Game Table

Build an outdoor project that you'll enjoy for many seasons to come.

Game Table

Get ready for some family-friendly competition. Make this wooden game table, and you’ll be one point ahead before the games even begin. The project includes a square insert with a checkerboard on one side and a plain painted surface on the other side, perfect for playing cards or board games. Strips of moulding around the tabletop edges keep small game pieces or dice from tumbling to the floor during intense matches.

General Instructions

Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List as a guide and adjusting for fit. Scribe to fit and miter cut all half-round and screen moulding.

Step-by-Step
  1. Build the tabletop and center board.
    • Measure and mark 5 1/2 inches in from each side edge of the tabletop. Scribe four lines to mark a square in the center.
    • Drill a pilot hole in one corner of the center square to give a starting point for the jigsaw. Cut out the square using the jigsaw, and discard the waste.
    • Sand the interior perimeter of the tabletop. Attach screen moulding to each interior edge using glue and 3/4-inch brads.
    • Attach screen moulding to the exterior edges of the tabletop using glue and 3/4-inch brads.
    • Attach half-round moulding to the top of the tabletop using glue and 3/4-inch brads. The outer edges of the half-round moulding and the screen moulding should be flush.
    • Measure and cut the center board from a second piece of plywood. Attach screen moulding to the edges of the center board.
  2. Attach the skirt and center frame assemblies.
    • On the underside of the tabletop, measure and mark 2 inches in from each side edge. Scribe a line on all four sides.
    • Attach the long skirts to the short skirts using glue and pocket hole screws.
    • Align the inner edge of the skirt assembly with the scribed lines. Attach the skirt assembly to the tabletop with glue and pocket hole screws.
    • On the underside of the tabletop, measure and mark 3/4 inch in from the edges of the center square cutout.
    • Attach the long center frames to the short center frames with glue and pocket hole screws.
    • Align the outer edges of the center frame assembly with the scribed lines. Attach the frame assembly to the tabletop with glue and 1-inch brads.
    • Attach the straighttop plates to the underside of the tabletop on the inside corners of the skirt assembly. Attach the Parsons table legs to the tabletop per the manufacturer’s instructions.
  3. Apply a finish.
    • Fill all holes, sand, and apply primer. Allow to dry.
    • Using the first paint color, apply two coats of paint to the moulding on the edges of the tabletop and to one side of the square insert. Allow each coat to dry.
    • Using a pencil or colored chalk, mark off 64 (11/2-inch) equal squares to create a checkerboard pattern on the square insert. Paint the squares with alternating colors. Allow to dry.
Cut List
Part Material Size (in inches) Quantity
tabletop plywood 3/4 x 24 x 24 1
center board plywood 3/4 x 11 7/8 x 11 7/8 1
long skirts 1 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 22 1/2 2
short skirts 1 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 21 2
long center frames 1 x 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 14 2
short center frames 1 x 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 11 4
legs Parsons legs 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 28 4

Finished Dimensions

Height: 29 inches
Depth: 24 1/2 inches
Width: 24 1/2 inches

Comments

Submit Comments & Photos

Submit Comments & Photos

Please feel free to post a comment and someone from LowesCreativeIdeas.com will review your submission. You can check back after 24 hours to see if your comment has been posted.

Fields in BOLD are required to preview and submit your comment.

  • Instructions

    Your email will only be used in the event that one of our moderators needs to clarify your comment. It will be used strictly in the context of or relating to your comment.

    Your email will NOT be used for marketing purposes or shared with any 3rd parties.

  • Your Photo

    Have a photo? Attach it to your comment here.

    Make sure your photo meets the following requirements:
    Max File Size: 2 MB
    File Types: jpeg/jpg, gif

    Photos will be scaled to fit this space.

    Upload Photo
    Character count: 0
    (500 character limit)
  • If you do not see the security words image:

    • Make sure the version of your browser is current. For example, you need to have at least Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 6.0 or higher.

    • Make sure your graphics (pictures and images) are turned on or enabled in your browser.

    • Refresh your browser and try again. You may want to copy your comment though as it will not be saved.

    Instructions

    Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

    If you are not sure what the words are, either enter your best guess or refresh the browser for a new set image.

  • Terms & Conditions




Total Votes: 6
Be the first to comment

These "social bookmarking" services make it easier to share and manage your favorite online content.

StumbleUpon, digg, and del.icio.us help you gather content from around the web, describe it how you see fit, and tag it for easy sorting. These sites also allow you to see what other people are gathering and tagging (if they've made it public), and find new content that may interest you.

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also allow you to share content that you find interesting, with people who visit or subscribe to your personal profile.

Post to StumbleUpon! Post to digg! Post to del.icio.us! Post to Facebook! Post to MySpace!


Project Details
Skillset: Intermediate
Rough Cost Estimate: $125*

Lumber and millwork: $75
Hardware and supplies: $50

Rough Time Estimate: 2 Days
Tools
  • table saw (or circular saw with a straightedge guide)
  • miter saw (or handsaw with miter box)
  • jigsaw
  • drill/driver with bits
  • pneumatic nailer(or hammer and nail set)
  • Kreg Jig R3 pocket hole system
  • power sander and various grits of sandpaper
  • framing square
  • tape measure
  • pencil or chalk
  • small paintbrush
Lumber **
  • 1 (6-foot-long) 1 x 2
  • 1 (8-foot-long) 1 x 3
  • 2 (24-inch-square) sheets of 3/4-inch plywood
  • 2 (8-foot-long) pieces of 1/4- x 3/4-inch screen moulding (#3542)
  • 1 (8-foot-long) piece of 3/8- x 11/16-inch half-round moulding (#9155)
  • 4 (28-inch) Parsons table legs (#839)
Hardware and Supplies
  • 4 straight-top plates (#838)
  • 1 box (11⁄4-inch) pocket hole screws, coarse thread
  • 1 box (#18 x 3⁄4-inch) wire brads
  • 1 box (#17 x 1-inch) wire brads
  • wood glue (Titebond II, #41217)
  • stainable wood filler (#168408)
  • primer (Valspar, latex, #165217)
  • paint (Valspar Ultra Premium, Sea Kiss 5005-9C, semi-gloss)
  • paint (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Coffee Bean EB47-1, semi-gloss)

*Does not include applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.

**Availability varies by market.

Tags:

Tags are keywords or terms that have been assigned to a piece of content.

A tag list is simply a list of all the tags used on all content and a count of their frequency.

A tag cloud is a visual representation of a tag's popularity based on how often it is used throughout the site.

Click on a category below to view other projects and articles. (What are these?)

Display as: cloud | list