"New Wargames Table - Finished" Topic

Hi all, the table is finished and I've posted an update on the blog.

jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk

Jonathan

That really came out nice. How sturdy is it after adding that heavy of a top?

VR
James Mattes

Impressive.. like it.

Nice rig!

Hi James,
The table is rock solid. The two frames don't add much in weight, but really lock down the mat.

Looks great.

What did you use for the inner sheet of the table, insulation board?

Beautiful! I wish you many hours and many victories on your new table.

It's a great table and is tempting me to do something similar. The one question I have can you take it down and stow it someplace when not needed or is it more permanent. I see wheels on the old table tennis so can you push it off to the side or can you fold it?

Very nice looking table and the room as a whole looks inviting.

Ah well, bang goes the snooker!

Happy gaming! – as well it looks like your dice will stay on the table!!!

Very impressive!

Coo, always like to read these sorts of things. Always inspiring. Nothing like kitting out a 'man cave'!

Very nice setup – where did you get the terrain mat?

thanks

Mike

Ok, thanks for the kind comments, and re the questions;

Fred12df, yes the base is insulation board, follow the link on my blog to Lord Ashram's blog for detail on the design.

Mapleleaf, no the table is fixed once I put the outer frame on. I don't plan to move or fold it.

Black Hat, yes the terrain mat is from Terrain Mat. It looks great, although I think it will wear at the edges over time so I will have to consider an alternative.

Ta – I'd not followed the links far enough back. This is Lord Ashrams link about the foam board and pinning trees link

Great looking room.

You must have a very understanding wife? (Does she have a sister, and if so can she also paint figures?),…..

…or failing that how is the divorce coming along!!! :o)

Nice to see this sort of stuff shared on a blog,
its too easy to take it for granted – but without a table, we have no game!

Looks fantastic. Just an FYI: the table-tennis undercarriage is not the most solid, dependable support system. If it works well for you, great. I started out with the same, but the undercarriage did not last very long, as I was folding it up, frequently, and rolling it aside, in my basement. If your's works, good on you, and never mind the rest…

If you find it faltering with time, you may want to upgrade it with folding table leg assemblies, which can be found at hardware stores, or DIY stores, typically. I installed a pair for each half of my table. The particle board tabletop was too thin to sink screws into, so I used either construction adhesive, or wood glue (can't remember, it was more than 10 years ago), to secure 1-foot squares of 1/2-inch plywood to the underside; I then screwed the folding leg assemblies into the plywood.

To keep the two table halves secured to one another, I used a pair of steamer trunk type latches/hasps, one half on each side; they were slightly spaced too far apart, so that when clasped, they really snug the table halves together.

This allows for the two halves to be separated, legs folded flat, and the tables can be removed completely, if necessary (they're actually quite heavy, IMO, so they are only taken down if necessary…). They also serve as a large, 9' x 5' table, if needed, for family gatherings (mine is covered with different things for the gaming surface, as needed, no trim around the edges). Cheers!

Ive just spent a happy hour or so browsing your blog JJ. I like it a lot.

Lots of good table info re materials there. Thomas is a very talented chap.

I also love your cabinets for figure storage too. Its a great man cave, and it looks like you have commandeered the dining room! You clearly have a wonderfully loving and supporting lady for your wife. I think a big bouquet is definitely in order.

The terrain mat looks great too. Id be interesting in seeing how good it is when you put a few hills on, and how hard wearing you find it.

Hi guys, thanks for your kind words.

Firstly, yes I am very lucky to have a very understanding wife, and yes (1815Guy) we are very happily married with the 25 years up this summer. The poor girl even got to go round Gettysburg on her honeymoon, although I did try to sweeten the pill by hiring a horse and buggy to view the main sites!!

Thanks fred12df for following the link, I thought my blog link would have taken you through to that particular post!! Oh we'll that's technology.

Sgt Slag, I was interested in your table undercarriage problems. My table has always been in situ and I've been using it for 20 years with no problems, which is why I'm looking forward to the next 20. The lower legs are also stressed with wooden slat shelves that whilst providing extra storage also give added rigidity to the whole structure

1815Guy, your point about the wear on the Terrain Mat is a good one as I can already detect some cracks on the folds and I might have to work out an alternative solution as I want to get the benefits of using a mat rather than bulky terrain boards. Any suggestions are most welcome. Needless to say I am scanning the net for clever ideas on mat production.

Glad you enjoyed the blog, I'm trying to make it as much a resource page as well as my opportunity to comment on what's happening and reporting on games. Likewise any positive feedback is most welcome.

Jonathan

Jonathon, how is the terrain mat constructed, is it a canvas base with flock glued on? Or is it something more hi-tech? I'm just wondering a) why there are folds, surely it was rolled for postage and b) why its cracking. Id hope they used some flexible material in the construction. I see its a 7 week lead time, so unless they are flooded with orders there must be something that is hardening or drying into the mat base?????

Lord Ashram puts hills etc under the mat. Maybe the mat would last longer if you just left the mat in situ and put hills etc on top of the mat, suitably flocked to blend in with the mat?

If you are looking for mat mark 2 there are loads of vids on You tube for mat making.

Heres one site I liked

link

but this is the one that would get my vote if I was making a new mat.

link

Cheers,

I am intrigued by the method of pinning trees, etc to the mat and the board underneath. Don't you end up with a mat full of holes eventually? My mat is plain felt so I think shows holes very easily, perhaps a caulked mat wouldn't?

Mike

The mat base is a sort of nylon mat you see used on flower beds to stop weeds pushing through. The covering is a mix of I would guess paint, possibly glue and texture. I've noticed a bit of cracking particularly on the edges that go over the foam board beneath. We'll see how it goes and I'll post my experience as we go. Thanks for the links.

Mike, I don,t think the occasional use of the odd tree or hedge/wall section should be too detrimental to the mat. I am planning to use dress pins on the bases and only use them when they help add to the look of the table. The rest of my terrain will be free placed. Check out Lord Ashram's site to get a feel for the effect, it's very impressive

Nice- I use a lot of the same stuff link

Nicely presented and looks good.

1515GUY, I like your ideas on your blog.

My canvas-and-latex-caulk terrain cloths have withstood over a decade of pinning, folding, storage and transportation without showing much wear. Where they do wear, it just adds to the natural variegation of the ground cloth, since I use a mud-colored caulk.

As for the table support, I have a folding leg-and-stringer table (since I don't have a dedicated game room):

but I've pretty much given up on that in favor of inexpensive folding tables. Both types are light and easily storable when I need the space for something besides gaming:

I have thought very hard on the idea of purchasing 4 of these 72"x30" folding tables, then purchasing MDF or similar 8'x4' boards from Lowe's or Home Depot and having them cut into 6'x4' boards.

I would then lay three of such 6'x4' boards across the folding tables to create either 8'x6' or 12'x6' gaming surfaces. Alternatively I could have the 8'x4' boards cut into slightly different sizes but in the same vein. I am still grokking the issue of fastening the boards either together or to the tables underneath for stability.

Rwphillipsstl, I used this type of hasp to secure the two halves of my re-based Ping Pong Table together: link. I spaced the two halves a few extra millimeters apart, to ensure they pull together tightly, when clasped together; by locking the two tables together, they are more stable; to secure your tabletops to the under-tables, you could go as simple as drilling holes, and using wooden dowels for pegs, or even peel-n-stick velcro strips. I used two hasps, one on each end of the seam, to both align, and secure, the two tables together. It works superbly, they were inexpensive, and easy to install. Cheers!

Rwphillipsstl: You might consider using insulation board instead of hardboard or MDF. It's much lighter and will easily hold the weight of the terrain and figures, as well as hefty gamers leaning on the table:

Mine hold together just fine with only the terrain cloth draped over it, but I have used fasteners like these in the past, pressed into the foam to hold them together:

Those are both great ideas. The last time I was in the lumber section of Lowe's, I was amazed at the variety of materials used for 8x4 boards, so my hope was to find something striking a balance of weight and strength. Interestingly, I don't fear insulation board for gaming or from gamers--I worry about incidental damage to foam board when stored! I am more afraid of my wife, kids, and animals.

Looks great – wish my game room was so tidy.

Very cool ideas, much food for thought