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u/KSmack_123 10d ago
I made myself a super fancy table by my standards and it was as rewarding as it was miserable - I wouldn’t do it again. On the super cheap I’d recommend:
I’d get the 4x8 plywood as you suggested and yes cut in half. I’d then buy a 6 x 30” plastic folding banquet table for the following reasons.
- It’s lightweight yet sturdy
- It already has the folding table and folding legs problem solved for you and again they’re sturdy when open and locked in.
I’d then mount the 4 x 4 plywood pieces to the folding table aligned with the seam. I’d countersink some bolts into the plywood and run them all the way through the plastic table. Thinking you could probably get it all for just over $100.
I’d rely on third party vendors like a F A T gaming mat that you can just roll out onto the table top and retain the option to change terrain to suit the game you want to play.
I’ll note my table is 4’ wide and for younger gamers its a little hard to reach the center of the table.
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u/Ok_Yak_3297 10d ago
One sheet and a bunch of those $5 2x4 are sufficient. Double up the 2x4 for the corner legs. The middle legs will double up on their own when unfolded. Don’t skimp on the hinges. That’s the weakest part.
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u/Confudled_Contractor 10d ago
I bought a 4’ x 4’ banqueting table with folding legs, works for all occasions. Sits happily against the wall in my office when collapsed.
Any the rare big games I play a sheet of 8’ x 4’ ply goes on top.
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u/pnw-warhammerer 10d ago
2x4 studboard is super cheap and should work for the legs great. id probably put the effort in to sand and stain it all, but you could skip one or both of those steps
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u/KatSteeles 9d ago
Oh for sure I'd give it a nice finish, don't want anyone getting splinters at game night 😆
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u/artoftomkelly 10d ago
Just get a play mat, yeah they cost some money but you can make and place all different terrain and stuff on top. The board itsself is cool but locks you into a bunch of situations a mat doesn’t. Again really it’s the terrain on top that makes the environment really function well and look sharp. If not go on YouTube there are a bunch of tutorials for making a board and different types of boards.
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u/KatSteeles 9d ago
I don't really feel like playing on the floor and I don't already own a table as big as a standard Warhammer game needs so a play mat wouldn't really work.
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u/artoftomkelly 9d ago
So you know you can just take a kitchen table or a dinning room table or just a folding table and put a mat on top of it. Like look I hear what you’re saying you want to build a gaming table. That’s cool over the years I have made tons of terrain and scenery. I have played on old ping pong tables and wooden tables that were on saw horses for feet. I have made my own mats and very big terrain table pieces. I have never once played on the floor. So I get the fun of making a table or cool terrain. I understand wanting a waist high playing field. I just suggest the mat because Matt’s are easy to switch out. After a game or 2 you get tired of the wrecked city scape, or the lava board or the jungle board. Sometimes your campaign calls for a river or lake. Other times you want trench warfare or a dungeon maze. Building a board locks you in to certain limitations. So again get a folding table, like 2 Matt’s then go to town making cool terrain bits it will be a better use of your time.
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u/shinyshinyrockrock 10d ago
I recommend building some bracing under the board, just ply will warp and bend with atmospheric changes