Need Input/Advice - Shuffletech in Table

[Irish]

TLDR warning... :mrgreen:

I'm looking for opinions/feedback on a potential table modification / upcoming table build. Here's the deal:

I host 2 separate card games - one is a monthly, two table tournament that typically draws 14-20 players. We typically pass the deal, and when the tourney whittles down to the money, someone usually steps in to steady deal. I also host an semi-weekly single table cash game. Usually we have around 6 - occasionally we'll have a full table of 10. I will usually steady deal for this game.

I picked up a brandy new shuffletech recently at a really great price off of craig's list. I set it up on a side cart and tried it out at our last cash night game, and it works really nice. Our cash night is as much about beers and bullshit as it is cards, so it didn't speed up the game a whole lot, but it was definitely a lot less work acting as full time dealer. After pulling it out of the box and getting it set up, I noticed more pieces left in the package - extra score, the table flush mount kit was included in the deal. So now I'm toying with whether or not I want to install the shuffler in one of my two tables, or leave it out so it can be moved around. It was a little annoying having to turn around to exchange cards the other day, but the benefit of constantly having a freshly shuffled deck WAY outweighed that inconvenience. However, mounting the shuffletech in the table would be the nuts. But of course, I've got some issues with doing so.

The table I'd like to install it in would be a difficult installation:

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_7385.jpg

It has a sub-base with folding legs, and I'd likely have to cut through both the base sheet, sub-base, and possibly a portion of the pedestal stretcher, depending on placement. I think it's doable, but would be a pretty big PITA. Next issue is placement of the shuffler. I'd like to use the shuffler full-time for the cash game and when the big tourney gets down to one table, both of which typically have a steady dealer. So that being the case, I think I'd like to put it close the dealer, probably just to the right of the center of the table (lengthwise) and as close to the rail as possible. Similar to these tables, without the racetrack:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd106/irishpenguin75/Poker%20Table/tomjonesblizzard012.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd106/irishpenguin75/Poker%20Table/frandguedon006.jpg

Reasons being:

* The dedicated dealer has easy access to it
* It won't get in the way of spreading the board cards
* It won't get in the way during the early tourney stages when we rotate the deal

The issue I run into with that location is that I just picked up a really nice custom cloth for that table, and installing the shuffler there would cut into the betting line. Not a huge deal but I don't know if I want to do that. FWIW, this is the case for most tables that I've seen with custom cloths and shufflers.

An alternative to cutting into my existing table would be to install it into a new table I've got in the works. This one is going to be a little different (small racetrack, lighted rail, regular SSC), and is going to be my "secondary" table for the tourneys. Based on the limited use I've had with the shuffler, I'm guessing that the table with the shuffler will probably become the table of choice, so I'm hesitant about doing this - I want to play on my really nice table whenever possible.

Third option is to leave the shuffletech mobile, deal with the shuffler on a side cart, and sell the flush mount kit.

Fire away with any opinions, experience & advice - I'm still completely up in the air on this one.

[Wedge Rock]

Wait, wut?

* It won't get in the way during the early tourney stages when we rotate the deal

Why would you rotate the deal with a Shuffletech? Just to keep the two tables at relatively the same hands per level? Eff that. The point is two decks is so that one is shuffled and ready to go when the hand is finished. If a machine can get it ready instead of another player, then why wouldn't you use the Shuffletech? I wouldn't think there would be that much difference in hands per blind level between the two tables anyway, and if there is, I'd suspect it'd be due to play more than the use of a Shuffletech.

[Wedge Rock]

BTW, sir, in case I haven't mentioned it in the lat week, you build beautiful tables.

[pikeman56]

I would go side cart in this situation. OR buy another shuffle tech and install them in both tables :)

[Irish]

Wait, wut?

Why would you rotate the deal with a Shuffletech? Just to keep the two tables at relatively the same hands per level? Eff that. The point is two decks is so that one is shuffled and ready to go when the hand is finished. If a machine can get it ready instead of another player, then why wouldn't you use the Shuffletech? I wouldn't think there would be that much difference in hands per blind level between the two tables anyway, and if there is, I'd suspect it'd be due to play more than the use of a Shuffletech.

Yeah that was part of my reasoning, but I do see your point. What you'd have then is one guy exchanging the deck to/from the shuffletech between hands, then the deck getting passed between players. I just don't know if I like that setup, I'll have to think about it.

BTW, sir, in case I haven't mentioned it in the lat week, you build beautiful tables.

Thanks boss - though to clarify only the first table in the OP is mine, the other two are the result of googlesearch=shuffletech+poker+table. :D

[Irish]

OR buy another shuffle tech and install them in both tables :)

:win:

If I can find another one this cheap, it'd be a no brainer! :mrgreen:

[Wedge Rock]

though to clarify only the first table in the OP is mine, the other two are the result of googlesearch=shuffletech+poker+table. :D

I figured as much, but my comment still stands -- and is still justified.

[jrees]

How much did that badboy run you anyways?

[pauld22]

I want to play on my really nice table whenever possible.

Third option is to leave the shuffletech mobile, deal with the shuffler on a side cart, and sell the flush mount kit.

Fire away with any opinions, experience & advice - I'm still completely up in the air on this one.

I would want to play on that table as much as possible as well. While having the shuffle flush mounted in the table is pretty awesome and convenient I think it looks like shit and I would hate to see that on your table.

I think building a new cart with the shuffler flush mounted on that, storage below, would be nice. That way you have the flexibility to use it on any table that you want/need to use it.

[Irish]

How much did that badboy run you anyways?

They retail for ~$500, I got mine for around half that. Flush mount kits run an extra $100.

I would want to play on that table as much as possible as well. While having the shuffle flush mounted in the table is pretty awesome and convenient I think it looks like shit and I would hate to see that on your table.

I think building a new cart with the shuffler flush mounted on that, storage below, would be nice. That way you have the flexibility to use it on any table that you want/need to use it.

Can't disagree with you there, they do detract from the aesthetics, though the new cloth I have for the table is black so it wouldn't be as pronounced as with the green cloth shown above.

The side cart would be OK for the smaller cash nights, but I don't know how well it would work for the tourneys, I don't have a lot of space in my basement. Once 3 or 4 guys bust out, a cash game usually gets going on the empty table, so there isn't a lot of room around the tables. I've got a tourney coming up in a couple of weeks, I'm going to give it a try and see how it works.

Does anyone else have one these mounted in a table and if so would you do it again?

[Quads]

Two Options:
1) Put it in your "feature" table. If players bitch, tell them to fuck the horse they rode in on and ride their black ass back out the door. Remind them that if they weren't such donkeys, they'd last long enough to get a seat change to the feature table.

2) Rake your game, but another.

[Randy2310]

I'm not sure where you're going to put the shuffler freestanding on a cart near your usual seat. I always somehow end up by the fridge and no one tips me for grabbing the drinks there's no way I'm putting the shuffler on my lap. srsly.

What if you put it next to the couch on that tray? Whoever is the 3-4 seat can grab the decks?

BTW if you want to speed things up put shock buzzers in the chairs to remind people its their turn. It would up the number of rebuys thats for sure :mrgreen: I was trying my damndest to rebuy during the last bounty tourney and with over 5 minutes on the timer I couldn't get even get to the next hand to go all in blind if I wanted

[Irish]

I'm not sure where you're going to put the shuffler freestanding on a cart near your usual seat. I always somehow end up by the fridge and no one tips me for grabbing the drinks there's no way I'm putting the shuffler on my lap. srsly.

What if you put it next to the couch on that tray? Whoever is the 3-4 seat can grab the decks?

BTW if you want to speed things up put shock buzzers in the chairs to remind people its their turn. It would up the number of rebuys thats for sure :mrgreen: I was trying my damndest to rebuy during the last bounty tourney and with over 5 minutes on the timer I couldn't get even get to the next hand to go all in blind if I wanted

The shuffler on a side cart option would be only for cash nights or when we get down to a single 9 man table during tourneys, and even then it'd be tight if we had a cash game going at the same time. I don't think anyone would want to reach into your lap to get the cards, I don't run that kind of a game... ;)

That last tourney you were at was weird, it did seem to run very slow at the beginning, especially for a bounty game. Usually those games are blood baths :D I typically try to play suedo-dealer at the table I'm at to keep action flowing, but the other tables sometimes gets slow, depending on who's there. For a while, I used to ask for volunteer steady dealers and collect a few bucks from everyone for a tip, but interest in that died out.

[pauld22]

If the new table is going to have a black surface then I think the shuffler would look OK there. The pics you provided are very nice tables but the shuffler completely distracts from the printing. Assuming your black playing surface will be blank I think the shuffler will not distract from the table.

[Irish]

A quick update, I had a small one table tourney this past weekend, so we had the shuffler working full time on a side cart. The shuffler got pretty good reviews. There were the standard "damn that's loud" comments at first, but after about 20 minutes it faded into the background and most said they didn't even notice it. As mentioned before, considering we typically have 2 decks (one being shuffled why another is dealt), it didn't save a whole lot of time during the majority of the game, it's just the convenience of not having to shuffle. However it came in very handy when we got down to 2-3 players - we got a ton of extra hands in per level at that point. We played for around 4 hours (tourney and cash), and it didn't fatally* jam once during that time.

We all discussed mounting the shuffler in the table as well. I got unanimous feedback to install it. Folks thought that having it in the table would be more beneficial for all the reasons previously stated, and added that it should also cut down on the noise. So, as long as I can physically fit it in and it doesn't interfere with the logo on the cloth, I'm leaning on putting it in my "feature" table.


* The shuffletech is "smart" enough to detect a small jam and clear itself, but if clear the jam then it shuts down. Then you need to manually clear out the cards and unplug the unit to reset it. In limited use, I've found that as long as your cards are relatively flat, these occur only once or twice a night, if at all. I have one set of cards that's bowed a bit, and that causes it to jam frequently.

[Irish]

So I took the plunge and mounted the shuffletech in my main table. I was right, it was a huge pain in the ass given my table configuration but it fit in perfect and didn't cut into the cloth design. A few quick installation pics:

Hole cut in the main table sheet & padding where the flush bracket will sit.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_7985.jpg

Here was the big pain the in ass - I also had to cut a hole in the table base to feed the unit through. This opening had to be wider that the original to get the whole shuffletech in place and also have room for the fastening system. I got it to fit but it took forever to get everything lined up.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_7993.jpg

Installing the flush mount bracket. I used some c-clamps to indent the foam a bit and sink the bracket flush to the table. I didn't want cards pinging off the bracket when we're passing the deal and folks are dealing from the ends of the table.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_7996.jpg

Bracket installed:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_8000.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_8003.jpg

And the final product, cards glide right over the unit. I'm very happy with how it turned out:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_8007.jpg

[timsta007]

Very nice.

[Drock]

That's the shit right there....

[Extraholes]

Did you not have to cut the hole at an angel on the left and right side?

I thought the others i have seen have done that.

[Irish]

Did you not have to cut the hole at an angel on the left and right side?

I thought the others i have seen have done that.

Yes the sides are angled at 45^ but I did it a little different than most. I'm atrociously terrible with a jigsaw and didn't want to f&ck up the table, so what I did was cut the rough opening perpendicular with the jigsaw, than hit the sides with a router and a 45^ chamfer bit to get that sloped cut to allow the shuffletech to mount properly. You can kind of see it here:

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/qq174/mcolonpe/pokertable10/IMG_8003.jpg