Folding college poker table built for son

[j p frog]

not fancy..but functional!

first..table from the end:
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4684/endshotdh1.jpg

and now from the side:
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9190/sideshotho0.jpg

other side shot:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6087/sideshot2pw5.jpg

under the middle:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5935/sidecloseupda2.jpg

underside with framework:

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2905/undersideqj2.jpg

another underside shot:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9929/closeupsidepr2.jpg

middle top view:

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/448/middletopsb5.jpg

folded side view:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7262/foldedsidexz9.jpg

another folded view:

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/169/foldedquarteringbv8.jpg

middle support and braces:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3120/middlesupportandbracespa8.jpg

another view of middle support and braces:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7132/supportandbraces2lu5.jpg

padded rails for middle of table:

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/161/middlepaddedrailsbq8.jpg

the two folding ends are attached with a piano hinge on each side. there are also (3) 1/4" x 3" bolts that use tnuts to reinforce the joint on each side. also three bolts with tnuts attach the removable middle padded rails that allow the table to be folded up. the middle leg is attached with two bolts and tnuts and the braces merely slide into angled cleets. i had to wrap the suited cloth under the hinges or else it would have come up easily. took about 16 hours to design and build it. i know it is a basic table, but it is all he will need to supplement his income in college! circumference is about 210"....so plenty of room for 8....could squeeze in 10 as long as not the size of my son( a still growing 19y/0 6'5" and 325lbs.

comments? questions?

[SMXT]

Hold on, this thread is BS. What about all of our ideas on how to make a college table better.

Stripper pole
kegerator base
beer tap instead of cupholders at each position

these were good ideas. you're killin' me Smalls

[j p frog]

Hold on, this thread is BS. What about all of our ideas on how to make a college table better.

Stripper pole
kegerator base
beer tap instead of cupholders at each position

these were good ideas. you're killin' me Smalls

it's about time you showed up. Did you get the "moddy porthole" to use at work?

[SMXT]

sorry, haven't even tried it yet. barely keeping my head above water as is. i'm sure if you can get it that i should be able to as well.

[wyatt880]

JP, I wanted to ask you about the middle section of the table. I was thinking of making one like this, except to have the cut go all the way through vs having a removable center part of the rail. Do you see any cons to this? Would it just not fold up very well with the padding?

I'm going to be making the table for my local K of C, so I want to keep the parts to a minimum and try to make sure that it is easy to set up/knock down.

[j p frog]

the removable rail seemed the best answer to folding. you might get away with shortening the middle pieces so it folds easily, but I didn't think it would look right.

[wyatt880]

I'm toying with having it fold the other way, putting some type of leg and rollers in the middle for support, and folding legs on the ends. Then you'd just lift the ends, and put down a set of folding legs.

My thought is that would be a bit easier to lift and drop the legs, vs. having to flip the table over.

[j p frog]

only thing I can see that might be a problem is the damage to the rail/table surface when you store it.

[wyatt880]

That is a very good point...