How To Make Cornhole Boards At Home

A timeless traditional yard game outside is cornhole. It's a hit at get-togethers with family, college tailgates, and even bars. It's a wonderful, quick way to get some friendly competition going.

The game's drawback is that buying the boards from a store can get pricey. But if you make your cornhole boards, you can save a tonne of money. Because you have more customization and design options, some people even think this is a better alternative.

You've arrived at the right site if you've been wondering how to construct cornhole boards. For some easy-to-follow, step-by-step directions, keep reading.

LIST OF MATERIALS

The proper supplies are required if you want to create your DIY cornhole boards. A brief list of everything you'll need is provided below.

MATERIALS:

• 2) 2x4’ Half-inch plywood boards.
• (28) 1 ½” Wood screws
• (16) 3” Deck screws
• (4) 2x4x8” Framing Studs
• (16) ⅜” Hex nuts
• (4) ⅜ x 4” Carriage bolts
• (16) ⅜” Flat washers

TYPES OF EQUIPMENT:

• 6” Hole Saw
• Impact drill/power drill
• Pens, pencils, markers
• Circular saw
• Clamps
• Sandpaper or Sanding Discs
• Carpenter squares

MEASUREMENTS AND GUIDELINES

A lot of people create their cornhole boards without thinking about the precise dimensions. They are satisfied with the outcome as long as their boards complement one another.

However, competitive cornhole players are aware that the American Cornhole Association has established precise rules and measures. Although you can read these guidelines for yourself, here's a brief synopsis.

• The official dimensions for a cornhole board are 23.5 to 24 inches by 47.5 to 48 inches. With a half-inch margin of error, this cornhole board size can make creating your own a little bit simpler. 
• At least a half-inch of smooth plywood surface should be present. Bean bag bounces can be changed by using different materials and thicknesses. 
• Both cornhole boards need to have a 6-inch-diameter hole.
• The hole should be placed 12 inches on each side and 9 inches from the top of the board. 
• The cornhole board should have a back end that is 12 inches off the ground and a front that is 3 to 4 inches tall from top to bottom. 
• To construct square fabric bean bags loaded with two cups of corn or plastic pellets, cornhole bags should measure 6.25 by 6.25 inches.

The ACA stipulates that the boards must be placed on a flat, rectangular playing surface that is 8 to 10 feet wide and 40 to 45 feet long in addition to these cornhole measurements.

STEPS TO MAKE CORNHOLE BOARDS

We can start talking about how to manufacture cornhole boards at home now that we know what we're building. After obtaining the materials mentioned above, you can begin using the guide below.

STEP 1: CHOP OR GATHER YOUR WOOD.

Depending on your desired level of involvement, there are two ways you might tackle this first stage. Consider getting all of your wood cut at Home Depot or Lowes if you need to be more skilled with a circular saw or have one on hand. If you purchase your timber from them, they both provide timber-cutting services. Additionally, the company sells pre-cut cornhole board tops, so you can get your plywood and framing studs measured and ready to go there.

However, you can cut yourself if you'd like by following these instructions:

• Position the plywood onto your work surface and take measurements for your cornhole board. Here, we'll use the notation 2x4. Make sure your pencil is pointed straight. 
• Some people like to place insulating boards under their plywood to serve as cutting pads. This may make cutting safer and easier. 
• Cut two cornhole board tops by following the lines with the circular saw.

Cutting the 2x4s comes next, after the plywood.

• Mark off a 25-degree angle at one of the 2x4s' ends with your carpenter square. The circular saw should cut this line. 
• Cut the wood to make your first leg by measuring from the end to 12 ¼ inches and making a straight line at this point. Repeat these instructions to create four legs. 
• Build a cornhole board's base structure with the remaining 2x4s for the front, back, and sides. 
• For the board's two fronts and two backs, cut four 12-inch boards. 
• For each of the four sides, cut four 48-inch boards.

We can now put everything together.

STEP 2: PUT THE BOARD BASE TOGETHER

Make a right angle out of one 21-inch board and one 48-inch board to build the base. Make sure the 21-inch board is inside the longer board rather than on top of it.

Drill two pilot holes into the shorter board from the outside of the longer board, making sure the edges are flat. Clamping the boards together makes this step the most straightforward. To fasten the corner together, drill pilot holes and insert wood screws.

Using a second 48-inch board on the other end of the 21-inch board and a second 21-inch board at the bottom of the frame, repeat these steps for the remaining three corners.

STEP 3: DRILL THE UPPER

Ensure that every side of the cornhole plywood is flush with the frame before placing it on top of it. The hole will already be drilled in your board if you utilize pre-cut cornhole tops. If not, creating it will require you to go to the next stage.

Using the 1 ½" wood screws, clamp the board in place and drill it into the frame.

STEP 4: MAKE THE 6-INCH HOLE

Measure nine inches down from the board's top and mark the location with a pencil. Mark the points at a distance of 12 inches on either side as well.

To drill out the game's opening, align these points using the 6-inch hole saw. While a jigsaw can also be used to make the hole, hole saws are far simpler to operate and produce precisely the right size circles in a flash, eliminating any uneven edges.

STEP 5: JOIN THE LEGS 

Mark a point at a distance of 1 ½" from both the end and the side on the flat side of each leg. Here, drill a ⅜" hole.

One inch in from either side should be measured to form a round shape at the squared end. To create a 45-degree angle, draw a straight line joining the mark and either end. Sandpaper these corners to round them off after cutting them off.

Turn the board over, then place one leg up against the frame, leaving a ½” gap at the top. Hold it in position while drilling the leg in with the carriage bolts, nuts, and washers on either side. Repeat this for every limb.

STEP 6: PAINT AND SAND

Sand both boards down with a lot of sandpaper to smooth the corners and surface and remove sharp edges or splinters. Hook-and-loop sanding discs can save most of this labor-intensive phase if you have an orbital sander and wish to save some time.

Use exterior paint or exterior stain to paint your board in the color scheme of your choice. You can also apply a semi-gloss finish over your design.

After letting the boards completely dry, you can start having fun in your backyard!