Building a Backgammon Board | Woodworking with Hand Tools

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Published 2022-06-03

I built this fancy backgammon board as a graduation gift for a friend of mine. The triangular pieces are made of mahogany and curly maple, with the main playing surface made of walnut. The outer surface is walnut burl, and the casing is made of solid walnut. The casing has hand cut dovetails and mortised brass hinges. Magnets hold the case closed, and also secure the piece-holder to the inside wall of the board for storage.

This build requires both hand and power tools, and demands absolute precision at every step. Any mistakes will be highly visible and will ruin the look of the board or the casing.

The board took me approximately 15 hours to build over the course of three weekends. Everything is finished with many coats of spray-on lacquer, which is my favorite quick-drying finish.

00:00 - Intro
00:19 - Template building
01:20 - Veneering
05:28 - Custom piece holder
08:13 - Dovetailed case building
10:10 - Glue up
11:00 - Separating the two halves
11:58 - Hinge mortising and installation
13:03 - Magnets!
14:26 - Final reveal

Thanks for watching. Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts, and don't forget to subscribe if you like content like this!

** Want to buy the tools and accessories I use in my videos? Here is my Amazon affiliate store where you can get them for yourself! www.amazon.com/shop/dkbuilds

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All Comments (21)

@dkbuilds 2 years ago

Thanks for watching! What did you think of this video? If you liked it, please consider subscribing to my channel!
@christosvolikakis1523 8 months ago

If you ever considered teaching a class on how to make your own backgammon set, I would definitely sign up
@backgammonskillset 2 months ago

Making it whole and then cutting the 2 sides guarantees they are identical. Nice build. Love the Walnut Burl.
@roberthahn8555 2 years ago

Love this build. I cannot believe that I’ve been watching woodworking YouTube videos for over 4 years and no one made a backgammon board before now. Anyone who comes after has a high bar to clear!!
@alfastur6833 2 years ago

9:36 I didn't expect that Zelenski had time to do woodworking now! Jokes aside it is a nice work and amazing workmanship.
@pedrodias5813 4 months ago

Awesome work
@ryderscustomcreations3665 2 years ago

A backgammon board has been on my to-do list of things to make. There arent any good videos of it on YouTube. You beat me to it! Amazing work!
@tree_carcass_mangler 2 years ago

Very well done. Thanks for posting and thumbs up!
@nickyork8901 1 year ago

Great video, thanks. What a super gift for your friend.
@johnrossharbridge8125 1 year ago

I am really enjoying watching this video. Thanks for your time.
@farzadrabei 1 year ago

wow tnxxxx
@franka5416 1 year ago

Excellent - thanks for sharing.
@andykg73 2 years ago

Beautiful looking box. 👍👍
@sonitourret1374 2 years ago

As a cabinetmaker, it is really nice to see people doing veneer. Nice job, and beautiful result ! greetings from france !
@behzad2929 2 years ago

It is my first comment on YouTube. I can’t thank you enough for making these Videos. When you put a video out it MAKES my day. I mean it really, thank you.
@malicant123 8 months ago

Superb work.
@CarlosMartinez-un4sm 1 year ago

I like Rob Cosman too
@haroldogt 2 years ago

Great job!! Nice!!!
@jwsgmail7779 11 months ago

Thanks for sharing. Love playing backgammon on beautiful boards. This is a great project. There are subtle moves in here that show real mastery of the craft. You are precise. And skilled. A true craftsman. Bravo
@geraldfitzgibbon7428 2 years ago

Simply lovely. Great skill