During the summertime, playing cornhole matches with family and friends is as common as barbeques and camping. Using the best cornhole boards, you can challenge your friends, neighbors and family, setting up competitions, forming teams and spending some much-needed quality time with your loved ones. The game itself is great for people of all ages and skill levels.

If your old cornhole board is now falling apart, or you want to put your woodworking skills to the test, why not learn how to build a cornhole board? It’s a great way to customize your home setup and can be a fun project for the whole family.

Making Cornhole Boards

When you make cornhole boards, you can get really creative and paint the boards with your favorite team’s logo and colors, or you can use stencils and paint your family’s name along the surface.

If you want a pro-quality setup, take a look at the cornhole rules and cut the materials so the boards will be regulation size. Playing and training on boards that are regulation size will be especially important if you want to play cornhole competitively. Even if you’re building boards just for fun, building regulation sized boards is always a good idea since other people who will be playing on your boards may not be used to playing on a set that is smaller or larger than regulation sets.

Supplies List

Before you get started, gather all the supplies you’ll need for the project. This will include:

Wood Cuts

• Long sides of the board-four 1-1/2 x 3 x 47-7/8”
• Short sides of the board-four 1-1/2 x 3 x20-7/8”
• Connectors for the legs-two 1-1/2 x3 17-5/8”
• Top of the board-two ½ x 23-7/8 x 47-7/8”

Instructions

If you know how to play cornhole, then you know the importance of a smooth, well-built board and how a low-quality board can significantly impact your performance. The board design in this guide is regulation size, fairly simple to make, and will result in a sturdy set of boards that are designed for heavy-duty use.

Below are step-by-step instructions for your set of plywood cornhole boards. Make sure you carefully follow each of the steps and that you have all the supplies needed before you begin.

The First Step

Begin by using your table saw and making all the wood cuts needed for the project. Next, you’ll mark a circle on one of the boards for the top, measuring nine inches from the top of the board to the middle.

Use the compass to draw a six-inch circle around this point. Use your jigsaw to cut out the hole in the board. Take the other top board and clamp both boards together, using a pencil to trace the circle so you have a set of matching holes.

Make the Board’s Frame

The next step is assembling the frame, which will support the top board with the hole. You’ll need to butt joint two of the short side boards between a couple of the long sides to form a rectangle shape. To keep the frame square, clamp the boards and then screw the entire frame together.

Once the boards have been secured, you can place a little wood glue along the edges of the frame and place a piece of plywood on top. The boards should be clamped and placed on a flat surface as the glue dries, to prevent the boards from warping.

Next, use the nail gun to nail the top to the frame and repeat this step with the top and sides of the other cornhole board.

Sanding the Boards

Sand down the outside edges to ensure that the top and the frame are flush. Use the tack cloth to wipe off any sawdust.

Paint the Boards

• Paint the boards with one to two coats of primer, leaving it out for twelve hours to ensure the boards are completely dry before adding the paint.
• Once dry, you can use a high gloss white paint, to ensure any colors you’ll add will be as vivid as possible. Ideally, you should use two to three coats of paint.
• You can also use masking tape to create a design on your boards, whether it’s a logo or your family’s last name.
• Wait ten hours for the paint to dry completely before you remove any stencils.
• Use a sealer to protect the wood from rot.

Drilling Holes for the Legs

At the center point of the rounded ends, bore a 3/8” hole through the legs. Put the board upside down and place the shims at the corners and the inside top edge and inside base of the board. You can set the leg configuration within the shims, placing a drill bit through the pre-drilled holes. Drill 3/8” holes into the frame and repeat on the opposite side.

Make the Table Legs

Using a twenty-seven-degree angle, cut one end of each leg with the miter saw. Measure 1-5/8” at the opposite end of each leg, from the top and sides. Use the compass point at that spot and mark an end that’s rounded. Cut out the traced edge, then smooth the edges using sandpaper. Use the tack cloth to wipe off any sawdust.

Connect the Legs

Use the leg connect board, that measures in at 17-5/8” and place it between two of the cut out legs. The shape should form an H. Both of the rounded edges should face the same direction. Use screws to attach the legs and fill in any holes with wood putty.

Final Touches

Remove the shims and thread the carriage bolts through the from the outside. Next, take the remaining materials including the fender washers and lock washers and secure them tightly. You’ll repeat this on the second side of the board.

Cornhole Bags

If you’re on a roll and want the ultimate customized cornhole board setup, you can also learn how to make your own set of regulation size cornhole bags. Making your own cornhole bags will allow you to choose the material type and colors, the size of the bags, what filling material to use and how heavy or light the bags should be.

To learn how to make cornhole bags, click here to take a look at this popular step-by-step tutorial.

Final Thoughts

Many players don’t realize how simple it is to build a cornhole board, but of course, without basic woodworking skills, this simple project can quickly turn into a challenging one. Learning how to build a cornhole board can be a great project, if you know what you’re doing. If you don’t have any experience working with wood or building basic wood projects, then you may be better off ordering a new set online. However, building a set yourself can leave you feeling accomplished, plus, you’ll have the added bonus of creating a set of boards that are customized, one of a kind, and sure to impress your family, friends, and neighbors.