Dice Like Thunder Podcast Portable Wargames Battle Surface;

Average Material List cost for a 4 x 8 table;

2 x 4 hardboard x 4 x $4.97 = $19.88 1 x 2 x 8 board x 6 x $0.92 = $5.52 1 x 3 x 8 board x 2 x $1.57 = $3.14 1 x 3 x 10 board x 1 x $1.98 = $1.98 Box of 1 1/2 nails = $1.98 Box of #10 x 2 screws = $1.98 Box of #10 x 3/4 screws = $1.98 $36.46

Easy to make at home using only simple cuts and basic tools. Affordable using inexpensive and widely available materials. Sturdy with multiple supports for battle surface and firm attachment points. Expandable from 4 x 4 to 4 x 8 and larger. Breaks down into easy to store sections. Features include a raised edge to prevent stray dice rolling off the table. Designed to be placed on top of another table that is too small for a legal game.

Make 2 for all table sizes

Expansions; Make 1 for a 4x6 table Make 2 for a 4x8 table 24 2 x 4 hardboard 2 x 4 hardboard 24 1x2 x 8 board; Cut 6 pieces to 24 long 1x3 board; Cut 2 pieces to 24 long

28

20

1x2 x 8 board; Cut 3 pieces to 28 long Cut 3 pieces to 20 long 1x3 board; Cut 1 piece to 28 long Cut 1 piece to 20 long Cut 1 piece to 51 long

51

Tools Needed;
Screws Nail glued into a 1/8 hole. 1/4 hole Tape Measure Hand or Power Saw Power Drill Screwdriver Staple Gun Hammer

Step 1) Board cutting;

Cut 3 1 x 2 x 8 boards each into 2 different 20 lengths and 2 different 28 lengths. 2 28 20 20 28 Be aware that some wood is lost during the cutting process so the last cut piece per board will be slightly smaller than the rest. To reduce this cut the boards in half and then cut them into 28 and 20 pieces.

Step 3.1) Pre-assembly;

Staple and glue a 1 x 2 x 20 board to the side of a 1 x 2 x 28 board as shown. Glue the boards together. The staple is only a temporary attachment to assist later assembly while the glue is still wet.
Ensure the separation is exactly 8.

staple glue

Repeat to make 6 identical pieces.

Step 2) Hole Drilling;

Drill a 1/8 hole 6 and a 1/4 hole 2 from the end of the board at one wide end of each 1 x 2 x 28 board piece. Drill each hole through to the other side but take care to make sure each one is perfectly straight. Glue and insert a 1 1/2 nail into the smaller hole of each board and hammer it as flush as possible. Repeat on each 28 board.

Step 3.2) Pre-assembly;

While the glue is still wet, lay each piece on a flat surface as shown. Slide the pieces together so the nails insert into the opposite hole. The fit should be slightly loose. Ensure that they are placed exactly as shown. If they do not slide together easily then make any necessary adjustment to the nails or wood so it does slide together easily.

1 1/2 nail 6 glue 2

1/8

1/4

Step 4) Assembly;
Glue the top of each end piece and lay 6 attached end pieces in pairs on a flat surface as shown. While the glue is still wet, place the 2 x 4 hardboard on top of the end pieces set making sure there is a thin gap between each panel. Adjust the attached end pieces until there is one at each far corner at the edge of the panel and another linked pair in the exact center of the panels. Attach each panel using the 3/4 screws. Use at least 3 screws per board. 19 7 12 screws Detach the completed sections and allow the glue to dry before moving on. Make any necessary adjustments so the table sections slide apart and together easily.

glue Once the glue is dry you have a completed basic 4 x 4 game table surface that is ready for decoration and game play.

Continue to; Step 5) to build each expansion panel. Step 6) to build the table edge.

Step 5.1) Board cutting;

Cut 3 different 1 x 2 x 8 boards each into 4 different 24 lengths. 2 24 24 24 24

Step 5.2) Hole Drilling;

Drill a 1/8 hole 6 and a 1/4 hole 2 from the end of the board at one wide end of each 1 x 2 x 24 board piece. Drill each hole through to the other side but take care to make sure each one is perfectly straight. Glue and insert a 1 1/2 nail into the smaller hole of each board and hammer it as flush as possible. Repeat on each 24 board. 1 1/2 nail 6 glue 2 1/4 1/8

Be aware that some wood is lost during the cutting process so the last cut piece per board will be slightly smaller than the rest. To reduce this cut the boards in half and then in half again so you will have 4 different 24 long pieces.

Step 5.3) Assembly;

Slide each 24 board with nail into an opposing nail and hole as shown. Make sure each piece slides in smoothly.

Step 5.4) Assembly;

Glue the exposed top of each end 24 piece and while the glue is still wet, place the 2 x 4 hardboard on top. Push the end pieces in towards the center until they touch the center panel. Pull them back until there is a 1/8 gap between each panel. Attach the panel using the 3/4 screws. Use at least 3 screws per board. Once secure detach the completed sections and allow the glue to dry before moving on. Make any necessary adjustments so the table sections slide apart and together easily.

Push together

Glue

Push together

Once the glue is dry you have a completed basic 4 x 6 game table surface that is ready for decoration and game play. Repeat steps 5.1 through 5.4 to make an additional center section giving you a 4 x 8 game table.

Continue to; Step 6) to build the table edge.

Step 6.1) Board cutting;

Cut 1 1 x 3 x 8 board into 4 different 24 lengths. 24 Cut 1 1 x 3 x 8 board into 2 different 20 lengths and 2 different 28 lengths. 28 Cut 1 1 x 3 x 10 board into 2 different 50 lengths. Discard the scrap. 20 20 28 24 24 24

3 51 51 Be aware that some wood is lost during the cutting process so the last cut piece per board will be slightly smaller than the rest. To reduce this cut the boards in half and then in half again so you will have 4 different 24 long pieces.

Step 6.2) Assembly;

With the table surface fully assembled, screw and glue each 20 , 24 and 28 raised edge piece onto similarly sized pieces board frame pieces. Keep the bottom of the raised edge flush with the bottom of the table surface and the top about 2 higher than the table surface. Attach the 52 end pieces to the board and the adjoining long table edge pieces. When fully assembled pull the table sections part to make sure that the entire assembly detaches smoothly.