When my board games group come over, we move my drop leaf kitchen table to the living room where there is more space, and expand it to full size, which is about 780mm x 1200mm. We get a game out and start to set up…

At that point, the two people on the short edges start to complain that they don’t have enough room, their stuff overhangs the table etc etc.

3 solutions have occurred to me so far:

  1. Get new friends. Possible but takes time and there’s no guarantee that new friends won’t also complain
  2. Buy a new table. I’ve looked at UK based shops for drop leaf tables but the ones that give more space won’t fit through doors
  3. Make a table topper to sit on top of the kitchen table and provide a larger surface

Number 3 is clearly the one I’ve brought here because although it’s a grand idea I’m not sure how to go about it.

Material

It’s games night, there’s drinks involved. Something that doesn’t mind a bit of water seems like an idea, maybe moisture resistant MDF? Not too expensive, easy to get hold of. Thickness 18mm so there’s no flex?

Size

Not too big but clearly needs to be bigger than the table it’s covering, probably 1000mm x 1220mm

Top

I was thinking about tacking felt to the top for a proper gaming surface, is that sensible or overkill

Fixing

The tricky bit, I don’t want it to slide about on top of the table when we’re playing and someone leans on it. Equally the kitchen table spends 99% of it’s time being just that so I don’t want to drill into it on the top. Will non-slip mat be enough or do I need clamps/hooks/bolts?

Any ideas from the hive mind gratefully received!

  • Fred@programming.dev
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    17 days ago

    Would some battons (like that: https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Redwood-PSE-Timber---44-x-44-x-2400mm/p/9000281515, or possible smaller depending of the profile of your table), fixed to the underside of the gaming top so that they’re leaving a negative image of the fixed table top? That way, once installed, the gaming top can’t slide around. That would only work well in my mind if the gaming top is a single piece.

    Edit: with that idea, minimal length of the gaming is that of the table plus two thicknesses of the baton you’d use, ie. more than the 20mm you seem to have in mind. Maybe, maybe not an issue.

    For the cover, I’d consider a felt with a waterproof backing, although I don’t have a specific material in mind. If you don’t add felt, I’d soften the angles of the MDF.

    • The Infinite Nematode@feddit.ukOP
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      17 days ago

      I finally found some similar examples in the forums at board game geek and they had done just as you suggest. If I can closely match the thickness of the table with the battens, I could then use some twirly catch thingies (technical term) to make sure it doesn’t tip if someone leans on it.

      Good idea about the waterproofing on the felt

  • D_C@lemm.ee
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    16 days ago

    Go to a charity shop and find a cheap table and utilise the top part. Alternatively go to a DIY shop (Wickes, b&q…) and buy some ply board. If you go to b&q then some stores will cut the boards to your sizes.

    If you get a table then it doesn’t matter if it is too big, just that it isn’t too heavy or expensive. The tricky part is gauging the weight as you’ll only be using the top part and getting rid of the legs etc.
    Once it is home take off all the legs and everything else so there’s nothing to scuff your kitchen table.
    Cut it to size and sand down the edges to make it chamfered and nice to lean on.

    If you go the plyboard route you’ll probably still have to sand the edges a bit. Plyboard largest size is 1220x2440mm so depending on the thickness you may need 2 pieces of ply as one piece of 18mm ply may not be sturdy enough but 2 bits of of 12mm glued together could be perfect. You’ll have to decide the sturdiness to weight factor.

    Either way get your board/old table top to your perfect size with the edges sanded smooth. On the bottom glue some felt fabric to protect your kitchen table. But leave about 50mm unglued underneath at the edges.
    Screw some battens to the bottom of it and cover anything that vat touch your kitchen table with felt.

    (Spray contact adhesive is good. Quick and sticky, but can be difficult to apply without spraying it everywhere. I’d use spray stuff for the big areas then paint on glue for the tricky parts)

    On top get some ripstop fabric. It’s tough, water-resistant, but nice to touch. It’s a bit like thin canvas.
    Glue that to the top but fold it over to the bottom about 25mm and glue.
    Then glue the felt over the top of the ripstop fabric and, BOOM, you now have an overtable.