Sunday 23 December 2012

Wargaming Table

The Crew from the game shop has been coming by to play some games and as often happens when a bunch of dudes get together and have some adult beverages we got to planning larger battles.  This ofcourse ment that my single table was simply not big enough for our plans!

So We set out to build a second matching table.  Daniel had some 2x4s kicking around his house and I had the plywood.  A quick stop at Home depot and I had the rest of the lumber and 4 wheels.

Supplies needed:

  • sheet 4'x8' plywood.  (5/8") (1 Required)
  • 2'x4' lengths of lumber.  (4 - 8' lengths required)
  • 2'x4' lenghts of lumber 45" long (8 required)
  • 2'x4' lenghts of lumber 31-1/2" long (8 Required)
  • 4 wheels.  rotating with locks is best.
  • Wood lag screws for securing wheels (12 required)
  • 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" wood screws
  • 4 pieces of plywood approximately 8"x8" (5/8")

Tools required:
  • Drill
  • Bit for wood screws 
  • Driver for lags
  • Measuring tape
  • Framing square
  • Chop saw with sliding arm or Radial saw (A hand saw will work as well.  And is much more manly)
Optional supplies:
  • Another full sheet of plywood for the base.  Its an excellent place to store stuff. (I skipped this for now)
  1. So first thing you need to do is cut all your pieces.  
  2. Once you have everything  cut its time to make your table and base frames. They are identical.
  3. Taking the uncut 8 foot lengths of 2x4 screw the 45" pieces between them.  This will give you a 4'x8' frame.   
  4. Measure 32" from either side and make a mark.  
  5. Slide in two 45" pieces (2 for the top and 2 for the bottom) Secure them.
  6. Now that both frames are done you can take the four small pieces of plywood and attach them to the corners of your bottom frame.  These serve three purposes.  1- they will hold your frame square. 2- they are what you mount your wheels too. 3- your table legs will sit on them)
  7. Go ahead and mount the wheels using the lags.
  8. Flip the base over onto the wheels.
  9. Now you can install your table legs.  They will sit right in the corners ontop of your wheel supports.
  10. Almost done!  Take your table top and secure the full 4x8 plywood sheet to it using the shorter wood screws.  During this step you can square up your frame if its a little out.
  11. Now with a buddy or by using Egyptian leverage techniques you can lift the table top up onto the legs.  It will slide down right over it and then you can fire some screws in!  
  12. Roll out the grass mat!!
 Patton oversees the Engineers
 The base frame
 The table top
 Legs installed


 Ready to rock!  You can see my original table with the base plywood installed.  Ill add one to the new one as well eventually.  Oh And I go full 4x8 feet because it gives you a foot on either end of your table for things like books and minis.  A nice laydown area.  Plus less cutting of lumber!

***We played an awesome Total War battle on two of these tables.  Heres some pics***




 ya my newly painted 88s were ready to rack up some kills until Sierra decided to hand them some rockets.








4 comments:

  1. Solid looking work... you guys planning a Total War game or something?

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  2. Ya that was the whole reason to get this done. We played a crazy 2v2 total war battle on a 8x6 table. I will upload some pics.

    ReplyDelete
  3. looks beautiful. I love your post and that information.
    Plywood Manufacturer in India


    ReplyDelete
  4. wow nice hubby there. i might try that soon too. I just recently got a great financial break when i joined affiliate program. it was really great that I thought its too good to be true

    ReplyDelete