Intro
The main purpose of this project was to replace the old and small IKEA table we have been using for years. It doesn't fit our family's needs anymore. Now that we have the room and larger family, we wanted a larger table for the bigger dinners that could seat up to 8 people.
I also wanted it to be a spot we could gather as a family after dinner and play board games, poker, Euchre, 40k and other misc games
Step 1: The Design
I spent a LOT of time mulling this design over and after many pencil drawings on engineering paper I landed on my approach.
My method is to always start on paper first, picture building it, and then tweaking the design based on how easy or difficult I think it will make things during the construction.
I searched on Etsy "board game tables" for some ideas and took those into consideration on what I thought would meet my needs.
Some might call it lazy, I call it smart! I tend to try and design my projects using the generic big box store wood that is readily available, that way you just need to cut to length.
I am using 4x4's for the legs and 1x4's for the frame. The whole thing will sit on the standard 4x8 piece of plywood. If you are really going for a low cost you could even go as low as OSB. I plan on making a frame underneath for extra support.
From there, again, using standard boards to cap it off. I made sure I designed it with enough space in between the two frames to fit an aluminum cup holder insert. Those I'll drill out with a hole-saw. I went with 6 since 8 seemed a bit crowded. I can always add more if needed.
I wanted the top to be able to come apart in sections. One big piece would have been too heavy and bulky to take on and off, as well as store while playing games. I also like the idea of sections in case one gets ruined, it's cheaper to fix.
To keep the top boards in place, I put extra plywood scraps (roughly 2inch wide and 3/4 thick pieces) underneath so that it would flush against the inside of the frame, this way it won't slide around if someone leans on it. The boards are heavy enough where I havent had an issue with it before i put the trim pieces on.
Finished frame after sanding
Adding wood filler in all joints for a seamless finish
Painting setup in the garage
Finished product:
For the inside felt pad, I went to the local fabric shop and got a sheet of felt, cut a very thin piece of particleboard to size and then used a spray adhesive to stretch the felt over. I drilled a small hole the size of a quarter underneath on one end so you can stick your finger in there to poke the felt pad up to grab it if you need to clean it.
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