Gaming table ?s

[Khayman7]

I've been looking into building or buying my own 4x6 (maybe 8) foot table for gaming, modeling, general use etc...I've looked all over the net and just finally thought of asking here, yeah its been that kind of week.

My main concern is size, followed by portability/hiding capability and finally as always...cost. I was thinking of building the table to be able to be folded for storage and transporting, plus it might keep costs down. Does anyone have any plans for this kind of project? If not, or if its cheaper is there a good premade table that fits these concerns?

I've looked around and all I seem to be able to find are poker tables, dining room tables, or camping tables. The problem is I haven't found one that meets my requirements of size and portability/concealment. As for building my own, I have basic to moderate skills but I don't have any plans and I don't want to make something that will fall apart or hurt someone etc...

[Paul Rohrbaugh]

Model Railroader has had some good articles on making fold-away tables for modular railroad layouts. These usually measure 2 by 4 feet in size. The same principles, however, could be used to make ones 3 or 4 by 4 feet large and could then be fastened together (using the fasteners).

What would be neat if this same standardized approach was used for the A&A minis. Folks could bring their "part" of a battlefield to clubs/conventions. It wouldn't take much of a stretch to model in 3-D the Starter maps.

How about it?

[Cruizin2000]

I use the 6' x 2.5' folding tables. I bought my tables at Office Max or Staples - can't remember which. A set of folding chairs from Low's was about $50 per set.

Hope this helps.

C2000

[polish_horsy]

the problem is the 2.5 feet part. Maps hang off the edge. 5 ft by 3 ft would be better if available IMO.

[Jesse_James]

How much are you looking to spend?

If you are on a budget, for about $40.00 you can get a nice fold up table at evilmart (walmart). If you are handy with the tools I would make my own with cheap pine and particle board, if you are looking for something really big that is.


EDIT: excuse me in advance I know the CoC (code of Conduct) does not allow links to comercial sites, but I am just trying to help a fellow gamer. :)

here is a link to one. Looks nice but some what small. http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=folding+table&ic=24_0

others:
http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesCategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogIdentifier=2&identifier=DP1555&cm_mmc=online_google-_-adwords-_-office_furniture-_-folding%20tables&gclid=CO_MnNqb3IsCFRooEAodgmvQXA

http://www.officedepot.com/browse.do?N=201724

[thommieh]

How about the tables used by people who are working with wallpaper? Those usually are foldable and when you put two alongside eacht other you've got a reasonable size table

[Khayman7]

the problem is the 2.5 feet part. Maps hang off the edge. 5 ft by 3 ft would be better if available IMO.

plus you need that other foot for cards, beverages, chips etc.. :)

[Cruizin2000]

the problem is the 2.5 feet part. Maps hang off the edge. 5 ft by 3 ft would be better if available IMO.

Neither my standard maps or 3D map hangs off the edge. The 3D map goes right to the edge and you have about a foot on either side for cards, dice boxes, etc.

C2000

[Khayman7]

How much are you looking to spend?

If you are on a budget, for about $40.00 you can get a nice fold up table at evilmart (walmart). If you are handy with the tools I would make my own with cheap pine and particle board, if you are looking for something really big that is.


This was my original idea because then there is no compromising on size and portability. Cost should be kept lower too I would think. I've seen the folding legs at Home Depot for less than 20$. Wood and screws shouldn't be too much more on top of that. I was hoping less than 60$ but price I am willing to go higher on to get exactly what I want. Now if there are some building plans or parts lists that would be ideal, I don't want to build it and drill etc... to find out that I screwed up and have to scrap it all or finish it and then have it fall apart when we're using it.

[Khayman7]

Neither my standard maps or 3D map hangs off the edge. The 3D map goes right to the edge and you have about a foot on either side for cards, dice boxes, etc.

C2000

You have 2 next to each other I take it?

[Cruizin2000]

You have 2 next to each other I take it?

There's two next to each other length wise. I can make a 6' x 5' area with two of them for bigger skirmish battles. I think that it's 6x4 standard maps.

C2000

[Cruizin2000]

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/4013/emncats352cvh6.jpg

The hexes are 3".

C2000

[Khayman7]

nice map!

Thanks for all the input guys I'm going to look into these more closely and do some more research and try to see if I can pull off a little project (home depot gift cards are nice).

[Anubis]

At our game store we use folding tables, kinda simple. Haven't read the other posts, cause its too much time, but I hope that helps. They are great and they fold up for easy storage.

[PercyHobart]

I bought a complete trestle table for Au$40.00 some time back for taking to LANs.

It has legs attached which fold underneath the table and are 'inside the fold' when the table top is folded down.
It measures 100cm x 60 cm (3'4" x 2') folded, weighs about 10 kg (4.5lbs), and has a carry handle on on of the long edges, so it's reasonably compact and easy to carry/store.

When I decided I needed a gaming table, I wanted to gain a little extra width but I also wanted to make sure that what I bought could also be placed in one of the wardrobes without requiring a degree in carpentry.

I bought two lengths of 180cm x 45cm x 1.2cm (6' x 18" x 0.5") high-density fibre-board (Craft Wood) and made two lengths of 90cm (3') long 7cm x 2cm (nearest Imp. Meas. 3" x 1") dressed pine.

The boards have wooden dowel pins inserted into the short edges at each end and the dressed pine lengths are drilled along one edge of the wider face to mate with these pins. This helps stop the boards and the pine from warping over time and forms a sort of wall for the dice to bounce off.
The 90cm (3') wide board can now sit on the top of the 60 cm (2') wide table without fear of someone leaning on the long edges and flipping one or both boards off the table.

As a finishing touch, if you then go and grab some clear polycarbonate or acrylic and cut it to fit the table top, you can then place all of your maps, terrain pieces, and objective markers under the clear plastic and they will not move during play.

There's enough room to run two 2x2 map games simultaneously with room to layout stat cards and roll dice.

Hope this gives you some ideas!

[oddfellow]

couple of thoughts:
1. for uber sized maps try to find an old ping-pong table at a garage sale... people are always trying to get rid of those.
2. folding drawing/drafting tables sold at art supply and craft stores. i use one for my smaller gaming table. fits 3x2 maps.
3. my personal use: a big piece of wood on an old coffee table with a matching plexiglass that fits over the maps. you could even hinge a few smaller boards together so they fold up to a compact size. granted, the coffee table makes for a low surface, but its just the right height for my cushy chairs and lording over the map makes for a good war room feel. of course i've got a dedicated aam minis room so this may not work for everyone.

[Lagduf]

6' x 2.5' would be a nice table for gaming if monster board games like Railroad Tycoon or Sid Meier's Civilization, or even FFG stuff like Descent, and or Twilight Imperium didn't exist.

I'm thinking the ultimate gaming table may just be 4' x 4' or maybe 4' x 6'.

[Cruizin2000]

6' x 2.5' would be a nice table for gaming if monster board games like Railroad Tycoon or Sid Meier's Civilization, or even FFG stuff like Descent, and or Twilight Imperium didn't exist.

I'm thinking the ultimate gaming table may just be 4' x 4' or maybe 4' x 6'.

Buy 2 6'x2.5' and put them together. 4'x4' is too small for me. A game we play has rifles with a max range of 100". I'd rather have the 8'x2.5' but. You can play Eagle Games ACW on 2 tables. I'd love to have 2 more tables that size but I don't want to take up too much room in the family room.

C2000