Instructions On How To Build A Poker Table
Poker tables in home games can be kitchen tables, folding card tables, and even coffee tables. Nothing lends class to a home game like a real casino quality poker table. Some hosts simply buy a factory made table. Nearly any player with basic carpentry skills can build their own table.
The advantages of the custom built table go beyond a playing surface that fits your floor plan. The money saved will still be in your bankroll. The player built table can be simple or advanced. For our purposes here, let’s take a look at constructing a basic poker table. The cost can be kept well under three hundred dollars buying all materials new. Scroungers and creative requisitioning specialists will experience enhanced savings.
Most homes don’t have a space that can be dedicated to the weekly home game so we are going to need some folding table legs, like the ones on catering tables. Regular sub-flooring, or 3/4 inch plywood makes a decent table top and one full sheet (4′x8′) will do. Felt is the preferred covering and here again a four foot by eight foot piece is called for. Felt backing or padding is a feature worth the trouble and will give your table that casino feel. Make sure that you have padding, felt, and glue that work together.
To lend our table a little class we are going to need six cup holders. You can find them at a casino supply store and there are good ones online. While you are there go ahead and get some rail padding, at least twenty two feet. Pick a wood stain that compliments the color of felt you are using. For a nice rail we are going to use 1/4″ plywood and hit it with the stain. Get a four by eight sheet of the 1/4″ plywood.
Now most poker tables have an oval shape, but this is your table. After deciding the shape of your table trace the pattern on the 3/4″ plywood and carefully cut it out with a jigsaw. Now take the table top and lay it on top of the 1/4″ plywood and trace the outline. Cut the 1/4″ plywood along the trace outline.
Measure 8″ from the edge of the cut 1/4″ plywood and trace a mirror outline of the outside cut 8″ inside the thin plywood to form the rail. Finish cutting the rail by cutting along the trace line 8″ inside the 1/4″ plywood.
Glue the felt backing or padding to the 3/4″ table top and fold it over the edges, tacking the padding over fold to the table bottom with heavy staples. Stain and sand the rail piece (the 1/4″ cut piece). When dry nail the rail piece to the covered table top, only placing the nails around the outside edges where the rail padding will cover them.
Now comes the tricky part. Get a 2 7/8″ drill bit and drill out the cup holder holes in the rail. Make sure you put them far enough inboard to allow the installation of your rail padding. Measure three times and drill once. No do overs here. You can have as many cup holders as you want, it’s your table. Six players are comfortable at an eight foot table so that is a good starting point. If you want each player to have two beverage holders then cut away. Your house, your rules.
Push the cup holders into the holes to ensure fit them take them out and set them aside. Cut your felt out to fit the space inside the rail and glue it down. Leave weights on it overnight. At this point we have a table top, a nice looking railing with cup holders, and our custom color (you did pick it out, right?) felt. Now it’s time to put the rail padding on. Double check and be sure that you have the rail padding right side out and right side up. Break out the heavy duty staple gun and tack the padding in place on the underside of the table.
Finally we are ready to put the legs on. Best accomplished by flipping the table top over on the floor. Remember that this is 3/4″ plywood. Don’t go longer than 1/2 inch on the screws to attach the folding table legs. Use a drill to drive the wood screws in. Perfectionists will drill small 1/2″ deep pilot holes and fill them with wood cement. Just make sure that you have those legs on and on tight. Place the cup holders back into their holes.
Now you are ready to play. You can take pride in your table because you made it yourself. After the game you can fold those legs and store it against a wall or in a closet. Congratulations. Play well.
