How to Build a Cheap Pool Table

Building a high-end pool table can take months and cost more than $1,500 for supplies alone. A cheap pool table can be constructed from an old dining table and a few accessories to give the finished product a real pool table feel. After you assemble your cheap pool table, it will probably not be perfectly level, but nearly level is attainable with shims or felt discs applied to the bottom of one or more dining table legs. The pool table will be slightly shorter in length and less wide than a regulation table, and you'll have to do without the slate, but that will not hamper the fun.

Instructions

Prepare Side Walls and Table

1

Cut the batting for the side walls. Batting will be wrapped around each 2-by-4 board and stapled to the 4-inch side of the board. Cut each piece of batting with just enough room to wrap around the board before stapling it in place. Repeat for all boards.

2

Attach the fabric. After the batting is stapled in place, repeat the process with fabric. Traditional cotton can be used, but many people choose faux leather or plastic fabric for easier clean-up if something is spilled on the pool table side walls.

3

Drill pocket holes. Place all four side walls on the pool table, but do not attach to the table. Place the Forstner bit near one corner snug against the side walls. Mark the placement with a pencil. Remove the side walls and measure distance from table corner. Using this measurement, mark the remaining three pockets and drill with the 4-inch Forstner bit. Standard pool table pockets are about 3.5 inches.

4

Staple the felt in place. With the aid of two helpers, stretch the first piece of felt over the dining table. Helpers should be facing each other, pulling in opposite directions. Wrap the felt under the table and staple in place. Repeat until the first piece of felt is stretched and attached around the entire perimeter.

5

Add a second layer of felt. A dining room table is not made for pool balls, so adding a second layer of felt will help prevent damage from bouncing pool balls. Stretch the felt over the first layer using the same method described in Step 3 and staple in place.

6

Cut pocket holes. Using a razor blade, cut an "X" in the middle of each pocket. Fold the felt under the table and staple in place. Repeat for all four pockets.

7

Attach netting under pocket. Netting needs to be stapled under each pocket to catch the pool ball. Glue can also be used to secure netting or as a second layer of security.

Drill and Build

8

Measure for drill holes. Sitting under the edge of the table, measure one to two inches in from the outside edge and make a mark. The depth of the mark from the table's edge will vary based on the width of the dining table lip. Repeat several times along the length and width of the table. Using a straight edge, connect the marks with lines along all four sides of the table.

9

Mark drill spots. After the lines are drawn, pull the measuring tape along the 72-inch sides of the table from corner to corner. Make marks on the lines drawn in Step 1. Marks should be placed at 9 inches, 18 inches, 36 inches, 45 inches, 54 inches and 63 inches. On the 42-inch sides, marks will be placed at 7 inches, 14 inches, 21 inches, 28 inches and 35 inches. Again, all marks are being made on the underside of the table.

10

Attach the fabric-covered 2-by-4 boards, using wood screws. Helpers can now hold the boards in place on the edge of the felted table top. The outside edge of the 2-by-4 board should be flush with the edge of the dining room table. Using the pre-marked drill points, drill holes up through the table and into the 72-inch 2-by-4 boards. The 72-inch covered boards need to be secured before the 34-inch boards can be screwed in place.

Billiard Games

Billiards is a table game that has been played since the 15th century. The game involves players taking a long wooden stick (known as a "cue stick") and using a "cue ball" to hit billiard balls around a cloth-covered table. Over the centuries, people have created and played hundreds of varieties of Billiards games. Most variations involve the number of balls on a table, whether or not there are pockets and the way the balls must be hit. The following is a partial list of popular Billiards games.

Carom Billards

Carom Billiards is classified as the most basic example of billiards. In the game, three balls are placed on the table. A player must attempt to hit one ball so that it makes contact with the other two balls. Any time this happens, the player scores a point. The first player to reach a predetermined number of points is the winner.

Pool

Pool is a type of Billiards game that has become incredibly popular in North America since its inception. In this game, 15 balls and a cue ball are placed on a table, and balls must be hit into one of the six pockets on the table. Each ball pocketed earns the player a point. There are several variations on the pool game, including nine-ball and eight-ball.

Snooker

Snooker is very similar to pool in that it uses a table with pockets and uses 15 balls with a cue ball. The chief difference is that the balls must be pocketed in a predetermined order in order for any points to be scored. While this is similar enough to Pool to be considered an alternate version of it, many professionals consider it to be a separate game.

Bumper Pool

Bumper Pool is a very strange variation on standard Pool. There are only six balls on the pool table, which has a number of fixed bumpers on the middle and ends of the table. The player must pocket balls by hitting them into their one predetermined pocket. If the player can sink five balls into his pocket, then he wins the game.

Three-Cushion Billards

Three-Cushion Billiards is an extremely difficult version of standard Carom Billiards. In order to score a point, the player must make contact with not only two billiard balls, but also three sides of the pool in one shot. This is the most popular version of Carom Billiards in the United States.

Artisitc Billiards

Artistic Billiards is a version of Billiards that depends entirely on trick shots to score points. The player must attempt 76 preset shots, and points are rewarded based on accuracy of the shot. After all 76 shots have been attempted by the players, scores are calculated; and the player with the highest total score is the winner.

How to Size Glass Table Tops to Bases

Making tables out of glass tops and decorative bases opens up a world of endless decorating possibilities. Just about any sturdy object can be used as a base, and glass tops can be ordered in shapes ranging from serpentine to kidney. When sizing glass table tops to bases, it's important to keep the elements proportionate to one another for reasons of safety, visual balance and overall aesthetics. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure the base. If the base is wider at the bottom than at the top, use the bottom measurement. If the base is a circle, measure the diameter; then halve it to find the radius. If the base is a square or rectangle, measure its length and width.

2

Find the area of the base. If it's a circle, the area is equal to pi times radius squared, so multiply 3.14 by the radius (the distance from the exact center of the circle to any point on the edge of the circle), then multiply by the radius again. For a square or rectangle, multiply length times width to get the area.

3

Multiply the base area by 3 to get the maximum table top area you can use. Choose a glass top with an area no larger than this measurement, because the base must support at least one-third the area of the glass top. Find the area of a glass table top using the same methods as in Step 2. If the glass is an odd shape, such as kidney, measure the length and width at their longest points.

DIY Outdoor Slat Top Table

Making your own outdoor slat top table will give you a useful piece of furniture for when you find yourself entertaining on the patio or in the garden. With just a little knowledge and helpful instructions, you can build a slat top table that will last for several years. The slat table will be a four feet wide by eight feet long table that stands four feet off the ground. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Assemble a 4-by-8-foor rectangle of the 2-by-4s on the ground by placing the 4-foot 2-by-4s on the end of the 8-foot 2-by-4s. Turn all of the boards on their 2-inch sides to where the sides of the rectangle will be four inches high on all sides. Drive screws through the 2-inch thick sides of the 4-foot 2-by-4s and into each end of the 8-foot 2-by-4s to make the boards of the rectangle tight.

2

Fasten a 4-foot 4-by-4 into each corner of the rectangle by standing the 4-by-4s up on end in each corner and driving screws through the 2-inch thick sides of the rectangle and into the 4-by-4.

3

Flip the table over onto its legs. Then lay the 2-by-6 slats lengthwise from one 4-foot wide side of the rectangle frame to the other and parallel to the 8-foot sides of the rectangle frame. Fasten the 2-by-6s to the table by screwing screws through their 2-inch thick sides and into the rectangle frame of the table. This creates the slat table top of the table.

4

Sand the top of the table using the sandpaper mounted on the sanding block. Get the top of the table as smooth as possible.

5

Apply paint to the table on all sides, the top and underneath using the paintbrush to make the table able withstand weather.

Games to Practice Times Tables

Knowing the times table is a basic math skill, but practicing the tables can go far beyond the usual flashcards. There are many games available to make the experience of memorizing the times tables more expedient and enjoyable.

Carl's Cookie Capers

Carl's Cookie Capers was designed to teach the basics of multiplication. In the game, chocolate chip cookies are baked up. The cookies have different numbers of chocolate chips and players must use multiplication to determine the number of cookies. The game exemplifies the concept that multiplication is repeated addition. Players can choose to view a tutorial before playing and can start on either level one or level two. The times tables practice questions are shown in both mathematical and word problem form. It the end of the game any problems that were incorrectly answered are listed for the student to review.

Play at www.multiplication.com/flashgames/Bakery.htm.

Granny Prix

Granny Prix is a game in which knowledge of the times tables will help you race your granny racer across the finish line to victory. At the start of the, game players must choose a level/number to practice. Then players choose a granny. Granny's hair, skin, and wheelchair can be customized. With each question answered correctly, your granny inches her way closer and closer to victory. Each incorrect answer is a step back. The first set of wheels to cross the finish line wins.

Play at http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/GrannyPrix.htm.

Space Racer X

Space Racer X is an intergalactic space exploration-themed multiplication game. Players must navigate through the mine-like field of asteroids toward which their spacecraft is being propelled. Players are shown a set of multiplication problems, one on each of the lower corners of the screen. If they answer the problem on the left, the spaceship moves to the left. Answering the question on the right side moves the spaceship to the right. Moving to the left or right is how players navigate through the asteroids and win the game. Sometimes players must make more than one move alone to get out of harm's way because the game has three "lanes" in which the spaceship moves. Player must think fast to move fast.

Play at http://www.mathplayground.com/spaceracer_multiplication.html.

Table Football Games

Tabletop football has been a well-liked game for many years. Old and young alike will have fun with the classic game. With modern inventions like the computer and Internet gaming there are even more ways to play tabletop football. Some of the best places to find these foosball games are: in video game format, online and in traditional venues. No matter what format you play in, you will be sure to have a good time.

Video Games

There are several different video game versions of the popular table top football. The Wii offers a version of table top football called Table Football Wii. Another version, called Nintendo Table Football is also available. In these games you control the football players just like in traditional foosball. You can play single or multiplayer in these games. The Xbox has its own version called Foosball for Two. The Xbox allows players to play against a computer or another friend via Xbox live. This game is not set up like traditional foosball, but rather uses a 2D version of the game that is easier to see on a television screen.

Online Games

Table top football or foosball is also a very popular game online. There are many different web versions of the game and most of them are completely free. Gaming sites like Y8 and Games.com offer several different versions of foosball and tabletop football. Each of these games offers a slightly different gaming experience with the focus on a different aspect of the game. The best way to find the game that matches your play style is to find several different games and play them to find your favorite.

Traditional Games

Traditional tabletop football has different variations as well. Traditional foosball where the players are controlled by handles and steel bars is still sold at most sports stores. There are also variations of the game such as electronic tabletop football. If you do not have the money or space for such a huge system then there is another, cheaper alternative. This paper football game is more like American football. It is a popular game for boys. A sheet of paper is folded into a triangle. One boy holds his fingers out like a goal. The other boy tries to flick the paper triangle into the goal for points. The first person to reach a predetermined number of points wins. There are variations of this game that are easy to find online.

How to Make a Garden Table

A garden is a place to relax, unwind and meditate. It is here that one can sit quietly, enjoy the smells. Hear the sounds that can only be produced in such an atmosphere when you relax in your garden. If you are going to put the sweat and toil into the creation of a garden, it only makes sense that you would add furniture. This cant be just any furniture, though; it has to have the same taste as the rest of the garden you created. It should have a garden table. Yes, not only will the flowers and other additions to your garden speak of your creative genius, but the garden table will tell others of the vision that has become your garden. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Beginning

1

Mark the center of the two End Leg Supports. Drill a pilot hole with the drill to receive the 1-inch deck screws. Apply a bead of glue on one end of the Long Leg Support and center it on the End Leg Support. Secure it with the 1-inch deck screws. Repeat this for the other end of the Long Leg Support. Set this aside.

2

Drill pilot holes in the 2 x 2 x 2-inch Blocks to receive two deck screws. Apply a bead of glue to one side of the Block. Place the Block flush with the top of the 3 x 3 Leg and inset 1-inches. Secure it with the 2-inch deck screws. Do this on the two inside corners of each 3 x 3 Leg.

3

Drill pilot holes in the 2 x 2 End Supports to receive 6 deck screws. Apply a bead of glue to one of the End Supports and place it against the top edge of the End. Secure it with the 2-inch deck screws. Repeat for the other End.

4

Drill two pilot holes on the ends of the End pieces and the Sidepieces. Apply a bead of glue to the inside of one of the Ends and place it against a 2 x 2 Block. Secure it with the 1-inch deck screws. Repeat this with the other End piece and both Sidepieces.

5

Measure from the end of the Sidepieces and make a mark every 15-inches. Drill pilot holes on these marks. Drill pilot holes in the Cross Members every four inches. Place the Cross Members against the pilot holes on the Sidepieces. Secure them with the 1inch deck screws.

Finishing up

6

Place the Top boards face down on a table covered with a soft cloth. Leave 1/8-inch gap between them.

7

Place the Leg assembly on the Top leaving a two-inch space between the edge of the Top and the ends and sides. Secure the Leg assembly to the top with the 2-inch deck screws.

8

Measure up from the bottom of the Legs four inches and drill a hole for the 3/8-Inch Dowel Pin. Mark the edges of the Leg Supports assembly that will meet the leg in the center. Drill a hole for the 3/8-Inch Dowel Pin.

9

Apply glue to the hole in the Leg. Insert the Dowel Pin until it is snug. Leave only 3/8 inches of the Dowel Pin exposed.

10

Apply glue in the holes of the Leg assembly and gently push it in place over the Dowel Pins on the Legs. Clamp them and leave over night. The next day, remove the clamps. Turn the table upright.

How to Make Your Own Wooden Table

A nice, functional wooden end table can be put together by just about anyone if they have the right tools. The wood used is a single board in the species of your choice such as oak, walnut or pine. It is a project that can be done over a weekend and can be a wonderful addition to your home. Only fundamental woodworking skills are needed, along with a few basic tools. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure and cut two 18-inch lengths from the board. Measure and cut two 16-inch lengths. Measure and cut one 11-inch section from the remaining board.

2

Measure in from one end of each 16-inch length 3 inches and mark a line with the pencil. Repeat on the other end of each board. Center the dowel jig over each line and drill a 1/2-inch-deep hole. Dip a 1-inch dowel in wood glue. Use the rubber mallet and a scrap piece of wood to pound a dowel halfway into each hole on one of the 16-inch boards. Spread wood glue on the edge of the drilled second board. Lay the two boards together and pound the exposed dowels into the holes on the second board until the two boards are flush together. This is the tabletop.

3

Measure up 6 inches from one end of both of the two 18-inch boards. Use a pencil to make a straight horizontal line across the boards. Measure in 3 inches from each side and make a vertical line across the horizontal line. Center the drill bit where the two lines intersect and drill a 1/2-inch hole.

4

Measure in 3 inches from both ends on the top edge of the 18-inch boards. Use the dowel jig to drill 1/2-inch holes.

5

Measure in 3 inches from each end of the 11-inch board. Mark the measurement with your pencil Use the dowel jig to center and drill a 1/2-inch hole at these marks. Dip two dowels in wood glue and pound them into the holes on the 18-inch boards. Lay a bead of glue on each end of the 11-inch board. Quickly pound one end of the 11-inch board onto the dowel pins on each side. This creates the table legs and shelf.

6

Lay the tabletop upside down on a flat surface. Take the lower table assembly and center it over the underside of the tabletop. Mark on the underside of the tabletop where the assembly fits. Drill dowel holes 1/2 inch deep into the tabletop in the appropriate position.

7

Dip dowels into wood glue and pound them into the table leg assembly. Position the tabletop over the dowels and pound the tabletop into place.

How to Decorate a Coffee Table With Orbs

Coffee tables not only provide a place for errant books and beverages, they also make a statement. If your coffee table doesn't complement the rest of your dcor, it will look isolated and out of place. Adding organic elements, such as orbs, to your coffee table helps it blend into the space. As long as the decorations blend into the dcor, your coffee table will, too. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Choose your orbs according to your dcor. Formal styles, like Victorian, benefit from clear, rosy pink or frosted glass orbs. Rattan and wooden orbs incorporate well into country and traditional dcors, while a modern room works better with bronze or pewter orbs. An organic, earthy dcor can benefit from any natural material, including stone and colored glass.

2

Pick a container for your orbs. Match the material to your dcor, but contrast it with the orbs. Try a ceramic bowl for ceramic orbs or a glass bowl for stone. The shape should also contrast. An oval, rectangular, square or triangular container will help the orbs stand out.

3

Pile your orbs in the container. You may choose to stack them in a pyramid for a formal look or pour them into the container and let them fall as they may. Just don't overfill the container. Use as few orbs as possible in the container while still filling it to about 3 inches over the rim.

4

Add free-standing orbs around the table. Scatter orbs with flat bottoms over the table around your orb-filled containers. Mix and match sizes, as well, both in the bowl and out. You can arrange the orbs by size for a formal look or mix up sizes for a casual, natural feel.

Table top Arcade Games

While many people are familiar with the large upright arcade games that became synonymous with the word, fewer remember the flat table top games. Table top arcade games took quarters just like the uprights did, but offered a slightly different gaming experience.

Cabinet Style

Most arcade games were in an upright cabinet. The screen would face a standing player, and the controls would be at a comfortable height for their hands from a standing position. Table top games had the screen facing directly at the ceiling, and were covered in a pane of thick, smooth glass. The table was low so players could sit and play. There were usually controls at both ends of the table. These types of arcade cabinets were also called "cocktail tables."

Games

Some games that required the user stand while playing, such as light-gun games, were never put on table top machines. Some of the most popular games of the '80s had no such restrictions. Some of the classic titles that did show up in this format were "Warlords," "Galaga," "Ms. Pac-Man" and "Pac-Man." There were also combination units that might have two games, often "Ms. Pac-Man" and "Galaga," loaded on the same table.

Controls

Typically, the controls on these tables are like those of an upright arcade console. Trackballs did appear on a few specific tables like "Football" by Atari. There were usually controls on both sides of the table to encourage two-player games. The orientation of the screen image would change to face the player whose turn it was. A few speciality cabinets also had four-sided controls for four player games.

MAME

Table top games are frequently recreated for MAME. MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. The MAME movement, which began in 1997, encourages gamers to create new machines that replicate the old-school gaming experience. MAME builders build a similar cabinet and control system as the original game, then install a monitor and PC components programmed with a special emulation software.

Billiard Table Rules

The game of billiards is regulated by rules to keep a billiard table and the play uniform in games played around the world. The dimensions are given in ranges instead of specific measurements, allowing some minor variation from table to table.

Striking the Cue Ball

When shooting the cue ball to hit the other balls, only the tip of the pool stick is allowed to hit the cue ball. If any other part of the pool stick or the player shooting it hits the ball, it is a foul.

Stance When Shooting

A player must have at least 1 foot on the ground when shooting in the game of billiards. If a player violates this rule, it is a foul and any balls he sank are returned to the table.

Spinning Balls

A player must wait until all balls on the table cease all motion. If a ball is still spinning, it is considered to be in movement and a player cannot take his next shot.

Height of Billiard Table

According to the World Pool-Billiard Association, the playing surface of the billiard table does not have to be a specific height off the floor, but within a range instead. The range is between 29 1/4 inches and 31 inches.

Corner Pocket Dimensions

Corner pocket dimensions vary slightly. They should have an opening in between 4.5 inches and 4.625 inches. These are for each of the four corner pockets.

Side Pocket Dimensions

The dimensions of the side pockets on a pool table are slightly different than the corner pockets. The opening should be in a range between 5 inches and 5.125 inches for the side pockets.

Math Games for Kids Learning Multiplication Tables

Multiplication worksheets, flashcards and drills often become boring to children, especially to those who may find math difficult. Make math interesting with hands-on games and activities that reinforce multiplication skills. Play the games as a class, with a partner or individually. Observe children as they play the games, and make notes of each student's progress.

Multiplication Top-It

Two players compete against each other in a game of Multiplication Top-It, as described on the Ann Arbor Public Schools website. Place a stack of numbered cards in the middle of the table. Players take turns drawing two cards, multiplying them together and announcing the product. The player with the highest product wins the round and keeps both players' cards. In the event of a tie, the students draw two more cards each. The winner of that round wins all four sets of cards. The game can also be played using multiplication flash cards. Players must draw one card each and recite the multiplication fact aloud, supplying the answer.

Egg Carton Multiplication

Create a multiplication game using an egg carton, as adapted from the Ann Arbor Public Schools website. Write numbers 1 to 12 inside the egg carton cups. Drop two small objects such as rocks, pennies or craft pom-poms inside the egg carton. Shake the egg carton and then open it to see where the objects have landed. Multiply the two numbers together and announce the product. Alternatively, students can write the entire multiplication fact on a sheet of paper. For an easier version of the game, use a half-dozen egg carton and label it with numbers one through six.

Who Has? Game

The Mathwire.com website suggests a multiplication game suitable for a whole group activity. Before the lesson, prepare index cards that say, "I have 48. Who has 3 x 8?" Change the numbers for each index card, making sure that every multiplication fact matches with only one product. To play the game, give each child a card and select one student to read his card aloud. The student with the matching product responds by reading her card aloud. The game continues until all the cards have been matched.

Messy Multiplication

Make math fun by allowing children to get messy. Squirt hypoallergenic shaving cream onto students' desks and allow them to spread it around. Call out a multiplication fact, and have children write the fact and the answer in the shaving cream using their fingers. If students work at painted tables or other surfaces that might stain, protect the work area by taping sheets of wax paper to the table before beginning.

Multiplication Table Games

Times tables help kids learn and memorize multiplication equations, serving as an alternative to solving problems with a calculator or pencil and paper. If kids master times tables, it may may help with more difficult multiplication problems later on. Kids can practice multiplication times tables by playing online games that test their knowledge and response time.

Buzzy's Times Table Challenge

Kids solve multiplication table equations as quickly as possible when playing Buzzy's Times Table Challenge at kidsnumbers.com. Buzzy carries a box and starts at the 1 row. Players type their answer in the box; if it's correct, Buzzy moves to the next column. Should a player enter an incorrect answer, a buzzer goes off, and players try again. The game ends when the player--and Buzzy-- reach the 10 x 10 equation.

As players work their way through the table, a timer keeps track of how much time they're taking on the task. With each attempt, players should try to top their previous best time.

Times Tables Grid Games

Players use multiplication table grids when playing two multiplication table games at the BBC's Skillswise site. In the first game, players select the times tables they want to practice (up through 10) and have the option of playing with or without numbers appearing on the grid, as well as whether they want the game to run a timer. Players solve equations and click the grid's blue square that contains the answer.

Choosing more than one times table to practice allows players to click grids that contain solutions to multiple equations. For instance, if the game asks, "What is 6 x 4," players may click the 24 on the grid that appears in the 3, 4, 6 or 8 rows, because 24 is a multiple of all of those numbers. Playing without numbers makes the game more difficult, as players must locate exact location of the answers on the grid.

The second game has no option to play with numbers appearing on the grid. Also, unlike the first game, this game does not ask players to solve equations. Rather, it gives players a solution and asks that they locate it on the grid. For example, if a player selected the 6 and 9 times tables, the game may ask, "Where is 36?" Players click on the square where 36 would appear either in the 6 or 9 rows.

Players have five lives in each of the two games. An incorrect answer sounds the alarm, with the game proceeding to point out the correct answer.

Multiplication Table Challenge

The Multiplication Table Challenge at programmingart.com covers the multiplication table up through 12 and gives players 100 questions in random order. Questions appear on the upper right of the screen, with players typing their responses in the "My Answer" box and either clicking "Check my answer" or pressing "Enter" on their keyboard. If players answer a question erroneously, the game indicates the correct answer.

The clock timer appears on the lower left of the screen. Players can see their correct answer percentage at the bottom of the screen and should answer the questions as quickly as possible. Clicking the "X" on the bottom right of the screen shows players their grading report. Players also have the option of playing a game that focuses on the more difficult 6 through 12 times tables.

How to Do Table Place Settings Properly

Setting a table properly can make the difference between a sophisticated meal and one that appears to be haphazardly thrown together. The basic place setting is relatively simple: you place a fork on the left side of a plate, a knife facing inward on the right side of the plate and a spoon on the other side of the knife. Place settings involving more utensils can be tricky and confusing, however. Avoid confusion or embarrassing mistakes by learning how to set a table properly. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Lay down the tablecloth, a table runner and place mats (if applicable).

2

Place one plate on the table for each person. Ideally the plates should be approximately 2 feet apart. This will give your guests room to move comfortably.

3

Place the knife and fork for the main course nearest the plate. Work your way out from there. For example, if you will be serving a salad before the main course, put the salad fork outside the main course fork on the left side of the plate. If you will be serving an appetizer before the salad, place the appetizer fork outside the salad fork. Do the same with the knives and spoons on the right side of the plate.

4

Lay any dessert utensils above the plate, horizontally rather than vertically. The fork's tines should point to the right, while the knife or spoon should point to the left.

5

Arrange the glass or glasses at the upper right corner of the place setting. The water glass should be nearest the center, the white wine glass next and the red wine glass at the outside.

6

Place a bread plate with a butter knife laid horizontally across its top in the upper left corner of the place setting.

7

Lay a folded napkin to the left of the plate, outside the farthest utensil on that side.

8

Set the appetizer plate on top of the main plate. Set the soup bowl on top of the appetizer plate.

Homemade Bedside Laptop Tables

People use laptops in all areas of their home, including from their bed. Emailing, blogging and catching up on social networking can all be done from the comforts of your own bed with a laptop and a bedside laptop table. Bedside laptop tables can be expensive if purchased in a store. They also may not be suited to the style of your room. You can make your own homemade bedside laptop table with a few basic tools and materials. It can be made to fit your tastes and specific needs.

Instructions

Homemade Bedside Laptop Tables

1

Lay out the two 36-inch long, 1-by-2-inch oak boards so that they are parallel to each other and approximately 24 inches apart. Place the 24-inch long, 1-by-2-inch oak board on each end to form a box. Apply wood glue to the joints. Fasten the box together using 1 1/4-inch wood screws and a screwdriver. Use two screws per joint. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag. This is the leg assembly of the table.

2

Cut a 45-degree angle on each end of two 24-inch1-by-2-inch oak boards using a miter saw. These are the table top supports.

3

Place two 24-inch 1-by-2-inch oak boards parallel to each other approximately 24-inches apart. Place a 24-inch 1-by-2-inch oak board between each end to form a box. Apply wood glue to the joints. Fasten the box together using 1 1/4-inch wood screws and a screwdriver. Use two screws per joint. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag. This is the base of the table.

4

Place the leg assembly on one side of the base of the table. Apply a bead of wood glue along the joint. Fasten the leg assembly to the base assembly using 1 1/4-inch screws and a screwdriver. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag.

5

Apply a wood finish of your choice to all of the parts. Allow the finish to dry according to the finish container instructions before continuing.

6

Align the 3/4-inch thick, 24-by-24-inch hardwood plywood sheet on top of the leg assembly. This is the table top. Apply a bead of glue to the joint. Fasten the top to the leg assembly using 1 1/4-inch wood screws and a screwdriver. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag. Place the support pieces against the table top and leg assembly to form angled supports. Apply a bead of wood glue on the joints. Fasten the supports to the top and leg assembly using 1 1/4-inch wood screws and a screwdriver. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag.

Tips on Building an Outdoor Table

Whether looking to build a table to sit on your patio or a series of picnic tables for use in a park, building your own wood table allows you to create an aesthetically pleasing table for less than a commercial model of a similar style. Outdoor tables must be built to withstand more hardships than indoor tables, which remain protected from the elements. Does this Spark an idea?

Choosing a Style

Outdoor tables come in a variety of shapes and sizes and it is important to look at the area your table will be placed before beginning work on your table. Knowing where your table will be placed, what other furniture will be around it and how it will be used allows you to create or select a table design that suits the way your table will be utilized.

Weatherproofing

As an outdoor table is likely to experience a wide range of weather conditions, ranging from intense sun and heat to days where a great deal of rain or snow falls on the table, it is important to ensure that your table has the proper weatherproofing. Select a paint or stain for your table that is advertised as weather safe. After completing your painting or staining, apply a weather-proof finish to the table for extra protection against the elements.

Limitations

Woodworking provides a great deal of joy at the completion and use of a successfully finished craft project; however, entering a project with unrealistic expectations leads to frustration. If you are inexperienced at woodworking, a simple table design is likely your best bet. Similarly, if you are working with access to a limited shop, such as just a table saw and circular saw, then a simpler design will be required to ensure your tools can handle the job. Attempting to build a table beyond your means and ending up with a weak structure is particularly risky with a table that will be left outdoors.

Table Tops

Outdoor table tops come in a variety of shapes. The simplest top for a table you are creating is to simply lay wood planks side-by-side to create a surface, and can be employed with aesthetically pleasing results. A more adventurous craftsman may elect to attempt a design with an inlaid surface however. For an inlay, a rim around the border is left higher than the rest of the table top, allowing a top made of glass, tile or slate to be placed inside where it sits flush with the top of the rim.

Seating

Seating around a table is often as important as the table itself. A table such as a picnic table comes with seating attached to it; however, picnic tables are not the only table which can benefit from attached seating. A square patio table with four attached seats, with one off each side of the table, creates a self-contained table unit.

How to Make Farm Animal Centerpieces

Turn basic ingredients and materials into a farm animal centerpiece to decorate the table at a barnyard-themed party. Making the animals to populate the centerpiece turns into a party activity if you provide guests with the basics and teach them how to put them together. Let each child take their own marshmallow animal home as a party favor after the party.

Instructions

1

Mix 1/8 cup water with green food coloring to make a grass green color. Pour a bag of shredded coconut into a large bowl, followed by the colored water. Using two wooden spoons, toss the coconut and water until all the coconut is dyed green. Spread the dyed coconut on cookie sheets, and allow it to dry completely.

2

Cut a piece of craft paper to about 2 inches longer and wider than a shoe box top. Set the box top upside down on top of the paper. Fold the corners of the paper so they meet the corners of the box and crease. Fold the edges of the paper up and over the sides of the box, and tape them in place inside the box top.

3

Paint craft sticks white, and glue them together into a fence. Place the fence pieces around three sides of the box top, gluing them to the cardboard. Fill the box top with the colored coconut, so it looks like grass.

4

Mix 1 1/2 cups of confectioner's sugar with 1 beaten egg white. This is the glue you'll use to make marshmallow barn animals. Keep it in a bowl, covered with a damp cloth.

5

Fill a small bowl with pink sugar crystals. Use a paintbrush to coat a large marshmallow in the sugar glue. Roll the marshmallow in the pink sugar. Repeat with a small marshmallow. Use two straight pins with black beaded ends, to attach the small marshmallow to the top end of the large marshmallow. This is the pig's nose. Cut two red jelly beans in half and use pins to attach them to one side of the large marshmallow as legs. Another half jelly bean becomes the pig's tail. Cut a small marshmallow in half, coat it with glue and roll it in sugar, then attach it to the large marshmallow as ears.

6

Pour yellow sugar in a small bowl. Coat a large marshmallow in sugar glue, then roll in the colored sugar. Cut orange jelly beans in half and use them as a chick's wings and beak by using pins to attach them to the yellow marshmallow. Use a toothpick dipped in blue food coloring to make the chick's eyes.

7

Use the sugar glue to attach several small marshmallows all around a large one to make a sheep's body. Cut a 1-inch piece of black licorice, and glue it to one end of the large marshmallow, between small marshmallows, as the sheep's nose. Cut smaller pieces of black licorice, and glue them in place as the sheep's eyes.

8

Set the marshmallow animals in the coconut grass, to resemble a barnyard or pasture.

Design a Pool Table Room

A pool room should be a comfortable place to play pool where one can move about freely. A pool room can be set up in a number of ways to capitalize on certain elements, including natural light, views, available space, as well as the pre-existing home's construction. Learning to design a pool room is a simple as having a pencil, some pieces of paper and a scale or ruler. Does this Spark an idea?

Draw a Plan

Draw a floor plan. Think of a plan as if it were cutting through the middle of the wall on the ground floor. The plan is a view from above of the layout of your walls, floor and movement patterns. Draw to scale. Include the measurements of the length and width of your walls using a scale or ruler. Next, draw the pool table in the plan, from above, using the correct dimensions of the table. The absolute minimum size for a pool table room would be 12 by 16 feet. A larger and more comfortable size would be around 20 by 30 feet. Draw the basic rectangular shape of the room and any of its corridors or closets into your existing house plan to scale. Use tracing paper to design the room.

If you are putting an addition onto the house, use the separately drawn floor plan of your house to relate the new room to your house in scale. This also helps to make sure the new room is added in the most appropriate place.

Draw Sections and Elevations

When a wall is drawn from the inside of a house it is called a section. A section should cut a room in half down the middle. It should show the wall standing upright in two dimensions.

If the room is new construction, decide where the closets and windows will go. Natural lighting can bring an added dimension to the room. Use a skylight to let in more light. Windows may take a variety of rectangular shapes and positions on your wall.

An elevation is what the room or house looks like from the outside. An elevation is also two-dimensional and shows the wall from the outside standing upright. On the elevation, match the outside wall treatment, or faade, to the home's existing faade in most cases. Draw with a ruler using lines to draw openings, doors and patterns which represent the style of wall treatment. These drawings will help you visualize the appearance of the pool room.

Design the Interior

Decide what the walls will look like. Use a unique approach such as hardwood walls, interesting wallpaper, a preferred paint color or a combination of these. Decide on the dcor of the room. Sometimes, themes help. Here are some types of themes that would work well in a pool room: Southwestern, bar-ish, contemporary using interesting wallpaper, minimalist, psychedelic, nature, Caribbean, African, Oriental or artistic. Use a combination of new items and things that you already have as decorations for the new room. Match colors. There are colors that naturally work well together. Find interesting furniture that suits the mood. An elevated table with bar stools assists in the fluidity of the act of playing pool. Draw the furniture to scale into the floor plan. Make notes on the section of certain wall treatment preferences. All that is needed for the interior decor planning is a floor plan and a section showing each wall.

How to Play Dining Room Table Games

Gathering special people in your life around the table for a meal can be a pleasurable event which will leave your family or guests wanting to come back again and again. Prolong those family or company dinners with some intriguing table games for players of all ages.

Instructions

Be prepared for games

1

Keep a box or basket stocked with items you will need for table games so that you wont have to go hunting for items when the opportunity for a game or two presents itself.

2

Choose games which can be enjoyed by players of various ages. Some games might be played by teams, so that little ones can be helpers.

3

Print out both a list of possible games as well as the rules for any games you wouldnt immediately remember. This way youll have ideas at your fingertips, and youre printed rules can put an instant stop to any bickering about rules.

Play the Games

4

Play Pounce. Pounce is similar to solitaire except that it is played by teams of two. Each team is given a shuffled deck of cards which has ten random cards removed. Player A plays solitaire as normal. Player B, holding the stack of ten cards, attempts to play the ten cards as quickly as possible, playing them on Player As game or on the common Aces which are laid out for all to play in the center of the table. The first team to get rid of the stack of ten cards shouts out Pounce and wins.

5

Play Silent Observation. Pair guests. Provide each pair with pencil and paper. Bring out a bag in which you have put 25 common objects such as a hammer, an apple, a toy car, a ruler, etc. Explain that you are going to dump out the contents of the bag and that everyone must silently observe the items which you will leave out of the bag for fifteen seconds. Then you will put the items back in the bag and each pair will have two minutes to list all the items but there must be no conversation or the pair will be out. The pair accurately remembering the most objects wins.

6

Play Thats Me? Provide each guest with pencil and paper. Ask each guest to draw a profile of the person on his right. Allow a couple of minutes for this activity during which no one can look at any drawing except her own. Artists should write the name of their subject on the back of their works of art. Collect all the drawings, mix them up, and set them out in the center of the table. Ask each player to guess which is his own portrait.

How to Make a Table With Countertop Marble

Marble-topped tables give a room a special elegance. Using counter top marble you can create a marble-topped table, either with an existing table or by building one from scratch. When you choose to use marble for a table top, remember that marble needs proper care to keep it in good condition. Always use coasters when setting drinks on a marble topped table, and avoid putting acidic solvents on the marble to clean it, as they will cause etching in the finish. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure the height you want your table to sit at, leaving an allowance for the thickness of the marble. For a coffee table, the standard height is about 16 inches, while the height for a dining table is about 29 inches.

2

Measure and mark the height on the 4-by-4-inch pieces of wood. Use the rafter square to mark a square line where you are going to cut.

3

Cut along the squared lines with a circular saw, creating the legs. You may need to cut from both sides to go completely through the 4-by-4s.

4

Measure and cut the four 2-by-4s so that they form a base along the edge of the marble slab. This is the base for your legs to bolt into.

5

Glue the edges of the 2-by-4 base together and secure with wood screws.

6

Glue the legs into the corners of the base and secure with clamps. Pre-drill holes to fit the 1/4-inch bolts through and slip the bolts in from the outside of the base. Tighten the corresponding nuts.

7

Sand down all the rough edges and apply your desired finish to the wood. Allow it to fully cure. Do not apply finish to the top of the table base where the marble will go, as it will prevent the adhesive from forming a strong bond.

8

Apply construction adhesive to the top of the table base where the marble will sit. Carefully place the marble on top of the adhesive, making sure to line up the edges so that no wood shows from underneath. Clamp the marble to the wooden base. Allow the adhesive to cure for at least 24 hours before use.

How to Modernize a Wooden Table

If you're updating your room, think of a wooden table as a blank canvas. Whether it's a dining room table, a coffee table, an end table, or just a sofa table or other occasional table used as an accent, you can easily transform a wooden table from an outdated eyesore to a modern, chic piece of furniture. Let your imagination run wild -- a coat of paint, trading traditional or outdated pieces such as table legs or hardware or just adding a new detail can give an old wooden table a new lease on life. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Paint your table to instantly modernize an outdated or just plain ugly piece of furniture. A coat of paint can cover a multitude of style sins, from an unattractive wood finish to a style that's decades out of date. Knotty pine, antique oak or any other old-fashioned wood finish gets a whole new, updated look when painted black, white or even a bright shade such as turquoise or pink. A farmhouse-type dining table or fussy traditional living room table looks fresh when painted a bright, unexpected color.

2

Switch out the table legs. On dining tables, sofa tables or any table with easily removable four legs, just putting on new legs can take your table from shabby chic to high style in minutes flat. Most home improvement stores sell replacement table legs, wood banister or trim pieces that can be easily cut down and used as table legs. Replacing table legs can even allow you to use a large, square coffee table as a small dining table, for instance. You can also cut down a sofa table for use as a coffee table. When the new legs are attached, paint the entire table one color.

3

Add or replace decorative details for an instant table makeover. Have a piece of glass cut to the dimensions of your table top. Place a large photo, an attractive piece of fabric, wallpaper or even a collage of favorite images on the table top, then cover with the glass for an instant update. If your table features knobs or other hardware, replace outdated pieces with new, modern hardware. For a modern look in less than a minute, cover a dining table, sofa or side table with a tablecloth, either in a solid, contemporary color, or an interesting pattern or print.

How to Get a Scratch Out of a Glass Table

Glass tables are prone to scratches, but this does not mean the marks are permanent. Light scratches on glass tables can be removed with the proper equipment and care. Instead of covering a glass table scratch with a tablecloth or place mat, attack the scratch immediately before it becomes deeper. Buffing the scratch with nonabrasive products can erase the mark, leaving a glass table looking new. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Examine the scratch to determine its depth. Any scratch 1/8 inch deep or less can be handled on the spot. Consult a professional for help removing deeper scratches.

2

Clean the table with a moist, lint-free cloth or paper towel to remove dust and dirt.

3

Apply a quarter-sized amount of jeweler's rouge to the polishing pad. Jeweler's rouge is a type of iron-oxide powder, called ferric oxide, that is combined with a wax or grease binder. The compound is used to buff precious metals like gold and silver, as well as glass lenses, to a high shine. Apply non-gel whitening toothpaste in lieu of jeweler's rouge.

4

Put on safety goggles and a particle mask. Rub the polishing pad over the scratch by hand or with an electric buffer, using light to moderate pressure.

5

Mix the 1/2 oz. of ammonia with the 2 cups of warm water in the spray bottle. Spray the ammonia solution onto the recently buffed area. Wipe the solution off with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.

6

Examine the buffed area. Repeat Steps 2 through 5 once or twice if the scratch is still visible.

Rustic Game Room Ideas

Game rooms provide home owners the opportunity to decorate a space purely for recreational purposes. A rustic, warm decor helps create a warm entertainment space that is perfect for the pool table, poker table and dart board. Decorate the space with warm colors and natural wood tones, similar to those found in a favorite pub. Be sure to include plush, comfortable furniture in the space to encourage relaxation. Does this Spark an idea?

Wall Treatments

Including color and texture in the space helps set the tone for a rustic game room design. Take design cues from a local pub or traditional log cabin decor. Decorate the walls with light-colored, natural wood paneling to add texture. Consider adding a chair rail with natural wood wainscoting below the rail and a rich, warm color painted above. Some appropriate colors include burgundy-reds, deep greens and honey.

Game Tables

Game tables for pool and poker can make a great center piece in a game room. Woods with vibrant patterns of visible wood grain help convey a natural, rustic feeling in the space. Metal and glass tables create a modern or contemporary feel, while wood and leather contribute to a rustic atmosphere.

Art and Accessories

Art and accessories are the perfect way to bring a particular design style into a space. For a rustic game room, search for vintage pub signs, sports memorabilia and rustic landscapes. Frame sports memorabilia in shadow boxes to protect the items and create art for the game room. Black and white or sepia-toned photography allows home owners to display family photos and lends the room a more rustic atmosphere.

Lighting

Including task-specific lighting in a game room, such as recessed lighting on a dimmer switch, allows home owners to set the light levels depending on how the space is being used. Raise lights while playing games and dim them for movie watching. Hang pendant lighting over tables or the bar. Choose lighting with warm colors and brass or wooden finishings. A rustic game room is an ideal location for a chandelier made from antlers or reclaimed wood.

Furniture

Comfortable, plush furniture encourages people to rest and relax in the game room. For a rustic feel, choose leather pieces with a matte finish and rustic details like nail head trim. Choose pieces in warm tans and browns for a monochromatic look. Also look for pieces which create built-in storage, such as ottomans with removable lids. Built in cabinets or armoires create attractive storage for board games, music and movies. A flat topped storage chest can make for a stylish, efficient coffee table.

Tabletop Arcade Games

Tabletop arcade games are, like the name suggests, arcade machines with screens sunken into a table instead of the more traditional upright arcade cabinets. Due to their layout, the display alternates for multi-player games flipping the screen around when the second player t a turn to play. The name "tabletop" arcade came from the thick glass covering over the screen that allowed players to put their drinks on it. It is also referred to as a "cocktail" cabinet.

Warlords

This game, released by Atari in 1980, allowed simultaneous play for four players with each player seated at opposite ends of the table. Each player had their own fort on the screen which other players had to try and destroy by capturing and shooting a fireball that bounced around the game screen. The game used paddle controllers instead of the usual joysticks, making it even more unique. This classic title has since been remade and released on Xbox Live Arcade as well as PC.

Pac-Man

Released in 1980 by Namco, this iconic game featured exactly the same gameplay as the arcade cabinet. The tabletop version had players facing each other across the table; they took turns playing the game with the display rotating to the active player. Namco later released a tabletop unit that featured Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man on the same table, as well as sped-up version of the two games that increased the speed of the titles. Namco remade this unit later on and called it the "20th Anniversary Reunion Edition" but it has also since been discontinued.

Eliminator

Eliminator, which was released in 1981 by Sega, holds the distinction of being the only four-player vector game ever made. The Eliminator that the title refers to is a asteroid base that had to be destroyed by players. There were enemy drones and opponent ships on the playing field as well; they could only be destroyed by pushing them into the Eliminator in the center of the screen. This took some careful planning as shooting at opponents and enemies just caused them to rebound off into a different direction. While the original tabletop game is very hard to track down, a version of this game was included in the Sega Genesis Collection for PSP.

Battlezone

Using 3D wireframe graphics to represent the cockpit of a tank, Battlezone was released in 1980 by Atari. Each level had enemy tanks and other hostiles shooting at the player; the aim was to retaliate and reach as high a score as possible before being destroyed. The environment could be used strategically by hiding behind objects to avoid enemy fire but this came at the cost of visibility. The tabletop version of this game never left the prototype stage and the only one in existence is currently in a private collection.

Inground Pool Sizes With Water Capacity

A backyard inground swimming pool of any size is something desired by more than a few homeowners and renters. There's little doubt that swimming pools provide plenty of opportunity for fun and quality time spent with family and friends. Imagine all the fun one can have in a truly large swimming pool. Happily, the only limitation on swimming pool size is the land needed to build one. Most prospective pool owners, though, limit pool selection to certain sizes and depths. Does this Spark an idea?

Common Pool Sizes

When it comes to backyard inground swimming pool size, the PoolAndSpa.com website lists three standard sizes. All three standard swimming pool sizes are also available in vinyl liner, fiberglass or concrete, which are the three materials used in swimming pool construction. Common inground swimming pool sizes include 16 feet by 32 feet, 18 feet by 36 feet and 20 feet by 40 feet. Most inground swimming pools also vary in their depth, with a minimum of 3 feet and a maximum of 8 feet being common.

Figuring Pool Volume

Each cubic foot contains 7.5 gallons of water. The volume of a 16-by-32-foot inground swimming pool that runs from 3 to 8 feet in depth is 21,120 gallons -- 16 x 32 x 5.5 (average depth) = 2,816 x 7.5 = 21,120. Standard swimming pool packages typically include sloping floors that run shallow to deep, such as 3 to 6 feet. An 18-by-36-foot pool with a 6-foot average depth would contain 29,160 gallons. A 20-by-40-foot pool with a 6.5-foot average depth would contain 39,000 gallons of water.

Non-Standard Shapes

Determining the volume of a non-standard shaped swimming pool requires more calculation. For example, the backyard inground swimming pool market contains kidney-shaped swimming pools in sizes from 10 feet by 20 feet up to 16 feet by 32 feet. Figuring the volume of a kidney-shaped pool requires knowing its length, average width and average depth. For example, the volume of a kidney-shaped pool that is16 feet (average width) by 32 feet by 5 feet (average depth) is 19,200 gallons (16 x 32 x 5 = 2,560 x 7.5 = 19,200).

Considerations

Knowing a swimming pool's water volume is important when it comes to maintaining its water chemistry. Before adding any pool chemical to a pool, you'll need to know the pool volume so that the correct amount of chemical can be added. Price-wise, sticking with standard or common shapes when it comes to an inground pool keeps the cost lower. The cost of any swimming pool, though, regardless of the size or shape, often doubles once options like landscaping, spas and decks are added in.

How to Build an Outdoor Dining Table

An outdoor dining table allows you to carry the meal outside while keeping yourself and your food off of the ground. Picnic tables can be built of nearly any material depending on your needs and preferences. A vinyl picnic table is easily built in less time and for less money than a wooden or metal table. Vinyl also has the edge when it comes to cleanup. A water hose, some soapy water and a scrub brush are all you need to maintain it. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Build a rectangle of PVC 3 feet wide by 8 feet long. Cut pipe with your hacksaw and sand the edges of the ends. Sand the inner edges of the 3-way couplings needed to form the rectangle and wipe away dust. Apply primer to the sanded surfaces, then immediately coat with PVC glue. Slide the pipes into the angled couplings to form the rectangle leaving the empty openings in the couplings facing up.

2

Build leg sections by forming squares 3 feet by 3 feet using the open ends of the couplings. Sand, prime and glue into the existing structure and use 3 way couplings at the top leaving the open ends pointing along the long axis of the original rectangle. Glue pipe into the open ends of the new couplings to complete the rectangular framing. Allow glue to cure for 30 minutes.

3

Attach the 48-inch vinyl decking to your frame with galvanized screws. Place a board 12 inches from each end of the frame and one in the center by driving screws through the decking boards and into the PVC.

4

Screw the 96-inch deck boards to the brace boards. Leaving 1/4 inch between decking boards with 12 inches of overhang on each end.

How to Mark Measurements on a Pool Table

Adding a pool table to your home recreation center or business can lead to hours of enjoyment and even more serious tournament play. You will need to spot the pool table for play if its felt arrives unmarked. You must define the baulk line, center point and apex to mark your table properly. All of these marks require specific but discernible measurements. Professional help is not necessary provided you have access to chalkboard chalk and a tape measure.

Instructions

1

Find the pool table's center line. Use the tape measure to determine the width of the table. Use a piece of chalkboard chalk to mark the center point with a dot.

2

Measure the baulk line. The baulk line runs along the width of the pool table at approximately one-fifth its height away from the tip of the rail at the table's top head---or, the end from which you break. Pool tables measuring 4 feet by 8 feet have a baulk line 19 3/8 inches away from the top head rail. Tables that are 4 feet by 9 feet have 21 -inch baulk lines. Tables that are 5 feet by 10 feet have 24 inch baulk lines, and 6-foot by 12-foot tables have 29-inch baulk lines.

3

Use chalk to mark a dot at the center of the baulk line for easy reference. Place a 1 -inch black spot sticker with a white dot center on top of the chalk dot so it is a concentric circle. This is the point from which you will break to start your games.

4

Measure the center point of the table. Run your tape measure lengthwise from the tip of the pool table's top head to the tip of the bottom head through the established baulk line center point. Use chalk to mark a dot at the center of the table. This will fall directly between the side pockets.

5

Measure the halfway point between the center of the table and the tip of the pool table's bottom head. Use chalk to mark a dot at the halfway point.

6

Place another black spot sticker on top of the marked halfway point between the center of the table and tip of the bottom head. Make sure the circles are concentric. This is the apex, or the point from which you will rack your pool balls.

Paint Color Ideas for Wooden Tables

There are many color options for painting a table. Any paint color that can be used on a wall can be used for a table. The best way to determine how to find the best color for a table is to base the color selections on personal taste, function and colors already present in the room. With these criteria in mind, choosing a table paint color is an easy process. Does this Spark an idea?

Neutrals

Probably the most common way to paint a table uses neutral colors. White, cream, brown and black give a table a similar look to the original finish, but without visible wood grain. These colors of paint are typically used on older tables whose finish has come off, or on wood that is of a lower quality. Some people prefer the appearance of painted wood because it presents a smoother appearance than stained wood. If there is no other wood in the room a painted table may also blend better with the dcor.

Pastels

Use pastel colors. Light blues, greens, yellows, pinks and purples transform a wood table into a table suitable for nurseries, childrens rooms, light-colored rooms and more. Pastel tables help the table to feel soft and inviting. Pastel colored tables are also often used in the shabby chic style of decorating with distressed corners.

Brights

Bring as much color into a room as possible. It is not unusual to see red, dark green, blue, yellow, orange or even brighter colors, such as teal and bright pink. These table colors can overwhelm a room, so it is important to only use them when the rest of the room is largely monochromatic.

Painting Options

The best way to determine the color to paint a table is to match it to other colors in the room. If your room has black accents, then a black table might look good. A room with almost no color may benefit from a brightly colored table. Some people choose to paint the table partially, leaving some of the natural wood on the table. Other people choose to paint patterns or scenes on their tables, like flowers, vines, hearts or lighthouses. When paint is used, the sky is the limit.

How to Make a Modern Coffee Table

Coffee tables are great for displaying magazines or having a place to set your cup down. Some coffee tables have drawers underneath for storage, and some have glass tops and no legs. Because there are so many different styles of coffee tables, you are sure to find the one that looks perfect in your living room. If you are looking to save a few dollars, and you have some building skills, read through a few steps to discover how you can make your own modern coffee table. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Make a Modern Coffee Table

1

Cut four pieces of 2-by-2 lumber, 16 inches long, for your coffee table legs. Cut four top rails, 2 at 37 inches, and 2 at 16 inches. The table top should be a piece of 3/4 inch plywood, cut 2 feet by 4 feet.

2

Cut four corner supports from 2 by 4 material, 6 inches long. Cut four fillets from 1 by 1 lumber; 2 at 6 inches, and 2 at 28 inches.

3

Turn the table top upside down. Place the top rails on the table top connected at the corners and centered. Lay the fillets inside the top rails, also centered.

4

Screw the fillets into the table top and then sideways into the top rails. Place one screw one at each end and one in the center.

5

Place four screws through the corner supports into the top rails at each corner.

6

Attach one table leg to each corner. The legs sit between the corner connections of the top rails.

7

Drill a hole for a large coach bolt all the way through the legs into the corner supports. Insert the bolts and tighten the wing nuts.

How to Maintain a Metal Patio Table

Patio furniture comes in many types of metal, including wrought iron and aluminum. Manufacturers generally make metal patio tables rustproof, but if you have an older table or a manufacturer who did not make it rustproof, you will have to add steps to your maintenance to prevent rust formation. Even if you have a rustproof table, regular cleaning will keep it in good shape for several years. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Check the table for rust spots, if you do not have a rust-free table, or even if you are unsure what kind of table you have. Remove any rust spots by scrubbing them off with a wire brush.

2

Wet the table down with a garden hose. Fill a bucket with water and enough liquid dish soap to create suds.

3

Dip a nylon scrub brush in the soapy water and scrub the table from the table top to the bottom of the legs. Rinse the table with the garden hose. Wipe it dry with a towel.

4

Apply a thin layer of paste wax to the metal parts of the table with a cloth. If you have a glass table top, you do not need to put the wax on that. This is not necessary for rustproof tables.

5

Cover the table with a plastic tarp whenever it rains, and during the winter when you will not be using the table. Weigh down the edges of the tarp with rocks or brick.

How Tall Should Bedside Table Lamps Be?

Choose whether a bed lamp is for reading or strictly for mood.

Choose 20 Inches for Task Lighting

Choose a task lamp for reading.

Ample task lighting enhances bedtime reading and journal writing. The distance from the mattress to the bottom edge of the lamp shade should be approximately 20 inches. Retro-fit a taller lamp by changing or adjusting the shade.

Not Everyone Reads in Bed

Be creative with mood lighting.

If mood lighting is desired, choose lamps for looks over function. Choose a lamp with a 22-inch or taller shade clearance, if nightly grooming tasks are performed with the aid of its diffused light. If illumination is strictly decorative, an accent lamp of any height that looks harmonious in scale to the nightstand or bed suffices.

Bottom Line

Make your eyes comfortable with proper task lighting.

According to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, dim lighting does not damage the eyes, "but most people are more comfortable reading with proper lighting which is bright enough to provide good illumination but not so bright as to cause glare." Choose a task lamp over a strictly decorative model to create a restful and comfortable bedroom.

PS2 Billiard Games

Sony's PlayStation 2, released in November 2000, is one of the most popular home gaming consoles of all time. Obviously, there have been a large number of games released for the system since its release. These games range in genre and include any number of activities, including billiards. The following is a list of billiard games that have been released on the PS2 as of January 2010.

Q-Ball: Billiards Master

"Q-Ball" was published by Take 2 Software and released October 25, 2000. Besides standard billiards, the game boasts a variety of modes, such as "nine ball," "eight ball," and "random six." There are also training scenarios and modes that allow for a player to perform certain kinds of trick shots.

World Championship Pool 2004

'World Championship Pool 2004" was developed and published by Jaleco and released April 27, 2004. The game puts the player in the shoes of some of the world's top pool players. The game showcases many types of pool games, like bank pool, speed pool, and shaped tables. There is also an aiming aid system that allows players to refine their skills.

Hustle: Detroit Streets

"Hustle: Detroit Streets" was published by Activision and released April 27, 2006. The protagonist of the game is an unknown pool hustler, trying to make it happen on the streets of Detroit. The player can make money by winning games, betting on other characters' games, and wagering shots. The game also has a challenge mode, in which the player performs over 100 pool-based tasks.

Pool Paradise

"Pool Paradise" was published by Ignition Entertainment and released July 12, 2004. The game places the player on an exotic South Pacific island with no money. The player must work his way to the top, where fortunes can be made. The game features over 30 characters and several challenges.

Multiplication Table Math Games

Learning the multiplication tables fundamentally improves your ability to do math. Most of us need to do a lot of repetition to get better at the multiplication tables. Some games will help you get started, giving you plenty of time to remember. Others need a more advanced mathematician who knows a few tricks of the trade to get the best scores.

Woodlands Number Skills

One online game that helps you memorize the times tables is at the Woodlands Junior School website. There are several series available. You select how high the answer values can go and how long you want the game to last. You can see your time ticking down, which is useful if you're trying to beat your last score. Some of the pages have a few glitches but nothing that a page refresh won't fix.

Drag and Drop Multiplication Games

The drag and drop game consists of cards with multiplication formulas on them that the player needs to grab with the mouse and drag over to the correct answer. It feels a bit like a form of solitaire. If you want a low-stress way to learn your times tables, this game is for you. No timers, no buzzers, no bells. You just finish filling the table with the right answers and then move on to another table.

Targeting Math

The approach in Targeting The Answer feels completely different from the first two games. In this game, you have a gun sight and targets with answers to a multiplication problem that appears at the top of the screen. When you shoot, you hear a loud boom. If you shoot the correct answer, the target drops to a chorus of cheers. If you shoot the wrong target, a turkey squawks and the targets stay in place. At the end of two minutes, you'll receive your score.

Making Sum Sense

The most challenging of the four games, Sum Sense requires you to not only do the math, but construct the equations. This game presents you with three to four numbered cards. To move on to the next challenge you must move the cards into place to form a mathematically correct formula and answer. This game makes you think, even if you know your multiplication tables well. You have two minutes to figure out all the equations and stop the clock. You'll have to remember some of the tricks of your multiplication tables, like anything times a five ends in zero or five, to get under a minute.

How to Make a Brick Table

Consider working with a medium youve not used before for your next craft project brick. Make a brick table. In addition to allowing you to show off your creativity, this is a project that will yield a very unique result. Whether you want a table for exterior use on a patio or deck or for interior use in a den or living room, you can try one of any number of easy and inventive methods for making a brick table. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Use a steppingstone. This very large, very heavy concrete slab is perfect for outdoor use, because it is designed to stand up to years of wear and weather. Make a simple table by using bonding cement to glue bricks to one side of a steppingstone. Then, place a large, heavy-duty terra cotta or urn or stone planter on level ground, either right side up or upside down. Lastly, set your paving atop it, brick side up, and cover with a cut-to-fit piece of glass. The heavy weight will hold it in place. Steppingstones, available in several colors and shapes, can be found inexpensively priced at any gardening center or home improvement store.

2

Glue on some bricks. This is a creative way to refurbish a set of end tables or an old coffee table. Take your bricks to a home improvement store or lumberyard or similar place that offers this service and have each one sawed into several pieces, either lengthwise or crosswise. At a hobby store or craft shop, purchase glue designed for bonding with the material your table is made of: metal, wood or plastic. Then, glue the pieces of brick onto the table. Cover the tabletop entirely and top with a piece of glass, glue on a few pieces here and there or glue them only onto the legs of the table.

3

Use paint. Give the table a faux brick makeover. First, paint a base coat that will be the color of the mortar between the bricks, for example, a beige. Let dry, then use painters tape on the table to tape off a grid that will create a brick pattern. Paint the color of brick onto the table over the taped lines. Let dry, remove the tape and your table now has a faux brick finish.

How to Use a Patio Table With a Built-in Fire Pit

A patio table with a fire pit in the center adds warmth, light and visual appeal to your outdoor entertaining atmosphere. Most of these tables use propane gas for the fire, but also come with a conversion kit for natural gas. A few tables do not have a gas hookup but come with an iron bowl for containing a wood fire. Add in an extra iron bowl to use as an ice chest when it's too hot for a fire. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Place table in a safe, flat and stable location outdoors, away from combustible material and construction and with plenty of ventilation.

2

Position the burner assembly evenly in the middle of the fire pit.

3

Pull the regulator hose through the opening in the fire pit, leaving ball valve sticking out of the opening.

4

Connect the regulator hose to the tank valve, making sure the tank valve is closed before starting. Hand-tighten the connection. Do not use a wrench.

5

Fill the burner with cinders or lava rock included with the table. Position the logs over the cinders, creating your desired effect.

6

Open the tank valve and the ball valve fully, turning counterclockwise.

7

Light the burner with a grill lighter, burning match or an igniter if available on your model.

8

Close the tank valve and the ball valve fully, turning clockwise when you are finished using the fire pit part of the table.

9

Cover and protect your fire pit patio table when it is not in use.