In this video, I build a travel cribbage board. The board is compact and integrated into a box that holds a deck of cards and pegs.
If you are interested in how to build your own, I have cribbage board plans available.
How to Make a Travel Cribbage Board
If you’re a fan of cribbage and woodworking, why not combine the two by crafting your own travel-sized cribbage board? This compact, functional board doubles as a storage box for cards and pegs, making it perfect for on-the-go gaming.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of building a travel cribbage board using Chechen and maple wood, complete with an inlaid accent, a pivoting lid, and hidden magnets to keep it securely closed.
Materials & Tools Needed
- Wood: Chechen (for contrast) and soft maple (scrap wood works great!)
- Tools: Planer, dado blade, router, drill, clamps, bandsaw
- Hardware: Rare earth magnets, dowel pins
- Finishing: Food-safe oil (e.g., tried-and-true hand-rubbed finish)
Step-by-Step Build Process
1. Milling the Wood
- Start by planing longer boards for safety and efficiency before cutting them down to size.
- Since I was making multiple boards, I milled a single long board and later cut it into individual pieces.
2. Adding a Decorative Inlay
- To enhance the look, I cut a centered dado using a dado stack on the table saw.
- A thin strip of contrasting wood was planed to fit snugly into the groove.
- After gluing, I sanded it flush for a seamless finish.
3. Assembling the Box
- The board consists of a rabbet-jointed box with a hinged lid.
- I pre-finished the inside surfaces before assembly to avoid glue interference.
- The lid was oversized for easier clamping, then trimmed flush with a router.
4. Drilling the Cribbage Holes
- For accuracy, I used a CNC template (though a printed paper template or Rockler jig also works).
- If you don’t have a CNC, hand-drilling with a guide ensures clean, evenly spaced holes.
5. Adding the Pivot & Magnets
- A dowel pin acts as the hinge, allowing the lid to swing open.
- Small, rare-earth magnets were embedded diagonally to keep the lid securely closed. (Pro tip: Mark magnet polarity before gluing!)
6. Final Sanding & Finishing
- All edges were rounded over for a smooth, comfortable feel.
- A hand-rubbed oil finish brought out the wood’s natural beauty.
Why This Design Works
- Compact & Portable: Stores cards and pegs inside.
- Durable Construction: Small size minimizes wood movement issues.
- Customizable: Use different wood species for a unique look.
Want to Build Your Own?
- Plans are available on my website (including CNC files and printable templates).
- Pre-made boards are also for sale if DIY isn’t your style!
Final Thoughts
This project is a great way to repurpose scrap wood and create a functional, gift-worthy item. Whether you’re prepping for next Christmas or just love handmade games, this travel cribbage board is a fun and rewarding build.
More Project Build Videos
Wall-Mounted Mid-Century Modern TV Cabinet Build
A walnut wall-mounted TV cabinet built with floating tenons, wenge accent shelves, and a hidden French cleat, from grain selection to final assembly.
Dovetail Key Joinery Box
This Denver, Colorado, client wanted me to build a decorative box around a drawing she did of a dog on a board where the board became the top of the box. The box was constructed using Dovetail keys fo strength and to add some decorative features to the box's corners.
Building a Hall Table with a Modern Greene and Greene Flair
In this episode, I build a Greene and Greene hall table with a modern twist. I splayed the legs to add a contemporary flair, giving this table a custom look.
Making Rent VS Making Art
Andy Berky always says Sometimes you make rent, and sometimes you make art. This project is one where I felt like I was just making rent. While I intend to always make art, the bills still need to be paid, and not every client looking for custom furniture is in need of art. The bookcase featured in this project was for a Denver, Colorado, Client.
Stave Door Construction – Custom Door
In this episode, I show how I built a custom door using stave construction. This type of frame construction makes for a strong, stable door that resists warping and is less susceptible to humidity swings. This is part of the Copper Door series that I built for a client in Evergreen, Colorado.
Veneering a Panel for a Custom Door
I show you how I veneered the center panel of the door with copper and walnut. I started by cutting the door's center core from 12-ply plywood. This ensures stability and resistance to expansion, contraction, or warping, providing a solid surface for veneering.
Building A Writing Desk
I show my process for building a custom writing desk. The desk is made from American cherry, and the sides and drawer pulls are accented with ambrosia maple. The drawer pulls also have a walnut accent.
Building a Craftsman Style Staircase and Handrail
In this episode, I help a Colorado Springs Client remodel their staircase. The existing staircase was a straight run with an outdated style. I redesigned it to have open-ended steps with a craftsman handrail.
Building a Live-Edge Table from Fire-Scarred Wood
Today's project is more than woodworking; it is an exercise in preservation and storytelling. My task is to build a live-edge trestle table in the mission style, from a slab of pine that carries the scars of our community's recent history.
Building a Sculpture that Doubles as a Coat Rack
building a sculptural two-moon coat rack, from grain-matched bandsaw cuts and CNC joinery fixtures to hand-shaped hooks and a hidden wall-mount system.
Building a Shadow Box Clock
My creation of a unique shadow box clock featuring a charred white oak frame, a beautiful cottonwood burl, and hand-patinated copper. This details the woodworking and metalworking process, from precise joinery to the ancient art of Shou Sugi Ban and metal patination.
Building a Custom Rustic Steel Dining Table Base
Building a custom rustic steel dining table base, from welding and acid treatment to creating unique rust patinas with vinegar and finishing with weighted concrete for stability
Building Modern Contemporary Doors
In this episode, I build a whole house of Modern Contemporary Doors featuring a stainless steel accent for my Colorado Springs client's home.
Building a Mid-Century Modern Walnut Nightstand
There’s something deeply satisfying about crafting a piece of furniture that’s both functional and beautiful. Today, I’m walking through my process of building a Mid-Century Modern Nightstand out of walnut, with a focus on how I cut perfect mitered corners so the grain flows seamlessly around the edges.
Building a Two-Tone Nightstand
How I built a white oak mid-century modern nightstand with a waterfall grain case, two-tone finish, and built-in charging outlet. Plus the joinery and finishing decisions I made along the way, all for a client in Colorado Springs who wanted a custom nightstand.
Fuming A Copper Panel for a Custom Door Project
In this episode, I built a large chamber made from wood and plastic to fume a copper panel for a custom front door commission for an Evergreen Colorado Client. I used salt, vinegar, and ammonia as the fuming techniques.
Building a Gaming Shelf for a Client
A client wanted a shelf that doubled as art — somewhere to display their gaming and cosplay collection. Here's how I built a custom piece around a segmented ring with intersecting shelves of varying heights and widths.
Making a Wooden Ice Bucket
Today's project is to build a decorative wooden ice bucket for a bar cart I constructed earlier. This isn't a functional piece meant to hold water; it's a prop, designed solely to add visual interest and character to my home bar setup.
Learning to Patinate and Bend Metal
Today's project is more than just building a pendant lamp. I really believe that to continue growing as an artist, you have to always be experimenting, trying new techniques, and working in new mediums.
Building a Headboard to Display Asian Art
My Denver Colorado Client had a beautiful handpainted screen that she wanted built into a custom headboard. So I carefully took the screen apart to extra the art. I then built a frame around each piece to incorporate it into a custom headboard.
