Poker Table Stencils
Introduction: Customize Your Home Poker Poker Table
This Instructable covers the process making a custom graphic for your home poker table.
I made this one for my friends poker table.
I made it at TechShop. It is a really cool place, check it out: www.techshop.ws
Step 1: Creating the Vector File
In order to cut out a stencil on the laser cutter, you need a vector file. I used Adobe Illustrator.
Prepare the file like you do anything else for the laser cutter:
Choose whatever font you want, outline only with no fill and with stroke set to 0.001 for vector cutting.
Depending on what letters you use, you may need to modify your file to create tabs so the interior cavities of the letters remain in the correct position and don't fall out after cutting, the 'b' shown in this photo is an example of what I am talking about.
Step 2: Choose Your Stencil Material and Cut to Size.
Set the position of your stencil on the playing surface of your poker table as desired. And secure with a lot of blue painters tape. Do your best to make sure that the bottom surface of the stencil is flush with the playing surface. Whether your table is old or new, big or small, a little paint and stenciling can make it the piece that you've been hunting for, but never quite found. The best part is that a stencil table top is budget friendly! That thrift store find that you've had stored away or that inexpensive Ikea-like furniture that you just bought is the ideal candidate! Here are 4 ideas for transforming any. Convertible Round Poker & Dining Table with Convenient Storage, by RAM Game Room Regular price $1,099.00 $949.00 On Sale Convertible Round Counter Height Dining, Chess and Poker Table Set Vegas With 4 matching chairs by Sunset Trading.
I chose to make the stencil out of cardboard because it was cheap and available. It worked but you may want to use a heavier poster board or something else instead.
The cardboard worked but I think something else would have probably worked a little bit better... Whatever you choose, just make sure it is safe to use on the laser and can handle a couple coats of spray paint without absorbing too much and letting the paint bleed through.
Cut the material to fit the bed of the laser cutter you are using.
Step 3: Cut the Stencil
Choose the appropriate vector cutting settings for your material of choice and run the file on the laser cutter, in a few minutes your stencil will be ready to go!
Step 4: Position the Stencil
Poker Table Stencils Game
Set the position of your stencil on the playing surface of your poker table as desired. And secure with a lot of blue painters tape.
Do your best to make sure that the bottom surface of the stencil is flush with the playing surface. I also used some thumb tacks in select areas to secure some tricky corners of the cardboard stencil that weren't flush with the playing surface.
Step 5: Cover Everything Else With Newspaper
Cover the poker table with newspaper everywhere except where the lettering will appear after spray painting.
Step 6: Paint!
With everything but the stencil covered in newspaper, spray paint over the stencil onto the surface one coat at a time as directed on the spray can.
I used a spray paint designed to work on fabric, here is a link on amazon
You may see a little bit of paint go through to make unwanted faint marks on the playing surface around the edge of the stencil like those shown in the photo. A damp cloth did a pretty good job of removing these with a bit of effort, I wouldn't count on it but it worked for me.
A big thanks for club xanadu for letting me alter the poker table!
Poker Table Stencils
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There is no better way to make your poker table a one of a kind than to add a custom poker table felt. Now you can spend a lot of money on expensive felts, or in the spirit of the site... you can do it yourself. Believe it or not its actually not all that difficult to add a graphic to your poker table felt. There are two easy ways to go about doing it. The first is more durable, but will only allow you to use one color and only a dark color unless you are using a really light colored felt. The second method will allow you to make detailed multi colored graphics, but may need to be touched up if your poker table gets a lot of use.
Stencil and Dye
An easy way to add a graphic to your felt is to make a stencil of whatever you want on the table and mist dye over the area. If you try this I would perfect your technique on a piece of scrap felt before you go at your table.
You need to make sure that you have an ultra fine mist so that there is no bleading. In the past I have used a martini mister . You also have to make sure that you only spray a small amount at a time. This will prevent bleeding and make your image crisp and sharp around the edges.
Stencil and Fabric/Craft Paint
You can make very complex designs with some stencils made from posterboard, fabric paint, and a little imagination. The nice thing about using stencils is that you can try them out on a safe surface before you destroy your poker table felt. You can also paint freehand but the edges will never be as crisp as if you use stencils.
Whatever you do to add graphics to your felt, never try to customize your felt before it's stretched and attached to your poker table. This will result in distorted or off center pictures once you finally do get it onto the table.
For more variations on your poker table visit our variations section. Also if you have ideas of your own be sure to let us know in the forum on through the contact page. If you build a poker table and our plans helped out give something back. Share some photos of your table.