Cribbage boards are great beginner CNC projects because they can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be. These classic game boards range from straight planks of wood to more intricate designs that incorporate curves, beveled edges and even drawers for cards and game pieces. If you want to get really ambitious, you can even make a cribbage board like the one professional woodworker Kevin Turgeon shared on his YouTube channel.
This beautiful piece features a Celtic knot that wraps over and under the board itself in a series of four loops. The board required about four hours of machining time, in addition to some extra finishing time with a spindle sander and hand tools.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the design is the fact that Turgeon was able to create the 3-dimensional knot loops using software designed for 2D modeling projects. He achieved this feat by using a fluting toolpath to create the s-shaped transitions that form each loop. After machining the peg boards and knot loops with his CNC mill, he joined the components using wood glue and butterfly inlays to reinforce the joints. The finished product also required a fair amount of sanding, filing and chiseling with hand tools to make the joints flush and smooth.
Check out the video below to see a step-by-step explanation of the work that went into this project. Turgeon also offers some helpful insights into the processes he used to create his cribbage board. It might even inspire you to make your own cribbage board with your CNC machine!
Beautiful cribbage board, I have played the game for about 55 years and I have never seen a board as nice as this one.
Any cribbage player would be proud to own one those.
Wish I had the tools and knowledge how to achieve this.
Thank you for posting the video.