OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I've been meaning to make one of these ever since I saw one at Brett's club in Chiang Mai. Though I'd been plotting to build a picker-upper for years, my previous plans involved such things as mailing tubes, PVC piping, o-rings, rubber flaps - so I never actually got around to it. This one's easy, better yet it's pretty much free. And lighter than any other design, though who knows how long it'll last. It's still not complete, I have to add a couple more segments to avoid having to stoop over to pick up balls off the floor (have to drink more water). Any bottled water bottle ought to work, though I'd use the smaller size (500-600ml), and it might be best to avoid the ultra-thin scrunchable ones which seem to be popular these days. The bottom end is pretty easy, just cut a round (or hexagonal/dodecagonal hole) in the bottom of the bottomost bottle. The size of the hole isn't critical, anything from 30mm to 35mm ought to work. Then make some radial cuts around the circumference so that it will admit a ball. Since the hole is smaller than the ball the balls won't fall out. Joining the bottles together wasn't as fiddly as I thought it'd be, the trick is to cut the top off maybe 1 cm above where the shoulder of the cone meets the cylindrical part. The bottom can be cut off straight. Make some lengthwise cuts maybe 1cm long at the bottom end, then bend the "petals" outward. This then fits nicely over the taperd section of the bottle below it. Roll it on the table if you're concerned about the contraption being straight. Use office scotch tape to hold the two bottles together temporarily, then later on add the 2 inch wide Zagi tape.



I imagine neat freaks would want to remove the labels, or at least make them all line up the right way...

If you make one, post the photos here.

Now to find some people who actually want to do multiball...

Iskandar

Very nice, good work.

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Donic Waldner Senso V1,FH Baracuda Big Slam 2.0mm ,BH Victas Triple Regular 2.0mm

Best ball picker-upper I've seen made was very simple but mega effective. It could pick up 10 or more balls in one swipe. The design simply used a bucket that had holes drilled around the mouth and then threaded with fishing line so that it criss-crossed the bucket mouth. I think said bucket had an opening in the other end and a broom handle attached to allow it to be pressed down onto balls from the robot or multi-ball. The holes created by the criss-crossed fishing line were just large enough that the balls would bend the line to pop in, but once the line's give retracted...those little suckers were stuck inside the bucket. Quite ingenious!

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
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S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
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Clever and nicely done!

The one I've seen, and I could not find a picture, uses a common plastic bucket with the bottom cut off. Fish line was strung along the bottom in a cross pattern, with the squares a little smaller than the balls. A broom stick was attached to the bucket. This works really well too, and can also pickup multiple balls, and costs very little.

EDIT: Reb beat me to it.

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What's the matter with a net? :p

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
Aussie Table Tennis Shop / Aussie Table Tennis Facebook Page / Equipment Review Index / Read my Reb Report Blog: click here.

I'd have to order one from China.

Iskandar

BAH! Plain nets are like rotary dial telephones.

Ball picker uppers like this are the iPhone of ball collection technology!

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Flatten the side of the racket frame like these and it would be better.



Iskandar

This is what you need (or just use the ones Reb and Haggisv are describing, works nice):


http://danshel.tripod.com/noonoo.jpg

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Where is the image?

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Just trying to picture the ways one might attach a broomstick to a bucket. I'm thinking that perhaps a gallon container with the top end cut off might work as well, the sides are straight instead of tapered. Or a gallon paint can (though this is heavier).

Iskandar

Don't know why it did not show up, maybe he got shy

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This is by far the best I have ever owned, tried or built. The price is very fair and I have bought about ten to use and give as gifts, as far as I know all are being used regularly without any need for repairs.
tOD

Why ruin a good bucket when you can use a 2 liter soda bottle with the top and bottom cut off and some duct tape to tape a broom handle to it.