How to Build a Poker Table – the Hint

When you are a fan of the game, it is always a good idea to have doable options outside the casino halls. We talk about trying that new poker face at home, with your friends. Not everybody has the space for a specially dedicated poker table and usually utilise the kitchen ones. Some players even build folding poker tables. You can even have a poker table with lights or combine it with a racetrack. There are many ways to use the dining space as a poker getaway. Build a cheap poker table with ease.

With this article, you will have useful tips and hints on how to build poker table legs, poker tables with lights and more. There is an option to add the flavour of the racetrack, thanks to the shape of the top part. Read on and see how.

How to Build a Poker Table With Lights

Add some interesting element, which is not time-consuming and doesn’t cost that much. If you would like to find out more tips as an inspiration, please check out a video of a poker tournament or some of the most popular poker podcasts out there! A perfect example is the poker table with lights. Once you add such fun element, you will be unique. Build a lighted poker table and give your home game something different. The cost of such a design boost will be a bit higher than a regular table. You will need an additional sheet of wood. It is necessary for raising the railing. You will need also a string of rope lights.

There is nothing that different from building a regular poker table. The number of sheets you need depends on the position of the lights. We will suggest a regular string light. Mark the centre of the wooden sheet and drive a screw through it. Use it as a centre to make all arcs of the table equal. Attach a string to it and a pencil to the other end to help with the process. To be sure that every measurement is correct, your pencil should make a perfect arc and reach the end of both sides of the sheet equally. Do that to every wooden sheet of the table and cut the rims. You will need three sizes of those and one main surface. Now you know how to build a racetrack poker table.

How to cut the rims? Leave the main sheet aside. It will be used for the playing surface. Take the other one and use the pencil again. Shorten the string this time, to make a smaller frame. Meaning, once you have cut 22’’ with about 4.5’’ rim, now measure at 19.5’’ and connect the straight sides by drawing a line. It will be easier to cut it properly and use the inner lines for that. Now you have a perfect outer ring 3’’ wide, a.k.a. the padded rail. Then do a measure at 21’’ and cut 2’’ rim. If everything is done properly, you should have five pieces – 3 rims and 2 ovals, where one will not be used.

The Lights!

Cover the playing surface with any type of cloth you want and use some foam to form it. Then you take the three oval rims. Place the widest one first. Then the middle one, which will have a notch about 2/3 of the way through the rail. It will be used for the lights, on a later stage. Once you are happy with the positioning of both pieces, use wood screws to fix them tightly together. Move the construction over foam and then over a piece of vinyl. Make sure that the inner 1’’ space is facing you. Later, we will turn everything upside down. Make sure you avoid wrinkles by using a stapling machine and a lot of pulling.

Once you are happy with the results it is time for the base of the rail. Mark the third rim where the notch is and drill an angle whole there. That will help the lights seamlessly feed through without having to bend. Before attaching the third rim, you can paint the outside or cover it somehow, it depends on your design. Once done, screw it to the rest of the rail.

The frame is ready and is time for the lights. Use the drilled hole to push them through and use clips or screws to keep it hidden in the inner edge. Start from one end and make your way around and away from the notch. After the full round is done, feed the end through your angled hole and you’re ready for the connectors to go on. Everything should look like the picture above. Finally, you could think about a hidden place where you could put a gambling gift when playing with friends. It could be integrated into the legs of the table or along the edge of the table, for example.

How to Build a Folding Poker Table

The easiest way is to make the top separately from the legs. You can also use hinges to cut the surface in two. Don’t forget some braces and brackets for extra support. Here you can go wild in design and materials. Many poker fans buy tops, which are made of lighter materials placed on portable leg sets. They are also made of some light material. This way you either carry both parts separately or fold them comfortably.

How to Build Poker Table Legs

Once done with the top of the table, no matter with or without lights, you can pay attention to the legs. There are many kinds available in stores. There you can pick various types, materials, folding or not and so on. However, we want to continue the theme of how to build a cheap poker table, so we will share some ideas for the legs as well. That project requires seven wooden pieces. The main moment is cutting. First, you need one 44’’ piece, called spreader. Then cut four equal legs, where each is 26’’ long. Cut two more, which are a bit shorter – 24’’. The length is given as an example, so you can get familiar with the regularity of each piece. You can adjust as you like but keep the differences equal to the example.

Divide the four pieces into two pairs. Then, combine them two by two with the shorter pieces. In the end, you need two-time construction looking like an ‘H’. Pay attention to the positioning of the shorter connecting wooden pieces. They must be in the middle of the vertical legs. Measure the middle of the horizontal part of both mini constructions as well. The spreader connects both H’s in the middle. In case the distances are not equal on each side, your poker table can collapse or end up crooked.

Once done, use wood filler to cover any gaps between the elements. After drying nicely, you can paint the poker table legs. We suggest you use a primer as a base because the wood can suck up a lot of paint. The nature of the material is very porous, and it requires such treatment. Everything left is to screw the legs to the table.

FAQ

When doing a home project for building a poker table has its pluses and minuses. The article pays attention to the most common elements, which are preferred by players. Elements like lights and folding options are useful and effective. Try to use them and you will be the preferred poker host. Here is what else our readers have asked on the matter.