How to Make a Carrom Board

Carrom is a combination of air hockey, pool, shuffleboard and marbles. The objective is to sink your rings in the corner pockets before your opponent does. The 1980s saw the founding of the International Carrom Federation (ICF), which established the official rules and regulations of carrom. Based on the ICF bylaws, you can make your own carrom board for recreation or possibly tournament play.

Things You'll Need

• Lacquered plywood or wood equally smooth 29 by 29 inches and 0.4-inches thick
• 2 pieces of Rosewood or hardwood 29 ines long, 0.7 inch thick and 3 inches wide
• 2 pieces of Rosewood or hardwood 29.7 inches long, 0.7 inch thick and 3 inches wide
• Wood glue
• Jig saw
• Drill with 1.75 inch drill bit
• Ruler or tape measure
• Carpenter pencil
• Black and red markers
• Fine point black marker
• Protractor
• Carrom powder or baby powder

Instructions

Prep the Table Surface

1. Drill a hole in each corner of the plywood, approximately 1.75 inch from the 2 nearest edges of the board.

2. Cut off the tip of each corner of the plywood just above the holes.

Draw the Baselines

1. Use your ruler to measure half the distance of one side of the plywood (14.5 inches). Mark the point with a pencil.

2. Measure 4 inches from the point you just marked (the edge of the plywood) towards the center of the board. Make another pencil mark for that point.

3. Mark off another 1.25-inch point from the last mark towards the center.

4. Place your ruler at 9.25 inches under the pencil mark closest to the middle of the plywood. Your ruler should be running parallel to the edge of the plywood.

5. Pencil in a line that is approximately 18.5 inches.

6. Place your ruler at 9.25 inches at the mark under the penciled-in line.

7. Draw another line that is 18.5 inches. There should be 2 lines running parallel that are 1.25 inches apart.

8. Trace the penciled lines with a black marker.

9. Enclose the ends of the parallel lines with black circles that are 1.25 inches in diameter. An official carrom board has 1 inch of the circles colored in red. You may do this or color in the ends with black.

10. Repeat the last steps with the other 3 sides of the plywood.

Design the Middle Circles

1. Find the exact middle of the plywood at 14.5 inches, and mark it with a pencil.

2. Use your protractor to pencil an inner circle that is 1.25 inches.

3. Pencil an outer circle with a diameter that is 6.5 inches.

4. Make sure your circles are exact, and then trace them with your black marker. Feel free to spice up your board with any designs within the circles.

Draw the Arrows From the Pockets

1. Measure 2 inches from the end of one pocket, and mark it with the pencil.

2. Pencil a line that is 10.5 inches from the mark towards the center. The line should be at an approximate 45-degree angle and run through the 2 base circles.

3. Repeat the last steps to make arrows from the other 3 pockets.

Attach the Frame

1. Lay the plywood face-up on a level surface.

2. Lather wood glue on one side of a 29-inch Rosewood piece. Do not apply a great deal of glue--1 thin line should do the job.

3. Attach the Rosewood to one side of the plywood. Make sure the bottoms of the plywood and Rosewood are flush.

4. Wipe any excess glue off the board immediately.

5. Repeat the last steps to attach the other Rosewood pieces. Make sure that the other 29-inch piece is attached across from the first piece.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not want to use wood glue to attach the frame, consider purchasing wood braces.

• Apply powder to the board for easy sliding. Carrom powder is the best choice, but it may be substituted with baby powder.