Cornhole Board Project (Shopsmith)

[John Morris]

Boy these Cornhole games sure are popular. Our neighbor's daughter is getting married this May and they asked me if I could build a couple Cornhole boards for them, they are going to have games at the wedding reception.

I only first heard of this game because of @John Moody, John is the resident Cornhole builder in our community. So I know what little I do know by John's work, and I just scanned the internet really quick to get the regulation sizes of everything and I set to building their boards from wood I had left over from other projects. I have not had a full day in the shop in two years, really, no kidding, life has been quite a challenge and I was so happy to just get this day to make some dust on such a basic project, I loved it. I had my folk music going in the shop, a little bit of Johnny Cash, some Del McCoury and Bill Monroe, and tapered the day off with Hank and Waylon, man what a joyous day. It was just one of those days that lined up perfectly to do some "me" time and the family was completely ok with it.

Also, I got to really get into my Shopsmith! And what a blast I had with it.

So, I know they are just Cornhole boards, but what's more important, is that I had a day of fun, so if you want to see some boards, read on!

 

I set up my outfeed table configuration to handle some mid size panels for the Cornhole boards.

 

Ripped a couple pre-prefinished 3/4" panels I had left over from a prior project, I am getting used to my Shopsmith today.

 

I then set up my outfeed table to handle ripping some narrow boards, the table needs to be set at the center of the table saw or in line with the blade, it was a quick operation, part of using these Shopsmith's is knowing what they are capable of, and how to maximize their ability, I am not there yet, I am only discovering the surface of what these machines are capable of. I pushed the oak boards through with minimal effort.

 

Then I joined each board just to clean up the edges and to have a nice mating edge to the underside of the surface board. I need to align my Shopsmith fence as you can see a tad burning on the oak edge. I have not adjusted my Shopsmith yet since I purchased it, the gent I bought it from had it sitting in his garage for 15 years with no use, so no doubt I need to tune up the alignment. I have however oiled the sheeves and other areas and I tensioned the drive belt to specs before I used it.

 

I used good ol pocket holes to mount the sides of the boards up to the surface board. I drilled out all my pocket holes first.

 

Then I set to screwing the boards to the underside of the Cornhole deck.

 

I swear Shopsmith and Rigid have a secret relationship, because my Rigid Shopvac hose is the perfect size for the table saw dust port, and the jointer dust port.

 

I cut a small radius on the end of the back cornhole board legs, so they'll fold up and down easily. This bandsaw is really nice, I can't believe how something small and seemingly very simple in design, is so accurate and easy to use. I aint kidding folks, I like it better than my 15" Grizz I had.

 

A very strong feature of the Shopsmith is the Drill Press operation, it's sweet, I like it, I am happy. Quiet, accurate, with an adjustable table for in and out, and up and down and of course since the power head operates the Drill Press, it's variable speed.

Drilling the holes out for the carriage bolts.

 

The back folding legs are mounted, you flip them up and lock them down by tightening the wingnuts, I used a 5/16" carriage bolt, washer and wingnut.

 

Legs up.

 

I still have to cut out the 6" diameter Cornholes, but mission basically accomplished. Our neighbors should like them, she is going to paint a mural on the deck of the Cornhole board, I think the LA Dodgers symbol.

 

Any my baby put to sleep, she did well today, I was please with the operations, and I became more efficient at the changeovers, I am getting good at operating my Shopsmith, and it's turned out to be a great machine for my purpose, and, mama gets to park her car in the garage now!

 

I hope John Moody approves of the way I made these boards, and if anyone has any tips on the building Cornhole boards I am all ears, I may do some for my family as well, not sure yet, depends if the kids want them or not.

 

If you want to build your own boards, here is the site that John Moody directed me too, they have all the information and specs for them there.

https://www.playcornhole.org/

 

Thanks for sharing a part of my day with me folks.

[Cal]

That was all around great John.  From getting a day in the shop, to learning a bit about your SS, to turning out a great looking project.  Thanks for letting us share it with you.

[John Morris]

Thanks Cal, as busy as we have all been the last couple years, to have a day like this was magical, and I am so glad the project that just happened to land on this day was simple, so that I could actually focus more on the Shopsmith than the project, getting into the SS has been something I have been wanting to do since I purchased it last summer.

 

[HandyDan]

Nice project for the SS.  Got to use a few attachments.

[hatuffej]

You said "I have not had a full day in the shop in two years, really, no kidding, life has been quite a challenge and I was so happy to just get this day to make some dust on such a basic project, I loved it."

 

 I tell ya, "life ain't easy for a boy named Sue"! Glad you got some sawdust therapy; that always helps. Just don't forget all the safety habits you learned over the years. 

hat

[Gene Howe]

Great tour of your 'Smith, John. That is a sweet B/S, ain't it? Even sweeter with both sets of the Carter guides..hint...hint. Don't remenber, did you get the 6X48 belt sander in your purchase? And,have you tried the jointer, yet?

 

[lew]

Thanks for the ride along, John! Looks like a day of fun!

 

BTW, they'll always be the Brooklyn Dodgers, to me.

[John Morris]

5 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Great tour of your 'Smith, John. That is a sweet B/S, ain't it? Even sweeter with both sets of the Carter guides..hint...hint. Don't remenber, did you get the 6X48 belt sander in your purchase? And,have you tried the jointer, yet?

I don't have the belt sander yet, I have looked them up on Ebay and they are still pricey, but well worth it! It's on the horizon someday.

The jointer, yes! It's actually in one of the images shown edge joining an oak board, it worked well. No complaints. The jointer fence is a breeze to set square or any angle you want, I really do like the jointer Gene, thanks!

[John Morris]

2 minutes ago, lew said:

BTW, they'll always be the Brooklyn Dodgers, to me.

Yes they will! Thanks Lew

[John Morris]

Oh ya, by the way, the new casters on the Shopsmith, if you don't have em, you gotta get em! Literally a one finger push to get the machine to move, where you want it, I aint kiddin.

[Gene Howe]

6 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Oh ya, by the way, the new casters on the Shopsmith, if you don't have em, you gotta get em! Literally a one finger push to get the machine to move, where you want it, I aint kiddin.

The one with the Jointech Saw Train and RT doesnt get moved EVER. The shorty is really not a problem. Easy to move. Oh, sometimes it gets hung up in an expansion groove but, it's light enough to lift out. 

[John Morris]

Wasn't there someone else around here who was going to install those casters? I can't remember but they were getting ready to purchase them and install, I wonder if they got em up and running yet for a report back.

[Artie]

I am following that same path, learning about the Shopsmith, and for me, woodworking. I have the new casters, so have no old ones to reference to, but it sure moves easily. I have used my bandsaw, but never used another to compare to, still haven’t jointed, have used the strip sander, but only once for the belt sander, have used the table mounted scroll saw, never used it as a drill press (have an old Southbend one), lathe, disk sander, horizontal borer. Messed around with it as a shaper, cutter, router, but generally use a Bosch bench router table. I fully understand the thrill of just having a day in the shop, making something simple, and enjoying every minute of it. I’m about to go downstairs and finish a sewing machine extension table for the Missus. Exposed screw holes, but very functional, Me Missus is overjoyed, and I’m having fun. I do gotta get a set of knives/chisels/gouges or whatever is the proper name for the turning tools, so I can fool myself that maybe I’ll start turning. (Boy won’t that lead to a bushel full of questions)

Bossman, seems like there could be enough interest/activity for a SS forum LOLOL. 

[kmealy]

Cornhole is said to have been popularized right here in river city (Cincinnati).  Lived on the "west side" for 17 years and "east side" for 21.   I can tell you sometimes you feel like you need a passport to cross over Vine street.

https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/columns/tossing-one-back3/

[Grandpadave52]

On 3/31/2019 at 12:55 AM, John Morris said:

I may do some for my family as well, not sure yet, depends if the kids want them or not.

Warning: This "game" can be additive and become VERY competitive. It is a lot of fun too. Guess I didn't realize it was legal in Kalforniaye...figured there were Props agin' it.

 

Thanks for the build-along. Glad you got the 'ole Shopsmith out for a Sunday cruise. Sounds like you're re-smitten with project activity.

[Grandpadave52]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:28 AM, John Morris said:

Wasn't there someone else around here who was going to install those casters? I can't remember but they were getting ready to purchase them and install, I wonder if they got em up and running yet for a report back.

@FlGatorwood was working on his...last I recall he had one done and maybe doing the second one???

[FlGatorwood]

Thanks, John and Dave.  Yes, I purchased and installed them.  The cussing jar is not getting filled as much as it did.  

Easy to install.  Did not receive a template, so it was just as easy without.  The new mounting screw holes are 1 23/32" from the originals.  Use a piece of tape or template.  I replaced the casters in the trucks and pushed the trucks back into space.  Drilled my holes in the new locations.  Put in the bolts and viola.  Like John said, the best thing that ever happened to a tool.  It is well worth the time and effort.  First one takes about 30 minutes and the second one about half that time.  

[John Morris]

@FlGatorwood great job!!!!! That is almost verbatim how I managed my casters as well, even down to the time, yep, about 30 minutes the first one, and half the time for the second. So happy for ya Steve.

[FlGatorwood]

SS owners, you can make your own pocket holes by setting up in drill press mode. Yeah, it takes fewer than 30 seconds to convert to that.  Just put on the chuck first, ensure you tighten the headstock, tilt the table to 14 degrees from center.  Just start drilling at the marks you have created.  If you wish to have the hole go all the way through, you can keep the same setup and use a smaller bit.  

[John Morris]

Who do we talk to about starting a Shopsmith Forum and Tips?