How to Make a Beanbag Toss Board

Use this beanbag toss board either indoors or outdoors. The directions that follow will give you a 4-foot-square game board that angles backward. Alter the dimensions as desired.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Yardsticks
• Paintbrushes
• 4X8 Sheet Of 1/4-inch Plywood
• Circular Saws
• Variable-speed Drills
• Wood Glues
• Sandpaper
• 7 Ft. Of 1-by-1 Boards
• Paint
• Drafting Compasses
• 1-inch Wood Screws
• C-clamps
• Bean Bags
• Reciprocating Saws
• Pencils

Cut and Design

1. Purchase one 4-foot by 8-foot piece of 1/4-inch plywood and 7 feet of one-by-one board.

2. Use a yardstick and pencil to measure and mark out a line that divides the plywood sheet into two halves that each measure 4 foot by 4 foot.

3. Use a circular saw to cut the plywood sheet in half and set one half aside.

4. Use a yardstick and pencil to measure and mark out a line that divides one of the 4-foot by 4-foot plywood sheets in half diagonally. Saw the wood in half along this line.

5. Find the midpoint of the length of one-by-one and cut the length in half.

6. Determine the design of your game board and pencil it in on the 4-foot by 4-foot section of plywood. The design can be based upon a theme such as a child's birthday or can be based upon a favorite cartoon or television character or show.

7. Use a pencil, yardstick and compass to mark the placement and outlines of the beanbag holes. Each hole should be approximately 5 to 6 inches in diameter and large enough to allow a beanbag to pass through it easily.

8. Cut out the holes in your board with a reciprocating saw.

Assembly

1. Make a series of pencil marks along the left and right edges of the game board's front to mark screw placement. Make the marks 1 inch apart and 1 inch from the side edges. Start your marks 3 inches from the top of the board and end them 3 inches from the bottom.

2. Turn the game board over and use a pencil to write the words "side", "top" and "bottom" on the board. Place the game board face down onto a flat work surface.

3. Center a length of one-by-one along one side edge of the game board, 1/2 inch from the board's edge. Use wood glue to join the two pieces together. Attach a C-clamp at each end of the glued-on piece of wood to hold it in place.

4. Turn the board over and use a variable speed drill to insert 1-inch wood screws at the spots marked in step 9. Reposition the C-clamps so that they do not interfere with the screws, or drill and remove the mps after all the screws are in.

5. Turn the board face down again and place one diagonally cut piece of plywood upright so that it rests on top of the game board and against the glued-on one-by-one.

6. Position the plywood piece so that the longest edge faces toward the bottom of the board, one 4-foot edge lies evenly along the game board edge and the other 4-foot edge faces toward the top of the board.

7. Lay the diagonal piece down flat. Mark screw placement along the outside of the 4-foot edge that will lie against the game board. Make the placement marks 1 inch from the edge, beginning and ending 3 inches from either end of the 4-foot length.

8. Glue the diagonally cut piece into position and attach a C-clamp at each end of the one-by-one to hold the piece into place.

9. Insert the 1-inch wood screws along the penciled-in placement marks. Remove the C-clamps.

10. Repeat steps 3-9 for the other side. Allow the wood glue to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.

11. Paint the surface of the game board and the sides.

Tips & Warnings

• Check to see if the store will cut your plywood for you. Many lumber and home improvement stores offer this service at little or no charge.

• Make the elements of your design large enough that they can be seen from your throwing distance.

• Make your holes any shape you like ' diamonds, stars or circles. Just make sure that the beanbags you will use can pass easily through the holes.

• Paint a number next to each hole to denote the value associated with that hole.