Considering a Table Purchase

[4_2_it]

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.

[KAknight]

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

[4_2_it]

KAknight,

Thanks for the link!

[PantsOnFire]

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.

[4_2_it]

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.

[dcasper70]

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.

[Jetboy2]

[ 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.

[Se7enTwo]

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.

[4_2_it]

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

Here it is right before shipment:

Thread with pictures.

[Jeff76]

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.