Games table

Being a big fan of board games, I've always wanted to have a special room for long, fun evenings with friends. But as space is an issue for most of us, I decided to build a two-in-one table. On one side it could be a normal dining table, and on the other side it could be transformed into a table dedicated to game lovers.

I started to search online for board game tables for inspiration and slowly and easily sketched out what was feasible for me.

As most games are played by six people and my table had to seat at least that many. So the final size of the table was 1400x800x750 mm.

Not having a sufficient quantity of materials from a single species of wood, its construction was realized as follows: the legs and the stretcher were made of oak; and the frame, planks (representing the tabletop) and accessories in frasin.

Knowing that this was going to be a busy piece of furniture, the joints had to be made to measure for strength. So I opted for a classic joint - log and hollow. This type of joint can be made in several ways, but that can be the subject of another article.

For the finishing part we chose tung oildiluted with turpentine in the first layer. The next two were pure oil, with sanding between layers. And finally, for protection, I used safflower wax.

Table specifications

Countertop

The table top consists of a fixed frame and seven removable ash planks. Removing the planks transforms the furniture from a dining area into a play area, using two neodymium magnets.

The gaming top is 80mm deep in front of the frame and consists of MDF board, foam sheet and canvas.

One advantage of the multi-piece tabletop is that it can be easily moved and the table can be customized according to the number of people. If there are fewer people at the table, it can be divided into two variable areas: one part for games and the other part can be used as a normal table.

With this system, you can take a break from the game at any time without worrying about disturbing the pieces or the game diagram, all covered by the plank countertop. In the past, we had to worry about this every time we wanted to eat and ran out of room.

Fair

The most important feature of the table is the modular system. It is composed of two sections, merging them into a rectangular trapezoidal profile. Thanks to it, various accessories can be applied as required.

Accessories

There are three different types, designed to cover the needs of a person at a game table. At any time, if another need arises, another type of accessory can be made.

• Wine glass accessory;
• Accessory with a stainless steel container as a stand. It can hold bottles of beer, juice, water, etc.;
• Shelf for cards/playing pieces.

The next meal will bring some changes:

• Wider frame to give more support to the forearms;
• The playing surface will be removable, so it can be changed easily;
• An electrical system so that there is a USB socket at each table to charge phones;
• Inside the table introduced a rgb led strip to make each game more interesting.
• Place for 8 persons

It was a project very dear to my heart, having wanted a special table for games since I was a child. And the greatest joy is when the table is full of friends and loved ones.