Make Your Own Mahjong Board From 2x4
Introduction: Make Your Own Mahjong Board From 2x4
Make your own Mahjong board, tile racks and wind squares (and bamboo chips) from 2’ x 4’ birch plywood (carpenter quality).
We are avid Mahjong players and the rules of the game for new players can be overwhelming. That's why I made a game board with some build in mnemonics.
I had already made the board in a hardboard version but, by force of habit, I put the compass rose on it as usual, with East to the right of the North/South axis.
The board made the game easier for a new player. Although an ordinary wind rose is not a disaster, I still wanted a sign that indicates the correct wind direction according to the Mahjong competition rules. To make this new version, I chose birch plywood. I also decided to make 4 Mahjong tile racks on which you can put the stones you play with. I made these tile racks after the example of an incomplete set that I found at a flea market.
Mahjong is played with 144 tiles. The rules of the game (there are different game variants) can be found on the internet. 212
We play according to the Competition Rules. In the board I have incorporated the symbols of the most important stones: seasons, flowers, dragons and winds. I replaced the symbols of the flowers (plum, orchid/lily, chrysanthemum and bamboo) with a rose. The symbols for the seasons (fisherman, woodcutter, farmer and scholar) have been replaced by the colors of the seasons: green, red, orange and blue.
The materials used are partly new, such as the wood, a plate (thickness 0.6 cm) of birch plywood of 61 x 122 cm (2’ x 4'); and partly old such as painting hooks from which I made hinges, and plastic Pringle lids from which the washers were made. A piece of rubber that once served as a protective material became the compass needle.These materials are included in the listing but can be replaced with 5 mm washers (inner size 2 mm) and 19 mm washers (inner size 7 mm) and copper plates of 5 mm x 34 mm. I couldn't find these washers and plates where we live, hence this solution. I have indicated for each part what you need, both in terms of material and tools; to make it easy if you only want to make the board or only the tile racks, for example.
Supplies
For the board:
Plywood 48 x 48 cm
Jigsaw
Jigsaw table (option)
Measuring tape
Sandpaper 120 and 240
Wood glue
Wood burner set
(Squared) paper
Tracing paper
Pencil 2B
2 (Plastic) washers
1 Piece of rubber/plastic, big enough for a compass needle
Hollow hole punch 19 mm
Hollow hole punch 7 mm
Hammer
Drill
Drill bit (the thickness of the screw sleeve)
Piece of thread of about one meter
Adhesive tape
Screw sleeve and screw (connection screw)
Vice (option if screw + sleeve is too long)
Hacksaw (option if screw + sleeve is too long)
1 Drop of green acrylic paint (dragon)
1 Drop of red acrylic paint (dragon)
1 Drop of white acrylic paint (dragon)
1 Drop of green acrylic paint (roses stems)
1 Drop of blue acrylic paint (rose/winter)
1 Drop of light green acrylic paint (rose/spring)
1 Drop red acrylic paint (rose/summer)
1 Drop of orange acrylic paint (rose/autumn)
Paintbrush
Paint tray
Tung oil
For the tile racks:
Plywood 92 x 40 cm
Jigsaw
Jigsaw table (option)
Sandpaper 120 and 240
16 Copper-plated painting hooks
Box of copper nails1.2 mm x 12.7 mm
Glue clamps
Cutting pliers
Tin snips or kitchen scissors
Hammer
Dremel
Drill 3/64''
Anvil
64 (Plastic) washers
Wood glue
Wood burner set
Pencil
Paper
Tracing paper
Ruler
Measuring tape
Hand jigsaw + saws
Hand jigsaw board
Revolving hole punch pliers 5 mm and 2 mm
8 Pieces of 5 cm long paracord no wider than 0.5 cm, color of your choice
Tung oil
Wind squares:
Plywood 4 x 16. 401