Crokinole is an enjoyable yet challenging game of dexterity that originated in Canada but now enjoys international popularity: every year the World Crokinole Championship is hosted in Tavistock Ontario. This fun pastime features elements from shuffleboard, curling and Asian carrom board games for an engaging experience!
Though purchasing high-quality Crokinole boards can cost over $100, you can build your own for much less by following this DIY guide.
Materials: Choosing the Right Wood and Accessories
Crokinole boards require high-grade wooden surfaces with friction-free discs to achieve success. Crokinole discs come in an eye-catching shape slightly smaller than checker pieces and are made from maple; providing an exciting, fun game for cold Canadian nights.
Crokinole was invented by Eckhardt Wettlaufer in Perth County, Ontario, Canada, in 1876. It combines elements from curling, carroms, shove ha'penny and shuffleboard with tabletop dimensions. Two players take turns flicking discs across a circular playing surface into higher scoring rings to score points for points on either end - and the first player to 100 points wins the game!
Crokinole boards typically measure 26 inches in diameter and are divided into three concentric circles with an outer circle worth five points and inner circles worth 10 and 15 points each, plus an 8 pegged central hole worth 20 points - and can even be played with four player teams for maximum fun! Each board is handcrafted from local or imported veneers in a workshop owned and run by talented artisans - creating unique works of art that cannot be duplicated.
Measurements and Planning: Designing the Dimension
Crokinole is an exciting game of skill that requires practice to master. It can be enjoyed between family members or as an engaging competitive pastime at tournaments across the globe and features straightforward rules but with many advanced strategies and variations to make play even more engaging.
Playing surfaces are typically circular in shape and feature a central hole slightly larger than a disc surrounded by three concentric rings used as scoring zones. An outer raised ring prevents disks from falling off during gameplay while gutter areas provide space for players to collect them after they fall.
Lubricating powders are often used to help the wooden disks slide smoothly across a board. Boric acid was once popular but due to its toxic qualities has since been banned due to safety concerns.
Although Crokinole boards come in various sizes, a standard game requires that they are at least 30 inches in diameter for optimal play. Octagonal-shaped boards have historically been preferred; however, rounder designs have now become more widespread.
Cutting and Shaping: Achieving a Smooth Surface
Crokinole can provide hours of entertaining family fun this Canadian winter evening or add another level of skill to your gaming skills, as both its recreational and competitive variants provide hours of engaging entertainment. While you can purchase handmade boards online for a higher quality experience, DIY versions offer considerable cost savings.
Crokinole boards feature three concentric circles surrounding an eight-pegged hole. Each zone of this board offers five points; its outer circle awards five, then 10 points are split evenly across three zones with three being worth 10 and two zones earning 15 apiece. Points can be earned when players shoot their disc into any of their opponent's pegs directly or by ricocheting against another disc from them - these scores may also come indirectly via ricocheting into opponent discs.
Lubricating powder is used to ensure pieces move easily over the board surface. Boric acid was once popular but is now considered an acute health risk; safer options exist today, such as food-grade spray powder from printing industry with special anti-setoff properties.
Building the Frame: Constructing a Sturdy Base
Crokinole is a dexterity game of strategy and skill played on a wooden board with pegs around its center hole, similar to pitchnut, carrom, marbles or shove ha'penny but with additional elements of curling or shuffleboard reduced for table-top size play.
The game is typically played between two players using 12 discs in each color (or more with four players), landing in regions on a circular board worth different points and can be knocked off opponents' discs by hitting it with another one - first player to 100 points wins!
Quality Crokinole boards are carefully polished and sanded, so discs can easily slide across them. Furthermore, protective coatings prevent the wood from becoming sticky or rough over time.
J and his cousins grew up playing Crokinole on boards made of beautiful cabinet-grade plywood with a shaped rail from Grandpa's handmade boards, which featured tournament standards built into them and natural finishes that enabled discs to zoom across their surfaces with incredible speed. Now, Grandpa has designed five more boards built specifically to family specifications so J can play without restriction or worry.
Adding Scoring Holes: Techniques for Precision
Crokinole is an exciting game of skill and dexterity where players use small discs to aim their shots into higher-scoring regions on a circular board. No matter whether you play at tournament level or simply enjoy a friendly match between friends, there are various strategies you can employ to improve your shots - improving aim, learning the amount of force required to launch discs, using finger cues similar to billiard cues can all increase success rates significantly.
Crokinole boards usually feature a round or octagonal-shaped base with ditches on both sides for discs to fall into, along with wooden rails surrounding its perimeter that prevent discs from sliding off during play and help keep them in place when not in use.
Crokinole boards feature three concentric rings of points worth five, ten, and fifteen as you move inward from the outer edge. At its center is a shallow 20 point hole guarded by eight small posts or pegs; often used with discs lubricated with powder or wax to allow more smooth motion on its playing surface.
Finishing Touches: Sanding & Staining and Sealing
J's grandpa and mom both kept homemade crokinole boards in their homes, providing him with hours of indoor fun on long Canadian winter nights. Crokinole boards can provide curling-like action with wooden checkerboard discs resembling checkers; but high-quality ones can cost over $100 altogether with materials.
Hard maple (commonly referred to as "red maple") is ideal for creating a Crokinole board as it resists denting from quick disc flicks. Sanded and stained with either clear or dark stain finish for optimal results.
Crokinole boards require 24 small coin-shaped disks called biscuits for gameplay. Players score points by landing in either an outer circle or landing the center hole--each earning 20 points! Lubrication powder may be used to help the discs glide easily across the board's surface, though purists often shy away from using toxic Boric Acid and prefer safer alternatives; one such expert being Jeremy Tracey who was trained by world renowned board builder Willard Martin.
Crafting the Playing Pieces: DIY Tips for Discs
Crokinole is a tabletop game played with wooden discs that have been specially crafted. This hybrid game incorporates elements from carrom, shuffleboard and billiards into an original Canadian pastime with raised railing around its edges and an indentation where discs rest between plays.
Crokinole requires 24 discs, known as biscuits or counters. These coin-sized discs come in an assortment of colors. An official set comes equipped with wooden storage boxes designed specifically to hold these discs as well as small pegs to help keep track of scores.
Crokinole depends on discs moving across its surface smoothly, so selecting a quality wood that provides a friction-free finish and coating it in wax are both key elements to an enjoyable Crokinole experience. Carnauba wax may help achieve optimal results; although not necessary for all boards, carnauba wax will help give optimal results and should always be used when possible to ensure smooth shoots. The lubricating powder may be added for added smoothness during playback - although due to potential health and safety risks (Boric acid was once popular but has since been replaced by safer alternatives), using this product may enhance their experience - although its use is optional - essential elements to an enjoyable Crokinole experience!
Assembly and Game Setup: Putting It All Together
Crokinole is a fantastic table game to share with family and friends, providing plenty of opportunity for dexterity practice while having a good time! Players use dexterity to flick Crokinole discs into outer circles or the center hole to score points; the player who accrues the most points wins!
Crokinole boards made of high-grade wood are generally the best choice, boasting polished surfaces resistant to scratches and stains as well as multiple wax coats for frictionless disc gliding. You can use car polish or furniture polish with carnauba wax to maintain their smooth surfaces for the perfect game of Crokinole!
Protecting the surface with protective spray once dry is another way to extend its life and add value. Refinish your board by adding new coats of stain or paint when wear and tear become evident, or purchase one already equipped with pegs, disks, and center holes - either way it makes setup much simpler!