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Folding Octagonal Poker Table How to build your very own folding, octagonal poker table! Lessons Learned. As always with a project like this your learn heaps of lessons along the way and this was no exception. Choose your materials wisely!
Although I've made my table out of MDF I'm not sure if I would make another one from the same material. It's heavy, it's dusty and after my experience of cutting out the cup holders it doesn't like having holes cut out of it! Allow space for your material in your calculations!
This only really affects the padded rail. I measured the padded rail to fit exactly but when the padded rail material was stapled over the top, it added extra thickness to my table and started to push the table apart down the middle. All I had to do was remove the end staples and plain 2 mm off each end and re staple but it's worth not making the mistake in the first place. No matter what you do, if you want a sturdy table you'll need legs on 4 corners!
My aim right from the beginning was to build a table that folded in half so that I could transport the table around between homes for our games. I tried all sorts of measure to make the table sturdy but in the end, I added a removable leg to either side of the middle of the table which made the table super sturdy. Unless you have help from someone who's pretty handy with a sewing machine � don't do it!
If it hadn't have been for my amazing wife, the table probably wouldn't have been completed and if I had, would have been a complete mess! This is especially so for the padded rail. Each piece was custom cut and stitched otherwise the padded rail would have been history! If you can't sew or don't know anyone who can, make a round table instead the principle is the same and you'll be able to do the tricky bits easily. Try and make the table symmetrical!
I'm not the best measurer or builder the world has to offer and things would have been easier if all sides of the table were exactly the same � specifically the drilling of holes etc! It's not a biggie but would have been nice! This was a great project to do and I've learned heaps along the way. As I have stated, I'm no builder or carpenter, just a guy with an idea and a will to make it happen. I'm really pleased with how the table has turned out for my first go and who know, at some stage we may improve / remake another table! 
Here is the final table folded in half. 
Here is the finished table ready for action! 
The finished table being used and abused by the Poker Pals team! | 
