Constructing a Game Table

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NukeHavoc
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Constructing a Game Table

Post by NukeHavoc »

In running the scenarios we've hit a snag: the playing surface.

By default they expect it to be 4 ft. by 4 ft. for the smaller games, and 6 ft. x 4 ft. for the larger games. The immediate problem is that the game room folding tables are more like 3x3 than 4x4. Even my dining room table is more like 3 ft across than 4.

My thought on how to solve this is plywood. Your standard plywood sheet is 4x8. My thought is that you could by a sheet of sturdy plywood (not the light stuff, since we want to avoid warping) and then have them cut it up into 4 ft. by 2 ft. sections. You could then paint them black and install some sort of hardware to attach them together when deployed in the game room (mostly to prevent the whole thing from skewing when someone bumps the table).

4 ft. by 4 ft. would also work, but its more unwieldy. I can't fit boards that big in the Jeep, but 4x2 should be doable.

What do you guys think? Do you have a better solution in mind?
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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Lars Porsenna
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by Lars Porsenna »

Piece of plywood is what I'm looking at for my table here at home...

Damon.
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NukeHavoc
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by NukeHavoc »

Lars Porsenna wrote:Piece of plywood is what I'm looking at for my table here at home...

Damon.
Since mine would be in the game room I'd want to break it down when not in use. Having it be portable for cons would also be nice. :)
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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erilar
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by erilar »

You could also drill and glue short pieces of dowel into one edge of each, and matching holes on the other. Then get some buckle hardware to screw on underneath - just like dining room table leaves.
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NukeHavoc
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by NukeHavoc »

erilar wrote:You could also drill and glue short pieces of dowel into one edge of each, and matching holes on the other. Then get some buckle hardware to screw on underneath - just like dining room table leaves.
I like that idea.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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Fen's Ego
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

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I love DIY gaming supplies. I'll look into creating one this week, which I can either store, or I can donate to the group/Ken can have/store. Hooray for a project!
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Fen's Ego
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

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I'm about halfway thru constructing a table, with some slight modifications from this one, courtesy of the wonderful Bruce Hirst (scroll down 2/3):

http://www.hirstarts.com/tips28/tips28.html

Our table will have three 4x2 sections and holes for (optional) dowel insertion. The thickness of the vinyl may discourage this but the bungees are more than capable of holding the sections together. I've experimented with thinner black fabric, but the vinyl handles spills and scuffs much better. Portability is a bonus, as the bungees can be used as shoulder straps. I also chose 1/2" MDF over plywood to mitigate cost, splinters and chipping. All said, I'm pretty pleased so far....until I saw this table:

http://hirstarts.yuku.com/topic/5147/Ga ... arts-Tiles
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Lars Porsenna
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by Lars Porsenna »

<whispers> You know, I DO have a few of the Hirstarts molds...

Damon.
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Fen's Ego
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by Fen's Ego »

Verily and true, when the spirit seizes me, I am a terrain-casting fool!
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun."
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NukeHavoc
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Re: Constructing a Game Table

Post by NukeHavoc »

Fen's Ego wrote:Our table will have three 4x2 sections and holes for (optional) dowel insertion. The thickness of the vinyl may discourage this but the bungees are more than capable of holding the sections together. I've experimented with thinner black fabric, but the vinyl handles spills and scuffs much better. Portability is a bonus, as the bungees can be used as shoulder straps. I also chose 1/2" MDF over plywood to mitigate cost, splinters and chipping.
That is hella cool. I feel a blog post coming on...

I'm not sure how well the bungies would work with card tables, but I think if you alternated them so that the bungies stretched between tables, you'd be good. This looks like a brilliant option for the dining room table. If you need any help, give me a holler -- I might be able to sneak out one night next week.
All said, I'm pretty pleased so far....until I saw this table:

http://hirstarts.yuku.com/topic/5147/Ga ... arts-Tiles
Very, very nice. I'd love to have a formal gaming room with this sort of thing in it some day. My game room is nice, and I'm certainly not complaining about the space, but it *is* multipurpose on the days I'm not using it (thus the need to breakdown and re-assemble the game tables each week). A true gaming room/man cave would really be fantastic. Oh well, maybe in the next house...
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
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