Poppabear's Amazing Portable Folding Terrain Tables!

[dchadpage]

The end of one side should have wheels on it, and a handle on the opposite end so that you can pull it around like a dolly when it's folded up.

[Blue Claw]

As an amateur carpenter guy, how did you make those joins? Is it just wood glue?

[Poppabear40]

The joints are glued using gorilla glue. It's super strong. The frame is also stapled to the plywood from the other side so it's not going anywhere... also with gorilla glue.

[Blue Claw]

Ahh cool, thanks!

[Poppabear40]

But you have to watch it on the gorilla glue.. it expands into a kind of epoxy foam. use about half what you would normally use to glue a board.

[redmanphill]

Excellent, I was planning on doing the same myself really soon! Nice to have a guide to follow and maybe somone to get advice from.

[Poppabear40]

I think I am going to have to make one more board that attaches to the bottom when the board is folded up. It occurred to me that when the board is folded the inside edges of the terrain are going to be setting on the floor and could get chipped... I may have to do something about that other than storing it on its side...

[Poppabear40]

Here is an update on the boards.. The wood work is all finished and the latch hardware is done. My original idea for the cabinet handles is not going to work. I am going to use leather straps instead. This is the two tables folded and stacked. and a close up of the latch hardware.

[Poppabear40]

Beginning work on the terrain boards for my brother's board. He wanted simple flat terrain with removable hills. Nice different mix of turf rather than doing a straight green turf.

[Brownboot]

If you have a router it wouldn't be too hard to make a template and cut some handles out. Little chisel and sanding action you could have a handle at more comfortable dimensions pretty easily...

[Gopz]

For handles, just cut away a small rectangle of wood away above the latch, just big enough to get your fingers through. That way you don't have to have handles sticking out.

[cannonball]

Well done on your project sir.

[Poppabear40]

I do have a router.. That's not a bad idea. I have found that just sitting them against your hip with your fingers under the edge is a very easy way to carry them. So, handles may not be needed at all.

[Brownboot]

That's true. They're only 2 feet across, so anybody roughly adult sized shouldn't have a problem.

[Space Donkey]

What about using copper pipe for handles? I've been having a go at making a desk with an OSB top and pipe for the structural supports and it goes together fairly smoothly as long as you don't bother with the threaded pipe. You would just need a section of 1/2 copper pipe cut to the proper sizes, some 90 degree joints and flanges. For connecting them you would have a couple options: 1. since it doesn't have to be watertight you could use plumber's epoxy/jb weld in the joins, or 2. if you have experience/access to welding equipment you could braze the pipes together. I know I was nervous about welding at first but it turned out to be quite fun and easy. Of course my welds weren't all that pretty, but they are mostly hidden from view. With a little bit of practice and some better flux I could see it being extremely easy to make some pretty welds.

[Poppabear40]

Interesting thought SpaceDonkey...

[Space Donkey]

You could even add a little more strength to the pipes by filling them with spray insulation. Since copper is a softer metal it might bend depending on the spacing of the arms and the weight of the table.

I just had another idea that you might want to think about as well since you said you were going to put these tables into production, backpack straps.

[Poppabear40]

Finished the terrain boards and glued them into the frames this weekend.

[zor]

Interested to see where this goes indeed.
An idea for the carrying system...
How about a nylon webbing harness? A single big loop that goes under the table and comes up on both sides to make a handle, then a loop that wraps around the sides of the table to allow you to carry the table without carrying stress being put on the table sides, only on the webbing.

[m3g4tr0n]

This looks fantastic! Great work.

[itchmonkey]

Want....can you make a few and send them to Australia?

[Mountains of Madness]

He really is the best Brother and Uncle. Thank you Poppabear!! I have to say this is the best Christmas present EVER! My son and I will be playing on this baby at home, and it is so lightweight it will be easy to pop it into the back seat and take it up to the local game store so we don't have to use the awful terrain offered there.

[Poppabear40]

I got a lot of stuff done the other day. I glued my zuzzy mat into my folding terrain table. I didn't like the sulfur so I repainted it to snow.

[Poppabear40]

[Poppabear40]

Played a game last night to try it out.. The buildings and such are from our local game club, not mine. I didn't have room in my truck to bring any of my goodies other than the board. I will get some games in this weekend and shoot some pics with my terrain. I am also going to make some hills and walls to go with this set and my troll theme.

[R Gordon 1028]

What decision did you come to regarding the open/hinged end of the table??

[Poppabear40]

What decision did you come to regarding the open/hinged end of the table??

For the regular terrain board I think i am going to make a cover piece that clips on and protects it. For the folding board with the mounted zuzzy, it closes off the end on it's own so there is no need to cover it. Here are some pics of our games this weekend on the new boards.

[Poppabear40]

and the folding board with the zuzzy. Working on a hill set for the snow theme on the zuzzy right now that fits in with my troll theme as well.

[Poppabear40]

I decided to go further with the snow theme. Added snow flocking on the board and made some new hills for the set. I will shoot pics tonight.

[Mordjinn]

Very stylishly done snow board. A lot better than all snow white. Zuzzy looks like a good buy.

[Ironbullet]

I have to ask, how much would one board cost to make? I've got simple knowledge of wood working and this looks like a project I could start working on. But I'm curious of cost and how much you spent on each table.

Also, you said you cemented each foam board to the actual folding portion of the table. Did you think of any ways in which you could switch out foam boards instead of making it a permanent piece of the set up? That way, you make less folding boards and more foam battlefields to switch in and out on the table.

[Rukus]

This is a great idea. If you ever figure a cost I might be down for one

[MagnustheJust]

Yep...

That is daaaaaamn pretty!!

[Scorpionfish]

Gorgeous tables, and I really like the zuzzy mat painted with the snow/ice rather than the sulfur.

[Poppabear40]

Actual materials for the boards is not that much.. under 50$ but they are labor intensive and take quite a long time to make. Also there is a lot of woodworking tools involved. Luckily for me, I have a wood shop, and can pretty much build anything I want.

[OTee]

????
You glued down the Zuzzy but you have the hinges on the upper side of the frame.
If you close the table wouldn't the mat rip or come off, as the lower side will move radial to the hinges ?
And closed the corners of the middle line ot the playing surface halves will be appart (two times frame hight)

Or is the mat that elastic to compensate for that?

[Poppabear40]

????
You glued down the Zuzzy but you have the hinges on the upper side of the frame.
If you close the table wouldn't the mat rip or come off, as the lower side will move radial to the hinges ?
And closed the corners of the middle line ot the playing surface halves will be appart (two times frame hight)

Or is the mat that elastic to compensate for that?

The center 2x4 section of the zuzzy where it sits over the split is not glued down. There is plenty of room for the zuzzy to move in the center without splitting or stretching.

[MagnustheJust]

Actual materials for the boards is not that much.. under 50$ but they are labor intensive and take quite a long time to make. Also there is a lot of woodworking tools involved. Luckily for me, I have a wood shop, and can pretty much build anything I want.

Can I come hang out at your place?

[Poppabear40]

totally Magnus! LOl

[theHman]

As much as I like your tables poppa - and I like them a LOT, it was your trolls that really caught my eye!
Well done all around sir.