How to Build a Custom Poker Table

Place birch or oak plywood onto your workbench. Place the default table on top of the plywood with the table's top surface facing downward. Make sure that the surface is dead square in the middle of the table. According to the BuyPokerChips website, for an 8-foot table plan, you should measure 12 inches on each end and 6 inches on each side to center the table. Use a pencil to outline around the default table so that you get a visual image of where the table should be on the underside. Remove default table.

Draw one or more arcs on the end of the plywood. To make drawing this easier, tape kite string onto a pencil and hold one end of the string on to the table's center point and hold with the pencil in the other hand, which will help you draw the radius' corners (it is recommended to draw a 12-inch radius for an 8-foot table). Use a 12-inch string between the center point and the pencil.

Cut the plywood once you have penciled out the corners. Use an orbital sander to slowly cut out the edges. Sand edges with an orbital sander of at least 100-medium-grit sandpaper as you go along.

Sand the top of the plywood to smooth out its surface.

Create the base by using the default table as the poker table's base. First, turn the poker tabletop and default table with the bottom side up on your workstation. Align the table with the outline that you have already made previously on the tabletop to build a snug frame around the outline using six 32-inch strips.

Drill eight 1-inch wood screws into the plywood strip frames to secure them to the default tabletop.

Turn the table over and stand it up. Brush any dust off of its surface. Cover the tabletop with a moderate amount of adhesive spray. Cut out enough foam padding to cover the entire tabletop surface and apply the foam padding to the adhesive. Secure the edge of the foam padding to the table with masking tape.

Use a burgundy table cover to go over the foam surface. Make sure that the burgundy cover is long enough that it can be folded over. Start with one of the long sides and secure it well. Pull cover tightly around the table's edges to mesh out any wrinkles and staple as you go.

Purchase a pre-cut side-padded railing from a hardware or poker outlet store. Secure the railing around the poker table and secure it with a staple gun (with 1/2-inch, 12-millimeter size staples).