Poker Table - Suggestions

Mellor

I've been thinking about building my own poker table for sometime now. I think im finally going to get it started this week. Once I get materials i'll get a move on.

I know a number of boardies have built their own, and they're input is appreciated, but i'd also like input from regular players on what features they think are important/unimportant.

I've looked around the various poker table websites, and I think i'll most likely start my own from stratch. Mostly because the measurements aren't metric, and some of them seemed to make some isses very hard for themselves.

I've decided on the basic layout of the table. I've gone for an octagon layout. Most self build tables are oval, but octagon works better for me with space.
The rail will also be wooden as opposed to a foam rail, comments?

I'm thinking of a wooden racetrack surrounding the felt, most likely circular felt area.

Two main areas im not sure of are drinks holders and inlays.
Are drinks holders needed? Or are they possibably an accident waiting to happen?

I was also thinking of a custom inlay in either the rail or the racetrack. Basicly a marker for each position. One idea I had was inlaying a poker chip into ever seating position. I feel this is pointless if I don't use decent chips, with some sort of a meaning.
I could easily buy 8 clay chips from a poker supplier, but the chips won't be that unique/meaning ful. So I was considering two other options:

• Chips from 4 or 8 well known casinos
• Chips for 4 or 8 major irish poker events

Pros, cons opinions on each please.
My thoughts are the chips from major casinos would only be worthwhile if I sourced Major casino chips, the best known in the world. This might be difficult, also $1 chips won't look great, and $100 chips will cost too much.

The irish events chips might be just as hard to source, if not harder. But they shouldn't cost as much. Would it be worth looking around for them. Where could I get irish open chips, dublin ept etc. Am I likely to pick these up for free or cheap?

all help appreciated

kincsem

There are some nice octagonal table here
http://www.homepokertourney.com/tables_build.htm

The best tip I can give is that you go to Buckley's Auctioneers in Sandycove and buy a second-hand circular pedestal table cheaply. Over the last six months I bought a circular kitchen table and chairs for about €50, and an wooden oval table and eight chairs for €100 (I thought the table would cost €200, and didn't know the chairs were included. Got it at the end of the auction on first bid). The auction is at 14:30 on Thursday. Viewing is Wednesday and Thursday. You would probably have to pay €30 for delivery unless you take it yourself. You can unbolt the pedastel base from the table-top for transportation.

If you want you could build your own top onto the table.

There may be none on sale. If you like you can PM me and I'll drive you out.

Macspower

Same idea but try the cheapskate version on www.jumbletown.ie or the free section of adverts.ie

kincsem wrote:

There are some nice octagonal table here
http://www.homepokertourney.com/tables_build.htm

The best tip I can give is that you go to Buckley's Auctioneers in Sandycove and buy a second-hand circular pedestal table cheaply. Over the last six months I bought a circular kitchen table and chairs for about €50, and an wooden oval table and eight chairs for €100 (I thought the table would cost €200, and didn't know the chairs were included. Got it at the end of the auction on first bid). The auction is at 14:30 on Thursday. Viewing is Wednesday and Thursday. You would probably have to pay €30 for delivery unless you take it yourself. You can unbolt the pedastel base from the table-top for transportation.

If you want you could build your own top onto the table.

There may be none on sale. If you like you can PM me and I'll drive you out.

Mellor

I've looked through the homepoker table pages, and got some decent ideas.
Thats were I decided on racetrack with round playing surface. Felt and racetrack MUST be level or it looks terrible.

I had a pedestal base at home that I was going to use, my dad threw it out when I was away, I think it was a bit heavy as it was solid ash.
I might try the place in sandycove to pick up a lighter one, thanks for the offer on the lift but I should be ok as I have a van. Should fit a table in the back


I'm thining of going with the events chips, all the same denomination from different games. I'm thinking 100 value chips

• Irish open 07, there must be a few of these around
• EPT next month, should be able to ghet one at this
• WSOP, harder to source,
• WPT, theres a WPT event in barcalona this year
• Events such as uk open, ladbrooks millions etc

Mellor

shamless bump

Goodluck2me

A wooden racetrack in practice is not all they are cracked up to be, often the cards are hard/impossible to pick up from them and they slow the game down. the cards also tend to slide under the amr rests easier from the wood too. I think the EPT tables used last December was one of the nicest ive dealt/played at, supassing even the WSOP ones.
The main table in the Fitz for cash games is also quite good too, but obv the felt is quite worn by now.
I would aim for something durable, sizeable and on the lighter side if possible.

Logie-1

Forget about the wooden racetrack, I made a table like this and when u get 10 guys sittihg round it playing with their chips the noise drives u bonkers. Another tip is go to a company who recovers snookers tables and ask them for some old cloth,

Mellor

The cloth is hardly expensive, and the stuff used for snooker tables is top quaility, it would cost the same for some new decent cloth as some worn snooker cloth.

The racetrack probably slows the games down, but its looks better and it makes the table easier to make and maintain. The race track wont be that wide, I want to size it so that chips will be "played" with on felted areas.
Im not 100% set on the race track, but the rail will be wooden. And as it stands im going to go ahead with the poker chip inlays. zero down 8 to go.

CelticPhantom

Mellor wrote:

Im not 100% set on the race track, but the rail will be wooden.

Any particular reason for the wooden rail. It seems to me that it would not be as comfortable as a foam rail?

Am I mistaken?

Mellor

A foam rail is going to be more comfortable, yes.
But a wooden rail looks better and is more hard wearing. The table will be moved about alot, so a foam rail will get ruined quickly.
I don't think it makes as big a difference in comfort as one would think. I don't think people would put that much of their weight on the table.

Shortstack

Don't get snooker cloth. Go to someone like eurocoin in the UK who sell proper poker table cloth.

semibluff

and it aint as inexpensive as you would imagine - when you get the plans drawn up you must om/email me them, would be interested in making one myself

Mellor

I have been told that Zhivago in westside business park do good quaility cloth. I believe Mr Fibble has built a few and he used zhivago AFAIK

Mellor

While looking through various poker chip collecting sites trying to source suitable chips, I came across this one.

Degag

I'm looking to buy a table or two myself so if anyone could recommend a site to get them i'd appreciate it, also in the market fer a few packs of cheap but durable cards....

kincsem

Noel Furlong chips would be nice in the table. He did win the WSOP but seldom seems to get respect for it.

Don't allow drinks at the table. There will be spills. If you must you could get plastic drink holders that sit on the table and slip under the rail. Look at Gamblers General Store, Las Vegas website for a chips and accessories browse. If you saw something you like you could ask people going to Vegas to call there and buy.

Degag

Ok, so i found a decent table i think, if anyone could recommend a decent cheap, durable brand of cards it would be appreciated. I am familier with brands such as copaq etc, but i wish to buy several decks so therefore want to minimise the price as much as possible... cheers

Mellor

http://www.giftmaster.ie/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=30&cat=Playing+Cards

Plenty to choose from there, Bicycle seconds starting from $1.50 a deck

Mellor

kincsem wrote:

Noel Furlong chips would be nice in the table. He did win the WSOP but seldom seems to get respect for it.

The only player to win both the WSOP and the Irish Open

mcaul

Mellor wrote:

http://www.giftmaster.ie/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=30&cat=Playing+Cards

Plenty to choose from there, Bicycle seconds starting from $1.50 a deck

Easier to view all the poker items on www.casinoshop.ie (same place as www.giftmaster.ie but just poker stuff) - or call to the showrooms in Athy, Co. Kildare.

If you're making tables, we will have decent quality felt coming in stock from November. Red, Blue & Green and it will be well priced at approx. €9 per metre. - Or you could just win the table in the Boards Online Series of Poker and save the hassle!!:D

Mellor

mcaul wrote:

Easier to view all the poker items on www.casinoshop.ie (same place as www.giftmaster.ie but just poker stuff) - or call to the showrooms in Athy, Co. Kildare.

If you're making tables, we will have decent quality felt coming in stock from November. Red, Blue & Green and it will be well priced at approx. €9 per metre. - Or you could just win the table in the Boards Online Series of Poker and save the hassle!!:D

Good stuff, thats felt sorted
i'll probably be getting other bits and pieces too, so i'll call out to the showroom. i'll check back to see when felt arrives.

Shortstack

Anyone looking for tables or second hand Copag cards then give me a PM. Since we no longer run tournaments in hotels I have quite a lot for sale.