Smacksaw Makes a Game Table - pic heavy

[Smacksaw5000]

I have been wanting to build a game table for some time, but have never been comfortable enought with the "how to" part to take a real shot at it. A few years back I tried to do the whole "use the blue insulation foam, cover it with glue, cover it with sand, drybrush, flock, etc..." and it turned out terrible. The bad taste in my mouth from that effot made me reluctant to give it another go....After watching a few great videos which demonstrated gluing a citadel battlemat down as the gaming surface (credit to be added later) I got the idea for this table.

As I play boardgames more often than I play Warhammer(which is near never), I wanted the table to be usable for both. Someday I want to make a genuine "piece of furniture" game table, but this will have to do until then...


Here are some of the boardgames I'm talkin' about:




First off, I always have banquet tables close by so I wanted a way to use those for the foundatiion.



From there I built a frame for a two-sided 4x6 gaming surface.


From the far end


Then added the surface

[Smacksaw5000]

I prefer to have a place to roll dice to keep them orderly and rather than throwing them all about on the table. The center bins on the side will be used as dice rolling areas. The other bins will be individual storage areas for each player; up to 4.

Then I glued on the battlemat and trimmed the edges.



And from the side



I had to try on some terrain and buildings just because...

[bugbait_nz]

Nice looking table, good idea having the extra gubins bays on the sides.

Bugbait out

[Smacksaw5000]

The original plan was to paint the table black, but as I went along I became partial to the natural look of the pine. So it's staying this way.

Just like I prefer the dice rolling in contained areas, I also prefer they not be on plain wood...they sound better on felt.

So I decided all of the bins would be lined with felt to make for a cleaner look and less noise when rolling all the dice.

The first thing I did was cut forms for the felt lining.


The player bins will have organizer inserts so I added support rails for the organizers in each of these...



And then I started with the felt....this takes way more time than I planned, but I think its turning out to have a nice look?

[Smacksaw5000]

Still going with the felt





And I had to try it out for good measure

[Smacksaw5000]

Credit: Thanks to Emilio101 for pointing me to Beasts of War where I got the idea for this table.

[Ghost 1 Actual]

This is looking great.

[Emilio101]

Credit: Thanks to Emilio101 for pointing me to Beasts of War where I got the idea for this table.

No worries! Their video is really good isn't it?

Your table looks phenomenal and the storage/dice compartments are a great touch. How much did this set you back overall?

Emilio

[Daniel36]

That dice thing is a massively good idea!! My friend and I are working on ideas for a table, and this one is definitely going to be considered!

[Gobsmakked]

This is a perfect gaming table, some really nice features. And your finishing quality is great too. Well done!

[Smacksaw5000]

No worries! Their video is really good isn't it?

Your table looks phenomenal and the storage/dice compartments are a great touch. How much did this set you back overall?

Emilio

So far, considering I had the glue and tools already, I am probably close to $200 USD. My goal was to keep it less than the GW realm of battle board. I think I should be able to keep it under as I don't foresee having to purchase anything else.

Thanks again!

[N810]

Nicey and very profesionaly done.

[Smacksaw5000]

Here is some more work on the felt bins. What a nightmare...

Add the glue...



Lay the felt...



Cover the sides...

[Smacksaw5000]

The end of the misery was close...

[Smacksaw5000]

As I had mentioned I wanted two gaming surfaces, one for Warhammer, and the other for miscellaneous gaming...

Adding felt to the opposite side...





After trimming the edges, it was time for a fit test...

[mrtn]

Great looking table. Is the middle bit loose, or?

[Werty]

I will have to add a dice rolling box to the end of my table now. It just looks slick.

[Radical]

Wow, any ideas for texture such as sand/ gravel for games such as warhammer? Maybe you could make those on a separate table you lay on top of the middle of the first?

[Smacksaw5000]

Wow, any ideas for texture such as sand/ gravel for games such as warhammer? Maybe you could make those on a separate table you lay on top of the middle of the first?

The middle section is reversible. It has a citdel battlemat on the other side.

Here is the warhammer side:








I am making terrain fro it now.

[tcraigen]

Wow beautiful table, well thought out and looks great.