Alright, folks, let’s talk about how I finally got around to setting up a decent dartboard in my basement. It’s been on my to-do list forever, and I finally tackled it last weekend. I wanted something that looked good, wouldn’t destroy my wall, and, you know, actually worked well for playing darts.
Picking the Dartboard
First things first, I needed a dartboard. I’ve played on those cheapo ones before, and the darts just bounce right out. No fun. So, I did a little digging and decided to go with a bristle board. Apparently, they’re self-healing, which means the holes close up after you pull the darts out. Sounds pretty cool, right?
I ended up grabbing one, seemed like everyone on it loved it. Seemed sturdy and had good reviews, and that’s basically all I needed to know. I wasn’t about to become a dartboard expert overnight.
The Cabinet Situation
Now, I didn’t want to just slap the dartboard on the wall. I’ve got kids, and even I miss sometimes. So, a cabinet was a must. Plus, it looks way more legit. I looked at a few options. I decided on my cabinet by choosing good-looking and closed doors.
Putting It All Together
Okay, time for the actual work. I’m not the handiest guy, but this was pretty straightforward.
- Marking the Spot: I measured out where the bullseye needed to be – 5 feet 8 inches from the floor. That’s the official height, apparently. Used a pencil and a level to make sure it was all straight.
- Mounting the Cabinet:The cabinet came with all the screws and stuff. I used my drill, made some pilot holes, and screwed that bad boy into the wall. Felt pretty good about myself at this point.
- Hanging the Dartboard: The dartboard itself had this little bracket thing that screwed into the back. Then, it just hung on a screw in the center of the cabinet. Super easy.
The Finishing Touches
The cabinet I got came with a scoreboard on the inside of the doors, which is pretty handy. Also I grabed a simple light above it to avoid shadows.
And that’s it! Took me maybe a couple of hours, start to finish. Now I’ve got a sweet dart setup in the basement, and I’m actually getting pretty good. Or at least, I’m hitting the board more often than the wall. If you’re thinking about doing this, I say go for it. It’s a fun project, and it’s a great way to have some buddies over and throw some darts.
