table’s playing surface. You should be able to see them once you remove all other accessories including pucks, pushers, and electronic scoring. Once you have done so, you should be able to flip the table over and take off the entire top.
How do I prevent this from happening?
The best way to keep your air hockey table in peak condition is with regular cleaning. If you have adhesive stuck to the surface of your game, using a cleaner designed for use on sports equipment is recommended. You will want to be very careful when using these cleaners, however, as they can damage certain surfaces if misused.
