My Gaming Table

[notrealdan]

One of my other hobbies is woodworking. I'd like to share some pictures of a game table project I recently finished.

I keep forgetting to take pictures during an actual game, so I just set up my DMing stuff, picked a map my players went through recently, and threw some minis on it.

Anyways, here it is!

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27065

We mostly play in-person, but I use Fantasy Grounds to manage the campaign, display maps and images on the TV, and a couple of formerly-local players still join in remotely with Fantasy Grounds and Zoom.

Aside from a couple of 2x4s underneath for support, the entire table is made of solid oak. The TV is a 43" TCL Roku TV and I have some plexiglass on top of it to protect it.

The table top itself is 1x6 oak boards, all jointed and laminated together. After a LOT of sanding to get the top flat, I cut the hole for the TV out of it. I saved the piece I had cut out, finished it, and I can put it back into place when not using the table, so it's normally just a big flat surface and can be used for anything. Here it looks like with that panel back in place:
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27067

I didn't want any knobs, handles, or anything marring the surface of the top, so I figured out a simple lift mechanism to remove that panel when needed. I reach underneath and press up on a small dowel that pushes the panel up, then I remove the panel. This is all that shows of that when it's open:
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27068

Here it is with the dowel removed, so you can see it. It has to be larger at one end so it doesn't fall through, and the hole it sits in is similarly sized to match:
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27069

I routed a t-slot into the table's aprons so that I can later make accessories that slide in anywhere on the table sides (cub holders, tablet stands, whatever I want to make) but I haven't actually made those yet. You can see the t-slots here:
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27070

I didn't use any stain (oak looks great by itself) but did put a few coats of satin polyurethane to protect it.

I'd love to hear what you think!

[ddaley]

One of my other hobbies is woodworking. I'd like to share some pictures of a game table project I recently finished.
...



Very nice!

[LordEntrails]

I like it. Much like what I imagine doing myself one day. Though I wouldn't dare cut our the access from the finished panel. Would never trust myself to make straight cuts! I'm glad you put in the T-slot, I image you'll be thankful once you do make the accessories for it :)

I also assume you thought about put in power outlets under the table? Any reason you didn't?

Your finish work is really nice, glad you left the oak natural, it's a beautiful wood :)

[notrealdan]

I like it. Much like what I imagine doing myself one day. Though I wouldn't dare cut our the access from the finished panel. Would never trust myself to make straight cuts! I'm glad you put in the T-slot, I image you'll be thankful once you do make the accessories for it :)

I also assume you thought about put in power outlets under the table? Any reason you didn't?

Your finish work is really nice, glad you left the oak natural, it's a beautiful wood :)

Thanks!

Cutting the panel out was definitely the scariest part, but I got a track saw to do just that part. That made it a lot easier to get accurate, straight cuts.

I mounted some power strips underneath the table at the corners. Everyone has easy access to outlets and USB ports for charging. There’s just the one power cord coming from the table to the wall to power everything.

[damned]

Nice one. And you could almost hide your hobby even from your partner!

[Patou]

Wow!!! Love it. Pretty cool stuff!
:)

[notrealdan]

Here are some pictures from building the table top itself.

First jointing the edges, so they can be nice and flat against each other. Then gluing and clamping together, one board at a time until they're all one piece. Then trimmed to size and sanded.
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27078

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27079

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27080

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27081

Also, just after a test cut of the t-slot for the aprons.
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27082

I'm a little worried about actually using those for things like cup holder accessories. I'm terrified of the first time someone accidentally leans on one, because I don't know how much weight the slots will hold and they might just snap. I can rebuild an apron piece easily enough, but it would still suck. One apron piece split while I was cutting the t-slot into it, so I've already had to rebuild that one anyways, so I started getting nervous about this part. I could have routed out a slot for a metal t-slot track, but I don't think I'd like the look of it as much as all wood. I may end up leaving the t-slots as decorative for a while...

[LordEntrails]

I was wondering about the strength of the T-slots myself. Maybe the solution is to build the accessories with a break away piece/attachment. So that the accessory breaks before the slot/apron piece does? Not sure what that design would look like though. I would start by assuming the cross section of the break away piece would have to be thinner than the lip of the T.

[notrealdan]

Like I said, this was the scariest part. After a lot of work, I finally had a nice, flat table top. Now I was going to cut a huge hole in it! I had all kinds of visions in my head about how terribly wrong this could go. Thankfully, I got myself a track saw that can do plunge cuts and it all went perfectly smoothly (after measuring and re-measuring about a thousand times!). I didn't go all the way up to the corners of the hole with the track saw, but left about an inch or so. Then, I finished the cuts with a jigsaw and cleaned everything up with a lot of sanding.

Anyways, here's some pictures from this part of the project:

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27162

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27164

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27165

And here's the under side of the table top, after I had the apron, supports, and TV box assembled.
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27166

I have more pictures, so let me know if anyone wants to see anything specific about the build. I got a lot of inspiration from other similar projects I saw online, so my hope here is that these posts help someone else out with their project!

EDIT: Somehow these picture attachments broke, so I just re-added them.

[notrealdan]

I was wondering about the strength of the T-slots myself. Maybe the solution is to build the accessories with a break away piece/attachment. So that the accessory breaks before the slot/apron piece does? Not sure what that design would look like though. I would start by assuming the cross section of the break away piece would have to be thinner than the lip of the T.

One of my players said maybe I could have the accessories have some kind of spring action, so when someone pushes down on them, they hinge down and spring back up on their own. Might be a little complicated, but I'd rather spill a drink on the floor than have to repair the table...!

My other thought was install spikes on all of the accessories, so people only lean on them once!

[Xemit]

Have a look at this product: https://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=61646&cat=3,43576,61995,61646

It can be installed in a 7/8" x 7/16" dado with counter sunk screws through the apron (plus glue). I would think that will provide enough pull out strength for what you'll need, short of someone sitting on the accessory. As for bending moment force, the width of the apron and braces under the accessory should handle it. Just don't make the accessories too large to encourage light loads. Bracing behind the apron would also stiffen this up.

I have a few shop jigs that use this product to make adjustable fences and clamping points. There is also a slightly smaller 1/4" variant.

Only real down side is that they will be more visible than the oak. Some paint could reduce the visibility, or just make it 'part of the design'.

[GarthGiantbane]

Very nice! I've been wanting a gaming table for-EVER and one with a TV in it is even better.

Looks great - thanks for sharing.

[Nylanfs]

Have a look at this product: https://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=61646&cat=3,43576,61995,61646

It can be installed in a 7/8" x 7/16" dado with counter sunk screws through the apron (plus glue). I would think that will provide enough pull out strength for what you'll need, short of someone sitting on the accessory. As for bending moment force, the width of the apron and braces under the accessory should handle it. Just don't make the accessories too large to encourage light loads. Bracing behind the apron would also stiffen this up.

I have a few shop jigs that use this product to make adjustable fences and clamping points. There is also a slightly smaller 1/4" variant.

Only real down side is that they will be more visible than the oak. Some paint could reduce the visibility, or just make it 'part of the design'.

I was about to suggest a very similar product. :)

[notrealdan]

Have a look at this product: https://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=61646&cat=3,43576,61995,61646

It can be installed in a 7/8" x 7/16" dado with counter sunk screws through the apron (plus glue). I would think that will provide enough pull out strength for what you'll need, short of someone sitting on the accessory. As for bending moment force, the width of the apron and braces under the accessory should handle it. Just don't make the accessories too large to encourage light loads. Bracing behind the apron would also stiffen this up.

I have a few shop jigs that use this product to make adjustable fences and clamping points. There is also a slightly smaller 1/4" variant.

Only real down side is that they will be more visible than the oak. Some paint could reduce the visibility, or just make it 'part of the design'.

Yeah, I had looked at these, but decided to go the all-wood route for the aesthetics. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with those t-tracks if I really wanted to make accessories, but I'm not really missing those yet anyways. I could always re-do it later if I change my mind. I made sure not to use glue on the aprons, so I can always disassemble and change those parts later if I want. Actually, aside from laminating together the table top itself and the legs, I didn't use glue anywhere.

[Patou]

What has me worried is exactly that knowing my group to be somewhat sloppy and spilling something. For that reason I went with the projector but I still love your setup

[notrealdan]

What has me worried is exactly that knowing my group to be somewhat sloppy and spilling something. For that reason I went with the projector but I still love your setup

That's exactly why I wanted to put cup holders somewhere off the main table surface... So far they're being very careful and even using coasters! But I think I may get some cheap wooden TV trays and they can use those for drinks, food, etc.

[Halfront]

Very nice work indeed! I'm very jealous. My better half would have my hide if I cut a hole in the middle of the dinning room table so I have plans to just make a monitor/tv box that sit atop the table instead...some day. Thanks for the post:)

[notrealdan]

My wife was OK with me building this because it takes up slightly less space than the pool table we had in that room before. The pool table came with the house and we’ve already used the gaming table way more than we ever played pool!

She was also very much OK with me finally finishing this project because we have our first baby on the way and I have plenty of other things on the todo list!!

[Archlyte]

Thank you for putting my setup to shame :ogre::ogre::ogre::ogre: but seriously that looks great, thank you for sharing it. Fantastic work

[Hector Trelane]

notrealdan, do you do commissions? And shipping for less than $99? Hey, this kind of table should be a Kickstarter reward.


We mostly play in-person, but I use Fantasy Grounds to manage the campaign, display maps and images on the TV, and a couple of formerly-local players still join in remotely with Fantasy Grounds and Zoom.

How do you handle the mic/speaker set up for remote players? And how well does that meatspace/virtualspace mash up work?

[notrealdan]

notrealdan, do you do commissions? And shipping for less than $99? Hey, this kind of table should be a Kickstarter reward.



How do you handle the mic/speaker set up for remote players? And how well does that meatspace/virtualspace mash up work?

Hehe, I'm not currently taking orders...

For video, I use a webcam (Logitech C930e (https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/c930e-webcam)) mounted on a tripod and pointed at the table so it can see myself and all players. For audio, I use a Jabra "puck" (this one I think (https://www.jabra.com/business/speakerphones/jabra-speak-series/jabra-speak-410#/#100-43000000-02), or one very similar). They're connected to a spare laptop running Zoom and sitting off to the side, so I can run FG from my main laptop. Then I also have a monitor connected to that laptop as a second screen and put it on the table sort of where a player might be. I'll try to remember to snap a picture next time I have it set up for a game.

My boss is OK with me borrowing the Jabra, webcam, and Zoom account from the office. :)