Landchark

Finally took the plunge and started working on the actual craps layout playing surface. It was a bit nervewracking considering I didn’t really want to ruin a $110 layout and end up with a very expensive wall hanging.

In preperation, a few days back, I took a piece of 1/2″ OSB and cut out a shape that would exactly fit inside the “tub” when dropped in. You can see it in the background here:
It is that big piece of OSB standing vertically in the back, leaning against the wall. I had to make sure that it fit nice and snug when dropped in, so it took a few trimming cuts with the jigsaw to get everything with as little gap around the edge as possible when laid into the table. What I ended up with went from snug fitting to at most a 3/16″ gap.

I took that OSB and laid out the felt playing surface, getting it straight and centered as possible, and then folded the overhang around to the bottom and stapled. Flipped it over, cut the triangles out of the corners and made sure there was never any overlapping fabric. Cut off any excess cloth and dropped that sucker into the table. It fit like a glove. [insert witty OJ/Johnnie Cochran comment here] I cut a couple finger holes in the bottom of the table, so that if I ever want to take that layout out of the table, I can just push up from the bottom to be able to grab it.
Once the layout was in, I could put the pyramid rubber back into the ends. I decided to just tack them in with a few well placed finishing nails. You can hardly see them and they hold fine.

Then I started applying the self-stick vinyl tile to the dealer side of the inside of the craps table.

This was fairly simple and gave it a nice glossy black finish. Again, ignore the white lines in betweend tiles, as my poor photography has brought them out with a bad flash or something. In normal light you cannot see the tile seams, except at very extreme angles. I think I might go in and use a black magic marker and see if that hides those seams.

Next I think will be attempting to cover the stickman side of the inside table with a mirror. I have a cheap ($5) wall mirror that I am going to attempt to cut to fit. After that, I’ll be starting the padded rail, which will be a project in and of itslef. Other than that, all that is left is trim details on the base corners and edges and the trim to cover the seams in the upholstery.

I think there is a craps night at my house in the very near future.

continue to part 8

Tags: , casino fun, craps, craps layout, craps table by chadd
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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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A wise man once said “I love it when a plan comes together.”, of course this man sat next to a man that constantly said “I pity the fool who [insert witty quip here]“.Why am I talking about the A-Team? I have no idea.
Anyways, this plan seems to be coming together and this mass of scrapwood and sawdust is finally starting to look like a craps table.

I finally got the base of the table and the last long side cut out. I got out my layout and threw it on there just to make sure that it fits inside the table base like it should, and by golly, it fits just right.

At that point, I just couldn’t help myself but to try to assemble this beast and see if these pieces really will fit together.

So I took off the layout and started putting all the pieces together like some big puzzle. There’s obviously going to be some trimming and sanding needed to be done to get everything to fit together all snug, but for a trial run, it seems like it is going to work out fine.

After I got it put together and laid the layout in, I just had to get out the dice and see how it worked.
First roll, established the point of 9, threw 5 more times and covered all the numbers and then sevened out. Kinda reminds me of the last time I played at the Golden Nugget.

Continued in part 5

Tags: , A-team, casino fun, craps, craps table by chadd
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Holy crap, cutting these things out can be tedious.

But, I am getting pretty darn good with this jigsaw. Maybe I will find some sort of quarter round corner 3/4″ plywood cutting contest to enter after this is all done.

Anyways, got a bunch more of these pieces done. 54 to be exact. By my calculation I should only need a total of 60, 15 per corner, so I am pretty close to done.

Then all that will be left to cut out will be one long side, and the main table base that the layout goes on. Then on to the ever so exciting assembly stage. Have to get myself some wood glue.

I still am thinking about how to do the legs/base of this beast. The plans call for the legs to be attatched to the base of the table but I want the legs to come off fairly easily so this thing can be transported if needed. Last suggestion I got was to use a big TV stand. Not a bad idea, since then there will be shelves and doors already built in, it is about the right size, and this table won’t weigh any more than a 36″ tube tv (I hope). Still considering options, but I do like the idea of some sort of shelving/cabinet unit to be used as a base. Would look more solid and provide some storage instead of just wasted space under there.

continue to part 4

Tags: , casino fun, craps table by chadd
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