Racetrack style poker table. Small youtube video added to show lighting.

[mccoy178]

Man, that EL paper looks very cool. 

In the video you mention you'll get shocked if you touch it.  What voltage does it run on?  Did you get the transformer from the EL paper supplier?  What options do you have regarding custom shapes and/or configurations.

Nice bling factor.

It runs on 110, it converts it to DC then back to AC and goes through somewhere over 200.  It's not a bad shock as there's not much power, but it's about as comfortable as sticking a 9v on your tongue.  The transformer did come with the paper.  You can literally make whatever shape, size, or configuration that you can imagine.  I googled luminescent paper tonight and there are tons of companies out there selling all types of shapes and sizes.

[mccoy178]

Major progress done over the past week.  The table is at 90%.  I am finishing the build tonight, sanding and staining the next few days, then...................it's game time.  Sorry for the lack of pics lately, but I was too motivated to get it done.

[mccoy178]

Some pictures of the table 90% done.  I installed the drawer tonight.  I need to finish the skirting above it tomorrow, then I can break it all down and start the sanding.  Sorry for the lack of tutorials, but I had to go with it.  I was zoning.

[HaRuMaN]

 

That is amazing!  Make me wish I was closer to Ohio... lol.  Very nice! 

[polaris]

simply awesome.

[shardian]

Hey, I happened upon a picture of mcCoy...


Well I figure it must be at least with the quality of this build.

[Neilyboy]

dang man this is just nuts.. I hadnt seen the luminescent paper stuff anywhere thats a very nice touch.

Neil

[NinjaEpisode]

Looks amazing McCoy.  One suggestion.  The one complaint I hear constantly at our poker tournaments is from those folks sitting at a poker table with no cup holders.  Pain in the ass when you've got no place to put your drink.

 

[mccoy178]

Thanks fellas!  Hey Ninja, I was considering making some inserts that came out from underneath, but I think I have another solution that I like.  I may buy some cheap stools, drill a couple of holes, put the metal inserts in and put that black lining on top to match the table.  That way they could be completely out of the way.  I figured if I made a few of those, then they could be moved around as needed and provide that much more elbow space at the table.  I have the metal cup inserts, I'm just trying to plan properly.  Another idea I had in conjunction with the stools is to put up one of those wall shelves, kind of like wainscoating to run along the back wall of the poker room to give that side of the table a place to sit their drinks and stuff.

[mccoy178]

Well, I applied the linseed oil today and it looks awesome.  I'm going to be putting on the first coat of polyurethane tonight.  I should be just about done on Sunday.

[polaris]

personally if id built this table i would want drinks as far away as possible.its too nice to risk a beer spill

[mccoy178]

First coat is on.  Tomorrow I sand, 2nd coat, and if I'm lucky, I'll put the 3rd coat on tomorrow evening.

[mccoy178]

Okay, table is home!  I ended up putting 3 coats on everything and 5 on the racetrack.  I still have to secure the plexiglass under the armrest and run the lighting, but that's easy stuff.  I have decided to change the drawer just a little, as a made a rookie mistake.  I hope to get pics posted soon and I can't stress enough how bad I feel that I didn't take pics along the way for that last part.  I've always tried to do very detailed pictorials, and it saddens me that I didn't this time.  Thanks again everyone and Merry Xmas!

[mccoy178]

Okay, here are the pics.  I still have some final touchups to complete, but it's most certainly presentable in its current state.

[Franco]

Awesome craftsmanship mate.

Were having a poker game tonight round an old kitchen table, aint going to be nothing compared to playing on that thing!

[mccoy178]

Okay Franco, I'll trade some woodworking skills for some metal skills.  We could make a kickass table!

[sparcade]

Wow is an understatement. 
This is just awesome.  Bravo!

[Franco]

Okay Franco, I'll trade some woodworking skills for some metal skills.  We could make a kickass table!

Deal mate, I would swap for your woodworking skills any day of the week!

Did you sell those button bezels on in the end btw? If you want some to fit your leafs give me a shout.

[mccoy178]

Okay Franco, I'll trade some woodworking skills for some metal skills.  We could make a kickass table!

Deal mate, I would swap for your woodworking skills any day of the week!

Did you sell those button bezels on in the end btw? If you want some to fit your leafs give me a shout.

I haven't sold them yet, as I may just keep them for future panels, but I am very interested in leaf bezels.  I just haven't taken the time to google that diameter.  Heck, it's a very minor amount.

[mccoy178]

Here is a somewhat bad tutorial on how I lighted the rail.  It should be somewhat obvious as to what is going on.  If you have any questions, please ask.

Here is what the internals looked like before wiring.  I had to a) fix the gap between the plexi and the racetrack, and b) attach the 1" half circles to the plexi sections.









I used these two things to join/melt the plexis together.  Wonderful, wonderful stuff for plexiglass applications.





Here is that EL paper again.  I went through the testing stages again and then went around and cut pieces for each section.







I then went around the entire table and ran wiring and soldered them all to alligator clips.  I then attached everything, tested it, then put it all back together again.



Here is the final product.  It's been a long time since an original idea that I had came out exactly like I envisioned it so long ago.







[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGGzhHrnUws[/youtube]

Have a great New Years fellas!

[Barry Barcrest]

That is total pimp dude, i like it.

[Santoro]

McCoy, this is one of my top five favorite projects on here.  Really amazing craftsmanship, congratulations!

[mccoy178]

Thanks fellas!  I love making these tables when I have the time.  I'm working on the table with cameras right now, and I hope to have a set of templates made up to make these tables over and over again.  I think I could sell this particular style fairly easy to the rich boys in Muirfield.

[Donkey_Kong]

I think I could sell this particular style fairly easy to the rich boys in Muirfield.

...or to the rest of the country for that matter, not to mention poker stores popping up all over that need tables.

You could start a line called "The Real Mccoy"TM   Nice work dude! 

[richms]

Thanks fellas!  I love making these tables when I have the time.  I'm working on the table with cameras right now, and I hope to have a set of templates made up to make these tables over and over again.  I think I could sell this particular style fairly easy to the rich boys in Muirfield.

Sounds good. Watch the cheap "night vision" cameras with the IR LED's because the colours are all washed out on them in daylight since they have no IR filter on them. You will probarbly need to get board cameras so you can adjust the focus appropriately - the bullet cameras have them pre-set and you have to pull them right to bits to adjust the focus. Could always just use a handful of USB webcams as well, but that wont give you direct output to a TV.

Wonder how hard it would be to get a PC to recognize the cards from captures and calculate the odd's for the spectators like they do on TV.

I had an idea of seeing if you could RFID tag playing cards - I think it would have to be done at the laminating stage and I dont know if they would even work after that, and the flexing might be a problem too..

[bfauska]

Great looking project. I've been watching the whole time and the finish is great, the transition from raw wood to finished really shows the beauty of the wood. I'm sure you'll enjoy many games at that great looking table, and now with the lights you can leave the room lit dimly for comfort and still see the cards. (and make people say "wow look at those cool lights")

On the camera model, if you use webcams you could use a software system like jaxcam (I think that's what it's called) to view all the video feeds at once. Viewing 10 cameras on a TV would take much more complex and expensive hardware.

[richms]

4 way quad splitters are peanuts on ebay or chinavasion etc, that could feed 2 TV outputs so if you had a tv with picture and picutre you could see them all.

Depends if your going windowed table or the ones on the side which the player has to lift the side for the camera to see. If the latter then its not much use as the cards are not visable all the time. If you could process the image and freeze on the cards automatically or something then it would be good, but just watching the feeds really needs the windows in the table, and thats always not quite felt right to me (not that I have played with it at all)

Also, whos going to be watching the video feed is something else. It would be cool to have them but if you are playing with a room of drunkards next door they will get loud and give away whats going on

[ratzz]

Beautiful build ... well done buddy. 

[mccoy178]

Great news!  I remade the center and put the red felt on it tonight.  It came out very good.  Since I have to get up for work in about 2.5 hours, I'll post pics later on tonight.   

EDIT:  Thanks guys for the great comments!  I've been so busy lately that I've been lame on the replying, but I do appreciate everything!

[Ritalin]

This is absolutely one of the most impressive threads I've seen. WOW.
Amazing, amazing work.

From one poker player to another, I really admire the woodworking skills of you have there.

Now add a hidden shelf with a laptop that comes out with wireless internet access for playing online when your poker buddies are away.

Fantastic work, man.

[mccoy178]

Okay, I fixed the "v" gap issue I had by making a new middle section.  I added an 1/8" hardboard around the edge then addd a 3/16" piece of wood to make the fit very tight.  I went with a red minisuited poker cloth this time and I love it.  The foam this time is much stiffer than the last stuff I used, but I still like it a lot.   

[miller2279]

First of all great looking table.  I love the look of it.  A couple of questions though,  how did you bend the wood for the skirt and the drawer?  I'm guessing a steam box, but was just wondering.  I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now, just havn't figured out the easiest way to.  Also what did you do to attach the padded rail to the plexi?  Again great skills and a job very well done!

[mccoy178]

Thank you for the compliments!  I actually cut the strips to width, planed them down, and then soaked them in a tub of water.  I had to make them pretty thin.  They were 3/16" thick and I cut a 1/32" dado into it to line up with the table top.  Hope that helps!

[Kaytrim]

  That new cloth looks so much better mccoy.  Are you going to get back to your jukebox now?  hint, hint

[mccoy178]

Thanks Kaytrim!

Also what did you do to attach the padded rail to the plexi?

I put nuts in the top rail and bolted it to the table from the bottom.  

www.scottkeen.com/forum is the place to go for all table questions.  It is the most comprehensive place I have seen in regards to do it yourself.

EDIT:  DON'T MIND THE PICS.

[Barry Barcrest]

That new cloth looks so much better mccoy.  Are you going to get back to your jukebox now?  hint, hint

Yeah what he said.

[mccoy178]

Well if I had to explain, I'd have to kill ya.