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Wasn't sure where to place this..

I am looking at build a 8X4 game table in my basement and saw this item online. Hope it will help shorten the building process.

http://www.amazon.com/Blitz-WORKBENCH/dp/B003FX5F0O/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1338202738&sr=8-9

Anyone seen or have any experience with this product?

I own something of similar size, it's great for a work bench but as a gaming table it would be a little low. The legs are nice and easy to work with but they would need to be about a foot higher for me to comfortably game on it.

I picked up a set of metal collapsable legs from Home Depot for I think $30. Mount them to a 2x8 underneath a sheet of 4x6 plywood and reinforce the plywood with 2x2 wood all around.

optimusprime14 wrote:I own something of similar size, it's great for a work bench but as a gaming table it would be a little low. The legs are nice and easy to work with but they would need to be about a foot higher for me to comfortably game on it.

That is one of my fears..you think if you uses a wider board on top the additional height might be off set...

Also I worry about the shelves being to close together... want to put my terrain underneath, but it too small its not going to work for me..

I have a bench for my drill press I made using a 2x4 basics set. I have to say that I was really disappointed. Using the same amount and type of lumber I could have made a more sturdy bench without the cost of the kit. If you have a square, a saw, and a drill (or hammer if you prefer) I'd opt out of the 2x4 Basics kit and use 4x4s on the corner legs framed by 2x4s and topped with a sheet of whatever thickness plywood you want. If you want shelves you can use slatted 1x4 furing or common boards or plywood either will hold up considerable wieght with supports every 24inches.

36" is a tad low...but their are 2 solutions:
1, Set it on 4 blocks. It will make it taller, but also less stable...it would suck if it fell off a block mid game.
2. Cut 4 lengths of 4x4 and butt them end on to the lower shelf and screw the leg braces to them. This would give it height and make it stable.

Remember...for 60$ all your getting are the leg braces. You still have to buy and cut all the wood.
Here is an alternative:
Kitchen base cabinets. You can get them cheap as scrap leftovers from any remodeler. They are all the same height and 2' deep so putting them back to back gives you a 4' wide base at a comfortable height (with a 4" toe-kick so you can be right up on the table without crunching your feet). This also gives you lots of drawers and shelves for terrain.
Assemble them in a rectangle or 4 corner sets or even 2 36" to 48" sink bases in the middle; then attach a piece of 1/4 to 3/8 plywood on the top to lock them in place.

I've been finding lots of Goodies at Harbor Freight Tools. Not sure if you are in the US but if you are give them a look. They have a ton of super cheap work benches and random stuff.

Genoside07 wrote:

optimusprime14 wrote:I own something of similar size, it's great for a work bench but as a gaming table it would be a little low. The legs are nice and easy to work with but they would need to be about a foot higher for me to comfortably game on it.

That is one of my fears..you think if you uses a wider board on top the additional height might be off set...

Also I worry about the shelves being to close together... want to put my terrain underneath, but it too small its not going to work for me..

You don't get the shelves with the kit, you are just buying the legs and have to buy the lumber as well

Plus I am not skilled in wood working and only have access to a few tools, maybe more trouble than its worth..

Buy prebuilt sawhorses then they are like 30 bucks each but if you feel building shelves are beyond you it's basically that or buy a gorilla rack and but them side by side: then at least you have shelves.

Genoside07 wrote:Plus I am not skilled in wood working and only have access to a few tools, maybe more trouble than its worth..

May I suggest this in that case:
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20.html
First you need to resize the length to 6' x 4' instead of 4'x 2'6". If you want to make it 8' long (room for armies, drinks or dead) all you need is another set of legs at the center point for sturdiness.
Resize the legs for something more than 32"...your kitchen countertops are usually 34" or 36". Stand at your sink and lean over it like you would a game table. If its comfy thats about the height your looking for.
Write down all your cut lumber lengths and take it with you...every Home Despot/Lowes I've been in will cut to length for you. The same with the Plywood (OSB is a type of plywood made of wood shreds instead of full layers...OSB is stronger but more expensive).
NOTE: What do you drive? If your rocking a Vette/Mustang/PTcruiser your going to be hard pressed getting a 6x4 shhet of wood in their...especially if your making a longish trip. If you have a friend with a truck recruit him. Owners of pick-up trucks are required in the US Constitution to help friends move and haul big loads. You are required to provide gas or beer.
Sorry, its the Law.
Check with your friends to see if they have tools you might need. For additional beer they may even offer to help assembly.
Put the table together where you plan to play. You will be amazed how heavy and cumbersome that much wood really is.
So, now that you have this pile-o-wood at home follow the directions exactly as shown.
NOTE: Setting the lower shelf in place before putting the top board on will be much easier. Once the top board is screwed in place you can screw down the shelf (or not...it will be plenty stable just sitting their).

AustonT wrote:Buy prebuilt sawhorses then they are like 30 bucks each but if you feel building shelves are beyond you it's basically that or buy a gorilla rack and but them side by side: then at least you have shelves.

This is your best bet and would require no cutting on your part. Just get two of these, a sheet of 4'x8' (which most places will cut to 4'x6' for you), and you now have a game table. I would suggest at least a 1/2" thick ply (more if you can afford it) since you don't want your models bouncing around.

Hope this helps.

For my gaming table I bought 2 pasting tables from the local DIY shop. Think they cost about £20 each. I then simply bought a 8x4' sheet of hardboard and screwed it to the top of them. Worked a treat and was extremely easy to disassemble and reassemble whenever needed.

The one my friends and I have at the house we are renting is 8x4 with two 2x4 sections on the side(it resembles a large Dpad) so we have a total of 3 2x4 areas that aren't part of the table for normal games and give us a place to set models that are in reserve as well as books, dice and other stuff. The table was actually in the house when we moved in but it is just a large sheet of plywood with two smaller pieces attached and legs below all the the 4 2x4 sections. 2 of the legs are actually old cabinets that work great for storing models and terrain.

@dkellyj: that is a very clever solution!

dkellyj wrote:Home Despot/

I'm glad I'm not the only one that calls them that.

paulguise wrote:

AustonT wrote:Buy prebuilt sawhorses then they are like 30 bucks each but if you feel building shelves are beyond you it's basically that or buy a gorilla rack and but them side by side: then at least you have shelves.

This is your best bet and would require no cutting on your part. Just get two of these, a sheet of 4'x8' (which most places will cut to 4'x6' for you), and you now have a game table. I would suggest at least a 1/2" thick ply (more if you can afford it) since you don't want your models bouncing around.

Hope this helps.

I actually suggest keeping them @ 4x8 if you have the space It gives you a foot on each side or 2 ft on one side to keep armies for deployment and a dead troops during game. And/or Dice, sodas, lunch, etc.

36" is low?

The tables my friends and I play on regularly are 32, and many in stores are 30.

Personally, this is very subjective. Here is what to do.
Find a table in your house, measure how high it is, and judge by that.

36" might be too low for some, for others it may be just fine.