Blackjack Table
If there is one casino table game that almost everyone knows how to play, it has to be blackjack. So obviously, I had to include a blackjack table in my home casino.
Plus, I have this awesome layout that I want to display.
I used the standard poker table building technique, documented fully here, as the basic construction method for the blackjack table playing surface. Pretty much the same process as building a round poker table, except it’s just a half a table.
Used 2 sheets of 3/4″ pine CDX ply to cut the half circles. The table itself is a circle on a 36″ diameter, so it ends up being 6′ wide. There are spots on the layout for 6 people, but I think the original table this layout was on was a bit bigger than a 36″ diameter circle, and when they cut the felt off the table, the cut it a tad tight to be able to make it that big again (plus my basement is going to be a bit cramped with all this stuff down there), so that’s why I went with the idea to shrink it down a bit. Plus there were a couple cigarette burns that got folded over and hidden in the process of upholstering.
The chip tray was created by cutting a rectangle into both layers of the table before I added the layout. I didn’t really want to spend the bling to get a custom sized locking metal chip rack so i ripped apart one of my cheap aluminum poker chip cases and pulled the “chip rack” out of it and just set it in the newly created rectangle on my table. Trimmed out the inside of the rectangle with 1.5″ trim (still to be painted and brad nailed in) and there you go. perfect chip tray on the cheap. To “fancy it up” a tad, I put down a piece of scrap volera and covered it with a scrap of suited speed cloth for the bottom of the chip tray. Makes it nice and easy to pick up chips when they fall flat. plus, it looks kinda slick.
The base was made by cutting out a 24″ diameter half circle, screwing a crapload of studs to it, 6″ on center, and then setting another 24″ diameter half circle on top. Covered the base with 1/8″ hardboard. Used some t-nuts to put the playing top onto the base.
The rail is 3″ wide and padded with 1″ foam. I documented the process more in my poker table building post, and if you need even more help, read the padded rail maker’s bible.
I used a 1/4″ headliner foam as padding under the felt. Feels really nice. Not quite as squishy as the volera I used on the poker table, but works really well for this situation.
Here is the table with the base upholstered using black moleskin fabric and a layer of batting underneath. I’ll be using the same material for the bar that will sit next to the blackjack table.
There are just a few minor additions left to do on the table. Dealing shoe, discard tray, some trim behind the table. And I was thinking of adding a money drop slot, since the hole for one is already cut in the fabric from where the drop slot was located when the layout was used at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Other than that, it’s done. And it plays great. Now I just have to get it into the basement.
[...] The plan is to attach it to the blackjack table on one end to create the “L”-shape. I had to add the “cut out” on one end of the bar to allow plenty of room to stand behind the blackjack table and deal without having to reach over the bar counter. It cuts out some countertop workspace, but I can live with it. [...]
[...] Magic Chef - Counter Top Ice Maker. the thing makes no more noise than a compact fridge and fits neatly under my blackjack table. yet it can spit out a tray of ice every 7-8 minutes from the moment you turn it on. the beast kept up with my new years party of 10 people with no problem. never had to wait for a cube. [...]