Considering a Table Purchase
 

I get got back from the Gambler's Life Expo in Vegas. After looking at all the various vendors offering custom built tables, I preferred the tables made by these guys (Big Slik).

Before I pull the trigger, I wanted to see if anyone here has any experiences with these guys or knows of anyone who offers similar quality.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

The guy that does the Big Slik tables actually posts on the Scott Keen table building forums. He goes by the name 1enick72

Since he is a pro builder he has his own "Builder's Showcase" forum.

http://www.scottkeen.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=35

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

KAknight,

Thanks for the link!

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

I would like to offer my opinion that speed cloth is a surface the I and most of my poker friends find the most pleasing.

I don't know about the rest of you, but even with fairly short fingernails, when I shuffle chips on a felt type cloth I just pick up grit under them.

Here are some other random opinions:

1. I have always preferred having no drink holders and either using side tables or at the very least, using the portable drink holders that you can secure by pushing under the railing (then my drink is part of my stack, lol).

2. I have been to a home game with a beatiful looking table that I absolutely hated playing on. It was one of those tables where there was a nice padded railing, then there was a ring of wood inlay (sometimes with drink holders) and then the cloth. It sucked for chip shuffling because the cloth was so far away and also for looking at your cards.

3. I think the height of the table in relation to the chairs is a factor as well. I don't know what's ideal but I have experienced quite a variety of ratios from belly button to mid chest. Just a thought, it might be standard but who knows.

Edit: My favourite style is the one in the Gallery first row third picture maybe with some different graphics. The one that I think sucks is first row, fourth picture.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

I'm not a fan of the racetrack. My preference is a round felt only table with drink holders in the rail.

Something similar to this.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

Have you considered building your own?
I know for a fact that you need virtually zero skills to succeed at this... I am proof.

Got all the info from the various links in this thread.

Please give it some consideration.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not a fan of the racetrack. My preference is a round felt only table with drink holders in the rail.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this for "home game" tables. As for the racetrack; have you ever tried to deal from either of the "end" positions? In casinos, you'll notice that the dealer is not at either end, and there are reasons for that.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

I will add this- we built a killer table for under $250 and it is exactly what I wanted. Did it in a single weekend.

I then got invited to a home game where they payed big money for a custom build table and it was awful. It looked ugly, the racetrack was set above the felt with obvious seams, and the felt was a low grade quality.

My impression of the Big Slick tables is that they are better than what these guys got (ironically, they had theirs built and shipped from another state yet live probably within an hour from where Big Slick is made) but I'm VERY happy with what we were able to do in a single weekend and you can't beat the price.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

I would do it myself if I could, but I have no skills with this kind of stuff. I also do not have most of the necessary tools, so any estimate will have to factor in purchasing the tools needed.

I know a guy who built his own and it's not level, the felt is not tight and overall it looks shoddy. That is how I envision anything I attempt turning out.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

4_2-

Have you gotten a quote on what a nice looking circular table would cost? Those look amazing.

-John

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

Anyone know where you can get an affordable one in the Chicago area?

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

[ QUOTE ]
I would do it myself if I could, but I have no skills with this kind of stuff. I also do not have most of the necessary tools, so any estimate will have to factor in purchasing the tools needed.

I know a guy who built his own and it's not level, the felt is not tight and overall it looks shoddy. That is how I envision anything I attempt turning out.

[/ QUOTE ]I understand this completely- I have no skills either. My brother-in-law did the work because he's into building stuff and it came out fantastic- I just bought the materials. We followed some instructions from a couple different web sites and it wasn't hard- just a lot of effort.

Anyway, I guess if you don't know anyone like whose good with this kind of stuff, probably best just to buy one. Take heed, however, that I've experienced at least one custom build table that was pretty bad.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

4 2 it where are you from?
i also make tables and might be able to help you out.
im located in philly and could save in shipping to northeast
www.phillypokertables.com

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

[ QUOTE ]
4 2 it where are you from?
i also make tables and might be able to help you out.
im located in philly and could save in shipping to northeast
www.phillypokertables.com

[/ QUOTE ]

I live outside of Philly. I'm looking for a round table because of space considerations. Shoot me a PM and we can talk.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

pm sent

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

Thanks for your input Pants.
I am building a table & the only thing I had left to decide on was the playing surface.
I've read so many posts where they either love or hate the speedcloth. Some call it "sandpaper"......but since my games will be no more than 4-5 hours I don't see this being a problem.

Plus I DO NOT want any piling or fuzzing that I may get from velveteen or other similar fabrics.

Thanks again.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

Update. It is getting delivered in a couple of hours.

Here it is right before shipment:

Thread with pictures.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

I finished my basement last year and bought a custom-made table as the centerpiece. After doing a lot of searching on the Internet for what I wanted, I bought my table from B&V Poker Tables (www.bvpokertables.com). I was very pleased with the whole process.

First, I dealt directly with one of the owners ("Vic"). He was very responsive throughout the process. He even kept me up-to-date with photos of my table as it was being built.

Second, the final table is great. It's 96" hold-em table. It is cherry-stained, with pedestal legs. Although B&V has a lot of design options, I opted for a race-track design with cupholders, leather rail, and decorative nailhead trim. The playing surface is black/bronze suited speed cloth. You can find pictures of my table on B&V's gallery pages: my table can be found on P.1, No. 3, and P.3, Nos. 2 and 8.

The final price of the table, including shipping, was about $1,500. The table would have been substantially cheaper without the decorative trim, but I really liked that look.

The table gets very good reviews from the players in my home game, and it looks great in my game room.

P.S.: As you are putting together your budget for this project, don't forget about the cost of chairs. When buying a table this nice, you really can't just put folding chairs around it. Expect to spend at least $100/chair, and $150 to $200/chair is more realistic. If you want some suggestion on chairs, feel free to send me a PM.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

WARNING!!! Be careful of the B&V site in MXP's post. It is an actual company who makes poker tables, but their galleries contain viruses. My firewall and virus software helped me out here, but I can tell you that both of the galleries I clicked on, after going to the gallery pages, tried to forward me to something else that wanted to install either a virus or some kind of spyware. The main page seems to be fine, but do not click any of the links inside.


Note: I do not post this to implicate MXP or his post. It is likely that the B&V web site has been hacked.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

[ QUOTE ]
WARNING!!! Be careful of the B&V site in MXP's post. It is an actual company who makes poker tables, but their galleries contain viruses. My firewall and virus software helped me out here, but I can tell you that both of the galleries I clicked on, after going to the gallery pages, tried to forward me to something else that wanted to install either a virus or some kind of spyware. The main page seems to be fine, but do not click any of the links inside.


Note: I do not post this to implicate MXP or his post. It is likely that the B&V web site has been hacked.

[/ QUOTE ]

wow... I'm sorry if there is a problem with this site. I visited it today to get the page numbers for the gallery that showed my table, and I didn't have a problem. This company was very reputable in its dealings with me, and I think that the owner would be very upset if someone had hacked his site. I might give them a call to alert them to a potential problem. Thanks.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

[ QUOTE ]
wow... I'm sorry if there is a problem with this site. I visited it today to get the page numbers for the gallery that showed my table, and I didn't have a problem. This company was very reputable in its dealings with me, and I think that the owner would be very upset if someone had hacked his site. I might give them a call to alert them to a potential problem. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

I surely don't hold you at fault for this, MXP. I've seen a lot of web sites who have been hacked in a similar fashion. Most likely it's the "fault" of the company hosting B&V's site for not having sufficient security.

And what you added about the chairs is true. There's no point in spending a grand or two on a nice table if you're going to put $20 worth of mix-and-match yard sale chairs around it.

Re: Considering a Table Purchase
 

I like the stackable padded chairs like they use at hotel conferences and banquets. You can spend between $30 and $80 per chair for these and they are sturdy, comfortable, and the stacking is really nice for those odd off-nights when no poker is being played.