Custom Table Purchase (1 Viewer)

[Segundo]

I have purchased a house and now have a man cave. No more bachelor pad and folding poker table for me. I have always wanted a custom table, have a few questions and wanted to hear your opinions on certain table features.

Size – I have the room and I am thinking of going with the largest size available 108"L x 46"W x 30"H to give each player as much room as possible. Are their any issues with larger tables other than gathering a pot and dealing cards long distances?

Rail – I like a raised rail and was thinking the making it the height of a barrel of chips. But I hear an inch to an inch and a half is the way to go. Any size recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Also are there any benefits to a raised rail vs a table height rail?

Race track – I have only played on a table with a racetrack once at the Mandalay bay. I found it difficult to pick up the cards but other than that I liked it. It seems many players are against this type of feature/upgrade. If the racetrack is the same height as the playing surface does this elevate the problem of misdeals, card viewing, spilling chips etc.

Cup holders - I hate spills, but I also like putting my drink right in front of me. I know people can spill beverages on drink carts just as easy as at the poker table. Just really cannot make up my mind on this one. Do larger or deeper cup holders help at all?

Cup holder position on the rail – If I do decide to get cup holders built into the rail, I have seen two position options and other than maybe player spacing I was not sure why they were configured this way. The first configuration is a cup holder directly in the middle of the end of the table and the second configuration is a cup holder at each side of the end of the table. Does anyone know why there is a difference and which one is better?

Lighting – I never thought about adding this feature. What are the pros and cons?

Chip Drawer – I like the idea of a chip drawer but I hear people complaining about hitting their knee on it all the time. I am a big guy and need all the room I can get. But I also don’t want to get up for chips every time someone busts out.

If there any other features/options I missed please let me know.

Also, which builders do you recommend? I live in Virginia I was looking at:

• Pharao
• BBO
• Big Slick

 

[T_Chan]

I have purchased a house and now have a man cave. No more bachelor pad and folding poker table for me. I have always wanted a custom table, have a few questions and wanted to hear your opinions on certain table features.

Size – I have the room and I am thinking of going with the largest size available 108"L x 46"W x 30"H to give each player as much room as possible. Are their any issues with larger tables other than gathering a pot and dealing cards long distances?

No not really any big drawbacks other than reach. Try to make sure players at the ends help out by throwing in their cards and chips a bit further towards to middle.

Rail – I like a raised rail and was thinking the making it the height of a barrel of chips. But I hear an inch to an inch and a half is the way to go. Any size recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Also are there any benefits to a raised rail vs a table height rail?

A full barrel of chips high is probably not very comfortable. I usually see anywhere between 3/4" to 1.5" as the norm, but you do you. The main event tables at the wsop are around that tall but it's for the advertising.

Race track – I have only played on a table with a racetrack once at the Mandalay bay. I found it difficult to pick up the cards but other than that I liked it. It seems many players are against this type of feature/upgrade. If the racetrack is the same height as the playing surface does this elevate the problem of misdeals, card viewing, spilling chips etc.

You'll find that most members here are against racetracks. The biggest drawback as you said is that it's hard to pick up your cards, but if you pick them up while they are on the felt and then pull them back to the racetrack then you solve this problem. A bit inconvenient though. 90% of our customers don't get a racetrack, but there's still the 10% that do.

Cup holders - I hate spills, but I also like putting my drink right in front of me. I know people can spill beverages on drink carts just as easy as at the poker table. Just really cannot make up my mind on this one. Do larger or deeper cup holders help at all?

Jumbo cup holders help reducing spills. Double deep (custom that we make) cup holders help that problem even more.

Cup holder position on the rail – If I do decide to get cup holders built into the rail, I have seen two position options and other than maybe player spacing I was not sure why they were configured this way. The first configuration is a cup holder directly in the middle of the end of the table and the second configuration is a cup holder at each side of the end of the table. Does anyone know why there is a difference and which one is better?

In front of the player is best imo. When you sit between cup holders with them in the rail, elbows have a tendency to bump into them.

Lighting – I never thought about adding this feature. What are the pros and cons?

They can actually help by adding additional light to see your hole cards. Not many drawbacks other than sometimes it can lose its appeal after a while.

Chip Drawer – I like the idea of a chip drawer but I hear people complaining about hitting their knee on it all the time. I am a big guy and need all the room I can get. But I also don’t want to get up for chips every time someone busts out.

Best to get one that's shallow as possible. Or you can get a custom built chip aside cart which would be near the dealer, but not in the table. Sounds like leg room is a priority.

If there any other features/options I missed please let me know.

Also, which builders do you recommend? I live in Virginia I was looking at:

• Pharao
• BBO
• Big Slick

Chanmanpokertables.com, prices in Canadian, shipping is usually under $500. That's is of course

Please excuse any typos, typed all that on my phone.

 

[Highli99]

I wish I had known about @T_Chan before I did my bbo table. He will do my next table 100% for sure.

 

[Sparty]

I agree with everything @T_Chan says here....and he is great to deal with....see link.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/the-retreat-at-roswell.21832/

only thing that I would change on mine is that I wouldn't have the chip tray in the table (i almost never have a dedicated dealer). Tony Chan advised me against it, but i didn't listen (so it's all on me). But I love my table!

 

[allforcharity]

Chanman table for the win!

 

[sergiophil]

Recommend @T_Chan, he is a great guy and does amazing work, as others do here too. If you have some capable woodworking/carpentry skills, build yourself! Take your time and a lot of helpful people here to guide you along the way.

Cup holders are great, but I have drink carts. I have had a few players spill on my tables, and didn’t care for that. Although, the cup holders that slide under the rail work ok, but not sure if that would work for a raised rail.

I personally don’t recommend a racetrack for the reasons you gave. Looks are great, but if you want that, just hang it on the wall!

I don’t have a chip drawer for the reason I need the leg room for my players.

Good luck!

 

[p5woody]

I was going to respond with my thoughts but I think T_chan covered it all much better then I could. Listen to the man he knows what he is talking about and does great work, highly recommend him.

 

[Coyote]

First of all, welcome to the forum!
@T_Chan is an amazing craftsman and a great person to work with. Highly recommended.
If you or a friend have good carpenter's skills, you could have the legs (and dining top, if desirable) made by you locally, to cut down shipping volume and weight. But get your playing table from Chanman, with a custom felt anyway!

Custom felt: On the darker side, to reflect less light from the (supposedly and ideally) very strong lighting from above. Make sure it's not the very same color with any of your expensive chips. Betting line is of paramount importance, IMO.

Racetrack: Good only for looks; especially if it's wooden, it's a hard surface, unsuitable for chips and cards, and the noise produced by chip shuffling can be excruciating.
If you can't live without one, make it at least same level with the playing area and have it covered by a softer material.

Cupholders: Either in the rail or in the playing surface right next to the rail (if the table is wide enough, ie at least 48in IMO). In the latter case, a whisky glass wouldn't protrude higher than the rail's height.

Rail height: Maybe 10 or 12-chip high, to protect stacks, but to not make you feel you 're playing in a bucket.

Size: If it's meant for more than 8 players, the game can't really be self-dealt. So, with a really huge table you can have 10 players + dedicated dealer.
My preference for ovals is still as round-ish (wide and short) as possible, ie 55x102in for a huge 10+1 (or at least 48x94in for a cuter 9+1). I 'd say width 50in, but I know that above 48 it gets into a more expensive category.
With 24 in of seating perimeter available per player it's very comfortable and suitable for dining too.

Welcome again and good luck.

 

[abby99]

Welcome to PCF!

Great advice in this thread.

A very long table with a dedicated dealer is comfortable and works well, until you start playing stud games where seeing the cards at the opposite end of the table is difficult. If your game is self-dealt or if you might play mixed games in the future, consider a round or a short wide oval table.

 

[yone]

Hello and welcome!
I agree with almost everything of what people responded with.
There are threads debating the cup holds/ no cup holder for the rail. I am in the camp of drink carts. I like the cleaner look and feel of the rail without cup holders. Personally, find it annoying if I’m stuck at a seat and the only place to put my drink is right in front of me. If you want the luxury to have a 108” table for space, I think you would appreciate the drink cart set up.
Love the raised rail, mine is 3/4 inch. There is not much function, but aesthetically it brings depth to the table. To me feels like looking down in an arena. I have LED lighting which is nice, but definitely lost the wow factor. I could care less about turning it on now. Of course new guys to the table want to see it turned on.
If you have a dealer, then chip tray probably would be better than a drawer. I don’t have a drawer so, I can’t speak on that much. Also, as others have said 108” would be great with a dealer. I have a 98” and sometimes for small games we don’t have a dealer and it works out. I prefer regular bridge cards because I can just peel back the corners to see my hand. However, if I’m on the ends of the table it can get tough to see the flop. My eyes are not the greatest. I have both jumbo and regular set ups.
As for who to buy from, my expience of vendors outside the forum has generally been a bit shady. I have spoke through messages with @T_Chan and he seems very genuine and was extremely honest with my goals. He also has a ton of positive reviews and support from this forum. If you Don’t have good customer service as a forum vendor, you won’t survive here.
Good luck with you set up!

 

[Segundo]

Thank you all for your warm welcomes and great advice. This will surely make my decisions much easier.

Abby99 you are 100% correct great advice in this thread!

@T_Chan I want to say you have my business based upon all the positive reviews, respect and feedback. I will be contacting you shortly.

Thanks again guys!!!!