That's a great tip!

I did a similar idea but with dowels. I put 3 holes on the playing surface border and matching dowels on the tabletop so that it can only be set one way. It then just pops into place very nicely 😊

A very late reply but thanks for watching!

Thanks for the kind words, I’d love to see a table made by a proper carpenter, another level!

2 years on I haven’t missed the xtra strength but it would definitely firm things up. I’ll add it to the project list!

Glad I could help!

Thanks for watching- will you be making one?

Thanks! There's a lot of improvements that I want to make so stay tuned. I'm still very happy for the relatively small investment of time and money :)

Do it! Let us know how you get on :)

Thank you! Did you ever try it?

It's cheap too!

Me too

Haha, thanks. Wouldn't go that far but it has allowed me to do a lot more gaming!

Thank you! Cheers! It’s still getting used years later!

That's a great idea!

Probably make something like a cup/glass holder section out of wood that would be good

They’re still visible sadly and you’re right, they annoy me too!

Thanks forward he kind words!

Have you made any progress with your project?

Great tip! I might have to go back!

amazing! have you posted any pictures online anywhere?

@@TabletopUpgrades, hello! I got two pictures and a small video (6-10 secs). I’ll try to upload the video for you.

@@TabletopUpgrades , this one: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/isBzqLZym9m3j30.html

Before removing the table top, I would simply screw a pair of wood blocks along the edges near each corner to align the top whenever it's placed back on the finished table. You could probably get away with just using 4 blocks, but having a bit more stability in the corners would help when using the table for non-gaming purposes.

Good idea!

Let me know how you get on!

Thanks!

The easiest way to "break" two magnets is to slide them sideways in opposite directions, exactly the way you'd accidentally nudge the tabletop. Over goes your tabletop onto the floor.

A very late reply but thanks for watching!

A very late reply but thanks for watching - a good point! A believe the term used for speccing this kind of resistive force is the "shear load capacity" of the magnet. Some manufacturers have it on their datasheets.

Hi! Headliner fabric is a top choice and I’m glad I only went with one in the end. Think I stumbled on the perfect material by accident. Good luck with your build!

I think the overall quality of life improvement is definitely worth a small outlay and experimentation time. I play infinitely more games now I have this table and I have ever done in the past. Keep us updated with your progress!

@@TabletopUpgrades Thanks. What size are the sheets that Wickes sell for £3 and do you know if they or any other companies still do similar offers? My sheet would need to be around 150 cm x 80cm. I'd been considering Plywood but that seems to be around £30+ (inc. VAT) for a 244 cm x122 cm sheet.

@@malcolmrowe9003 think it’s euro pallet sized so 1200x800. Might be a peculiarity of my local wicked but I have had people in this channel say their wicked does them too. Certainly worth ringing a few in your area. As for other deals, not sure, I was amazed I found this!

A very late reply but thanks for watching!

A very late reply but thanks for watching! This used Hinges, I've got a better solution now however which is on my channel.

Solo Board Game Guide The table top does provide stability from twisting that is now gone. If you braced it at the corners you could set the game surface on that. The table would be more solid and the inside clearance bigger.

Maybe it's just a personal thing but when my group are gaming we tend to have a few nibbles/drinks etc. Possibly think of having a simple tray/armrest that hooks over the table edge: they can be stored inside the table when the top is on. Simple and well demonstrated - I too am no carpenter nor seamstress.

@@linyarin There are some lovely holes in the corners that cupholders on pegs/dowels could fit right into if fit snuggly. Instant and removable corner cupholders.

The flimsiness of the MDF would worry me a bit. I'd screw in a few supports underneath it. Two 1x2's would probably be enough. If some one leaned over and put their hand in the middle of the table, I'd be worried that the MDF would crack.

Personally I'd drill matching holes in each of the tabletop legs and the table top surface and glue in some wooden dowels to the table top which will stop the top from sliding around when you're using it as a table and not as a gaming table.

That’s a common question - not at all strange to be honest. If anything I like the enclosed “casino style” where I cna throw my dice at the side of the table craps style. As for leaning on the side, I definitely intend to put a thicker, padded border on but tbh, even when resting on it, it’s not uncomfortable and most of the time, I’m either moving pieces round or holding cards. Remember I’m mainly a solo gamer, so I’m very rarely just leaning on the table doing nothing like you might whilst waiting for your turn in a multiplayer game. Many thanks for you comment!

I've experienced forearm bang but I've played 11 hours recessed and arms and back were fine. Leg clearance you need to be aware of though

any spray contact adhesive. the stuff they use for carpet tiles is perfect

possibly, my idea was to go headliner with felt on top, but i was so impressed with the headliner fabric, i went with that!

I was just about to make the same point.

Interesting. I was going to say the opposite. Yes, felt can definitely get fuzzy (called 'pilling'), but that can be alleviated by buying a heavier felt. I think that 'shiny' felt looked a little cheap. Every car I've seen older than 7 years has some section of the headliner(sp?) fabric beginning to separate from the soft foaming part, beginning to pill and eventually start to disintegrate. And that deterioration is when the fabric is just attached to the car roof above my head. I was wondering if dice rolling and moving game parts on/off/across the fabric, and drinks/coasters on the fabric would speed up it's deterioration. Give us an update in 6 months, please! A heavy (it'll cost more) felt--is there a 12mm?--won't last forever (no fabric would...casinos have to resurface tables eventually and they get a lot of wear and tear) will last longer. And I only base that on the fact that you said the headliner fabric is what's used on the roofs of cars. Also, though some people only like the natural felt, some of the polyester 'felts' are even more durable. The 35% wool/65% rayon blend or the 20% wool/80% rayon will definitely resist the pilling/'fuzzy' that comes with age. I have a 16 year old poly-blend felt on a table and it is still going strong...no fuzziness. But yeah I'm curious how durable that header fabric is when it's receiving direct contact with objects/hands, especially the separation of the top layer from the soft foamy part. Great video!

Car "Headliner Fabric", it's a kind of foam backed felt. Speed cloth is good if you can get it, but in the UK it's mostly got the suits of cards on which I didn't want. I initially planned to use baize/felt but the stuff I got, looked way too cheap.

@@TabletopUpgrades could those card cloths be flipped over? or are the symbols embroidered in such a way that they show through on the bottom?

It never particular progressed much past this point, I really should give it the finishing touches!

Where did you get yours from?

That’s a great idea and something I’ve considered- every time I go to ikea I keep my eye open!

I have just done this with an Ikea dining table. Can't remember the model name, but I know it was the cheap one (around £120 with 4 chairs) and is a normal wood colour. I works well but make sure your battens are not too thick as the Ikea table has a thinner border, so there is less clearance one the top is back on. There's still enough clearance to keep medium size decks, counter trays etc, but tall pieces might not fit. I glued/screwed some small battens onto the back of the table top that fits in the corners of the base, so the top sits on tightly without needing to be screwed, and doesn't slide around.

Exactly what I was thinking. I would definitely have to put some sort of protection on the bolts at the very least. That might be the trickiest bit!

Quite possible, there are some Neodynium magnets that have 100’s of kilograms of holding force, some with dial operation so that’s an interesting though. First4magnets website has lots of innovative products, I’ll check it out!

@@TabletopUpgrades I will have to check out that site. The increasing strength and diminishing size provide increased possibilities with magnets. I am not sure of the vertical/horizontal hold strength of the magnetic safety locks for childproofing cabinets, but that latch/magnetic mechanism could also be utilized for so many projects...

When u use it, does it feel odd that the game is to far away / to low? Also, is it uncomfortable to place the arms on the top-rim? Would it be possible to maybe place a wider rim ontop of the old one tot rest your arms on and then place the tabletop ontop of the new wider rim?

@@Fleischmann773 its hard for me to pass comment as i’m so used to it now. the player surface is only about 3” lower than normal so that is imperceptibly different to me but the lip i guess could be more comfortable. easily done by building in a lip on the inside of the table but that would reduce the playing surface. i usually play solo anyway so usually holding cards or rolling dice - no time to lean on the edge 😀

Amazing! mine could be upgraded further, its still in its absolute bargain basement form and is by far the best gaming accessory i have. i might do a video making it a bit nicer, thanks foe the inspiration!

If you search eBay for “Car headliner fabric” there will be lots of listings :)

I too am keen to know where you got the fabric from, and how much fabric you ordered? Cant find the Nemesis spray in the UK anywhere in stock too.

A very late reply but thanks for watching! eBay...

A very late reply but thanks for watching! - Any carpet tile glue will do the trick

I’ve just set up an Amazon affiliate account so will to work on this

Violence unfortunately! Rubber mallet next to the glued portion is how I’d approach it :)

good question! I’ll measure up and let you know

I did another video linked in the playlist where I put hinges on it. It's great for solo pay but hinges wouldn't be good if you wanted people to sit on each side. If this is the case is make a simple frame on the underside to constrain the table top.

@@TabletopUpgrades I would put 1x1s under the top piece to where the top wouldn't move

54”x34” - Just frustratingly short of 3ft for X-Wing Purposes!

4, one on each side :)

@@TabletopUpgrades and it is sturdy enough not to put any reinforcement through?

Great! Some good in fact I got some more for another project I’m working on, really impressed with it

@@TabletopUpgrades awesome, you are the only one I could find who used this material, now I am confidant to do the same, will order some tonorrow! Thanks again!

How did you get on with it! Any thoughts?

Great idea!

lol this is true, my house was wrecked when I moved in and I’ve kind of accumulated them over the years. My brother in law lives near a tool library where for a small fee you can borrow things like this so this may be worth a google to see if there is one near you?

@@TabletopUpgrades wish we had a value for money decent tool rental place in the UK 😢

I haven’t hurt myself yet! 🤣

Not forgot so much as deliberately excluded - nothing here that couldn’t be done with a £5 hand panel saw. The power tools are an optional convenience.