Cornhole boards

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Comment by Ken Darga on December 8, 2012 at 8:53am

FYI

 

Cornhole, also known as bean bag toss, corn toss, baggo or bags, is a lawn game.

 

board

Its important you first know the established dimensions for cornhole. Here’s a diagram with the basic measurements for the boards.

 

bags

It is commonly believed that the origin of the name "corn hole" came from the bags being filled with corn

 

There’s very little here to purchase. Below are the supplies to sew our own cornhole bags:

• duck cloth – 7’’ x 7’’squares (16 total, 8 per color)
• thread (2 spools, one for each color of bag)
• fabric glue (optional)
• feed-grade dried corn (8 lbs)

Next, collect all your tools. If you aren’t concerned with creating precision, you can probably get by without the optional items. In rough order of usage:

• fabric-cutting mat w/ grid (optional, but very nice for straight, accurate cuts)
• fabric cutters or scissors
• sewing machine
• pencil or pen
• digital baking scale (fantastic, but optional)
• extra sewing pins

Duck cloth is a canvas-type “outdoor” fabric that you can find at any nearly fabric store. Finding it is easy, but getting the right amount takes a tiny bit of math. Each team needs four bags made from two 7’’ x 7’’ squares (eight squares total). If your fabric store sells duck cloth on bolts that are 60’’ wide, then you are in luck since 8 x 7” is only 56” of fabric that you need. If it is above the store’s minimum, then have them cut off 7” of fabric for you. (If not, consider making an extra set for a friend. Don’t worry, it’s cheap.) Repeat for the second set. Remember: since, unless you don’t mind trying to guess which bag belongs to which team, you’ll need to get two distinct colors.

Feed corn is widely available at feed stores. Avoid the temptation to just use popcorn; this stuff is coarser, larger, and, most importantly, the authentic filler of choice. It is also, conveniently, pretty cheap as well.

 

Comment by michael evans on December 8, 2012 at 6:07am

Thanks Tim, for the explanation i am no longer in the dark.Sounds like alot of fun especially if beer involved have a good weekend.Regards Mick.

Comment by Tim Hadaway on December 8, 2012 at 1:50am

Michael, no ingnorance....the first time my brother told me we were going to play cornhole on a golf trip with 8 drunk guys, I told him to forget me going....then he explained the game.....it is a board game....the boards are set 27 feet end to end....they have an 8 inch rise in 4 feet. There is a 6" hole centered 8 7/8" from the high end of the board....the bags that you throw are 6" square, made of duck cloth and weigh 16 oz. The object is to throw the cornhole bag in the hole. If you hit the hole you get 3 points. If your opponent hits the hole on top of you he cancels your points. If you land on the board with no part of the bag touching the ground you get one point. Same with the opponent....if he lands one on the board he gets one point. So if you land 2 on the board and your opponent only gets 1 on the board you net 1, so you would be ahead 1-0. Here is a link to a tube video of some really, really good cornhole players. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJX3M7_G49o

Enjoy....it is a really fun game and has taken off big time in the USA!!!!

Comment by michael evans on December 7, 2012 at 2:21pm

Hi tim sorry to sound ignorant what is a cornhole board?Never heard of it in good old blighty/uk.

Comment by William Burton on November 29, 2012 at 7:12am

I remember there was some discussion on the NC Woodworker forum awhile back about different finishes. Someone built a set and used the polycrylic and was concerned that bags didn't slide as well as he would have liked. He then waxed it down and was concerned that it was too slick!
That polycrylic finish is hard to beat, though for being easy to apply and looking good. I would think it would be a good way to go.

10 sets!!! Thats a lot of sawdust!! Those will make great gifts.

Comment by Tim Hadaway on November 29, 2012 at 12:10am

Thanks William. I truly haven't decided yet....in the past I have just done polycrylic....I am up for suggestions.....the ply is 3/4 birch with soft maple framing....I thought about just simply rubbing them down with some linseed oil and putting a satin poly on top....I have to do something somewhat quick and easy....I am building 10 sets for folks to give as Christmas gifts. Some of them will get decals on them, others will stay clear.

Comment by William Burton on November 28, 2012 at 10:58pm

Those look like deluxe cornhole boards - very nicely done. What kind of finish do you put on them? 

Comment by Tim Hadaway on November 26, 2012 at 5:23pm

got the legs to build yet....I have some true 2x4 maple to make those out of....I think I will rip it down, do some routing and sanding and build a leg spacer out of some scrap ply or maple....trying to keep the weight down becuase when they are done they will latch together for easy transport.