[Wylecoyo]

OK, as you may know I have been mulling over the idea of buying or building a table for about a year now and I am finally taking the plunge - the problem is I am impatient.

I have worked out what I think is a good design concept for a table topper to go on our newly acquired kitchen table. It will end up being a 70 x 48 inch oval toper which will be made to fit the exact shape and dimensions of our table. I purchased five yards of marine vinyl and five yards of automobile headliner at JOANN's with the idea I will the vinyl for the rail but also to cover the entire bottom of the topper to protect the kitchen table. I got five yards of headliner foam to cushion both the playing surface and the bottom as I intend to put a layer under the vinyl bottom. I know headliner foam is not the most popular choice of padding, but this is my first table so I intend this to be a learning process which I will probably roll into a future table project with top of the line materials across the board.

I know there are many sources of materials online, but I am putting myself under the gun as I want to unveil my new table topper this coming Thursday evening when I host my first back from deployment home game. This deadline is forcing me to go with materials I can obtain in person from local retailers.

I already know I am going to buy rail foam at JOANN's tomorrow. I will have to use two different pieces to form the rail, but intend to cut the intersections at 45 degrees and wrap with either batting or dryer sheets to conceal the seam.

Now we get to my two questions:

1. Should I go with 1 inch or 2 inch foam? I want a nice rail which will hold up as well as possible and I know most people use 1 inch foam, but I am wondering how much cushion the 1 inch green foam from JOANN's will offer. I am thinking the 2 inch foam may be harder to work with but will probably be better once it is installed.

2. My second question deals with the playing surface - what is the best type of material available at JOANN's? I looked at some velveteen material last night, but it seemed to have somewhat of a grippy texture and I am concerned about how it would handle cards. I also looked a few felts, but am pretty sure they would be a pain in the rear end to deal with as a playing surface. I didn't see any moleskin, but I plan to look again tomorrow (I was there late last night and was rushed as they only had about 20 minutes before they closed).

I intend to recover the playing surface with suited speed cloth after I see how the table does for a few games - this way I can either polish up and finalize the topper if I am happy with it or I can start again with an updated design concept.

Anyway, I am open to advice in regard to foam and playing surface recommendations, but please remember my goal is to find materials available in my local area as opposed to online as I have to buy everything tomorrow and get cracking on the construction if I am going to make my Thursday deadline.

Thanks in advance and sorry if I rambled.

[kyle9]

If you ever have questions regarding table construction, this is the best place to go:

Scott's Poker Table :: View Forum - Quads' Table Talk Workshop

2" foam will be harder to work with for sure, and will leave more wrinkles. As far as the playing material, many people have used velveteen in the past, but your best bet is to just shop around Joann's until you find something you like. I have used faux suede, which is decent, but as you know, suede does not work well with spilled drinks.

[Wylecoyo]

Thanks kyle, I will probably go with the 1 inch foam - I just hope it maintains enough cushion for a nice feel.

[poislb]

I like the option of the headliner foam (its what I used), its cushy and it holds up better than volara and wont dent.....If you have a Hancock fabrics near you they have better quality material I think......You can get a nice Polester nylon or spandex blend material from joanns. Stay away form the Faux suede stuff as the cards will not slide when your dealing against the grain.....I would go with 1 " foam as I am partial to the lower profile rails, hence the reason I only use 1/2" foam, make sure its the nice 50 or 60lbs stuff though as this is the part of the table that gets the most use out of, so spend a bit more on the rail.....

I am looking forward to seeing your work my friend.....Good luck and have fun with it

[Wylecoyo]

Originally Posted by poislb

I like the option of the headliner foam (its what I used), its cushy and it holds up better than volara and wont dent

poislb, thanks for the advice and I promise I will let you see how it comes out. In terms of headliner foam, is one layer enough? I was considering using a double layer under the playing surface - in all honesty I was thinking of laying out a double layer of headliner foam and a single layer of playing surface and streching/stapling them down together. Seems like it would make a nice tight but well cushioned surface. What do you think - single or double layer of headliner foam?

[poislb]

Originally Posted by Wylecoyo

poislb, thanks for the advice and I promise I will let you see how it comes out. In terms of headliner foam, is one layer enough? I was considering using a double layer under the playing surface - in all honesty I was thinking of laying out a double layer of headliner foam and a single layer of playing surface and streching/stapling them down together. Seems like it would make a nice tight but well cushioned surface. What do you think - single or double layer of headliner foam?

The problem with using two thick of a cushy foam is that when you attach the rail to the table, now the foam and cloth start rising up onto your inner rail....You can use a harder foam like the Volara but you would have to order it....

Joanns as this 1/8" material backing foam that would work great as your first layer and then cover that up with the headliner foam......I was going to also use 2 pieces of headliner but like I said once you attach the rail the pressure of it going onto the table will cause the foam to rise or stick up onto the inner rail, make sence?

[Wylecoyo]

Originally Posted by poislb

The problem with using two thick of a cushy foam is that when you attach the rail to the table, now the foam and cloth start rising up onto your inner rail....You can use a harder foam like the Volara but you would have to order it....

Joanns as this 1/8" material backing foam that would work great as your first layer and then cover that up with the headliner foam......I was going to also use 2 pieces of headliner but like I said once you attach the rail the pressure of it going onto the table will cause the foam to rise or stick up onto the inner rail, make sence?

Makes perfect sense; however, I think I have a solution - as I am making a table topper and not damaging the table I will be using this on is a primary concern, my work around is to staple/attache all of the coverings to the top of the table topper as opposed to wrapping it over the edge and stapling under the topper as is most common on home made tables. If I were to double layer the headliner foam and stretch it, along with the playing surface, and extend it to the very edge of the topper I could staple it in place. This would create a mostly uniform edge which I could then use to wrap the bottom vinyl and pad over and then staple down. I am planning to construct a conventional style rail and then attach it to the topper using velcro (two inch wide self sticking industrial velco which I will also staple.

I hope this makes sense. I think it will work.

[poislb]

Originally Posted by Wylecoyo

Makes perfect sense; however, I think I have a solution - as I am making a table topper and not damaging the table I will be using this on is a primary concern, my work around is to staple/attache all of the coverings to the top of the table topper as opposed to wrapping it over the edge and stapling under the topper as is most common on home made tables. If I were to double layer the headliner foam and stretch it, along with the playing surface, and extend it to the very edge of the topper I could staple it in place. This would create a mostly uniform edge which I could then use to wrap the bottom vinyl and pad over and then staple down. I am planning to construct a conventional style rail and then attach it to the topper using velcro (two inch wide self sticking industrial velco which I will also staple.

I hope this makes sense. I think it will work.

You might have something there, I would try it my friend.......What color cloth you going with. I saw a nice blue color in the 100% polyester that looked real nice.....

Cloths to stay away from at Joanns:
Anything cotton, suede, or anything that looks to nappy and may pill up like felt would.....

Like I said, go with either 100% polyester or a polyester/nylon blend or I think I actually bought some stuff a while back that had a polyester/spandex blend. If ya need any suggestions and you need an opinion, I have a joanns right around the corner from me. Let me kow what your looking at and I could go and look at it or feel it and give ya my advice if you need it my friend, but I think it will turn out as expected......Very Nice!!!!!

[Wylecoyo]

Originally Posted by poislb

You might have something there, I would try it my friend.......What color cloth you going with. I saw a nice blue color in the 100% polyester that looked real nice.....

I went with Navy Blue Marine Vinyl so I am leaning towards either a lighter blue or a red. Eventually I plan to either redo the playing surface on this one with platinum suited speed cloth or, if this does not come out well, to use it on my followon effort. I hope this one turns out well so I don't have to start over again completely, but we will see. I am sure I will learn valuable lessons during the construction phase.

[poislb]

Originally Posted by Wylecoyo

I went with Navy Blue Marine Vinyl so I am leaning towards either a lighter blue or a red. Eventually I plan to either redo the playing surface on this one with platinum suited speed cloth or, if this does not come out well, to use it on my followon effort. I hope this one turns out well so I don't have to start over again completely, but we will see. I am sure I will learn valuable lessons during the construction phase.

Took me a few tables to get everything down to, but lessons learned will make it all the better for next time.....At least you have this and another site to help you along the way

I now use t-nuts on all my table, rails are seemless and wrinkle free, and now I started doing raised rail tables...Practice makes perfect my friend.....Its all the little things the people here at CT can help out to make the quality of work that much better.......I really do love this place