A cheap double bed - The perfect gaming table?

[Inquisitor Engel]

So last night my fiancé and I were walking around IKEA (like you do) and I noticed that a double-bed, typically 54"x75" would make an almost perfect gaming table. At 54"75 there's a small area on either side for dice, dead figured etc and a cheap one with wooden slats could easily have a wooden base attached to it, with terrain squares on top.

Now, typically beds aren't appropriate height for gaming, but a simple extension could remedy that.

Has anyone ever tried this sort of thing?

[xxRavenxx]

I don't get why you wouldn't just buy a table..

[Harwammer]

I don't want to shoot you down, but I'm having trouble seeing the point.

You're gonna have to put down a flat bit so you have a surface to play on and some legs so it is the right height.... Mightn't you as well just make your own table at this point?

[DarkLordBelial]

Wouldn't be the first time Ikea furniture has been used for another purpose:

http://wiki.eth-0.nl/index.php/LackRack

[Scaryscarymushroom]

http://wiki.eth-0.nl/index.php/LackRack

Having worked with a hefty amount of rack-mounted sound equipment in the past, I can only say .

That is very cool.

@ the OP. The main problem that you'll be running into here is the height of the bed. Unless you're fine with sitting on the floor and playing at 'coffee table' height, you'd need to extend the legs, at which point I agree that you may as well just get an 8'x4' sheet of plywood and build a sturdy frame + legs.

[lanrak]

My mate Andy used an old cheap second hand snoooker/pool table for gaming on.(6'x4'.)(£30).

Green baise = pre flocked table!
(We abandoned the 'pocket rocket launcher dice rolling method', as it took too long to find the dice afterwards!)

[Sai-Lauren]

Has anyone ever tried this sort of thing?

Yes - works ok. You do need some bean bags or something to sit on though, so you're at the right height most of the time.

I don't get why you wouldn't just buy a table..

I don't want to shoot you down, but I'm having trouble seeing the point.

You're gonna have to put down a flat bit so you have a surface to play on and some legs so it is the right height.... Mightn't you as well just make your own table at this point?

Presumably this is either going to be their main bed or a guest bed, with a base board going on top of the matress when playing, and there isn't the space to have a dedicated table.

[paddyalexander]

A cheep alternitive I've used in the past is wallpaper pasting boards. They are a cheep foldable table, roughly between 2' to 3' wide & 5' to 6' long. A few years ago back when I still played 40k I built a gaming table that was 44" x 72" and cost;

2 x pasting tables = €24
2 x spring clamps = €8
3 x grass mats = €24

The down sides where that the legs needed repair & re-enforcement after a while, the width of the table ended up being 4" short but was just compensated by reduing deployment zones by 2" & the pivot bolts' heads on the inside hinges (where both sides of tables would meet) had to be filled down by quite a bit to allow a tight/smooth meeting. There is also seem lines at the fold points and where the tables meet but this could be compensated for by using a topper.

For apocolypse I simply added a third table.

[lanrak]

SAFTEY NOTE>
If you use the exellent suggestion by paddyalexander.(As we did at our old games club.)We used a large (8x4 )sheet of hardboard as a topper.

DO NOT be tempted to fix a rased edge around the tables fill it up with sand for a 'dessert table -sand pit ' type playing table.
It will colapse !!

(Even with re-enforced legs....)

PS, It takes about 4 days to get all the sand out of the carpet!

[theunwantedbeing]

Yes - works ok. You do need some bean bags or something to sit on though, so you're at the right height most of the time.

Well there are now no reasons not to do this.

[Satan]

I don't get why you wouldn't just buy a table..

To the extent of my knowledge - finding a 6' x 4' table is easier said than done.

If a bed could be found that could be made to suitable height then I think that'd be a great option.

[shelfunit.]

Two of these next to each other, with one of these cut into two 3ft x 4ft sections on top. Quick, cheap, easily storable.

[Satan]

Two of these next to each other, with one of these cut into two 3ft x 4ft sections on top. Quick, cheap, easily storable.

Or 3 of the first would work as well? With extra room to spare.

[shelfunit.]

Or 3 of the first would work as well? With extra room to spare.

Absolutely - I'm just fixated by having a playing surface which isn't directly the table for some reason...

[xxRavenxx]

To the extent of my knowledge - finding a 6' x 4' table is easier said than done.

A sheet of 6x4 MDF attatched over one of the following would work perfectly:


1. A cheap table of appropriate size, from a second hand shop perhaps?
2. A table frame from Ikeas table ranges. example here, can be bought without the wooden top for a reasonable price.
3. Make legs from wood. Its surprisingly easy to do.
4. Buy cheap cupboards and fit the table over them.


A bed doesn't seem a good option to me still.

[Jim30]

I bought a cheap decorating table from B&Q (just under 72" long) for £18. I then bought 3 sheets of 4x2 MDF boards (£25ish). Total cost £43.

[Sean_OBrien]

To the extent of my knowledge - finding a 6' x 4' table is easier said than done.

If a bed could be found that could be made to suitable height then I think that'd be a great option.

Head on over to your local DIY type store. Track down the door section and get a bifold 4'0" hollow core slab door (you want hinges installed - but the rest of the hardware isn't needed). Meander on over to the millworks department and find a couple of packages of screw on leg plates:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware...54&cat=3,43586

Right near those - you should be able to find a bunch of table legs as well. Snag 4 of them which are to your liking and have the threaded stud installed. Take the whole mess home.

Install the leg plates on the backside of the door. If you were to half way fold it like ^ the pointy side would be on the front and the open side would be the back. Put them out at the corners - the doors have solid bracing there for screws and other mounting hardware. Thread the legs into the leg plates. Flip the table over and you are GTG. When you need to put it away - unthread the legs and fold the door up.

Built a few of those and they work great. If the hinges are mortised into the doors - the middle joint will be nice and tight. A lot of cheaper doors just surface mount the hinges so there is a 1/8" gap or so between each slab. If you are concerned about the strength of the hinge to door connection, replace the existing screws with longer ones (much more than 1 1/2" and you aren't biting wood anymore though) and install draw catches at the top and bottom of the door across the joint. When you open it up - use the catch to pull the two door panels tightly together.

Think you should be able to do something like that for around $40-50 or so.

[Chaos and Evil]

A bed sounds wholly unsuitable, as others say. A purpose built table (second hand), or a door with some legs screwed onto it will be better, and a fifth the price.

[punisher_1983]

i was in my local tesco and saw there "for sale/wanted" board.
on it was a 6foot by 3foot dining table, metal frame, glass top, with a shelf just under the top (where i keep extra terrain and army squads).
it cost £10, it all disassembled into the boot of my VW Polo, very small car.
the glass top i took to recycle center on the way home.
the following day a trip to B&Q and got MDF board, the biggest i could, 8foot by 5foot?, or similar to that size, some 1by2 timber, nails, hired there van for an hour £30.
i have it all in my shed, huge game table, need more terrain now
£40 in total

[paddyalexander]

Space is a big factor. Having space to have a 6'x4' gaming board permantly set up is nice but not really an option for most people. Having something that doubles up as a dinner/kitchen table or that folds away or comes apart for storage is highly desirable.