The Wooden Leg Game Makes an Art Out of Creating Excuses

Variations of the game of cornhole — in which players try to pitch edible bean bags through the hole of a raised platform — date back to the 19th century, and today it remains a dandy summertime lawn game. Information technology'southward relaxing and just plain fun; kids similar it, grown-ups like it, and it's so depression-cardinal you can play while sipping on a soda or beer.

With Independence Day coming up next week here in united states of america, I thought information technology would be fun to add a cornhole tournament to my family's day of festivities. Instead of dropping $150+ for a pair of pre-made cornhole platforms (which are often flimsy and non-regulation size — yes, in that location are official cornhole regulations), I drove over to my local Home Depot, bought $85 worth of materials, and made my own sturdy custom set.

Information technology'south a super uncomplicated project that takes about a day. My kids had fun helping me make the cornhole platforms, and now they're having a blast playing with them.

If you're looking to add some cornhole to your summertime activities, hither'southward how I made mine.

Materials & Tools

These materials volition internet you a set of two cornhole boards/platforms. Cornhole matches are played with two sets of bean bags (which in official play, are actually filled with corn kernels) and two platforms which are placed directly facing each other, 27 feet apart. You tin can find all the rules of play here.

We'll be making regulation-sized platforms, which consist of a 2′ by iv′ board, with a 6-inch hole centered ix inches from the top. The board sits on legs at an bending, with its meridian edge 12 inches to a higher place the basis, and the bottom edge three–four inches above the basis.

Materials

• (2) two′ ten 4′ pieces of 1/ii″ plywood for the surface (Habitation Depot sells pieces already cutting to this size)
• (four) ii×four 10 4′ for the frames (Habitation Depot sells pieces already cut to this size)
• (8) 2×4 ten two′ for the frames (four of them will exist cut to 21″, and 2 volition be cutting into 11-1/two″ pieces; you really only need 6 of these 2x4s, simply might every bit well buy a couple extra in instance y'all make a mistake)
• 1-lb. box of 1-five/eight″ deck screws
• (24) three″ deck screws
• (4) 1/2″ x iv″ carriage bolts with (4) washers and (iv) wing basics
• Primer and paint of your selection (or wood terminate)
• Plus don't forget bean bags (there'south a regulation size and weight for those too; though of course any will do for coincidental backyard play)

Tools

• Circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Power drill
• 1/2″ drill bit
• Clamps
• Record measure
• Compass
• Orbit sander

Footstep 1: Cutting Wood to Size

I took 4 of the ii′ 2x4s that I bought and cut them down to 21″ with the circular saw. These volition be used in the frame for the cornhole box.

I took another two 2′ 2x4s and made four xi-1/2″ long pieces for the legs.

Step two: Construct the Boxes

Gather two 4′ 2x4s and ii 21″ two×four pieces. Fasten them together into a rectangle with the 21″ pieces within the four′ pieces.

I used (3) iii″ deck screws at each articulation to fasten things.

Echo for the second cornhole box.

Place the plywood on top of your 2×4 box. Fasten information technology down with several  i-5/8″ deck screws. Repeat for other cornhole box.

Footstep 3: Circular Off the Legs

Grab ii of the 11-1/ii″ 2x4s that you cut before. Nosotros demand to round off the top of them so they can hinge inside the box. I but took a coffee cup to trace an arc around the tiptop with a pencil.

Utilize a jigsaw to cut along the line. Sand it.

Repeat for the other 2 leg pieces.

Footstep 4: Fasten Legs to Box

Time to fasten the legs to the cornhole box. Grab one of the boxes and plough it upside down. Lay a leg parallel, flush up against one of the top corners with the radius side in the corner. Clamp into place.

Brand a marking on the outside of the box iii-1/2″ from the top of the board and right in the centre of the ii×iv.

Drill a 1/2″ pigsty through both the frame and the leg using your 1/2″ drill flake. Repeat for the other side of the cornhole box. And then do it again for the other box.

Adhere the legs to the box with the carriage commodities and washer and a wing nut. Check to run across if you can hinge the leg up and down. You may have to arrange the radius tiptop a chip to allow for the swivel. Utilise your sander and jigsaw to do this.

Step five: Cutting Legs to Proper Acme

Cornhole regulations require that the top of the board be 12″ inches from the footing. To go that height, we'll need to cutting the bottom of the legs a flake.

Identify the box upward on a workbench with the legs extended out. Prop the cornhole box on some stuff so that the top of the platform is 12″ off the tabletop. (I used some defective Art of Manliness books to get the job washed.)

Move things over then that the leg closest to the edge hangs merely over the tabular array edge.

Using the tabletop as a guide, draw a straight line across the lesser of the two×4. Repeat for the opposite side.

Disassemble legs and cut forth the line using a circular saw. Do the aforementioned for the other box.

Step half-dozen: Cut Hole in Platform

Mark the center of the hole. Information technology's nine″ down from the top and 12″ in from each side.

Using a compass, draw a six″ bore circumvolve with a pencil.

Using your 1/2″ drill bit, drill a hole forth the inside border of your circle. This will give you room to put the jigsaw blade in.

Cutting forth the line using your jigsaw.

Footstep seven: Sand

Sand the surface of the box with your orbital sander. Brand sure to go inside the hole you cut; if you've got a drill drum sander, use that. Wish I had ane. Information technology would accept helped in getting a cleaner surface for the hole.

Step 8: Decorate

With the kids "helping" with the finish, information technology turned out a niggling spottier than might be desired, merely that's role of the fun!

This is where yous can add together some personality to your cornhole game. You lot can paint the boxes. I opted to go with a wood finish and a John 50. Sullivan vinyl decal for mine.

Step 9: Bask!

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Source: https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/how-to-make-a-cornhole-game/

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