FOOSBALL experts ... building a TORNADO replica anyone?

[ARTIFACT]

Would it be a crazy idea ... to build my own TORNADO-brand-like Foosball?

There is an old one at work so I spent some time studying it...
and beside some parts I'd have to order: Men, Rods, Handles, perhaps the ball goal/chute "gutter"..
...it looks like a feasible project. A lot of 1 1/2" MDF.

(this image is from the internet)


Why I say TORNADO specifically, is because these ROCK and feel VERY different from other Foosballs... the "men" have Blade-shaped feet, and probably a few other things I can't put my finger on / describe.



Crazy idea?
Feasible?
Any advice for me?
free plans online?
best place to order men/rods/etc?

I hope that someone here has already made one and wouldn't mind sharing details!!!

THANK YOU!



Check out my scratch-design/built arcade cab project thread

[ARTIFACT]

I just found this very interesting article online:
http://www.foosball.com/tablebuildingguide.html

Looks like the guy's goal was also a TORNADO replica... but that building a "level" table would be hard.

The 'parts" (men, rods, etc) apparently add up to ~$400... As the guy mentions, there are some decent used tables on craigslist for that price... Kinds of makes me wonder if it's worth it.
Of course, just like when you build your own arcade cab (like I just did), half the fun is to BUILD it ... so I'll keep thinking about it...

[squirrellydw]

I would not use MDF for that, use plywood

[Kajoq]

I think i'm with the guy in the article... Look out for a used table or bite the bullet and save up for a new Tornado.

Any small error in a foosball table could dramatically affect the way it plays and be very difficult to correct.

I've been dying to get my hands on a Tornado table too.  When I was in High School our student lounge had a Tornado in it... Senior year I spent more time playing foosball than doing homework.  Everyone got really good too, Push/Pull/Snake shots left and right.  We would have tourneys during lunch.  It was awesome

[shardian]

Unless you are a master woodworker, you will end up with an expensive, yet inferior product. It would be really neat to have a Tornado table. I got one of those Star Wars themed Sportcraft tables at Walmart for like $15 on clearance. The parts quality is horrible, the play surface sucks...but it is still just as fun as an expensive table.

[ChadTower]

I have one that's probably a step or two above sharidan's but got free from Freecycle... but still at retail probably cost less than the parts for one you'd make yourself.  Most of the money will be in parts.  I'd just look out for a used one as well.

[unclet]

My work was getting rid of their brand new looking Tornado Foosball Table.   I think I purchased it for about $200 only?


http://unclet.arcadecontrols.com/Foosball/FoosballMain.html

[sewerrat]

Ditto the buying used.

I got a perfect condition Tornado off of Craigslist about 1.5 years ago for $125.

[leapinlew]

Ditto the buying used.

I got a perfect condition Tornado off of Craigslist about 1.5 years ago for $125.

Thats an incredible deal. Tornado foosball tables (especially the coin-ops) would fetch much more than that especially one that is "perfect".

Also - Tornado tables are made with MDF. You don't have to be a master wood maker to build one, since you'd want a Tornado table - you'd have to buy Tornado parts. The parts will add up to much more than $400.

Bearings, rods, men, goals, playfield, score counter, pins, silicone, playfield strips - and plenty more things will probably set you back around $700. You won't save much money. I used to play a lot of foosball, and we only played on Tornado tables. They are expensive to purchase, and expensive to maintain.

If you decide to get a table for yourself and your serious - you want a tornado table and you want the tournament table - these cost around $1,500.

If you just want a game table in your game room - get the toys they sell at Walmart.

[ARTIFACT]

yep

although i do see comp models out there for $600 once in a while...


i cannot STAND non-tornado tables ... game room or not.
this would actually be to install at work for folks to enjoy... until my son is old enough to justify having it at home (2 years or so)

[SithMaster]

Why cant you use metal pipes from Lowes for the rods?  Then all you need are the "men" and as long as they can be set on the pipe it should be fine.  Of course id make it a bit deeper so a piece of plexi can be set on top so the ball doesnt go flying into a monitor.

A friend has a nicer table then me (mines ancient but ill get a pic to show what mine looks like) and it has the slide from the goals to the sides.  Mine doesnt have that but id imagine if i build my own id put that in.

Actually if you build anything make it a rod hockey table or air hockey.  I loves me some air hockey.

[leapinlew]

Why cant you use metal pipes from Lowes for the rods?  Then all you need are the "men" and as long as they can be set on the pipe it should be fine.  Of course id make it a bit deeper so a piece of plexi can be set on top so the ball doesnt go flying into a monitor.

A friend has a nicer table then me (mines ancient but ill get a pic to show what mine looks like) and it has the slide from the goals to the sides.  Mine doesnt have that but id imagine if i build my own id put that in.

Actually if you build anything make it a rod hockey table or air hockey.  I loves me some air hockey.

Cause they'll bend... bad. I bend the tornado rods as it is - anything weaker will break/bend too easy.

[kelemvor]

Repeat after me.

One Goalie...  One Goalie...  One Goalie...  One Goalie...  One Goalie...

[ARTIFACT]

update:

i am getting a -mint- "Tornado Cyclone 2" table (like this one) sunday for 400 bucks!

[Donkey_Kong]

Why cant you use metal pipes from Lowes for the rods?  Then all you need are the "men" and as long as they can be set on the pipe it should be fine.  Of course id make it a bit deeper so a piece of plexi can be set on top so the ball doesnt go flying into a monitor.

A friend has a nicer table then me (mines ancient but ill get a pic to show what mine looks like) and it has the slide from the goals to the sides.  Mine doesnt have that but id imagine if i build my own id put that in.

Actually if you build anything make it a rod hockey table or air hockey.  I loves me some air hockey.

Cause they'll bend... bad. I bend the tornado rods as it is - anything weaker will break/bend too easy.

Lews Tornado rods after a big night...