DIY Board Game Table Top
Introduction: DIY Board Game Table Top
Once your board game collection reaches a certain size, you need to stop playing on the fold out card table or small, round oak table you got at an estate sale and start playing on a table meant for board games. I was looking for a table that could comfortably fit six players while at the same time wouldn't seem too big for two players. I also wanted a few bells and whistles:
Be made of wood
Neoprene play surface
LED lighting
Place for drinks
Place for cards
Finally, I wanted all of these bells and whistles without spending a thousand dollars or thousands of dollars. So that left me with one option, build it myself. Final cost was JUST under $300 ($297.46 to be exact). However, there were several things I did not have to buy, such as wood stain, screws, and sand paper.
Full disclosure, I am by no means a master craftsman. I have accumulated a few tools over the years and have built a few pieces of furniture out of wood. Enough to learn a thing or two and be dangerous. I also had to borrow a few tools that made the process go much smoother (Thanks <PERSON>!!)
These plans are for a board game table top, to rest on top of that old oak table (or the legs of my dining room table like in the cover image of this instructable). 622
Legs could also be added to fit this table top and make it a more permanent fixture, which may be in the future for this table top. Dimensions were slightly tweaked during the process which I will explain during the necessary steps. I hope this instrucable helps you toward building your own board game table.
Supplies
Tools
* 3D printer
* Drill
* Compound Miter Saw
* Sander
* Drill Press
* Kreg Jig
* Clamps
* Nail Gun and compressor
* Circular Saw
* Wood Planer (again, Thanks <PERSON>)
* Table Saw (and this too, Thanks <PERSON>)
* Router
Purchased Materials
Wood
* 2x4x8 quantity of 4
* 2x6x8 quantity of 3
* 1x6x8 quantity of 1
* 1x6x6 quantity of 2
* 3/4" round trim 8' length quantity of 3
Non-Wood Material
* 50" aluminum rail quantity of 2 (cup holder rail)
* 30" aluminum rail quantity of 2 (cup holder rail)
* Laminate wood floor (table surface)
* LED tape lighting
* LED Corner Channel
* Neoprene Fabric (2 yards)
Step 1: Planning
This was my first piece of furniture I made that I did not have some type of <PERSON> plan to use as a rough guide, so planning was key. I first did many sketches and played with several designs and table top sizes. Once I had a general idea in place, I put those ideas into Revit (an Autodesk 3D design software). From there I was able to create the steps and plans that helped me through the building process.
Step 2: Preparing and Building the Side Rails
The firs section I built where the side rails. With running the wood for the side rails (2x6) through the wood planer, I knew this would slightly impact the size of the wood for the base support.
First I ran the wood through the planer. If you have never used one of these, it really makes life easier during construction. Especially if you are working with basic (cheap) pine wood that is not square.
After I planed the four sides, I ran the 2x6 through the table saw and ripped the 6" side (5-1/2") down to an actual dimension of 4-1/2".
Next, I made miter cuts with the miter saw at the lengths indicated on the plan view.
Next, I used a counter sink bit to predrill holes for 2-1/2" #8 wood screws at the corners.
Finally, I screwed the four sides together.
Step 3: Building the Base
After the side rails were constructed, measurements were taken to verify the dimensions of the 2x4s for the base. In running the side rails through the wood planer, the 2x4 dimensions increased slightly (1/16" to 1/8").
First the 2x4 wood was cut down as indicated in the dimensioned plan view (again, + 1/16" to 1/8" as needed). 787