Unpadded Rail? Materials and Finish? (1 Viewer)

Ken

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I am looking to build a round poker table. I have no problem with the woodworking part but every time I have tried upholstery it leaves me a little unsatisfied. It looks ok but I can never quite get "professional" level results.

A player that doesn't play that often asked why have padding at all? If the rail was a smooth, finished wood it might be comfortable enough and certainly easier to put cup holders into. I am currently sitting at my wood kitchen table where I have spent many hours on a laptop during lockdown and found it pretty comfortable.

Does anyone have experience with unpadded, wooden rails? Was it nice or did it bother you that it wasn't padded?

If you know what species of wood was it? What kind of finish was on it?

I don't think I have spent any time playing on an unpadded rail.

Thanks.
 
I had two octagon tables that had wood rails, no padding. Was not ideal for a long game.

Go with the padding and vinyl - if you're going to build a table, go all the way.
 
I don’t know. But my favorite bar had unpadded bar rails where I’d rest my arms, and I can say that in my twenties, I spent more time there than at poker tables and I never had any complaints. Of course, I was drunk.
 
I don’t know. But my favorite bar had unpadded bar rails where I’d rest my arms, and I can say that in my twenties, I spent more time there than at poker tables and I never had any complaints. Of course, I was drunk.
That is one kind of finish.
 
I had two octagon tables that had wood rails, no padding. Was not ideal for a long game.

Go with the padding and vinyl - if you're going to build a table, go all the way.
That is part of my concern.

I actually think it would be more expensive and more effort to make an unpadded rail as I would have to shape and sand it as well as finish it AND probably use a reasonably stable hard wood rather than padding and plywood.
 
That is part of my concern.

I actually think it would be more expensive and more effort to make an unpadded rail as I would have to shape and sand it as well as finish it AND probably use a reasonably stable hard wood rather than padding and plywood.
Don't worry about the professional finish. I've built 4 tables so far and no, they aren't perfect. But I'm the only one who notices the flaws and my poker guys love playing on them.
 
A table with a nice padded rail and padded playing surface will have the most dramatic impact on the quality of your game, and its not even close.

Lots of good tips on building here, including a thread in wrapping rails:
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/poker-table-building-guides-tips-tricks.64206/

Rounds are a hair more difficult than an oval, but if you read up on the tutorial and take your time, it'll look fine.

Wrapping an octagon rail though......

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