DIY Life

I spent many hours playing carroms as a kid. Carroms is a game similar to billiards. Rules vary considerably from country to country and even from town to town. A few years ago I bought a board at a thrift store while visiting my parents. When my father saw it he became excited and a family game of carroms followed.

Since that purchase I've bought two other carroms boards. Each has been slightly different but the size of the playing surface works great for a table top.

I have found that the corner pockets make great drink holders. Friends that see the table want to play or want to know about the game if they never have played before.

Suggestions on how to build a table out of a carroms board after the jump.You will need:

• A carroms board
• Screwdriver
• 1" x 4" board (height of table x 8)
• 3/4 inch plywood
• Wood glue
• Circular saw
• Table saw
• Drill and small bits
• Tape measure, pencil and square
• Finishing nails
• Screws
• Paint or stain

Use the screwdriver to remove the small posts from the opposite side of the board.

Make four legs for the table by cutting eight equal pieces of the 1x4 board. Consider whether you will use it as a coffee or end table and cut the legs accordingly. You can use these pieces as the legs or you can cut a 45 degree angle off of one side of each of the pieces so that two form an "L" shape when glued together.

You will need two pieces of the 3/4 inch plywood that are about two inches smaller than the distance between the corner pockets. That will ensure that the top piece does not block the board pockets. Drill pilot holes through the legs and the plywood edge and assemble with the wood glue and screws.

I suggest painting or staining the structure you've built now. Then just glue the carroms board onto the top piece and you have a sturdy, multi-function table ready for game nights! I plan on adding a small drawer under the bottom shelf to store the carroms pieces and perhaps chess or checkers playing pieces.