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| by:
Ryan Shervill
photo: Roger Yip
illustration: Len Churchill |
CRIBBAGE BOARD |
Turn
a choice piece of stock into a source
of enjoyment for your favourite cribbage player |
With a little
time and a beautiful piece of wood, you can build a special
cribbage board for that avid player in your life. Pretty enough
to be put on display, this project is also completely functional.
The design is perfect for using up workshop scraps or showcasing
a novel type of exotic wood.
Build the Base
Start by dressing and dimensioning lumber for the base, bringing
it to a final size of 7/8" x 5 1/2" x 15 1/2".
Use a 45º chamfer bit in a table-mounted router to create
a 1/4" bevel around the entire top edge of the base. Mark
out the recess for the deck of cards as shown in the plans,
then use a 1/2"-dia. straight bit in a plunge router to
mill a 3/4"-deep recess. You’ll get best results
if you prepare a router template from 1/4" plywood or hardboard,
then use it to guide the process. (The plans show you how.)
While you’re at it, mark the location for a 1/2"-deep
peg compartment at the opposite end of the base. A two-inch
Forstner bit is the perfect helper to use for this job.
 |
| The
game base includes storage space for the cards and
the brass and nickel pegs |
|
Top Player
To make the game board itself, start by preparing a 3/4"
x 4 3/8" x 14 1/4" piece of wood. I prefer a light
and interesting species, such as bird’s-eye maple, for
this high-visibility piece. Finish-sand the surfaces of the
board and get ready to drill a lot of holes. This is where a
paper template really helps. Use your computer—or a friend’s—to
download a full-size template
in Acrobat format. You can also have the template in
the plans doubled in size on a photocopier with an enlargement
feature.
Once you have the template, glue it to the best face of your
game board blank using spray adhesive. Using a bandsaw, cut
the rounded profile on one end of the board to within 1/16"
of the template line, then sand up to it with a stationary disc
sander.
Accuracy Drills
While the template makes placing the holes easy, the real challenge
lies in drilling them in such a way as to end with nice clean
edges. The best way to help ensure a minimum of sanding later
is to use a sharp, high-quality 1/8" brad-point bit chucked
in your drillpress, and to spin it as fast as possible. A faster
speed results in less tearout and cleaner holes, although you
do need to monitor drill-bit temperature. Stop every few minutes,
touch the bit and let it cool down if it’s hot. |
| You
Will Need |
| Part |
Material |
Size (TxWxL) |
Qty |
| Base |
walnut |
7/8" x 5 1/2"
x 15 1/2" |
1 |
| Game board |
bird's-eye maple |
3/4" x 4 3/8"
x 14 1/4" |
1 |
| Brass rod |
brass |
1/8" - dia. x 1" |
1 |
| Magnets |
rare-earth type |
1/2" - dia. |
2 |
| Cribbage board pegs |
brass |
Lee Valley 41K05.01 |
2 |
| Cribbage board pegs |
nickel |
Lee Valley 41K05.03 |
2 |
| Cribbage board pegs |
black steel |
Lee Valley 41K05.02 |
2 |
|
1. Assembling
the project; what you need
2. Final touches; illustration |
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