DIY Board Gaming Table on the cheap!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มี.ค. 2019
- A board gaming table that turns into a dining room table. I made a gaming table from a charity shop find. £30 for the table, £20 for the parts, about £50 all in!
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If you screw or glue small blocks to the underside of the table top, up against the skirt boards, before removing it, you'll be able to put it back on, & it will lock in place without sliding around.
That's a great tip!
I did a similar idea but with dowels. I put 3 holes on the playing surface border and matching dowels on the tabletop so that it can only be set one way. It then just pops into place very nicely 😊
Brilliant idea. Now I’m searching local ads for used tables. I would never have thought of this idea. Much cheaper than building from scratch as I had intended.
A very late reply but thanks for watching!
Loved this idea. Saw it almost a year ago and finally did it. Picked up a free table that was being given away. Got some free wood from a pallet/skid at a warehouse (3/4" plywood). Now I'm going to just go to Wal-Mart and get some fabric and something for a little sponge feel. Cheap and awesome
That headlining foam looks awesome as a final surface!
This is brilliant! I have an old table I was thinking of converting but this method is SO much easier than the gerry-rigged idea I had. Thanks!
Looks great! Be sure to show how you get on with the improvements!
For the surface on my table I used Scubanit fabric it is similar to the material used in female swimsuits. I know people who have used the same material as what is in female swimsuits. I then bought 3mm foam at the local craft store. I glued/cemented the foam to the mdf, then wrapped the material around the foam. Gives it a nice feel when the nice hit it. A huge bonus is it's waterproof so if someone spills anything on it clean up is a breeze.
Very nice simple modification to an existing table
Think you made the right choice in not adding felt
Nice work. Iv’e got a table just like this that is SCREAMING to be converted to a gaming table!
Awesome job and great idea! You could use a mitered corner sewing technique to make a cleaner corner fold-over that removes the overlapping material. It's on the bottom anyways so who cares lol looks great as is!
Fantastic idea!!
As a former carpenter, I give you my compliments mate, very good for budget tables 🍻
And even us are messing about at times, it is not about which road you take but if you get there 😉
Thanks for the kind words, I’d love to see a table made by a proper carpenter, another level!
Perfect for at home casual gaming evenings. I would consider 2 or 3 cross members of the 1 x 2 pine under the MDF to reinforce the surface in case someone leans on it. As for the top, just a few guides attached to the underneath of the table top to prevent the top from sliding when in daily use mode. Good job.
2 years on I haven’t missed the xtra strength but it would definitely firm things up. I’ll add it to the project list!
I'm going to try this project myself this is pretty much what I'm looking for
Superb work! I did a build very similar to this but i put some 2x3s along the borders so that theres a nice arm rest for all players. You do end up sacrificing about 3cm of space but in my opinion its totally worth it. Food for thought if you want to make changes in the future.
Fab build!
it's basic, but honestly, it's all it has to be. Genius! Will come back to this video, maybe one day I might have the balls to try this
Thank you! Did you ever try it?
Great job, mate. I was tempted to get rid of my bodgy table, but I might attempt something like this! Thanks!
Do it! Let us know how you get on :)
This is fantastic. Thanks for the clear instructions.
Thanks for watching- will you be making one?
Turning mine into one right now👍🏻🤞🏻
Great DIY project idea. I would also work on a solution to rest your hands. As it is it won’t be comfortable to rest forearms on those narrow edges. Ideally a solution that doesn’t raised the dining table levels so as to keep the heights for natural posture.
Thanks for the inspiration. This was just the idea I was looking for :-)
Me too
Good idea taking an already made table and altering it into a gaming table where you can leave games set up inside of it. :) I may just try that eventually too. I'd want a material that kind of grabs onto the gaming pieces, especially for Catan so the modular board doesn't separate.
That's a great idea!
This looks like a great idea and relatively doable...apprciate it man.
Thanks! There's a lot of improvements that I want to make so stay tuned. I'm still very happy for the relatively small investment of time and money :)
I've been pulling my hair out trying to decide what fabric to use, headliner looks perfect!!
It's cheap too!
I was grinding on how to convert my old dining room table for 6 months. This video finally gave me the needed inspiration. It had a removable leaf so I had to add side supports to maintain the table integrity. It turned out awesome. Thanks for the inspiration!
Glad I could help!
i think i would add something to cover those wingnuts as they would annoy me
Probably make something like a cup/glass holder section out of wood that would be good
They’re still visible sadly and you’re right, they annoy me too!
Love it! I've been thinking of my own build and I was planning on using the Ikea Kitchen tops and then working with them. I'd suggest darkening the wood to an ash finish to match up a little with the 'felt' colours are very stark.
Thanks for this project. I have exactly table like you. I'll do the same. Thanks a lot
Have you made any progress with your project?
I think it's pretty funny that the game you have on the table in the intro is more expensive than the table it's self.
If anyone can't find the mdf in their wickes stores, ask for the mdf that comes on the packaging of their laminate flooring. The perks of working for wickes =)
Great tip! I might have to go back!
great works!
Thank you! Cheers! It’s still getting used years later!
This man is a genius! Liked and subscribed
Haha, thanks. Wouldn't go that far but it has allowed me to do a lot more gaming!
Looks great, not overly extravagant and practical, which is good
Thanks forward he kind words!
Looks great! I'd probably find a way to secure the top. Maybe dowells or something
Before removing the table top, I would simply screw a pair of wood blocks along the edges near each corner to align the top whenever it's placed back on the finished table. You could probably get away with just using 4 blocks, but having a bit more stability in the corners would help when using the table for non-gaming purposes.
Good idea!
Awesome!! Just what I had in mind. Maybe get cheap Ikea table and do this. Good job!
Holy crap this just seems so freaking obvious. I had all these plans for converting my table, didn't even think to just put a bottom and make the top removable. Damn.
Hi my friend, thanks for this video. Yersterday I finished my own gaming table. Best regards.
amazing! have you posted any pictures online anywhere?
@@TabletopUpgrades, hello! I got two pictures and a small video (6-10 secs). I’ll try to upload the video for you.
@@TabletopUpgrades , this one: th-cam.com/video/TZCuSA6sS_I/w-d-xo.html
beautiful. Easy, practical, effective, cheap. And KISS simple!
Простая и гениальная идея!) Спасибо.)
Thanks!
May try this this weekend!
Let me know how you get on!
I've had a similar idea. Managed to buy a 160cm x 90 cm table for £10 (unfortunately not solid wood but veneered chipboard). My hope is to set it up with a raiseable playing surface but I may be overcomplicating it.
I think the overall quality of life improvement is definitely worth a small outlay and experimentation time. I play infinitely more games now I have this table and I have ever done in the past. Keep us updated with your progress!
@@TabletopUpgrades Thanks. What size are the sheets that Wickes sell for £3 and do you know if they or any other companies still do similar offers?
My sheet would need to be around 150 cm x 80cm. I'd been considering Plywood but that seems to be around £30+ (inc. VAT) for a 244 cm x122 cm sheet.
@@malcolmrowe9003 think it’s euro pallet sized so 1200x800. Might be a peculiarity of my local wicked but I have had people in this channel say their wicked does them too. Certainly worth ringing a few in your area. As for other deals, not sure, I was amazed I found this!
I'd use magnets for holding the table top on and the magnets ad a lot more ad on as well
The easiest way to "break" two magnets is to slide them sideways in opposite directions, exactly the way you'd accidentally nudge the tabletop. Over goes your tabletop onto the floor.
A very late reply but thanks for watching!
A very late reply but thanks for watching - a good point! A believe the term used for speccing this kind of resistive force is the "shear load capacity" of the magnet. Some manufacturers have it on their datasheets.
This is so grate! Im were going to make my own by cutting a bigg hole in my table and try to save the middle piece and and have that as an inlay. But i were wurreing about the gap frome the cut out, and if you spill some drink ore sometihing on the table it is going to go down all over your game...
SOOO This is SOO much better :D Thank you so much, you saved the day and alse olot of time for me trying to cretae something stupid with a cut out :D
Keep this comming, loving it :D
/Eric
Hi, great video. Has the headline fabric held up over time? I found neoprene too expensive so was looking for alternatives. With hindsight, would you double layer it or were you happy with just one layer of headline fabric?
Hi! Headliner fabric is a top choice and I’m glad I only went with one in the end. Think I stumbled on the perfect material by accident. Good luck with your build!
If you use batons under the table edge lined up with the frame it should fit
A very late reply but thanks for watching!
Wow what a great idea.
Thanks for the video.
How does the table top stand on the rack without slipping?
A very late reply but thanks for watching! This used Hinges, I've got a better solution now however which is on my channel.
Could y put felt down first, then sponge fabric on top?
possibly, my idea was to go headliner with felt on top, but i was so impressed with the headliner fabric, i went with that!
Great. The felt gets fuzzy or hairy with game play. I’d stay with the car header material
I was just about to make the same point.
Interesting. I was going to say the opposite.
Yes, felt can definitely get fuzzy (called 'pilling'), but that can be alleviated by buying a heavier felt. I think that 'shiny' felt looked a little cheap.
Every car I've seen older than 7 years has some section of the headliner(sp?) fabric beginning to separate from the soft foaming part, beginning to pill and eventually start to disintegrate. And that deterioration is when the fabric is just attached to the car roof above my head. I was wondering if dice rolling and moving game parts on/off/across the fabric, and drinks/coasters on the fabric would speed up it's deterioration. Give us an update in 6 months, please!
A heavy (it'll cost more) felt--is there a 12mm?--won't last forever (no fabric would...casinos have to resurface tables eventually and they get a lot of wear and tear) will last longer. And I only base that on the fact that you said the headliner fabric is what's used on the roofs of cars. Also, though some people only like the natural felt, some of the polyester 'felts' are even more durable. The 35% wool/65% rayon blend or the 20% wool/80% rayon will definitely resist the pilling/'fuzzy' that comes with age. I have a 16 year old poly-blend felt on a table and it is still going strong...no fuzziness.
But yeah I'm curious how durable that header fabric is when it's receiving direct contact with objects/hands, especially the separation of the top layer from the soft foamy part.
Great video!
That spray is hard to get now. Which one didn't you recommend? Thanks
any spray contact adhesive. the stuff they use for carpet tiles is perfect
Does it feel odd playing inside a shallow box ?
I feel my forearms would rest on the hard edge of the frame. Although the edge will stop stuff flying onto the floor.
That’s a common question - not at all strange to be honest. If anything I like the enclosed “casino style” where I cna throw my dice at the side of the table craps style.
As for leaning on the side, I definitely intend to put a thicker, padded border on but tbh, even when resting on it, it’s not uncomfortable and most of the time, I’m either moving pieces round or holding cards.
Remember I’m mainly a solo gamer, so I’m very rarely just leaning on the table doing nothing like you might whilst waiting for your turn in a multiplayer game.
Many thanks for you comment!
I've experienced forearm bang but I've played 11 hours recessed and arms and back were fine. Leg clearance you need to be aware of though
Its a good idea. But those corner bracket things look ugly and probably not very safe with the bolt sticking out like that.
Though I'm sure the bolts could be cut down and the brackets covered.
Exactly what I was thinking. I would definitely have to put some sort of protection on the bolts at the very least. That might be the trickiest bit!
No final video of the table complete?
It never particular progressed much past this point, I really should give it the finishing touches!
Great work! What are the names of fabrics you used?
Car "Headliner Fabric", it's a kind of foam backed felt. Speed cloth is good if you can get it, but in the UK it's mostly got the suits of cards on which I didn't want. I initially planned to use baize/felt but the stuff I got, looked way too cheap.
@@TabletopUpgrades could those card cloths be flipped over? or are the symbols embroidered in such a way that they show through on the bottom?
There's lots of improvements to be made but what would you do next?
Solo Board Game Guide
The table top does provide stability from twisting that is now gone. If you braced it at the corners you could set the game surface on that. The table would be more solid and the inside clearance bigger.
Maybe it's just a personal thing but when my group are gaming we tend to have a few nibbles/drinks etc. Possibly think of having a simple tray/armrest that hooks over the table edge: they can be stored inside the table when the top is on.
Simple and well demonstrated - I too am no carpenter nor seamstress.
@@linyarin There are some lovely holes in the corners that cupholders on pegs/dowels could fit right into if fit snuggly. Instant and removable corner cupholders.
The flimsiness of the MDF would worry me a bit. I'd screw in a few supports underneath it. Two 1x2's would probably be enough. If some one leaned over and put their hand in the middle of the table, I'd be worried that the MDF would crack.
Personally I'd drill matching holes in each of the tabletop legs and the table top surface and glue in some wooden dowels to the table top which will stop the top from sliding around when you're using it as a table and not as a gaming table.
Would it be possible to do somehting like this with an IKEA table? (I don't have a specific one in mind, but IKEA is worldwide, which means everyone could buy and customize one)
That’s a great idea and something I’ve considered- every time I go to ikea I keep my eye open!
I have just done this with an Ikea dining table. Can't remember the model name, but I know it was the cheap one (around £120 with 4 chairs) and is a normal wood colour.
I works well but make sure your battens are not too thick as the Ikea table has a thinner border, so there is less clearance one the top is back on. There's still enough clearance to keep medium size decks, counter trays etc, but tall pieces might not fit.
I glued/screwed some small battens onto the back of the table top that fits in the corners of the base, so the top sits on tightly without needing to be screwed, and doesn't slide around.
Can you link to the padding for purchase?
If you search eBay for “Car headliner fabric” there will be lots of listings :)
you just saved me 1000$
Amazing! mine could be upgraded further, its still in its absolute bargain basement form and is by far the best gaming accessory i have. i might do a video making it a bit nicer, thanks foe the inspiration!
Would it have worked to lay in some really strong magnets to hold the top?
Quite possible, there are some Neodynium magnets that have 100’s of kilograms of holding force, some with dial operation so that’s an interesting though. First4magnets website has lots of innovative products, I’ll check it out!
@@TabletopUpgrades I will have to check out that site. The increasing strength and diminishing size provide increased possibilities with magnets. I am not sure of the vertical/horizontal hold strength of the magnetic safety locks for childproofing cabinets, but that latch/magnetic mechanism could also be utilized for so many projects...
When u use it, does it feel odd that the game is to far away / to low?
Also, is it uncomfortable to place the arms on the top-rim?
Would it be possible to maybe place a wider rim ontop of the old one tot rest your arms on and then place the tabletop ontop of the new wider rim?
@@Fleischmann773 its hard for me to pass comment as i’m so used to it now. the player surface is only about 3” lower than normal so that is imperceptibly different to me but the lip i guess could be more comfortable. easily done by building in a lip on the inside of the table but that would reduce the playing surface.
i usually play solo anyway so usually holding cards or rolling dice - no time to lean on the edge 😀
I did the same steps but it seems my table top was glued on! Any advice?
Violence unfortunately! Rubber mallet next to the glued portion is how I’d approach it :)
can you post the links to the products you used?
I’ve just set up an Amazon affiliate account so will to work on this
Where did you get the headliner fabric from bud?
I too am keen to know where you got the fabric from, and how much fabric you ordered?
Cant find the Nemesis spray in the UK anywhere in stock too.
A very late reply but thanks for watching! eBay...
A very late reply but thanks for watching! - Any carpet tile glue will do the trick
The fabric cost me $8cdn and the foam was $6 cdn.
Where did you get yours from?
How big is your playing surface (")
good question! I’ll measure up and let you know
What size is the table ?
54”x34” - Just frustratingly short of 3ft for X-Wing Purposes!
Is it 4 batons on the sides or just 2?
4, one on each side :)
@@TabletopUpgrades and it is sturdy enough not to put any reinforcement through?
I love this, a few months ago I decided to make myself a board game "table topper" the idea being I could keep it under the sofa and pull it out whenever I wanted to play. I got a bit overexcited and made it too big to practically get it out and put it away (it's dimensions 135cm x 95cm).
I've got a very similar dining table to yours so I intend to convert it. I tend to play in groups so intend to build in a bit of a lip of approx 10cm along all edges of the table which will also incorporate component trays.
The play surface will end up being about 120cm x 57cm, so smaller than my current table topper but it will be more practical! I'm looking forward to working on it.
What are the dimensions of your play surface out of interest?
How does the table top stay on when its in dining mode? I feel like elbows and hands /standing and sitting would bump it around?
I did another video linked in the playlist where I put hinges on it. It's great for solo pay but hinges wouldn't be good if you wanted people to sit on each side. If this is the case is make a simple frame on the underside to constrain the table top.
@@TabletopUpgrades I would put 1x1s under the top piece to where the top wouldn't move
Hows the cloth doing after some time?
Great! Some good in fact I got some more for another project I’m working on, really impressed with it
@@TabletopUpgrades awesome, you are the only one I could find who used this material, now I am confidant to do the same, will order some tonorrow! Thanks again!
How did you get on with it! Any thoughts?
Product Links (affiliate links) it’d be a great help if you purchased through here! :
Headliner Fabric : amzn.to/3BLYWIW
Contact Adhesive: amzn.to/3FYhnfM
Fancy a less time consuming board gaming project? How about a gaming lap tray?!
th-cam.com/video/YkfBvD3KIJg/w-d-xo.html
Great vid but for someone who is not a carpenter, you sure do have alot of power tools ... Which I don't have
lol this is true, my house was wrecked when I moved in and I’ve kind of accumulated them over the years. My brother in law lives near a tool library where for a small fee you can borrow things like this so this may be worth a google to see if there is one near you?
@@TabletopUpgrades wish we had a value for money decent tool rental place in the UK 😢
Use magnets to hold the top on.
Great idea!
I'm still so worried I'll murder my hand or something. Definitely low price though, I'll see if I can get my mates to help!
I haven’t hurt myself yet! 🤣
Forgot to add the power tools to the price of the project
Not forgot so much as deliberately excluded - nothing here that couldn’t be done with a £5 hand panel saw. The power tools are an optional convenience.