I saw one in a video and decided to try it myself. Did OK for a first try. Made of red cherry with antique oil finish. Top is 2 layers of auto foam headliner covered with dark green velvet, Had G and pips lasered into it.

Click here to view attached image.

Here is second pic showing the laser work.

Click here to view attached image.

I'm very impressed!!

Thank You Michael.

Beautiful work!

-Bryan

Nice work. Looks good and professional.

Whoa very nice.

Nice work indeed!! Looks just the right size to.

Your table is very nice.

If your have “electronic” skills , like me,
you don’t get close to woodworking tools.
(Need to keep my fingers).

This is what you end up with for $110.
If you buy a table. (Should have paid more attention
to 7” x 14” dimensions.)

This is a “Modern Masters Close Up Table by Arlen Studio”.

Yes, your table is very nice indeed. Size looks good too.
(Arrived with foot that had fallen off, and felt was not cut straight.)

Click here to view attached image.

(Didn't edit quick enough).
Corrections below.
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Your table is very nice.

If your have “electronic” skills , like me,
you don’t get close to woodworking tools.
(Need to keep my fingers).

This is what you end up with for $110.
If you buy a table. (Should have paid more attention
to 7” x 14” dimensions.)

This is a “Modern Masters Close Up Table by Arlen Studio”.
Arrived with foot that was knocked/or fallen off, and felt was not cut straight.)

Yes, your table is very nice indeed. Size looks good too.
How much time did you need to invest?

Holy cow

You have a great pad Magic-Dabra!! It's a bit classic but with nice modern touches. I made a couple 'tabletops' themed like flightcases:
http://members.home.nl/magic.evi/Close%2......500s.JPG
EVI

Nice

Thanks Mr. Ree. I put about 12-15 hours into it. Since it was my "first" it took more time. I had to create as I went along and take a step back and re-figure when it didn't work just right. I could probably cut that time in half on a second one.

The material cost me about $20. I already had the wood & finish. The most expense was the laser engraving and I got a deal on it at $30.

MagicErik - I had seen your pictures before and REALLY like that table. It looks heavy. Is it? I have never worked in metal so I would not even attempt anything like that. Beautiful job.

I came to this forum lookong for this very topic.
My brother-in-law is a professional carpenter/woodworker.

Among other things, he builds gorgeous oak poker tables and sells them for a nice profit.

Anyway, it occurred to me that a poker table is much like a nice closeup pad.
Just the right amount of "spring" and softness, covered with velvet.

What is the optimum size for a tabletop pad like this?
I definitely feel that my cheap 12"x16" mat is way too small. I have rather large hands and doing a coin matrix on it feels cramped.

I imagine he would just build a frame out of molding, mount everything on a sheet of 3/8" plywood? What other materials...what kind of foam and how thick?

Can anyone help me out with this?
What "features" should I have incorporated into this?
Anything that will facilitate thread work or any other specific genres?

mitchb2- the pad is 14 3/4 x 20". I used 2 layers of 1/4" headliner on top of 1/4" plywood for the top and covered it with velvet. The frame is 2" red cherry/ I edged the inside so the top would recess down in it slightly. I would love to do one bigger, maybe 20x25 BUT remember as you get bigger then it becomes cumbersome to move around, load in a car, etc. You're getting close to a TABLE and you might as well haul around that poker table. I made mine to be bigger than a closeup pad and put the frame around it for "class" and give it some elevation. I actually am adding two small legs to the back of it to give it a 3" tilt so it is easy to see for people that are seated...or short.

I have seen these with cutouts in the back to hold coincs and/or cards. Go to Justin Millers site and look at the closeup table that Sebastian Houstin builds for him. They are beautiful works of art with a storage chest underneath and are in several sizes. The site is http://www.closeupjm.com/justinmillersigtable.htm

Thanks, dabra.

I've seen some mention of HDF or MDF instead of plywood.
How does this compare in terms of weight and durability, do you know?

For a 15"x20"x1/4" the weight difference would be small. I think MDF is heavier than plywood but I don't use it so I really couldn't say. I'm a "real wood" man myself

MDF is usually heavier than plywood, but the plywood is more durable. I would opt for cabinet grade plywood for a project like this.