Easy tutorial on building your own gaming table with a huge TV inside. Please subscribe to my channel: www.youtube.co... Be featured on a future video, visit: www.launchpadb... Contact info: Mark@launchpadb.com
Thanks for the vid, cool project and good production values in the video. A few notes for people trying to do this; * A corner clamp will make putting the corners together easier, this can be very difficult to do. * pocket hole screws are another way of doing the work underneath. * many tv's have curved areas underneath - so placing the flat board for a spacer may not always work out - have to be very careful with placement and test fitting. * many tv's have mounting holes in the back - having one of the supports underneath use at least a couple of these holes would add extra stability for the tv, in keeping it in place. * putting some cable management (ties, velcro, etc.) into the frame will help with keeping the various cords in place. Great video - just a few minor suggestions to dealt with some of the things that could pop up. thanks again for the video.
I'd also add to this, use a flat, non adjustable, TV mount. I used one from Echo Gear and it's only about an inch thick, then build a brace off of that. Use tree nuts on the edged of the bottom frame to make the screen height adjustable and fine tunable corner to corner.
@@EvidentGames Just making sure I understand correctly! Do you mean you install the TV mount normally and then can use a plank or something connected to the rest of the frame behind it?
Using a similar build for Dungeons and dragons. The screen is EXCELLENT as a modular map for minis! Thank you for the inspiration! 🤓🎲 I might accent mine in maple or oak 🤔
Now you have the gaming table, what kind of things can be displayed on it? I would have thought you could link up a computer or a Raspberry Pi or something to it. Is this for gaming, like dungeons and dragons? What do people use these gaming tables for? (ideas) 😊
I love this design. It is the easiest one I have found that I may actually be able to build. I will be adding in a fold down outer rim so players can put there snacks, drinks and dice. Other than that this is perfect. Thanks for sharing this!
Glad you liked it! I was hopeful that removing crazy measurements was the way to go and to build around your TV instead. Post a picture here by adding a hyperlink to it. We would all love to see the outcome!
My brother and I used a CAM to etch a 1-inch grid onto a large sheet of plexiglass to place over printed terrain. This'll definitely be our next project. We also tried doing side-lighting along the edge of the plexiglass to illuminate the grid, but couldn't get it to work quite right. The center-most part of the grid didn't light up much, but the edges certainly looked really cool. Was like playing on a Tron game grid. :D
Table top games and architecture work is the primary consumer use of the teli-table. Your tv is good for a 1st time build and as a starter example, I always recommend that DIY constructors do as much research as possible prior to starting a build. My recommendation for any teli-table builder is the following. 1. Use MDF board as it's lighter than most woods and still can support the weight of a tv. Then use barrenttine treatment on the MDF board as it will make it water resistant (protect from spills, moisture and humidity, etc). MDF board can warp over time from humidity and conditions from changing seasons when not treated properly. MDF board is also easier to sand, shave, cut, etc than other woods of equal or greater density. So if you were inclined to widdle or Dremel in scenery, art, etc into the wood to give it a much more appealing look, it's the wood to work with on a budget level. 2. The under frame which supports the tv should have the tv mount screw holes aligned to the support frame for which you are building and purchase threaded bolts that extent from the support frame into the threaded mount holes for the tv and mount the tv that way. 3. Ventilation, this is the primary mistake every DIY does on these teli-table builds. Tvs have vents designed to let heat our from the top of the tv (heat rises), TV's are not designed to lay down and be on. So when you leave your tv on the heat when produced rises and will trap itself on the back side of the screen. This increases risk of fire, when inner components heat up they can short out, burn out, etc. You need to install computer cooling fans (depending on the size of your tv it will differ in the number of fans needed). Install fans on lower or side vents to push air in the tv, while having the top vents clear of blockage so air can vent out. 4. If you wish to put a battle mat trim around the table top I recommend you use double rubber peal n seal (roofing insulator, not the single rubber with the aluminum siding) one side is adhesive while the other plain rubber like material. Then you can cover with felt or any material you like. This cleans up the look of the table and gives it a softer surface than plain MDF. 5. You can go on Amazon and buy USB/AC/DC wall jacks and install them on two sides of the table so that players can charge their phones, laptops, etc. 6. You can buy table legs on Amazon at a reasonable price too. DIY is always a fun way to learn new things and test yourself as to just what your capable of as well as ignite creativity in your mind. I tip my hat to all DIY individuals. There are several places you can buy these custom tables, prices very on quality as 1) they are rarely cheap, 2) for the most part the higher the price the better the quality. My table I have $28,462.00 invested in it, it's used for D&D and I've made alterations after alterations over the yrs. It pretty much can do almost anything lol I however used African blackwood instead of MDF for my table as cost was not an issue. Enjoyed the video, always like to see people creating new things. I hope you continue to add and alter your teli-table and would love to see what it turns into.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to just build a portable case around the tv instead of building it into a table? I imagine the same principles apply, but would it be ok to just build in a few slats onto the back, connected to the frame at the correct level, and leave the rest open air?
@@RahulLanka13 a portable case? Making a case to transport your TV, or making a enclosed frame around your TV that you can just move around and still watch TV in?
@@gettingpolitical I'd be using it for table top games like in this video, just without the built-into-a-table aspect of it. Just enclosing it in a case so it looks nicer and can be transported to game nights.
@@RahulLanka13 the same principles apply for any build that a TV lays down while on. It needs ventilation, you can have simple passive ventilation (meaning no fans) on a build and it can operate, yet does not reduce risk of fire and it will decrease the life of the electronic. The quality of the TV is what will be the primary factor in this though. Sony, Samsung for example have internal fans in most TV's while off brands tend not to. Just make sure which ever sides of your TV have vents have a few inches of space for air flow. The length of time the TV is on is also a factor in heat production.
You did the neighbor dirty 🤦🏽♀️😂😂 RICK ROSS!?! 😂💀🤣 after he so generously helped you lift the tv 📺😂🤣 “It be ya own people’s”..I can’t even 😂 Great video though lol
I'd love to try some arduino touchscreen project to that table tv of yours. I mean, there's some project out there using that scanner light and infrared LEDs fir that. Imagine a DIY capacitive touchscreen upgrade on this! Just wow!
It would be epic, but the table wouldn't be a "table" anymore per se. Unless you cold find a protective overlay that still allowed touch sensitivity. The folks that commissioned this build wanted to be able to use it as a dinner table when not in gaming mode.
Looking at building something like this, albeit with a smaller tv, 36", and install a set of controls at each end, use it as a dedicated Atari Pong table
The one I want to make is slightly different. I want it to have an outer platform so people can put books, papers and whatever on the table without covering the tv. Also I'm not sure if it's going to work how I want it, but I would like the tv framed into a case as opposed to just set into the table, and then hinge the bottom end of the tv case and have a kick stand, so the tv could be propped up and watched, or have video games played on it.
That sounds doable, but it's hard for me to picture exactly what you are looking to make. If you added an industrial hinge to the feet you should be able to angle the table like you said though.
I am planning on building one that mounts to a drafting table. That way I can open a PDF of the plans “Blue Prints” I am working on, and be able to tilt the table up a bit. Then, I can compare the paper copy of the plans on the screen to identify differences. I think it will work great.
Make sure you add a touch rectangle on top to make it touch with 10 touch points. I have 2. Not a touchscreen tv but a touch rectangle placed on top of the tv which plugs in via usb to the pc.
im looking to build this so i can play D&D with friends and not have to worry about drawing sets and locations all the time... something where i can hook it up to my pc and have files pre set
Joshua Gregory the original design had the acrylic over the whole table but we couldn't find a sheet large enough. I left a gap around the edges of the TV so spills would potentially go straight through the floor. Sylicone is a good idea though.
You can just add what ever wood you want. So lets say you place some sheets of thick furniture grade plywood on either side of the TV to lengthen the table. Then build the frame around that. I hope I am making sense.
Nicely done, but I'm curious if there is any distortion when siting down at the table and looking at it from an angle? This is a common problem when you have any space between the screen and the actual surface that the miniatures sit on. For example when looking at it from directly above the figurine will appear to be in the exact correct spot for what it on the TV, but from an angle the mini might appear to be elsewhere.
You'll suffer from parallax when you have the acrylic over the TV. You can reduce it by using the thinnest sheet of plexi you can find. Also, removing the front bezel from the TV so the plexi lays directly against the LCD will help. You can then matte off the area where the bezel used to be so it looks nice. Lowering the viewing angle will also help. Making the table legs height-adjustable would be a great benefit, anything from coffee table height to a dinner table height. If you want a thicker piece of plexi, an alternative is to have a 1" grid etched into the plastic. That way you know your figures, tokens, tiles, templates, etc. line up on the plastic grid, which will be in-line with the TV when viewed at the proper angle. Also when using a thin sheet of plexi, just make sure the TV is rigid and flat. You don't want it to flex, especially when people inevitably lean on the table. That will keep the screen from cracking (an LCD is just liquid crystals sandwiched between large sheets of glass that can be very fragile.) You could probably play directly on the TV itself, but I'd be worried about people dropping dice or other heavy objects and cracking the screen, so a thin sheet of plexi is probably best. Just FYI for other people: I found that a 48" or larger TV will be able to display a standard game mat at 1:1 with no scrolling. You can now find 50" generic brand TVs for under $300.
Been thinking about making something like this. My main problem is I would want to go more complicated right away. (sunken play space, more space to hold character sheets, dice trays, cup holders, space for a DM screen)
I went super basic due to the low budget I was given. That being said I would be reluctant to go too extreme unless you have super woodworking skills. It's easy to get in over your head if not. What if you make smaller rolling carts that slid under the table?
I was thinking of making this table, but a bit shorter, then making a second (taller) table around it for the player space. But then, I'd love an adjustable TV (being able to tip it up in different angles)...I have too many ideas for it. Tabletop RPG maps, board games, console arcade, the pinball idea sounds fun, and to even have it tipped ~25 degrees up in "normal" TV mode for playing video games from the side of the table.
Real table legs are pretty cheap & look much nicer. Plus, you can get some that screw into mounting plates, so you can remove them & store the whole thing under a bed. Or swap for short legs & keep it in the living room as a coffee table that doubles as an extra computer monitor.
I don’t work with wood often, and I don’t have too high a budget. Would it be possible to just saw a whole in a small table, and mount an old monitor to it using a wall mount? That’s my plan for now, may do a bigger one in the future.
It depends on the type of table. You need to ensure you have a hardwood table because TVs tend to be heavy. The wood will need to support the weight and also accept the hardware.
I want to make a table like this but use a smaller tv. I want to make a poor mans cocktail arcade table. Do you have any suggestions for wood? I would like it to be strong but cheap, but not cheap enough that it just falls apart lol.
Hey Robert. I am about to undertake a similar project. A smaller table with a smaller screen that scrolls through a photo gallery, or can be cast to using a Chromecast. I am planning to use Pine cause it's really cheap, sturdy, and can be easily stained for anyone's taste. The legs will be made of 2x2's and the rest of it 1x4's. The wood alone is pretty flimsy on it's own, but once assembled it will hold up.
I've had a couple of people reach out for a custom table, but the cost is prohibitive, especially when you factor in shipping. I'd be down to build one if someone was willing to pay though.
Gaming table :) I'm building one this winter. with rails on the outside edge for removable platforms that have cup holders so as to avoid spills on the surface. Also? Why plexiglass? I would think actual glass is better, if more expensive.
Plexi is much cheaper and lighter. The budget I was provided was too low as well. Thicker Plexi would have been better too. Good luck. Post photos and share the link in the comments so we can see.
i was looking for someone who actually made my idea of a table/desk and i havent found ANY other than this... - what would i use it for?. clearly just to have a cool looking desk, what else xc. flex desk, 2nd monitor but its the desk :)
I'm trying to make a home theater coffee table it will have a hidden popcorn machine that is revealed by the table split ingredient in half a pop up projector and a touchscreen display in the top as well as hidden/pop up charger ports and I'm trying to make it all accessed by alexa may you can give me some pointers
Do you have any drawings of your creation? I would start by laying out the components you want to build into a table. I basically built the table around the TV, so you would use a similar approach.
The build is pretty sturdy. You would want to use heavier wood for the bracing on the underside. I would recommend 2x6's or just add more cross boards behind the TV.
This Guy - Awesome to know! Great build, it seem easy enough if you know at least the basics of wood working, or if you know someone who knows more, haha.
Agreed, but the folks that commissioned me wanted to go cheap. You could use 1x10s instead of 2x6s. That being said the table I built is so large they dont have issues with it.
If I build another I am hoping the person hiring me would be willing to invest more. I would have loved to add a nice stain with poly coating for durability. We could then add some color changing LEDs. I like your flavor.
There's a guy on Etsy who makes tabletop versions with the option of having Lichteneberg wood burning on the sideboards. I'm just starting a project for a 49" tabletop version and am considering doing that along with the LED underlighting. Would love to put some copper effects on the piece but they're difficult to find. Will likely opt for brass or steel instead. I DID find a dragon door-pull I'd like to use as a carrying handle.
The seam between the plexi and the wood wasnt an issue as it overlapped the edges of the TV. In theory any leaks would drip past the TV onto the floor. Also, I wouldnt recommend drinks on the table, but thats on the table's owner. You could apply a bead of clear silicone sealer if you wanted to though.
I tested the table in low light situations. I did have an overhead bulb in the garage, but the image of the screen was brighter which eliminated glare. I would suggest using lamps for lighting instead of an overhead light if you are planning to use darker images on the screen.
Great design man!!! i want to make table like that, for my pinball FX games! The thing is! i would love the table to be horizontal but i also would love to table to go up on one side so that it feels more like a pinball machine... how would you make a table go up for the occasion?! and down when the family has to eat :)??
You would need to add a hinge to the table legs that you want to extend upwards. In my video I add a bolt to each corner where the legs attach. You could get away with only adding a bolt to one side of the corner and setting the leg inwards so there is enough room when the leg sits at a slight angle. The legs that extend would need to be modified to have a slot cut down it that knobs could be fastened through. (2 to prevent pivoting). There would be a second part of wood with a similar slot as well. When you loosen the knobs, you could extend the leg, then refasten the knobs to hold it. Apologies for not being crystal clear here.
@@ThisGuyProductions how do I get in touch with you to send you pictures of my creation. Inspired by you and some of your design idea. I want to do a video and also want to make sure I give you some credit
Thanks Nick. B's are better than C's (wait......nvm..) The folks that hired me wanted to go cheap. I did suggest slide outs that would allow snacks, drinks, storage...etc. Adding it wouldn't be too difficult though.
Tutorial fails because he didn't even know to use the mounting bracket holes on the back of the monitor. Could've done the same work with two horizontal boards in the centre distributing weight evenly, rather than four diagonal pieces. If you recreate this work, be smarter about it. And also add a touchscreen foil (can be bought on amazon or aliexpress for $200) to put underneath the plexiglass so you can have a touchscreen table.
Whoa...where do you live? Do they have cell phones or internet? This idea was old 5 years ago. Nice table, but you must live in a mud hut if this idea is new to you.
