cutting the rail questions

[theryansicle]

i'm in the process of building my first poker table and i've got the base done.

next part is the hardest i'm assuming, using the template from pc potato.com so i have to cut the rail in 4 sections and then connect them to the underlip of the rail which i also have to but. that's my understanding of it anyways.

i'm not really sure what my question is i just want some reassurance i'm doing it right i suppose before i realize i have to go buy a new piece of wood...

this is the link to the rail instructions if anyone wouldn't mind taking a look at it and confirming what i do is right.

http://www.pcpotato.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=24

i lay the table on the uncut board, then measure 2 inches in from the length side and width side of the board and trace til i hit the middle of the table. then use the arc string method to trace an arc 2 inches in from that, and then once again do it another 2 inches in from that arc. cut that 4 inch arc out and trace the whole thing on the board 3 more times and cut three more arcs for a total of 4.

now i think this is probably the harder part just cause i'm wondering if there will be enough board left over to cut the underlip from. from what i read it was enough. but for that do i just lay down 2 "J" pieces i cut on the remaining board and trace out a 2inch underlip for it and screw them together?

i'm pretty sure this will be the most complicated part of the table. then stapling everything will be the most tedious -_-

[Wedge Rock]

Instead of the arc string method, I use a scrap of 1x2...  I nail it it to place (2' from each edge) and I used a spade bit to make a hole at the end of the scrap at 24", 22.5" (the bottom rail assembly) and 20" (for a 4 inch rail).

With the string arc method, you're risking pulling the tension tighter, or letting up on the tension, as you trace the arc.

If you don't have scrap laying around, use something with less tension, like picture hanging wire.

And for the record, the guy who runs pcpotato has made some killer builds.  Ask him questions and you'll get advice for someone who has a ton of experience.

[irishpenguin]

i'm in the process of building my first poker table and i've got the base done.

next part is the hardest i'm assuming, using the template from pc potato.com so i have to cut the rail in 4 sections and then connect them to the underlip of the rail which i also have to but. that's my understanding of it anyways.

i'm not really sure what my question is i just want some reassurance i'm doing it right i suppose before i realize i have to go buy a new piece of wood...

this is the link to the rail instructions if anyone wouldn't mind taking a look at it and confirming what i do is right.

http://www.pcpotato.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=24

i lay the table on the uncut board, then measure 2 inches in from the length side and width side of the board and trace til i hit the middle of the table. then use the arc string method to trace an arc 2 inches in from that, and then once again do it another 2 inches in from that arc. cut that 4 inch arc out and trace the whole thing on the board 3 more times and cut three more arcs for a total of 4.

now i think this is probably the harder part just cause i'm wondering if there will be enough board left over to cut the underlip from. from what i read it was enough. but for that do i just lay down 2 "J" pieces i cut on the remaining board and trace out a 2inch underlip for it and screw them together?

i'm pretty sure this will be the most complicated part of the table. then stapling everything will be the most tedious -_-

Your steps looks right, but just a quick note that the steps Quads has laid out was for a table where the base is 8' long.  I believe it was an existing table that he decided to put a rail on.  The overall dimensions of the table are greater than 8', hence all the extra cutting.  If you make your table's overall dimensions 8', you won't need to do all the extra cutting.  This is what he was refereeing to with that Maui table build reference at the end of the build page.  Have you fully finished the base yet (i.e. padded and attached the cloth) or just cut the plywood?  If it's the latter (no cloth/pad), what are the overall dimensions of the base?

And X2 what wedge said, you probably saw the table gallery on Quad's site, he's made tons of great tables...

[Jason Stutter]

Someone please tell me why I always get confused with some dude out in Cali?

Orion?  Really....the asstroligical sign for "The Hunter".  That's a gooder one.

I'm thinking that if I had a company, which I don't, I would want to put as much effort into the company as possible.  Instead, "The Hunter" spends every waking moment trying to defame the name of his competitors.  Well that and coming up with some kick ass names with subtle meanings for aliases on sweet poker forums he hasn't gotten the boot from.  Get it, Orion (The Hunter) cause he's hunting down the competition, then using their names as eBay ID's in hopes his poor credibility may harm their good names, which apparently isn't working all that well.  He's a crafty one, but I guess with all the down time between 3 am harassing phone calls and zero orders to fill, I'd try and fill that empty void in my soul by coming up with cool names too.

Good luck to you Orion.....you still need it after all these years of unsuccessful business in poker themed sales.

Sincerely,
Jason Strutter, not to be confused with Stutter, Shutter, Shudder, or even Strutt or a 1974 song by the rock legends KISS!

[theryansicle]

thanks for the reply irish, i think though his base was a total of 8ft long and the banquet table underneath shorter. when he refers to maui's poker site he states that if you make the rail out of one cut the base will be smaller than 8ft, and this is why he makes 4 cuts.

http://www.pcpotato.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7:pokertableplans&catid=9:buildapokertable&Itemid=21

these are the plans to his base and rail. which the base are the same dimensions as mine. 40inches x 96 inches.

im pretty sure he was saying that if you want to cut the rail in one cut the base will have to be smaller than 96 inches.

"If you want a table made from a full sheet of wood, this is one way of doing it. It's a longer process to cut each "J" piece, but it gives you a longer (full 8 foot) table. The other option is to make your table slightly smaller and cut the rail, and the play surface at once by screwing the two pieces of ply wood together, making the outside edge cut, then separating them, and cutting the bottom lip of the rail out of the other piece. This process is faster, and much easier and is prepared by most people who build tables. This process is illustrated in step by step photos at Maui Poker's web site which is also in my links section."

from his website.

[irishpenguin]

Yes, the base is 8' long in those steps, which is why you need to cut up the pieces to make rail.  The overall dimensions of his table, with the rail in place, will be something like 8'-4".  If my memory serves me right, he did this because he initially made the 8' table without the rail, then added the rail at a later date.  The steps you have linked in the first post are for that larger table.  It's a lot of extra cutting, but if you want the larger table that's what you have to do (or buy a bigger sheet of plywood).

However, as it's pointed out in that blurb you quoted, a much easier building method is making the whole table (including the rail) 8' or less long, like in the sketches/plans he has listed towards the bottom of the last page you linked.  Then you use the Maui table procedures.

[theryansicle]

ooh ok, yeah it's around 8'4" with rail on it so i guess i'm basically at where he was. but in the end what i described sounds right for what i would have to do to complete this rail?