216 – Poker Chip Trays

Video - March 14, 2014

Way back in 2006, I was commissioned to build a set of poker chip trays by a gentleman named Chris Hoomani. I then had the good fortune of writing an article in Woodcraft Magazine featuring those very trays. Read the article here. I haven’t revisited this project since then and I thought it was time to bring this design to the Wood Whisperer audience. These trays are fun to make and you better make a bunch of them since poker fans really love these things!

You can download plans for this project in both SketchUp and PDF formats.

Products Used

Discussion

Steve March 14, 2014 11:27 am

Very cool! I’ll have to make a set for my son for either his birthday or Christmas.

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Sean Rubino March 14, 2014 2:05 pm

A decade ago I would have been all over this small project.
Loved the end! Phil Helmuth reference was fantastic.

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Joey March 14, 2014 2:51 pm

That looks like a fun project! This may just be the “next” cutting board type trend inspired by the Wood Whisperer! Thanks Marc

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Rapid Roger March 14, 2014 5:30 pm

Marc,
I made a set of eight of your trays way back in 2006 when it came out in the magazine. I didn’t have too many tools then. A table saw, drill Press hand held router and a Mouse sander. All the exotic wood I could find was red oak at the big box store. :) But, I didn’t let a few minor things stop me and even took it a step further and made a matching tray to hold two decks of playing cards. :)
Then I made a larger box to hold all nine trays for travel. I had previously made an eight sided poker table out of red oak with fold up legs and covered it with ORANGE felt and the completed set really looked sharp if I do say so myself. :)
I sold the whole set to a neighbor later and don’t have any real good pictures of it to post for you. SORRY! :(

Rog

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Stuart March 14, 2014 7:54 pm

Neat little project and likely a profitable one given that these are easily batched and that many of the target customers have money to burn ;) Also, Awesome shirt! Clearly intended to worn in “THE DANGER ZONE!”

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Greg Powers March 15, 2014 11:14 am

Would a spindle sander make this build a LOT easier ? As sanding with that dowel looks like it would take forever…

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 15, 2014 11:58 am
  
  Yeah it can definitely make it a little easier. But it really isn’t all that much sanding to do it by hand. If you are making twelve, that would be a different story.
  
  Reply
Greg Marquis March 16, 2014 6:00 am

Hi Marc, you mentioned not to buy cheap sandpaper. What sandpaper do you recommend?
Thanks,
Greg

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 16, 2014 6:26 am
  
  I used to use a lot of Norton 3x but I’m using a lot more Klingspor lately.
  
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Joe March 16, 2014 11:08 am

Marc,
I was wondering what you thought about cutting the grooves in the top before adding the sides back on? It seems like it might make a small lip for when you stack them that will stop them from sliding off each other. Not sure – but wanted to know if there was something I was missing before I tried making them that way.

Thanks – and great video!
-Joe

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 16, 2014 7:13 pm
  
  If I remember correctly, the grooves were an after-thought on the original design. So I just had it locked in my head to continue making the grooves after the strips are applied. No reason you can’t cut the grooves ahead of time.
  
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  - Joe March 17, 2014 5:23 pm
    
    Marc and Rubio,
    
    Thanks for confirming what I thought. Also, another thought – anyone out there have a good source of supply for the poker chips to put in these bad boys? I have found them as cheap as 25 for $2.50. (the website was http://www.pokerchipswholesale.com/) If anyone has a better source of supply please share it.
    
    -Joe
    
    Reply
Sean Rubino March 16, 2014 3:17 pm

Joe, go with your gut. Most chip racks are done just as you are describing so the fortunate folks who leave the tables with more than one rack don’t spill their chips on the way to the cashier window.
I know I’m not Marc but that’s what I would do.

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Andrew March 20, 2014 4:59 pm

Why not drill the 1-inch holes after the sides are attached? Then you could have perfectly aligned half-holes on each side without any alignment sanding.

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 20, 2014 5:31 pm
  
  Primarily because you’d get a lot of tearout.
  
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Tom Buhl March 21, 2014 10:29 am

Love poker with a toddler.
Just remember that the house always wins…
unless a toddler is involved.
Great little project.

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c,bootsma March 23, 2014 2:30 pm

hey marc, really like your podcasting and expertise. I needed too catch up with the show so I watch for a few weeks show 1 until now ( I know it a bit sick but its good)
but i have find your twin brother lol
keep up the good work and you are really inspiring for me.
here is a link for you twin http://www.tvgids.nl/artikel/5.....e_Me_Out_/

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- Marc Spagnuolo March 24, 2014 3:58 pm
  
  haha yes….I like to consider every person with dark hair, 5 o’clock shadow, and a somewhat “Mediterranean” look to be my brother. :)
  
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Chet March 27, 2014 7:04 pm

I wish I was the first to comment on the t-shirt.
I was half hoping you might suggest using a wooden hand clamp to hold the trays at the drill press to keep your fingers out of the … wait for it…. Zone that is Dangerous.

By the way, fun project. but for some reason when ever I play poker I never have any need for a tray when I’m done. Oh well, I guess I could make one for the guy who ends up with all my chips.

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David Misita April 14, 2014 10:27 pm

Why do you split the block before drilling and clamp it back together? Why not drill first, and then halve the drilled block on the table saw or band saw?

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- Marc Spagnuolo April 15, 2014 5:54 am
  
  Primarily to promote stability. Slicing the boards after drilling is a little less predictable and the two halves might not be flat. Also, the blade kerf will remove quite a bit of material resulting in shallower trays.
  
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Sergio cerda January 23, 2015 9:44 pm

Do you sell the chip trays? And if you do, for how much?

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- Marc Spagnuolo January 24, 2015 6:19 am
  
  I don’t. Sorry Sergio.
  
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Tony Chan May 3, 2015 10:24 pm

Great guide. I made some based on the Woodcraft magazine article. Very nice way to store and display poker chips.

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Ari burley September 26, 2015 4:55 am

Hi Marc you inspire me a lot my dad has always bought me my tools since I was five but just this afternoon I bout my own chisel set hammer and hand sawI am going to make a tool cabinet for In me and my dads workshop again I want to say you inspire me a lotYour regards Ari burley

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Ed November 22, 2016 6:24 pm

The chip trays are fantastic… but it hurts my eyes to see them filled with the lowest-grade plastic chips you can buy. Many chippers would actually rather throw these chips away than play poker with them.

Next time you make some of these racks, and want to make a quality photo spread, drop at line over at PokerChipForums.com, and I can guarantee that several chippers will offer to let you use several beautiful custom chip sets for your photo spreads.

(Also, you may find some buyers for custom racks and cases. Some chippers will happily spend $200 to $300 for the 100 chips to fill one of these racks.)

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- Marc Spagnuolo November 23, 2016 11:09 am
  
  I didn’t take the magazine cover photo so you can blame Woodcraft. :) Though I don’t even play poker so I probably wouldn’t have done any better.
  
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Keith April 22, 2018 8:05 am

You use a router bit (1 5/8 box core) to cut the grooves in the back, why not cut the slots with that too?

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216 – Poker Chip Trays

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