Gaming Table Update
Well I’ve been planning on getting more of my gaming table done and this weekend gave me some time to do so.
I did this the easiest way I could do without having to worry about building a complete frame so I thought I’d share it with everyone.
With the wife’s approval I am going to be able to liberate the Dining Room table to be able to play on so I don’t need to worry about anything apart from the gaming surface.
Also since this is something I will be putting away and pulling out when needed I didn’t want to do a straight 6×4 table so breaking it down I picked up 3 2×4 sheets of particle board which cost all of $10 each.
Click for a Lager Image
These are going to be the tabletop as you can guess and with these I could have just left it at that (as I have done in the past) but in my old age I don’t want to knock any part of it so it will have half of a game get destroyed so I had to figure a way to stop it from moving when gaming.
After toying with ideas of building some sort of frame that would go on the bottom of the table and from there getting it all measured and perfect I decided again that this would be too much effort for me to use skills I don’t possess (ie: carpentry) and to find the easiest solution.
And I found it. I picked up 3 packets of brackets from my local hardware store for about $4 per packet and then after placing the boards on the dining table and making a pencil line on the underside so I knew where the table was going to go I placed 4 brackets on each board and once that was done wrapped the part that would be holding against the dining table in a stick on anti floor scuffing material so I wouldn’t aggravate the wife.
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If you are to do this do what I did and make the brackets back further than the line so it give them a little movement but also will make up for the width of the anti scuff material.
Now it was on to the fun part. I wanted to paint this board a gray and after looking around the hardware store I came across a Bristish Paints Rhino Gray (yes I get the irony) and went at getting it finished while the sun was still out.
Click for a Lager Image
Click for a Lager Image
Originally I was just going to get the above 2 done so we can play some Malifaux or a Combat Patrol game of 40K on the weekend but I had plenty of time to finish the last one as well
Click for a Lager Image
And after a couple of hours they were touch dry so they have been moved into the garage to dry for the rest of the week to come out again for next Sunday!
All up the paint only cost me $7 as I picked up a sample pot so I’m looking at a total cost of $49 for a painted table which I can’t complain about!
I’ll try to remember to get pictures while we’re playing!
Let me know what you think below in the comments.
5 Responses to “Gaming Table Update”
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Paint the edges and underside as well. Particle board sucks moisture out of the air and warps. Take the time to paint it all and seal it well. Consider 2 coats on the edges. If you are going to store this in the garage – make a place where you can tie them in vertically or they will sag and warp, even if painted. 3 pairs of brackets on the wall and 3 of the rubber straps should work and cost you very little.
Good luck with them.
I have done the sides of it already but I need to do the bottom of the boards as well.
As for sealing it I still have to figure out what to do about that. I think I just need to make some calls and see what’s around to do it with for the best price.
At least I have a week before they are needed!
Might I make a suggestion. I see that you have catered for the sidewards motion of the boards but what about the other direction. You could easily lean across the obard and have one on the oppostie end fall on the floor. I was thinking how you could do this and its not gonna be an easy fix. I’m thinking that if you could somehow hasp the three panels together along the edge with a eyehook and catch of possibly a hasp type arrangement then you could also add a covered bracket to stop motion left and right at each end of the board. Just thought I’d add my two cents in. I’m sure there is an even better way to do it but I haven’t thought of it yet. Also hanging the board vertically might not actually stop it from bowing. Might I suggest some sort of slide in type cupboard either vertical or horizontal which can be closed on the front to also keep the dust off. The shelf to hold the panel would need to be a complete shelf to spread the weight evenly to counter the force of bowing etc. I’ve seen items hung vertical and they still bow.
From testing I won’t really have to worry about the board moving the other way since the dining table it is going over is just under the 6″ long so there’s isn’t much you can do to bump it that way.
Also there is going to be a rubberised table cloth which will help with stopping the board from moving that way as well.
I still haven’t figured out the storage side of things for them… currently they are resting on the brackets like very low tables while they dry but at the cost for them is cheap I could always replace them as they warp.
I’ll figure something out heh. Maybe the wife will let me build a frame for and all will be sorted as I’ll have a supported table if it’s being used on a regular basis.
Looks like a good start. Not a bad price either.
I got lucky and scored a free 4’x4′ table from my work when we closed down for the season. It’s particle board as well, but as thick and well assembled as it is, warping shouldn’t be an issue (unless I have to store it outside).
The next steps I’m considering in my project are to strip the laminate from the top, replacing it with 6″x6″ tiles, to better measure out distances; and installing two or four drawers (depending on how I go about it).