Poker Table

I started building this Poker Table early in the new year and after approx 110 working hours, was finally able to bring it upstairs.
For the Pedestal assemblies, I used walnut with maple sandwiched in between for the base piece, walnut for the uprights and top pieces. Rosewood was used for the laser engraved panels. This was my first time using Rosewood and I found it very easy to use, although very heavy too. For the end panels, I had them custom laser engraved at Custom Stamp and Engraving here in Victoria, BC. I think they did a fantastic job capturing the overall theme I was shooting for. The pedestal assemblies were put together using mortise and tenon joinery, with the panel being held in with steel pins. This was a challenge as I had to precisely line up and drill 64 holes altogether that had to be absolutely PERFECTLY spaced.
On the stretchers, I used some Cedar sandwiched between Walnut with Cedar suited shapes to add to the poker theme. They are held onto the pedestal assemblies with through mortise joints and locking pins.
On to the top, this was a bit of work to do. First I started with the plywood main surface by routering the edges and making the oval shape. This was followed by more oval shapes for the padded arm rest and supports. The racetrack is also made of 3/4” Birch plywood. The storage box was added also to have a place for me to store my poker chips and cards and the electrical connections for the light system. This was my first time using dovetail joints and I think overall they turned out great – I used the Leigh dovetail jig for this part. The playing surface is 3/4” Birch plywood covered with 1/4” Valora padding, then with Black Suited Speed Felt. Cards slide across this surface with very little effort and it has a Casino like feel to it.
The drink holders I will admit were a bit of a challenge. I first made a template out of 1/4” hardboard and took my time to shape it perfectly (that part worked great). What I did do wrong was that I didn’t install them ahead of the padded arm rest so they didn’t fit! Oops – had to order more drink holders, same dimensions except a little shorter.
All in all, this was a great project that challenged many of my woodworking skills. If you are a poker buff like my wife and I are, it is definitely something I would suggest putting on your project list. Fun to build and will give us hours of fun in the future. Hope you all get to build one of these just for the experience. Enjoy the pics and please feel free to criticize or comment as I always enjoy the feedback!
Wisty

-- New Project = New Tool... it's just the way it is, don't fight it... :)