poker table felt "underlayment"?

[Fred Voorhees]

Got the red felt that will be used for the poker table today and it should be applied within a week or so. I don't want to attached the felt directly to the plywood that it will be mounted on. I was thinking of using something to soften the feel of the felt as it is being played on. Does anyone have any ideas on this or know what is used in other applications such as this? I was thinking of simply buying some cheaper, run of the mill felt at the local fabric store and apply that underneath the good stuff.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

The only one that I have seen made, used a stiff foam backer. It was the consistency of those egg grate mattress toppers, but stiffer. One of my cousin's friends made it, it works great!

[Norman Hitt]

Got the red felt that will be used for the poker table today and it should be applied within a week or so. I don't want to attached the felt directly to the plywood that it will be mounted on. I was thinking of using something to soften the feel of the felt as it is being played on. Does anyone have any ideas on this or know what is used in other applications such as this? I was thinking of simply buying some cheaper, run of the mill felt at the local fabric store and apply that underneath the good stuff.

Fred, I think I would get some of the thin foam (about 1/4" or less thick) that the upholsterers use to wrap, or place over their main upholstery's foam cushions. I would iron the felt, and stretch it just enough to assure no wrinkles, and fasten it with a spray trim cement (as per the directions) to the foam backing, and then "Lightly stretch" the whole thing over the table top just enough that it is smoothe and then fasten it underneath the table. I wouldn't glue the foam to the table top. You can then smooth out the whole thing by "very lightly" steaming the felt where necessary if needed.

[JayStPeter]

The new owner of the poker table I just finished used headliner foam. It's about 1/4" thick. Available at fabric stores. I think it's actually what casinos use.

Jay

[John Hart]

Please don't take this as I know anything about this...but when I read the original post, I thought of a rubber mat. So I looked at a company that I'd had heard of a while back and took a look. Their prices look really good and I think you could get away with the 1/8" sheet

http://www.alasco.com/flooring.htm

I've never been to a casino (ain't that weird?) so I don't know the feel of a real table.

[Doug Shepard]

I think I've seen that 1/8" and 1/4" foam board at art supply stores too. Might be worth a try if you strike out elsewheres.

[Karl Laustrup]

Not sure if you've tried a search or not, but I did a quick search using "Ask Jeeves" for poker tables. Found a lot of places to get tables and custom felt and chips.

If you aren't to far from Atlantic City, might I suggest a trip to one of the casinos and talk to one of the table games managers. They can probably tell you or find out who makes the tables for them. The maker could tell you what they use under the felt.

I might be able to find out from some friends of mine that work at a local casino, but it might be a couple of days.

Karl

[Fred Voorhees]

Thanks for the suggestions fella's. My main concern was a way to kind of buffer the corners where the felt would turn away from the playing surface and turn down towards the underside of the plywood that it will be mounted on. I am planning on slightly rounding off the corners with a small round over bit, but I think some slight cushion to the table surface will add a nice feel. Karl, Yes, if you could find out from your freinds what is used under the felt, that would be great. I am within a few days to a week of working with the felt, so that timing could be, well, timely. :rolleyes: