How to Build Your Own Pool Table Light Kit

For the best play, a pool table needs to have the right kind of overhead lighting. These lights can be pretty expensive, but you can save money by making a homemade pool table light. The light source has to be even along the top of the table and should not light the rest of the room. It needs to be appropriately centered and also has to be at the right height unless you want your cue sticks to hit it.

As a general rule, you should hang pool table light fixtures about 62 to 70 inches from the floor, but you might need to tweak that a little. Experts recommend 60-watt bulbs, but if that seems too bright, you can use 40-watt ones. Now that those basics are out of the way, you can start making a homemade pool table light out of wood planks and two fluorescent light bulbs.

You will need to cut out four pieces of wood to start. Using a hand saw, cut two pieces to make the sides; both should be at least 55 inches long and 12 inches wide. Cut the third and fourth pieces to be 55 inches long and 8 inches wide. Hot glue an electrical housing to that piece, attach your bulbs and wait for the glue to dry. Then, carefully turn it over and ensure that the housing and bulbs are secure.

To make the light frame, add copper plating onto the top of the light fixture. Fold it into place and hammer it onto the wood. Then, take the hot glue gun and seal it onto the frame, hammering two nails on the ends.

You now need to attach your hanging chains onto the top of the frame. Weave the wiring between them, drill holes into the ceiling and screw in the chains. String the wiring along the top of the ceiling and wall, secure it and plug it in. If there is already a light fixture above the pool table and it needs to be rewired, call in a licensed electrician.

You can also try a more involved DIY pool table light made from oak and walnut, but this project is best left to experienced DIYers. Use a miter saw to trim down the wood and then trim them down again with a table saw. Glue pieces together to make an inlay pattern. While these are drying, remove the old light fixture, wire in new lamps and tighten them to the fixture.

Next, you can run the wood through a thickness planer to cut down on the weight. Square up the edges with a table saw. For extra flair, create inlays in some of the wood pieces and make other accents before running them through the planer again. Dry the pieces overnight and after making more adjustments, lay all the pieces on the floor to make sure they fit well together.

Next, glue the pieces together with biscuits and wood glue, strapped to hold them in place. Sand the pieces and add a coat of shellac to make the light look nice and shiny. Attach a thick hemp cord with mounting hardware, hang hooks on the ceiling above the light fixture and put up the DIY pool table light. It hangs down and around the light fixtures.