My First Poker Table Build

[bhb343]

First off, I want to thank the people on this site that have provided pictures, posts, and suggestions on building a table. After browsing this site and a few other links, I decided to give building my first poker table a shot. I'm a poker player myself and been wanting to get a home game together. So....here it goes....haha. There are a couple of things I would do different on my next one, but let me know what you all think. Constructive criticism is always welcome! One note....I do have to recover the playing surface... When I was poly'ing the base of the table, a drip of it "flew" over and landed on the velvateen! Not a happy guy...lol. Oh well...gives me a chance to do a few things with it when I take it apart.

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/666/20110417135434.th.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/20110417135434.jpg/)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2682/20110417135326.th.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/i/20110417135326.jpg/)
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/5135/20110417135317.th.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/20110417135317.jpg/)
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/4588/20110417135259.th.jpg (http://img861.imageshack.us/i/20110417135259.jpg/)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/1597/20110329230624.th.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/20110329230624.jpg/)

[JCinPA]

Dang! :eek: For a first table, you did yourself proud!

Welcome to the forum!

[Quads]

That's a damn good looking table!
Welcome to Debauchery Central.

[Quads]

Would love to see the underside and how you did that skirt.

[bhb343]

Thank you both, much appreciated. For the skirt, I did the kerf cuts all the way around. It wasn't bad once I got my table saw set up for it....set the blade height, got a couple of marks on the surface with a black marker to line up the old kerf to make the cut for the new one. It wasn't bad....although I believe I had more cuts than necessary.

One of the things I definitely would have done differently though is the attaching of it. The skirt was kind of an addition to the table....so in order to get it to fit between the racetrack and the padded rail, I had to cut some of the edge of the racetrack away. When I did this, it wasn't a nice even smooth surface anymore. I would have loved to attached the skirt to the racetrack. However, I ended up attaching the skirt to the padded rail with screws and washers. It's pretty solid, not much flex. It's solid enough to pick the table up off of it.

In hindsight....I would have made the distance between the racetrack and padded rail the correct distance when I cut it with the router to be able to attach the skirt directly to the racetrack. Glue and screws. Anyway....I'm still happy with how it turned out though. I need to do something with the bottom of the table though. Still debating on what to do. I can leave it as it is....it's just a table for me at home. I may sell it if someone is interested. But if I did I think I would veneer the inside of the skirt and stain the bottom and mounting. No poly. Let me know what you think though on it.

Thanks again!

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6563/20110417135450.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/20110417135450.jpg/)

[SWASS]

Looks great. Welcome.

I do like the skirt. It gives it a different look then just a 3/4" trim.

I usually paint the underneath part black. That way you really don't see anything.

[Quads]

Ahhhh... the old kerf cut trick.
Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.

[Trann]

Kudos!

[bhb343]

Thank you, thank you! It was my first wood working project, so I'm pretty excited to do more now. Especially with my new tools! haha