How to Make a Crokinole Board

Cut the maple 2-by-4 down to 3 1/2-inch wide with a table saw.. Cut the board into eight 13-inch-long segments. (See Resources for diagram.)

Use the tenon jig to make finger joints on the board segments. Each finger should measure 1/2 inch from where it comes out of the board by 1/4 inch thick. Each slot should measure 1/4 inch thick in the middle of the board. The ends of the board will be angled at 67 1/2 degrees.

Connect the pieces to form an octagon, gluing them with wood glue for support.

Cut the 1-by-2-by-2 board into eight segments 12 7/8 inch. long to form the trim. Sand until smooth and varnish.

Let glue dry for 12 hours. Sand the frame until it is smooth and apply a coat of varnish.

Let varnish dry 12 hours. Attach the pieces of trim to the edges of the octagon frame with finishing nails.

Cut the veneered plywood into a circle with a 26 inch diameter with the band saw.

Mark the center of the circle with pencil. Starting from the center, draw a circle with an 8 inch diameter (4 inches from the center). Draw another circle with a 16 inch diameter and a third with a 12 inch diameter.

Mark eight evenly spaced points (approximately 3 1/8 inch apart from one another) on the smallest circle. On the largest circle, mark four evenly spaced points (approximately 9 3/8 inches apart from one another). Draw a line that connects the large circle to the middle circle at each of the 4 points. (Refer to Resources for diagram.)

Use a 1 1/4 inch drill bit to drill a 1/4-inch deep hole on the center mark. For each of the eight points on the smallest circle, drill holes all the way through the board with a 3/16 inch drill bit.

Use oil paint and detail brush to mark the circles and the four lines connecting the middle and outer circles. Mark the center with a 20, the smallest circle with a 15, the middle circle with a 10 and the largest circle with a 5.

Cut the dowel into eight 1-inch pieces. Sand until smooth.

Let oil paint on center of the board dry. Varnish the circle and the dowels.

Let the varnish dry for 12 hours or overnight. Hammer the dowel pieces into the holes of the smallest circle. Attach the center of the board to the frame with wood glue.