Custom Bean Bag Toss Boards

Let me start by saying, I am a huge fan of this website. I saw "Thoying" posted some really badass bean bag toss boards https://www.instructables.com/id/Collapsible-Cornhole-Boards/ but seeing as how he choose such terrible sports teams. I thought I would do my favorite sports teams (notably more terrible). Also, this is my first instructable so please bare with me.

The materials that I used included:

*half a sheet of 1/2in MDF
*half a sheet of 1/2in (any) plywood
*four 30in continuous hinge
*A bunch of small foam brushes
*Paint of your choosing and A Poly finish
*http://www.amazon.com/EazyPower-Hole-Saw-CornHole-Boards/dp/B000YC1XUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320711286&sr=8-1
*Primer (I forgot to use it, and it seems like it will last)

Once I got all of my "materials" I basically got started cutting the boards. Cut both 1/2 sheets in half (one for the boards and the other for the braces).

As for the layout, I followed Thoying's plan (like just about everything else I did) and used Microsoft Publisher. Having never even used it before, it was surprisingly easy to use, so I don't see anyone having any issues with it. Just make sure you set the image size is set to 4ft by 8ft (the size of the boards you just cut), and put a 4 by 16 grid over it. Than basically go to Google images and search for the logo/design you want to do. Be aware you have to cut the hole eventually, so plan accordingly. I posted the link to my two designs below.

So once you choose your design, print it out (be prepared to print out a crap load of paper and ink). Piece and tape your design together, and cut it out. Than start by traceing the outside of your image..than cutting out more parts of the logo....than trace....again...again...and again. Probably a better way of doing it, but this is the way I did it. This technique took a very long time, and towards the end I basically just used it as a guide and actually free handed most of the more intricate details (like the laces on the baseball).

For the viking's board I used painter's tape to outline my different colors....this took way to long, and you have to go back anyways, so I would recommend just using a fine foam brush and try to be as careful as you can. Don't worry if you screw up you can always go back and paint over when it drys.

I honestly have never painted anything before, but I knew from grade school that you should start with light colors to dark, so that's what I did. When I went to get paint color matched I got "Flat"paint for the vikings colors (recommended by the dude working), but the smallest size I could get was way to much paint, so for the twin's colors I just got the small "semi-gloss" colors (not color matched, but the colors look right).

Make sure you are patient when you start painting. Light to dark, and I waited a day for the paint to dry in between each color. I only did one coat of paint with the "flat paint" (viking's board), because it seem to look even and dried very nicely. The "semi-gloss" paint on the twins board didn't dry good at all (I used rustoloem, so I'm not sure if maybe the brand was just cheap). So for the twins board I basically had to do 2 coats of paint for the blue and red, which sucked.

I have make bean bag toss games before and found drilling the hole to be the hardest part. I mean, I put A LOT of time into making these boards the best I could, so it was really a no brainer to risk messing up the hole. I would highly recommend buying the "cornhole drill head" to punch out the holes (took like 30 seconds for each board). Drill the hole at the mid point in between the 2 sides. Go down 9 in's and mark that point. Use that point as the middle of your drill. 

I am sorry I don't have pictures of my brace construction (used my phone to take all of these and it was dead that day). You could refer to Thoying's, but they were pretty easy to make. I cut them out of my 1/2 sheet of 1/2in birch plywood. Heres a "crude image":

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I just measured an inch on each side of the midpoint, than 3 in in on the bottom of each point. Than use a straight edge and connect the 2 points. Sand them puppies down until the are even (put them back to back), and paint. 

My local hardware store only had 4 hinges (30in continuous). All you have to do is drill them to the back of the board so that the part that connects to the brace is flush with the top of the board. Kind of hard to explain with out pictures I know, but pretty easy to figure out when you see it in front of you.

This is actually the step I am at right now. I want to touch up a couple little pieces before I start my poly coat. I mainly want to color the T on the TC logo white (because from a distance you cant see the T outlined in black, so it looks like a random Cincinnati Red's logo on my board). But the other little things wrong with it I will keep because it makes it look more homemade.

So, after that dries I will start putting on my poly coats (probably about 5 coats). Than make some custom bean bags too. I will keep you posted when I finish those changes, and thanks again to Thoying for the inspiration to make these!