Welcome to Big Board Cribbage!
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| BBC @ HFL |
Big Board Cribbage took off. It's a success! Within less than six weeks, we're almost at a true break-even point on our start up costs. Of course, we don't count our labor---only out-of-pocket money. We've never met any entrepreneur who factored in the theoretical costs of The Labor Of Love in a new business.
Indeed, it actually IS a Labor Of Love--LOVE of Cribbage. Over the past six weeks, we came to realize we're doing much more than creating Big Board Cribbage (BBC) outfits. We're walkin', talkin', evangelizin', P.T. Barnum-promotin' proponents of The Royal & Elegant & Forever FUN Game of Cribbage.
We started this business on Faith and Hope that Cribbage Players would rally up to support our efforts. Yea, verily, that has been and continues to be the case. The enthusiastic support of active, past and future and wannabe cribbage players is both heartening and a genuine motivational inspiration.
It seems that every BBC outfit that finds a new home also generates and creates a unique story unto itself. One of these days we will write a post about some of those truly inspirational stories. They not only warmed my Heart when they transpired but they continue to warm my Heart Now & Forever!
That's really what has made this business so instantly special to me. It has never been (or will ever be) about making money. It's about The Heart & Spirit of Cribbage. As I told a BBC buyer today, "Either your instantly get it or you don't." And for those who "get it," this is what you can call a Really Fun Gig! I mean REALLY FUN GIG!
Friday The 13th of August 2021 was a Super Special Day. We took seven BBC's up to Island Park. We sold two boards and brought home $145 cash-in-hand. And we had a wonderful day in The Caldera, as Island Park is widely known.
We set up a delightful display at the Island Park Dam overlook area. Then we had a Dear Diary Day experience at IP's legendary Trout Hunter. And to make it even more special, we savored some sweet scenes inside the historic, iconic Henry's Fork Lodge.
Since we began BBC, we have created 19 Big Boards. We have sold 13, donated one and have five left in inventory. Meanwhile, we have shipped BBC's to Upstate New York, two to Texas, three to Arizona and one to Payette, Idaho. Along the way, we've forged a brand new awesome relationship with FedEx.
Every step of the BBC Way is filled with adventure and challenge. To begin, we must go to a sawmill and pick and choose slabs of Douglas Fir right off the saw.
And then we must heft those heavy 8-10 slabs down onto our work table and "find the boards." Early on this was difficult but now we can see them like shining beacons. They stand out like the proverbial sore thumb! It's quite fun.
Once we have bunked up all our newfound board blanks, then it becomes a matter of selecting each blank for "peg line layout". Laying out the peg lines is arguably my most enjoyable aspect of this esoteric business. I LOVE staring at a piece of wood wondering where the pegs will go!
Eventually, of course, the drill bit must hit the wood. But before those critical moments occurs, the "target" must be drawn onto each board blank. Trust me. That is a Very Tedious Process that takes a Lot Of Time.
And then there is the drilling of the holes. That's stuff for a separate post.
After the holes have been drilled the board needs to be fully finished. That typically takes four sandings but sometimes six depending on how rough the board was to begin with.
And then there is the Peg gig. Each board has its own pegs. Quite frankly, pegs are a PITA! But we get along with it all.
Then we have to "dress" the drill holes. Gosh, that's yet another long story.
And then we have to seal the board. And then we have to buff the board. And then we have to create the board's Certificate. And then we have to create a custom peg container for the board's pegs. And then we have to create a cardboard sheath to protect the board.
I mean, like, SERIOUSLY! This stuff seems to go on on forever.
But, eventually, a BBC comes to fruition and gets SOLD and it makes it ALL worthwhile. Right?
We toyed with the idea of naming this board "The Double Naughty," but that's knot right and proper so we doubled down with "The Double Knotty."
This is a mighty fine board that's interesting for several reasons. It's over 2 inches longer than the two-foot Standard Cabin Board. That allowed us to really air out the peg lines and they are 22.5 inches long. The proportional spacing is really eye-pleasing. The board comes with two sets of metal pegs: Brass and Steel! Why? Well, we drilled the holes with a 3/16ths inch drill bit, foolishly thinking our 3/16th brass rod stock would fit. HAHAHA! So then we used a bench grinder to grind some tips onto the two inch brass pegs. They "fit" but their fitment is very firm, so to speak.
That's when we headed out to Tacoma Screw here in Idaho Falls, hoping for the proverbial Hail Mary Pass FTW. Sure enough, Tacoma Screw came to the rescue and outfitted us with #2 steel taper pins 2 inches long. Man! Those pins sure look sweet on this playing surface and they fit quite well. We Love 'Em!
Technically, The Double Knotty has 75% Live Edges but we rounded down to 66%. How do we calculate that percentage? EZPZ. We measure the total length of both edges. Then we measure the portions of both edges that have full bark coverage and divide the two figures.
The two knots didn't quite escape the drill bit but the holes are on the edges of the knots. There's a great sweep of wood grain running "upboard" to reach both knots. The effect is quite nice and easy on the eyes.
The Double Knotty lies flat which is a real bonus. We always include a shim with each Big Board "just in case" the board flexes in the future. We've been shimming our own personal Big Board for years and think nothing of it. It is The Way Of Wild Wood. YMMV.
We finished Double Knotty quite some time ago but the whole "peg thing" threw us for a loop. And then we noticed some sanding marks we hadn't seen. So we had to resand the board and reseal it, too.
So, why is the Double Knotty discounted? Good Question! There are two reasons and the first is what I call "hole edge chipping." I have experimented with just about every drill bit available for purchase anywhere here in Idaho Falls. I bought a new hot rod 3/16ths bit for this board and it still occasionally chipped a hole lip. (I've since switched to brad point bits and that has largely solved the problem.)
Second, I missed a couple of hole's alignments...not much, mind you...but the human eye is unerringly accurate. Each of those holes is probably less than a quarter-millimeter out of alignment but I consider that a reason to discount the board. I will only charge full price if I've done my absolute level best to make everything perfect...AND if the board's "confirmation" is near perfect as well.
If the Double Knotty was perfect, I'd be asking $65 for it, plus shipping.. So this is a pretty good deal if you're looking for a great beginner Big Board to whet your appetite for MORE!
The price is $50 INCLUDING shipping to anywhere in the Lower 48. Note that we can reprint the Certificate with your name or the name(s) of whoever you may wish to gift the board to. I've put a lot of time into this board and I know whoever buys Double Knotty is going to enjoy the special ambiance it will bring to their cribbage.
Here's our weekend project (July17-18, 2021)
You can buy it for $35.
It's a great board using 8 AWG copper pegs topped with colored wood caps. It's the Standard Cabin Board so hole spacing is a half inch with an inch between decks. Great grain. Good Looking board that lies flat
If you'd like to hear Jim Morrison and The Doors perform "This Is The End," here it is:
https://youtu.be/VScSEXRwUqQ
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All our cribbage board are sealed with the Gold Standard of Butcher Block sealer from Howard Products, Inc. Paso Robles, CA. It is made in the USA and completely free of harsh chemicals.
Butcher Block Conditioner is a combination of pure USP grade mineral oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax. The mineral oil used in Butcher Block Conditioner exceeds U.S. FDA regulations for direct and indirect contact with food. Made in USA with strict quality controls. Butcher Block Conditioner is a revitalizing blend of genuine beeswax, Brazilian carnauba wax (hardest natural wax available), and pure USP Food Grade Mineral Oil that is tasteless, odorless, and will never go rancid. No contact with nuts, gluten or other potentially allergenic materials.
It is expensive: $10 for a mere 12 ounces. However, we feel it is important to use The Best available food grade sealer for the Peace of Mind of our clients.
You can read more about sealer here:
https://www.howardproducts.com/product/butcher-block-conditioner/
