Making A Board Game Table from an Existing Table (with Lighting Effects)
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- Do you need a gaming table for board games, roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons, or other tabletop games? This is the easy way to build one is by modifying an existing table. Here is how I did it, and even installed lighting effects.
To watch the complete series on improving board games by making 3D boards and other crafting, please see this playlist: • Upgrading Board Games
To watch the complete series of my Q&A on Creative Entrepreneurship, please see this playlist: • Playlist
- Heath’s Twitter @EHeathRobinson - / eheathrobinson
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- Infinite Black Tabletop Game UA-cam Channel - / @infiniteblack
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- Infinite Black Main Website: www.InfiniteBlack.net - Навчання та стиль
So many videos like this are people building whole tables, but this was EXACTLY what I needed. A video about a piece that can go on top and be removed. I LOVED this. I think I just found my next project. Great job!
Thank you! I am very glad the video was what you needed. It was a fun project and did not take all the long. I hope yours turns out great!
Congratulations on such an amazing achievement, can't wait to see your channel grow even bigger.
So cool!
Awesome job thanks for the video
You are very welcome!
That's an awesome proyect, and quite manageable without having a huge well equiped workshop like most gaming table builds apparently seems to require.
How much does is weigh roughly?
I am not sure how much it weighs. I didn't weight it, but it is pretty heavy. It took two people to move it into the gaming room.
Thanks for sharing your project!
I am looking to do something very similar, but I am not a handy man and this gave me some ideas.
A few questions:
Did you had to shorten the legs of the old/original table?
How did you mount the frame to the table - or is it just sitting on it?
What mat did you use on the table surface?
Thanks!
Excellent questions. I did not shorten the legs of the original table. The table top is not mounted to the original table. It’s just sitting on there. It stays just fine, but if I wanted to take it off and get back to my original table I can. For the mat, I just searched for some kind of rubber mat Amazon and bought that. It just came in a roll that was close to the size of the table and I just cut it with scissors.
@@EHeathRobinson How would you mount it to the table it you wanted it permanently attached to the base table?
This table looks great, but I'm still sot sure I see what gives you a lip to rest the top on the table, is it just an additional 2.5 inch board attached on the inside of the frame?
It is. It is nothing special. It is just a thin piece of wood I nailed in to make the lip.
Nice build! Thinking of building one similar. What size boards did you use around the top boards? 1 x 6 or 1 x 8? Also, still trying to figure out how you have it sitting on the table and where you have the LEDs as well. Thanks!
Thank you! I measured the top boards on the table and they are 7 inches wide. That makes the rail around the table a bit larger than 7 inches wide when all assembled. Regarding the lip and LEDs, when I first put on the LED strip, I remember I accidentally put them on the wrong ledge the first time. In the video, you can actually see me moving it down to where it is is supposed to be. Then the table is upside down, there is a lip for it to sit on the table and then another lip for the LEDs.
Using a table saw or a Router works as well
I’ve been watching a lot of videos about making such tables to prep for a project like this and I’ve been thinking to just make a topper like this. Should save me a lot of time and headache. It never even occurred to me until now to not add a bottom to the topper and just use the existing table top. I do wish I could see how you set it on the existing top. How much play is there? Is it attached in some way? I have an oval table so maybe the equation is different for me, but it’s all been on my ind a lot.
It just sits down on the table. The "bones" of the topper are the 2 by 4s. There is a "veneer" of nicer wooden planks over the 2 by 4s. But, on the inner sided, the veneer does not go down all the way, forming a lip that catches on the table when you sit it down. It is not attached to the table, so it is removable (if I wanted to).
6:19 If anyone wants to make something similar, be sure to add a strip of double sided tape before adding the LED strips.
A lot of stains will seep into the gel adhesive on LED strips and will discolor them.
I've had this happen once and had to replace the LED strips seeing how white turned into pink...
Hmmm. Interesting. That’s very good to know.
@@EHeathRobinson Might be something to keep in mind if this is the case with the stain you used ;)
Very nice looking table by the way!
I've been on the lookout for ways to make one myself (seeing how spending close to $10k on a table is a bit much).
Hope to make one someday or convert an existing table to a nice gaming table :)
Hi. Do you have an exact blueprint? I really like this table.
Thank you. I’m glad you like it. I don’t have an exact blueprint though, I just designed it as I went.
What game is that you have set up?
Great concept - especially the lighting.
That is my 3D Zombicide: Black Plague game board. I put together a video on how we made that right here: ua-cam.com/video/yVyA17LaCbs/v-deo.html
This looks terrific! Any plans to develop and share some blueprints for this?
Thank you! I just built that one on the fly as I went. I put some of the final measurements in the video when I was done, but I don’t think I will draw up anything more formal for it.
@@EHeathRobinson how did you made the in er escalonated edge? Not the led part but the part thats look like you can put a bigger plank to cover the cenger and turn it into a regular table?
@@minitopothegamer That is a piece of pine that I nailed all the way around the inside lip. It is just the "premium pine" that you get at Lowe's or Home Depot. I just had to cut it to length.
@@EHeathRobinson thx sir you are awesome
Could you show how you mounted it onto the existing table please?
I did not actually mount it to the table. It just sits down on top of the it. It is heavy, but I could actually life the top off the table and get back to the normal table if I wanted to.
I know it's been a pandemic, but have you used it? How is it for width? For width of the rails? Height? Is there anything, at this point, that you would have done differently?
Yes. I have used it. You can see it in action on "Dinner and a Boardgame". Here the first episode: ua-cam.com/video/yJUc--8n540/v-deo.html You can skip in a bit to see us at the table. I can't think of anything I would do differently right now. It is working well.
I’ve watched quite a few of these videos and have noticed the ones who install lights use led’s, that’s smart but they’ve all installed them pointing straight down. My thought was why not put a piece of 45 degree trim up there first, that way the light points out in the field instead of straight down?
You could totally do that. I wonder how much difference it would make, but I might do that if I were doing it again.
@@EHeathRobinson I’m not sure it would make a difference.
The structure you made out of 2x4s seems pretty strong; could you have simply attached legs to that and done away with the original table altogether?
Yep. I probably could. And I might do that if I decide to do a table with an embedded TV. I could just take this time, put legs on it, and then make the bottom part of the well.
I miss the parts where you put in the inner edge. And when you placed in on the table.
I think that didn't get recorded. But it was a basic process. It was just a stock strip of wood from the hardware store nailed (and maybe glued as well) to the interior a couple of inches up.
Fantastic table.
Also, what game is that? Looks awesome
Thank you! It is our 3D Zombicide: Black Plague board. You can see it made here: ua-cam.com/video/yVyA17LaCbs/v-deo.html
@@EHeathRobinson that’s awesome. I have Zombicide and didn’t even recognise it.
Is it really comfortable having to reach this far to the boardgame?
We've never had a problem with it.
About how much did this cost you to build?
I don’t know, because Lou bought all of the materials. It wasn’t all that much, though. It could be done pretty inexpensively and still look good.
@@EHeathRobinson Cool thanks I may give it a go soon
@@johnl340 I think I made a mistake. When I replied, I thought this comment was on the video about building the TV case for our game table. That was the project I worked with Lou on. But, I am still not sure what the total cost of this project was. 2 by 4s are cheap. There are just a few dollars in them. I used the basic "common board" to face the whole table. Those are inexpensive too. It is really an inexpensive way to get a great table.
Didnt you miss, probably the most important step?
How do you do the lip ridge?
The was really easy. That is just a 1 by 1 nailed around the interior of the table.
@@EHeathRobinson Man, I've watched this over and over, and paused and I still can't figure out how you did the lips as there are actually two lips. There is one to hold the topper onto the table, and one that is for the lights and could also hold slats on top in the future as you mentioned, so a single 1x1 all around the inside edge wouldn't create what you have going on. Do you actually have two 1x1s along each edge of the table essentially creating the dual lip? Awesome results by the way. I've been wanting a game table for months and this may be the affordable solution I've been looking for . I'm very excited about the prospect! Thanks!
@@Brockoly3 Good question. The 1x1 around the inside is the one that makes the lip for the lights. The table slats sit on top and the lights run along the bottom. The other lip is just a board that is a facing along the interior. If you look at 6 mins and 30 seconds, when I have the table flipped upside down, you can see that the 2x4 is sticking up. This goes down beyond the top of the table when in its proper orientation. There is a facing board that gets stained nicely on the interior of that. That is what the 1x1 is attached to. At the 6 min 30 second mark, I am actually making a mistake. I am putting the lights on the the lip of the facing board. They need to be moved down to the lip made by the 1x1. You can see me doing that later in the video. Check out 7 mins and 5 seconds to see the lights in the right place. You can also see the facing board along the interior. That is what sits on top of the table.
@@EHeathRobinson Okay, I think I might see it now. so there are actually two different boards attached to the inside edges creating two separate lips then, a 1x1 and another small facing board? The facing board sits flush with the top of the table and extends only about half down the 2x4 to create the ledge so that it sits on the table. Then attached to the framing board is the 1x1 that creates the additional lip for the lights and possible slats. Is that right?
@@Brockoly3 That's it!
There was this one time at band camp
I want one so bad but my house is so small
My house is pretty small too, but I sacrificed a whole room to put this one in. Worth it! :-)
That table is hard to top, oh wait....
You found yourself a beautiful redhead, who also loves board gaming?
You don't need to play another board game for the rest of your life,
for you already *won,* my friend.
If you’re talking about Megan, Megan is not my girlfriend. She’s my cousin.
But thank you for the sentiment anyway!
Yep, I was trying to be both respectful and humorous.
However, reds are my kryptonite.
And a red beauty who also likes to game? That there is my unicorn.
Try getting rid of the power tools sound. That really hurts the ears and it makes it so that the audience cannot hear you because during that it was louder than you were and was nearly unbearable to hear the drilling.
Overall its a good project! Love the design for ttrpgs
Now I need to tell you that while I did like the table I really truly couldn't hear you. It sounded like a mumble over the drilling of the frame just in case you wanted the specific point.
Thank you! I am very glad you enjoyed the project. There are no tool sounds in the video of this project: ua-cam.com/video/Jqf-zysYYuI/v-deo.html Perhaps you would like it. :-)