Landchark

UPS brought the pyramid rubber and i set it in place. Looks nice. Haven’t decided if I’m going to just use finish nails to hold it in or if i’ll have to use staples. Cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, it is just sitting in there, since I can’t install it until the layout goes in. I also splurged and got a rattan dice stick and a nice on/off puck. I now have a new appreciation for the dealers that can, in one smooth motion, scoop up the dice from one end of the table, push them all the way to the other side and while doing so, flip the dice to have whatever desired number you want showing up when you get them.

Still debating the best way to put the layout in. Leaning to the method of using the OSB that I cut out and gluing the layout onto it and then dropping it into the table and pulling it down with some T nuts. My only worry is that you will see the cut edge of the layout after it is in there.

One thing I have learned is that the basic construction is the easy part, it’s the finishing so you like how it looks that takes forever. I started painting the base and underside and any other exposed wood a high-gloss black. Got about 3 coats on everything and now am starting the clear lacquer spray to give it a nice glossy look.

While the paint was drying, I started putting in the tiles for the drink rail. Used black vinyl self-stick tiles and just cut them to fit. Was a pretty simple process. Only wasted one tile with bad cuts, but at 66 cents a tile, I’m not feeling too bad about it.

You may notice that in the photos, you can clearly see the seams between tiles as a white line. I think that’s just an effect of my flash because in normal light, the seam is not noticable at all. Just looks like one smooth surface.

Ended up this evening by stepping on a nail, so that was fun. Luckily, just a finishing nail, and it only went in a half inch or so. Just got my tetanus shot, so no worries there, but it did signal an end to the construction this evening.

I think the next step is to tackle the playing surface itself and get that into place.

Continue to Part 7

Tags: , casino fun, craps, craps table, dice by chadd
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I had to wait a few days to borrow a belt sander, so in the meantime, i started building the base of the table. Turned out rock solid. I think you could put an elephant on there. Got the sides and back covered with 1/4″ ply so it is ready for painting. Haven’t figured out what to do about doors yet, but I’ll think of something.

Finally got a hold of a belt sander, so I could start smoothing down some of the exposed edges. Since I decided on upholstering the outside, I figured i didn’t need to get the corners incredibly smooth. Just enough to let the batting hide the inconsistancies.

Got some suede type fabric from JoAnn’s on sale and started my first upholstering job ever. Turned out to be not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. I used 2 layers of batting underneath the fabric.

The diamond rubber, which should be here by this thursday if UPS doesn’t get lost or something, comes up 11 1/2″ on the inside so I left the extra fabric hang over the inside to be stapled in behind the diamond rubber and cover that extra inch or so that will be exposed above the rubber.

After I got all the fabric on, I set the top back on to see what it would look like and, gosh darn it, it is actually starting to look like a craps table.

So much so, that I had a friend come over and we had to roll dem bones and try our luck. As you can see, the drink rail works quite nicely.

continue to part 6

Tags: , casino fun, craps, craps table, high life by chadd
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