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I've been wanting to make a gaming table for quite a while now, but i'm not sure how... If anyone here has built one, could you give me some tips? Like what to build it on, what materials you need, where to get ideas, or even a walkthrough? I'm sure it would be a sweeet summer project to build one! . But before you explain, I have a question: Are the game tables actual tables or are they just thing's you put on a table and play on? Or can you do either way? I think the putting on table version would be easier, so if you've made a 6' x 4' gaming table thingy like that, any advice would help.

--Thanks!

This is how I made mine.

Hope that helps a little.

What i'm doing atm is making an 6'x4' gaming table using high density foam board, its spilt into 2"x2" parts so easy to put away and i'm using cutting knife to create trenches and feature directly onto the board.

Actually lookin at some stuff on the internet and found i can get 5 A1 piece (10mm thick) and use 4 as the base and maybe the last make into hills and other stuff

I've made three now.

Legs: I use 4x4s. They're inexpensive and support a lot of weight.

Top: Plywood sheets

Frame: 1x4s work well here. Connect (with either screws or nails, doesn't really matter much) the legs at the top, and also somewhere about 1/4th of the way up. Make a box around the legs. The box whould have its outside dimensions roughly the size you want the tabletop to be.

Then, for added support, add a crossbrace every 2 feet or so. This will let you use a lighter (less expensive) plywood board for the top, without risking going through it if you put any weight on it.

Then use light tacking nails to put the plywood or particle board top on it and you're done.

That's the real basics of it. You can get more complex and add things like storage shelves underneath if you want to, but the basic idea is the same. 4 legs, frame at the top and about 1/4 off the ground, attach top.

grey_death- Thanks! It helped a lot. I have an idea for what I want to do now.

Bartholomew001- I have a question: Is what you're making a game table like Redbeards or is it just what you put on a table?

Redbeard- Thanks! Seeing how easy it is, I might just make a whole table... I don't exactly get the "frame" step though.

Alternatively, you can buy one of the folding plastic tables from Costco/Staples, like this and build a plywood frame to fit over the top. This would make it a little more flexible and storable. The table is also available as a stand alone table if you need it. If your frame has a slight lip, then you could then fit 2 x 2 gaming sections into it for variety.

I'm gonna build me a gaming table this year consisting of 4 of 6 foot by 2 foot boards. All with edges (to stop the dice falling off the side).

This will give me the option of 6x4, 6X6, and 6X8.

I plan to have U brackets perfectly aligned along each board allowing a rod (broom handles) to join the boards together.

I'll use 10 - 15mm MDF for the basing boards and have edging 25mm high to complete this.

It'll be a flat board with stepped hills and removable trees on flat woodland bases (I use GW trees on termi bases for ease of troop movement)

I'll post pics when I've done this.

I'll also need to redo my scenery set to fill it (especially for apoc - titans etc.).

Just my thoughts on building boards.

Hope this helps

What was the thickness of the foamcore grey_death used?

*edit* GEEZE! Foamcore is EXPENSIVE! Does anyone know of any alternative materials???

Imperial07 wrote:What was the thickness of the foamcore grey_death used?

*edit* GEEZE! Foamcore is EXPENSIVE! Does anyone know of any alternative materials???

The stuff I used isn't called foamcore ^_^. It's foam insulation board. You can normally find it at your local DIY store, The Home Depot I know for a fact has it in their insulation section.

The thickness I used was 1".

Foamcore is basically hard posterboard and can be found at hobby stores, The Hobby Lobby in my area, and really isn't that expensive at all.

Not sure what you're lookin up x.x.

There was an article in Black Gobbo that...wait. Oh yeah,
Black Gobbo is gone. :(

I tried to find it through archive, but there's no pics in it.

Sorry.

Thanks, grey_death. And foamcore is like $3-4 per board where I live so... yah. Anyways, I'll go to Home depot and see what I can find. Thanks!

malfred- I know! It's so messed up! They totally messed up the U.S. site and all the (good) articles and everything are gone!!!!!

Grey Death, I'd love to see finished pics of that table if you have any.

I started, but never finished (shut up, Xenite) a set of insulation foam board sections meant to be put on top of an existing table. Three of them at 4x2 to end up with a 4x6 playing surface or 4x4 for smaller games, with some pretty basic terrain features, but I made sure they'll line up properly no matter in what order I put them next to each other or how I rotate each one.

Grand Preceptor wrote:Grey Death, I'd love to see finished pics of that table if you have any.

I started, but never finished (shut up, Xenite) a set of insulation foam board sections meant to be put on top of an existing table. Three of them at 4x2 to end up with a 4x6 playing surface or 4x4 for smaller games, with some pretty basic terrain features, but I made sure they'll line up properly no matter in what order I put them next to each other or how I rotate each one.

If you sort through that thread, you'll be able to find plenty of 'final' photos of it ^_^. Tables are never finished! They are only improved!

Mine is rather simple.
I have a 1800mmx725mm folding trestle table. On top of this goes a (hidden) hinged 6'x4' board, and on top of this goes my "gaming top" which is made from 3 pieces of 2'x4' 6mm mdf.

One side of the boards is green, with roads and river painted on it, the reverse is grey with roads (in black/grey). They are modular, in that all of the roads/river pieces start and end from corresponding locations, and they will line up no matter how the boards are arranged.

(I got the instructions from an old WD. It was ostensibly for epic, but the principle is identical, just the river/roads have to be made wider.)

If you're building a gaming table, as opposed to a terrain board, here are a few other things to consider.

1) Gutters. Someone mentioned having edges to stop dice falling off the edge of the table. The tables I've built have all included 4" gutters on each long table edge. These are idea for a few reasons;

First, you have a place to put your dudes while they're waiting to be deployed, and after they've been killed.
Second, any dice that fall off the table go in the gutter.
Third, and most important, you can put your beers in the gutter rather having to put them on the table.

2) Hinged extendable space. Kind of like the dining-room tables where when everyone comes over for christmas/thanksgiving, you can make the table bigger, if you have the space for a longer, or wider table, but don't want it taking that much space all the time, some hinged sections aren't difficult to add if you plan for them during the assembly stage. They're a bit harder to add later.

If there's interest, I can take some pictures of my table, and post plans in an article.

Have a quick battle pic of my 'final' table to add:

Scroll to the bottom of the post.

Just for inspiration ^_^.

Redbeard wrote:If you're building a gaming table, as opposed to a terrain board, here are a few other things to consider.

1) Gutters. Someone mentioned having edges to stop dice falling off the edge of the table. The tables I've built have all included 4" gutters on each long table edge. These are idea for a few reasons;

First, you have a place to put your dudes while they're waiting to be deployed, and after they've been killed.
Second, any dice that fall off the table go in the gutter.
Third, and most important, you can put your beers in the gutter rather having to put them on the table.

2) Hinged extendable space. Kind of like the dining-room tables where when everyone comes over for christmas/thanksgiving, you can make the table bigger, if you have the space for a longer, or wider table, but don't want it taking that much space all the time, some hinged sections aren't difficult to add if you plan for them during the assembly stage. They're a bit harder to add later.

If there's interest, I can take some pictures of my table, and post plans in an article.

Of course there's interest. My only question is, "How big's your freakin' basement?"

I couldn't do that (especially the gutters) without getting rid of furniture and maybe walls.

Oh yeah, and my marriage.

grey_death wrote:If you sort through that thread, you'll be able to find plenty of 'final' photos of it ^_^.

You're assuming I'm smart enough to realize the thread had more than one page...

Grand Preceptor wrote:

grey_death wrote:If you sort through that thread, you'll be able to find plenty of 'final' photos of it ^_^.

You're assuming I'm smart enough to realize the thread had more than one page...

^_-

Most folks just look at the first few posts though when someone links a thread. I should have clarified that it had many more photos from start to finish as the pages go along ^_^.

@grey_death: that is an extremely nice table. I've been wanting to do a table in the manner of what Bartius and Bartholomew have posted about for some time, but in the manner of many collective endeavours (I would have been borrowing a friend's hot wire cutter) it never happened. That thread of yours is *almost* enough inspiration to send me running out to Home Depot.

The gutters seem like a pretty good idea... but 11 year olds don't drink.

WEll, they can drink soda, gutters are also great at stopping dice from rolling off the table, which IMHO is one of the best things about them!

I made a small (2x4) gaming table for my son and I to play Pirates of the Revolution on, but it works great for small tactical games too. I used 1/4" 2x2 plywood sheet with 1x2 frames, a long hinge to make it foldable, covered it in green felt with upholstery nails and gave it a nice handle to make transport easy. It's got a small cleat and a bit or rope to tie it up when folded to keep it from opening and add a "naval" feel to the whole thing. We made it together and had great father-son bonding time... powertools and games! Since it's small, we can use it on a table top (instead of the table itself, the felt adds that nice "grass" feel) or lay it out on the floor, outside, or take it with us to the FLGS to use on their restaurant-style booth tables when the big tables are in use. While it's not as fancy as a big table, it does the job and saves space in our small apartment.

malfred wrote:There was an article in Black Gobbo that...wait. Oh yeah,
Black Gobbo is gone. :(

I tried to find it through archive, but there's no pics in it.

Sorry.

Hey Malfred, I actually did find an archive of the first 18 BG articles when searching for tank camo schemes.

Black Gobbo archive (small)

What would be a good size for 1500 pt. IG vs. 1500 pt. IG?

*edit* Ho do you make tables "Modular"?