HOME HISTORY MATERIALS TOOLS BUILD HOW TO PLAY
Without a doubt, one of the hidden joys in life is a well-painted cornhole set. However, painting can be a real pain if you’re pretty new at it. The key is to be meticulous and patient. If that turns you off, don’t worry, it’s not that bad once you get the hang of it. Just don’t take any shortcuts unless you’re certain of the results.
The first step is to fill all the holes and defects you created while building your cornhole boards (screw holes, knot holes, etc.). Use a putty knife or something of the sort to push wood filler into any holes, cracks, etc. on your board. You can even fill in the gap between the plywood surface and 2×4 frame. Don’t worry about over filling it because the wood filler sands down very easily after it has set up. Be sure to allow the filler to set up according to the instructions that came with your product.
Next sand your cornhole tables smooth. An electric sander will save you a lot of time here. Medium-grit sandpaper should do the trick. If you’ve got the time sand it with varying grits of sandpaper (coarse -> medium -> fine). Also sand down any small discrepancies you have on the sides of your table where all the different pieces of wood come together. Try not to alter the plywood surface too much. Once all your surfaces are smooth you can lightly sand down any sharp edges and corners. If you bought a router to cut your hole you can use it to round the edges. I like to gently sand the edges of the hole as well. When you try to retrieve a bag through the hole, your valuable bag-tossing hands will thank you.
Dust off your boards, set them up off the ground, and detach your legs if you haven’t already. Apply a thin layer of primer on all visible surfaces of the board and legs with a brush or roller and let dry. Next, take a small roller (a brush if you prefer, but a roller makes it a little easier to get a uniform layer) and paint the board and legs with the color of your choice and allow it to dry. This may require several coats. Don’t touch up areas here and there if you want the best results – if you need to apply more paint in one area just give the whole surface another thin layer. Painting can really be a learned skill so don’t be rushing things.
That's it, you're done. Now your painting scheme can be as elaborate as you want. Some people paint a contrasting border color around the hole and around the edge of the board. Some use colors and paint graphics that match their favorite sports team. Some even have custom graphics made that can be peeled and stuck to the board. Some even add things like lights and scorers, but this takes some electrical know how. However you do it, just make it you own.