How to Build Your Own Hexagon Poker Table

You can build your own hexagonal poker table in a day -- and for a fraction of what you would spend at a store. If you're not only a poker enthusiast, but also a woodworking hobbyist, you can build it with tools you already own. The next time it's your turn to host the game, you can entertain your poker buddies at your homemade poker table.

To build your own hexagonal poker, you need to be able to use a circular saw, a power drill, an electric sander and a protractor.

Put on your safety goggles. Label the plywood sheets A, B and C.

Locate the center point of sheet A by drawing two diagonals across it. Drive a 3/4-inch nail halfway into it. Tie one of the string's ends around it. Tie the string's other end around the pencil so that the distance from center to pencil is 22 inches. Keeping the string taut, draw a circle onto sheet A. Sheet A is your poker table's playing surface.

Lay the straight edge across to circle's perimeter so you section off a 22-inch straight line. Draw that line. Place the straight edge at the end of that line to mark off another 22-inch line. Continue this process until you have completed the circle. You now have a hexagon with 22-inch sides. Remove the nail.

Cut out the hexagon with the circular saw. Sand the edges until they are smooth to the touch.

Draw a hexagon with 28-inch sides onto sheet B. Cut out the hexagon with the circular saw. Sand off the edges until they are smooth to the touch. Sheet B is the poker table's backing.

Cut six 2-by-28-inch strips and six 4-by-28-inch strips from sheet C. The 4-inch strips will be the poker table's rail. The 2-inch strips will form the lip. Cut off each strip's corners at a 60-degree angle so that you have 12 trapezoids whose long side measures 28 inches.

Clean off your work surface. Place the 1/4-inch foam sheet on the work surface with the smooth side facing down.

Cover sheet A with a layer of spray adhesive. Lay sheet A, sticky side down, onto the foam sheet. Stretch the foam over the edges. Staple the foam to the the plywood, placing the staples close to the edges and 3 inches apart. Trim off the excess with a utility knife.

Place sheet A to the side. Clean off your work surface. Place the casino cloth onto it with the good side facing down. Place the padded side of sheet A onto the casino cloth. Fold the cloth over the edges. Fasten it to the plywood with staples, placed close to the edge, no farther than 1 inch apart.

Line up the rail pieces so that you have a hexagon with 28-inch sides. Fasten them together with straight brackets and 1/2-inch wood screws. Flip the rail over. Line up the lip pieces against the outer edge of the rail. Secure them to the rail with 1 1/4-inch wood screws.

Cut six strips of high-density foam, 28 inches long and 6 1/4 inches wide. Staple one side of each strip to the bottom of the lip. Stretch the foam across the rail. Fasten it with staples. Trim off the excess at the corners. Put the rail aside. Clean off the work surface.

Place the vinyl sheet face down on your work surface. Cut out a hexagonal ring with 32-inch sides and a thickness of 10 inches. Cut narrow V-slits 4 inches deep into the outside corners of the ring. Cut 2-inch deep narrow V-slits into the inside corners.

Center the rail, padded side down, on the hexagonal faux leather ring. Stretch the vinyl onto the rail's back and secure it with staples.

Slide the playing surface into the rail. Gently tap it into position with a hammer.

Place sheet B onto the playing surface and rail. Slide it into position until all edges are perfectly lined up. Secure sheet B to the rail with 1 1/4-inch screws.

Mark off a square with 28-inch sides around sheet B's center point. Position the metal folding legs at the corners of the square. Secure them with 1 1/4-inch screws.