Octagon poker table questions (1 Viewer)

[Chrisja77]

Looking at purchasing an actual poker table to replace the flimsy fold up table I’ve had in and out of storage for 20+ years. I’ve always wanted to build my own but just never find the time so I have begun my search of buying a pre made one. Requirements are that it be an octagon or round since we usually play 6-8 people max and rotate dealer. Before I shell out almost $2,000 for a nice table I’d like to get others input on what to look for so I can buy once cry once. I stumbled across someone reasonably close to me on Facebook marketplace that makes and sells them and the pictures look really nice. But what should I be looking at to make sure this is a lifetime purchase and not something I’ll regret and wish I had done differently? What questions should I be asking?

He is asking $1600 for a 54” octagon with my choice of basic speed cloths (he can do custom cloths also). The wife likes the look of the rough sawn oak that he has but red oak, knotty alder, and mahogany are the other wood choices. The $1600 includes a topper for it to become a regular table which I really like so we can use it for board games also. Here are a few pictures he sent me of the rough sawn oak one.

Can better be had for the sub $2000 price range or should I quit overthinking this and just pick my cloth color?

 

[CraigT78]

If it were me, I'd skip that whole chip well and drink holders area and go for a padded rail. You can still have a table topper - and a table with a rail would play much better that what you posted.

Example:

 

[pltrgyst]

IMO, real poker players are going to want to stack their chips in plain view, rather than hide them in subterranean pseudo-trays.
I'd look for something better.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Do what you want! But $2000 is a pretty high budget and this really isn't a WOW WHATTA DEAL!


I personally don't like the outter ring being so prominent and recessed, lose a lot of space to trays and the raised felt. The topper is nice though and looks like solid craftsmanship. Comes down to style: yes this table will work, but no, I would not be very happy with the end result. You can do a lot more with that space where people can stack and play with their chips easier.

 

[Chrisja77]

So it seems no one is a fan of the recessed trays. This is all I’m seeing even semi local to me in northwest arkansas. Where are my other options to look and have shipped in this price range?

 

[CraigT78]

So it seems no one is a fan of the recessed trays. This is all I’m seeing even semi local to me in northwest arkansas. Where are my other options to look and have shipped in this price range?

Your table builder should be able to build what you want. Unfortunately most places that make these tables have never played poker. The Internet if full of pretty but terrible functioning tables.

For inspiration - look through this website. https://www.chanmanpokertables.com/

He's likely out of budget and has a very long waitlist, but you'll get plenty of ideas from his site. Talk to your builder - a table without the recessed areas is likely an easier built and for your budget you should be able to swing a bad ass table.

 

[CraigT78]

If you can make a road trip - @bsdunbar1 builds tables and is somewhere in that middle of nowhere America.

 

[Chrisja77]

If you can make a road trip - @bsdunbar1 builds tables and is somewhere in that middle of nowhere America.

Road-trips for the right reasons are not an issue….

 

[Chrisja77]

I’ve never played on a table with a padded rail and I’m unsure if the builder I’ve stumbled across has ever messed with vinyl. From my understanding it’s a bugger to learn and be able to do without wrinkles and that would drive me nuts. Plus, I love the look of wood. Would a raised hardwood rail be a regret? These are 2 options that are similar to what I’m thinking. I think this option with the rough sawn oak he has would be really nice. Undecided on what to do with cup holders if he is willing to try this though.

 

[Chrisja77]

For reference, all I’ve ever played on are the cheap folding tables. This is it taken years ago but this table has been with me since the late 90’s. Hahaha. It’s time to get some nice and permanent now that I’ve got a house with a spot for one.

 

[Chrisja77]

So we might have a winner. He sent me these pictures of a custom build he did with a vinyl rail. Looks like he did a fine job. He said it would be simple to make this table round instead of an oval.

Similar to this one I found on the Chanman site…

 

[Skagglio]

I’ve never played on a table with a padded rail and I’m unsure if the builder I’ve stumbled across has ever messed with vinyl. From my understanding it’s a bugger to learn and be able to do without wrinkles and that would drive me nuts. Plus, I love the look of wood. Would a raised hardwood rail be a regret? These are 2 options that are similar to what I’m thinking. I think this option with the rough sawn oak he has would be really nice. Undecided on what to do with cup holders if he is willing to try this though.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/custom-table-build-with-led-racetrack.79591/

This was my first crack at building an octagon table and the cost was maybe close to $1k but without the gimmick acrylic race track that I wanted would have been far under that. I agree with others that say a padded rail and playing surface that goes all the way to the rail is the way to go.

My vinyl rail isn't perfect with small creases at a few corners but I'm sure I could perfect it if I ever wanted to re-apply and it shouldn't be a problem for a professional builder.

 

[bsdunbar1]

If it were me, I'd skip that whole chip well and drink holders area and go for a padded rail.

100% this. I had a buddy that made a nice Oak octagon without a padded rail - no one wanted to play on it for any length of time.
Ultimately Its all in what you want though

 

[bsdunbar1]

So we might have a winner. He sent me these pictures of a custom build he did with a vinyl rail. Looks like he did a fine job. He said it would be simple to make this table round instead of an oval.

This pic of the round table is one I made years ago and the pic is in my basement.
Not sure if your builder was referring to the round one as a custom build he did?

 

[Chrisja77]

This pic of the round table is one I made years ago and the pic is in my basement.
Not sure if your builder was referring to the round one as a custom build he did?

No, the oval was the one he did. The round one was a picture I pulled I thought from the chanman site but might have been from here to give him an idea of what I was wanting.

 

[CraigT78]

Would a raised hardwood rail be a regret?

100% yes it would.

 

[Chrisja77]

Well this took a drastically different direction quickly, thank you all for the advice. We are getting a round table built with the raised padded rail like the one posted above from the chanman site. He is waiting on me to pick the colors but I’m leaning towards black vinyl rail, dark blue speed cloth, and the wood parts made from the rough sawn oak from the initial table above that the wife really liked. She’s big into the rustic look and since this table will be going in the sunroom and be a centerpiece she has to love it also.

Next question is if I want to buy the matching chairs with pads or splurge on a nice chair…those would look really nice with blue pads to match the felt but they just don’t look super comfortable. Decisions decisions!

 

[CraigT78]

You do not want to go down the chair rabbit hole, lol.

 

[Chrisja77]

You do not want to go down the chair rabbit hole, lol.

I actually found these on Facebook. I really wish there were 8 but they look great and super comfortable. I suppose I could find 2 decent fold up chairs for when 8 are playing.

 

[upNdown]

I actually found these on Facebook. I really wish there were 8 but they look great and super comfortable. I suppose I could find 2 decent fold up chairs for when 8 are playing.

I’m not sure those look super comfortable. There’s a lot of us here who love Gasser brand chairs - they’re super comfortable with huge padding on the bottom and a semi-flexible back. I personally wouldn’t settle for custom chairs just because the upholstery would match, but that’s a personal decision.
As for the table, I like octagons because they give everybody a closer reach to the middle and a nice defined space where people are less likely to be encroached on by their neighbors. But if you think you’ll be playing with 6 or 7 players often, a circle is an easy call because it gives you more flexibility with space.
Those chip wells you were looking at earlier; they’re straight out of the 70s. Since no limit games have risen in popularity, it makes much more sense for people to have their chips stacked in front of them so everybody at the table can easily count your stacks, than obscured in those wells. But if you’re playing limit poker it matters less.
And finally, I’ve played plenty of board games on my padded rail, padded surface table with my kids. Its great. Better than a normal table, I’d say. I can’t see any reason to get a hard top cover for a table if it’s just for board games.

 

[Chrisja77]

Ok, plans are finalized and table should be done in about 4 weeks. We went back to an octagon shape instead of round…I’m old school and just love the look of an octagon. It will not have a racetrack and it will have a padded rail with drink holders recessed into the rail. It will have the rough oak table topper so my wife will enjoy the look of it sitting there and I’m pretty sure I’m going with a dark blue speedcloth and black vinyl rail so it will be very similar to this one. I’ll post pictures of the finished table when I can.

 

[Skagglio]

Ok, plans are finalized and table should be done in about 4 weeks. We went back to an octagon shape instead of round…I’m old school and just love the look of an octagon. It will not have a racetrack and it will have a padded rail with drink holders recessed into the rail. It will have the rough oak table topper so my wife will enjoy the look of it sitting there and I’m pretty sure I’m going with a dark blue speedcloth and black vinyl rail so it will be very similar to this one. I’ll post pictures of the finished table when I can.

All great decisions. Sorry but you have to get a @T_Chan cloth too It really adds a wow factor over suited speed cloth.

As for chairs keep an eye out for casino furniture liquidation auctions. You can get some great deals on chairs perfect for long poker sessions.

 

[Chrisja77]

All great decisions. Sorry but you have to get a @T_Chan cloth too It really adds a wow factor over suited speed cloth.

As for chairs keep an eye out for casino furniture liquidation auctions. You can get some great deals on chairs perfect for long poker sessions.

I really want a custom cloth but haven’t decided on a name for the poker room yet. I figure I’ll give it 6 months or so and see what sticks and then get a cloth and chips made to match. Haha

As for chairs, I’ve got some feelers out in Facebook marketplace land but nothing solid yet. I do have notifications turned on for a few different word combos so maybe something will pop up soon.

 

[Jake14mw]

I never understood the allure of an octogon. So, how do you sit people when there are 5,6, or 7? But what I think doesn't matter for YOUR table. If you like octogons, then that's a good enough reason. Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll love it, and enjoy the process.

 

[Chrisja77]

I never understood the allure of an octogon. So, how do you sit people when there are 5,6, or 7? But what I think doesn't matter for YOUR table. If you like octogons, then that's a good enough reason. Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll love it, and enjoy the process.

Octagons are all I’ve ever played on…they hold a lot of memories and nostalgia for me. I’m sure I’d love a round table if I went that way also.