Racetrack or no racetrack

BrainTuba · Tweet this Post! #1 02-23-2006, 06:17 AM

Hey all - I'm about to order a table from a relatively local maker. I'm going for an 8 man table but I'm undecided on whether to go with a racetrack or not. Pros vs. cons as far as I can see - pros are that the racetrack looks great and there are inset drink holders (virtually everyone at my game has a drink beside them most of the time)... cons are that I'm afraid that the cards will be tougher to look at from the wooden racetrack (tougher to grasp to bend up) and that the playing surface being a little further away might make it tougher to shuffle chips while sitting at the table.

Anyone have any opinions on the racetrack or no racetrack decision?

99%evil · Tweet this Post! #2 02-23-2006, 06:32 AM

There are lots of other threads on this. But I'll chime in anyway, I built a table with an oak racetrack, put 6 coats of poly on it, it looked sweet. Cards were next to impossible to pick up off of it, they stuck like glue. I ended up felting over the racetrack in a different color than the field, I've got cup holders in this racetrack even with felt. If I had my choice I would put the cup holders in the arm rest rather than on the table top.

SingleMaltFan · Tweet this Post! #3 02-23-2006, 06:53 AM

my .02

the only time i played on a table with a track was at the MGM grand..i liked it, everone kept their cards on the felt not the track and shuffled chips on the felt not the track and kept most of their chips on the track..

the felt was slightly elevated above the track allowing for easy slide of the cards to lift and peek..

the track was also not so big that it was not a long reach to the felt...

oh..NO drink holders on the table!!..use side tables..!! you dont want to take that chance (besides i think it takes away from the look imho)

hope this helps...
1malt

JoshFink · Tweet this Post! #4 02-23-2006, 07:00 AM

I built two tables for myself, one with a racetrack and one without. Hands down I like the one with the racetrack, the ONLY problem I have with it is that sometimes when the cards are slid to far when dealing the ends get stuck between the racetrack and the padded arm rests. Other than that it works great.

Evil: There is no need to put 6 coats of poly on the track. I put on 3 and I think that was over kill but even at three it's not even close to sticky at all.

The thing to think about without a racetrack is that you need to cut your table down to 42" instead of the standard 48" width of a piece of plywood. That's the one complaint I have about my non racetrack table. At 48" the racetrack cuts in about 3" on each side giving a playable surface of 42" but the non racetrack table is just way too wide.

Josh

99%evil · Tweet this Post! #5 02-23-2006, 07:08 AM

I put 6 coats for added protection from chips being bounced on it, I've built furniture for libraries and certain pieces received multiple coats for wear. I used a water based poly and each coat took about a whole 2 minutes to apply, I wasn't using spar varnish or anything that was building up to incredible thicknesses. My racerack was 5 inches wide-too wide. The racetracks at Mandalay Bay, Monte carlo are about 3 inches wide max, those were ok. the cards never really got stuck with them being so small. I made my table 44 inches wide and 94 inches long.

JoshFink · Tweet this Post! #6 02-23-2006, 07:11 AM

Strange.. I used water based poly as well. Works great, doesn't kill you from inhalation. Oh well...

OnTheButton · Tweet this Post! #7 02-23-2006, 09:55 AM

I did some research on this before having my table built.

I LOVE the look of a racetrack, and it provides a definetive benefit: You can always tell what chips are being bet, and which are just infront of the player.

However as was mentioned it is DANG HARD to pick up cards off of a hard surface.

I did this:

I had a racetrack "line" printed on a full felt table by http://www.lonestarpokercloths.com
Our rule is that once your chips pass the line, (and leave your hand) they are in-play.

Here is a pic:

we could not be happier with the result.

Something to think about for you.

STANK1000 · Tweet this Post! #8 02-23-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SingleMaltFan

my .02

the only time i played on a table with a track was at the MGM grand..i liked it, everone kept their cards on the felt not the track and shuffled chips on the felt not the track and kept most of their chips on the track..

the felt was slightly elevated above the track allowing for easy slide of the cards to lift and peek..

the track was also not so big that it was not a long reach to the felt...

oh..NO drink holders on the table!!..use side tables..!! you dont want to take that chance (besides i think it takes away from the look imho)

hope this helps...
1malt

sounds like my table. i made the track only about 4 " so the cards stay on the felt. it looks great, but my next table isn't going to have the track only because the shuffling of the chips on the track is too noisy when my 20 month old is asleep. if i wasn't planning on having another baby, i wouldn't worry about it, but have to keep the noise down so we don't feel the wrath of the wife! i'm also going to do away with the cupholders in the track. drinks just get in the way there...i'm going to go with some swing out holders.

99%evil · Tweet this Post! #9 02-23-2006, 10:22 AM

Here's a pic of my table (need a better pic) after covering the wood. Definitely gives you a great commitment line.

ggold · Tweet this Post! #10 02-23-2006, 11:02 AM

I built my own table with a track. It looks great. Everyone who plays on it loves it. We use it for chips and drinks. Typically, shuffling chips happens on the felt in front. Crads stay on the felt in front. No one has ever complained about the race track and it gives you a table that looks and is custom.