How to Make a Go Board // Goban // Go Game // DIY Go Board // Woodworking

My son recently got into playing the game "Go", so I decided to make him a Go Board (Goban) for his birthday. This was a fun one to figure out!
The Table Top Epoxy I used was from Total Boat. For 10 % all Total Boat products use
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How to play Go - • How to Play Go
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Some tools used in this video were provided to me, all opinions are my own.

[@ManillaDeerHead]

I have been woodworking a long time but every time I watch your channel I learn something new. Your router fence is genius. Yet another good video.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

That’s so awesome to hear! Thanks so much!

[@QqJcrsStbt]

Complicated, bulky, expensive, a tedious fence to make with limited applicability. I need to cope with two/three router bit diameters for two sizes of router, two skill saws (x/cut and rip blades) and a jigsaw. I also need to cut up 8x4s. I have very limited space. My gauges add up to a large paperback.

[@DadIsntMad]

First and foremost, amazing job. Secondly Go isn't an easy or a simple game. It is one of the hardest game to master and has a skill ceiling well above chess so good of you to let your children run their growing mind into learning go. Lastly the video was beautifully done. Amazing job. I am really impressed.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! I hope I can learn along with him

[@foodparadise5792]

The number of possible go move is more than the stars in the sky.

[@GKChandlerBooks]

I played Go many years ago as a young man and loved it. It was my favourite game for a long time. Your build was great to watch and inspires me to do more. Many thanks for the video.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! I’m excited t learn more about it

[@CorwynGC]

The Japanese have a lot of very specific aesthetic design considerations for Go boards. The thick boards are that way for a specific sound when putting down stones. You can take or leave that generally, but one thing I think will be annoying is the glossy finish, playing on that surface for a few hours will cause a bit of eye strain. Nice job.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

I agree with you

[@BronkBuilt]

Turned out great. I love how your son helped with his own gift and didn't even know it.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! I loved that too ☺️

[@nicolasmagee1780]

One thing to know when making your own goban is that the grid is not perfectly square to compensate the perspective.

[@kperellie]

I love it when I see you make things for the kiddies, and this was definitely a labor of love. They may not appreciate it now, but someday they will. You're a good Mom!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so Much! He seems to be appreciating it already! So I’m happy. ☺️

[@PneumaticAddict]

Your son was so excited to play! He's adorable! Now I'm going to fall down the KZbin rabbit hole looking up information on GO.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Yeah. He’s been asking me to play non stop. But he keeps beating me so it’s hurting my self esteem... 😂😂😂😂

[@tezeta3725]

@@3x3CustomTamar Don't be too hard on yourself. It took me like 2 weeks to be able to beat the easiest difficulty on my phone when I first started playing. It sounds like your sons been practicing as well so you might want to do the same if you want to beat him :)

[@onjofilms]

Awesome. Searched making a go board, and someone I'm already subscribed too made one. You are very talented, nice board.

[@craigmaddison8254]

Man, what a cool present, made by your mam, can you imagine? Love the router jig thing too.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! He was really happy with it

[@MrFirefox322]

Wow what an incredible gift to receive! You did an amazing job with this and the color is so nice!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! It was so fun to make this for him.

[@johnford7847]

Very nice. I have a go set with a board printed on a rubberized mat. This would be so much nicer. Thanks for the detailed presentation.

[@BobsWoodStuff]

Very cool project. The dots on the board are for handicapping. For every 10 points that you lose by, you start the next game with one stone already on those spots.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Got it! Thanks!

[@evanherk]

In a real professional go board the lines do not form squares but are slightly longer in the vertical direction to compensate for perspectival shortening. But I like the routing scheme. I used two razor blades on either side of a bit of carton to cut out a fixed width strip out of a track of masking tape, then painted with rmthick black gloss paint.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

That’s a great idea

[@thejman713]

This looks amazing! I hope your son appreciates it!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! He gave me the biggest hug today. So I think he likes it. ☺️

[@ericryckman5174]

Pure satisfaction. Wow. Such a lucky son! Amazing work!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so Much!

[@jessecox8486]

This is great! I'm wanting to make one of my own, and this helps so much. Thanks.

[@colmarsh3232]

Loved it. Going to try this myself. Really enjoyed the video. Thank you.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Awesome. Good luck with it! Thanks!

[@rick91443]

Beautiful! And a little side story. A million years ago, my first girlfriend was a Japanese American. We stayed together 9 years and ALWAYS played "Go." I can remember having beat her 4 times in 9 years...even though my father had taught me the game of chess at 8. Great(and seemingly simple) game. You'll all soon be adicted...cheers...rr Normandy

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! That’s a fun story. My son keeps beating me and he’s only 10! Ha!

[@phaedruscj3330]

Looking forward to the day your kids get into Crokinole and Sjoelen!

[@maxciencomp]

Absolutely amazing!

[@DCFusor]

That click when separately and carefully made parts just fit together perfectly when you try them is soooo satisfying.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Totally agree.

[@limbertpv]

Excelente trabajo, abrazos grandes. Es un placer ver tus proyectos

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thank you!

[@Goalsplus]

Magnificent, you must really love your son to give him such a piece. Chuckle chuckle. Thanks for sharing.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Ha. Yes. I do. 😂 thanks!

[@MichaelBeirneVettedCapital]

brand new aspiring maker/woodworker with two kids. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insturctive vids, and for the focus on kids toys,tools,furnishings... after I get a couple outside projects done, will be following your footsteps on games, kid furnishings. seen anyone do playboxes/houses, internal activity (climbing/jumping/building) playrooms or other games? THANK YOU!

[@roberthosier4062]

had to pause 2 min in to say that you router jig is BAD ASS! what a time saver!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! It’s one of my favorite jigs ☺️

[@michaelschwenk8434]

Super project - great gift - I like the epoxy surface. It looks good, even with the oak wood. Many greetings from Germany

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! I think the epoxy looks really cool too ☺️

[@shalokin]

To avoid sibling rivalry I'll have one of these too please Mum...excellent work

[@johnhatch2519]

What a wonderful woodworker! I thought I was good, but she puts me in the shade. Great woodworking technics, and really well done video. I especially like the fact that you left in your MISTAKES, too! Like the boo-boo when you were making the drawer pulls, and even pointing out the mistakes in the painted lines, which can't even be seen by the viewer. You are truly a first-class woodworker. Thank you.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

So happy to hear you liked it. Thanks!

[@davidharvey5672]

Thanks, I enjoyed watching. Never heard of the game before this. I imagine board games have good sales potential. Great result.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! Yeah, they go for a Hefty price

[@grateful4068]

Love the harbor freight clamps. I have about 50 of them. Also, this is amazing. You're amazing.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Ha! Thanks! ☺️ they are great clamps

[@edkramer65]

That is an amazing make. I have done painting in with a sharpie but that tends to bleed as well. Loved the ending with your kids. You Rock Tamar.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! I tried a sharpie first and that was bleeding a lot. So I switched to the thicker paint. I’m so happy they Are enjoying it ☺️

[@3x3CustomTamar]

James Gallagher thanks so much! I actually have some. But was saving it for a different project 😉

[@clydebalcom8252]

Rounding off the plywood drawer bottom is an idea that is so cool.

[@munizda]

So many cool tricks you used for this project. Thanks!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Glad you liked it!

[@BookofIsaiah]

Love this project! It came out really nice! Happy Birthday to your boy!!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so Much! I’ll pass along the message 😉

[@garagemonkeysan]

Best mom in the world! : ) Great project and video. Thanks for sharing! : )

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Haha! Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@freeelectron8261]

Great job Tamar! I'm learning Go and I like woodwork so may follow your design. Hope your son gets a lot of use out of it. Thanks for the video.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Awesome. Glad you liked it!

[@chipheadnet]

Another excellent make! TYVM for sharing!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! So glad you enjoyed

[@fpvclub7256]

Very cool. I made of of these a while back as well. I used black wood filler for the lines, it worked nicely. I really like the drawers on the side, great idea!.

[@MHChrono]

epoxy is a bit too shiny to me xD thinking it might ruin the acoustics of playing the stones... Awesome project though, and well presented!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

I think I agree. It was an experiment. Thanks!

[@gogobram]

@@3x3CustomTamar well it's just absolutely beautiful !

[@michelevitarelli]

Great project and video. Thanks for sharing.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! Glad you like it!

[@BlackDogWoodwork]

WOW! That turned out really nice. You always seem to come up with some really cool projects. Thanks as always for sharing. 👍😎

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! It’s fun to make stuff for my kids ☺️

[@emm_arr]

That's cool. You're cool. Go looks cool too. If I had my time again, I'd have learned go as well as chess when I was young. Hope he likes it and enjoys it for years.

[@ericthered2963]

What is stopping you from learning it now? You can learn how to play Go or Chess in just a few minutes. After all there is no need for excellence if you just get into it, or only see it as a hobby. And even if you really want to be a awesome Go or Chess player: If your brain is still working and you have enough motivation you can become quite good.

[@emm_arr]

@@ericthered2963 Time, Eric.Time. I've just had a game of chess, though.

[@dalejones4186]

Love your videos “Draws” and all. 😁

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Haha. Thanks!

[@LOCKEYJ]

Drawers

[@robertvanhousen1015]

Beautiful job. Thanks!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@robingosse]

Can I just say that hinged router fence is friggin' brilliant?! (Love from Newfoundland, Canada)

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Haha! Thanks! I have been using that jig a lot.

[@oldmanjimh3165]

I just learned about this game. Even though cheap versions were for sale, I wondered about making my own and looked for actual dimensions. Your project stood out. Subscribed.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Awesome

[@francescoNovelletto]

simply lovely as always

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much!

[@notaka5907]

excellent job! i love it

[@spirit469]

Beautiful project!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thank you! 😊

[@WatchMeDIYIt]

Never heard of it either. 😁 Awesome present for your son!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

He has been playing first thing when he wakes up. He’s happy so I’m happy! I still don’t understand how to play it

[@AngelMalakim]

@@3x3CustomTamar He didnt explain it all that well, but its awesome he's playing go! I think it makes people smarter. Here's a link with the rules for Go: www.britgo.org/intro/intro2.html

[@TheSamuelCish]

Awesome gift idea and I hope your son keeps playing Go. It's a wonderful game. You should check if there are any local Go clubs near you. I'm sure your son would love to play go in person. It's the best way to improve. I know I appreciated my dad taking me to the Go club when I was a kid.

[@stevetyler3016]

Nice Job again. I love that you have an idea and you see it through. The variances give it character. This will be something your son will always treasure because it was made by you !!! Bonus.... I got to hear you say Drauuuu a few times. Lol. Love It. Great Job.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Hahaha! Thanks so much! I hope he keep enjoying it like he has been the last couple of days

[@q4sbgf9kfgrd6]

love the oh so brief expression at 0:04 like, “Boom, I just blew your mind”. If you and your son haven’t watched it yet, there is a great documentary on KZbin called AlphaGo. Highly recommended

[@3x3CustomTamar]

We saw it!

[@MatthewGoczalk]

Awesome router jig, I'll have to copy your design.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! It’s been getting good use in my shop

[@peteresavage]

Great work!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@danielbarker5101]

great build and a wonderful game.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much!

[@Joe-yr1em]

This came out amazing!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@TheDonnaAnn]

I always learn something from your videos! Thank you Tamar! The game board is beautiful! I love that your son helped without knowing it was for him! LOL

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Haha! I thought that was fun too ☺️ so awesome that you enjoyed. Thanks!

[@jrmyphts]

Found your channel today and have been binge watching, you have some great projects and good ideas. I really like you router jig.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Awesome! Thanks so much! glad you're liking them

[@rockusbacchus]

What a cool idea, Tamar. I learned to play go years ago, but never thought about using my woodworking skills to make my own board until now. Great job!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Awesome! I hope you make one!

[@reforzar]

This is awesome. That’s one lucky kid. Great job mom.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much Brian! I have to get better at playing...

[@mickepragen]

Awesome Tamar. Really nicely done.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much!

[@bobt2522]

That is a beautiful project! Thanks for the tip on sizing. Chuck Bender recommends sizing with glue that has been thinned with water to about half strength to get greater penetration into the wood fibers.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! That’s a good tip.

[@roytaylor5463]

Really cool piece

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@AB-nu5we]

Great gift!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

He loves it so I’m happy ☺️

[@TheTrequarista]

Nice project, as always, and great birthday gift for your son! Really love all your videos, the rythme, your voice, it's really pleasant to watch. I make wodden lure for fishing and in lure crafting we use epoxy as clear coat, but also to stabilize/seal the wood before primer, paint and clear coat, just thin the epoxy with denatured alcohol. Greets from France

[@3x3CustomTamar]

That’s so awesome to hear. Thanks!

[@pagingjimmypage]

Router guide is killer.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Yeah.... it’s definitely come in handy a lot.

[@ianmprice]

I had the same reaction. I saw that and realized I need to make one.

[@diyhuntress]

Can I just hire you to make all of the jigs for me? Also... I’ve said it before, but you’re pretty much the coolest mom ever. Love this!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Ha! You can come over and borrow my jigs anytime 😉

[@jonoel6638]

Great job as always Tamar!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! ☺️

[@hannahalexander7005]

Non perfection is the greatest thing its one of a kind

[@stevenchuchineseless]

really good work and you are really a good mother . thanks

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much!

[@Daemon-sj5le]

Good job Tamar, I liked this board.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much!

[@PrairieValleyProjects]

Wow that is beautiful 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 You are so talented 😀😀

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! ☺️

[@justin9202]

As someone who has played go for the better part of 4 years, i'll say your board looks very nice. However, normally boards are waxed on the top and sides, The wax preserves the wood so you dont need something like epoxy or sealer. Usually people can use bees wax but i find that can sometimes be a problem. Theduddha2 has a great video on a board he made that shows different waxes that can be used. It's always good to see new people playing, I would gladly teach anyone who wants to learn, and Go is one of the simplest, yet most complex games on earth. Glad to see another practitioner in the mix ^_^

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks. Yeah. I should have gone with something more natural.

[@justin9202]

@@3x3CustomTamar the beauty of custom design is that you can do what you want. the only problem with epoxy and the sealant is that the epoxy could cause stone slippage when playing, also doesnt give as good of a sound. Some players are nit picky but i think your board looks beautiful, good job making it. you could have also decorated the feet if you wanted to. Your next challenge would be making actual go bowls haha ^_^

[@robertevans6481]

Very cool...and a interesting game as well..

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! I’m still trying to figure it out...

[@markbryan9989]

Your projects are always interesting and fun! I made a chess board (mahogany and maple) for my adult son for Christmas last year. It came out great but, unfortunately, I only win about one out of twenty games against him! Hope you have better luck with Go! Keep up the great videos. Thanks Tamar.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! I haven’t been able to beat him yet!! Ha!

[@VORONM]

Very good job!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much!

[@briancarter1597]

Those nine dots on the board are for beginners, and less experienced players. The experienced player plays white. The less experienced player plays black. At the beginning of the game, depending on how much of a skill gap there is between the two players the player playing black gets to put out up to nine stones on those nine dots. So if the skill gap is huge, black gets nine extra stones, but if it's not that big you might only get one or two. Great job on building this. It turned out nice.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much for the info. I guess I need those Dots when I play with my son. Ha

[@briancarter1597]

@@3x3CustomTamar You're welcome.

[@kevinwonart]

You are a super cool mom! wow awesome!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Ha. Thanks! 🤘 I’m going to save that for when my kids are teenagers.

[@ankitgajjar5513]

Nice project and game,would like to see more games in future thanks .

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! I can try

[@garykurowski6091]

Nice job!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@sampaulsam4321]

Great project, continues amaze us every day. Greetings from Portugal 3>

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! I love that little symbol 😉

[@josephrott1920]

great job. You should play more go.

[@vin.darkin3597]

great, excellent, wonderfull. Thank you for the helpful video.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

So glad you like it!

[@bking0220]

Great project Tamar.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much bill!

[@anthonyray5515]

Wish I had a cool mom like you! 8-)

[@gotzon1000]

Muy buen teabajo,excelente. 👏👍😍😘💋🤗

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@KyleVeatch]

I like the packing tape tip. I always have problems with finish drips on the bottom of projects.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Yeah it was really helpful! Glad it was informative for you

[@yiminwang8687]

Very nice project. I am very impressed. Several suggestions if you want to make another one: 1 leave more space at the edge of the board, otherwise those pieces at the edge of the grid will easily fall off the table during a game. 2 professional boards have grids that a not strictly squares but rectangles so that when the players looking at the board from the sideway above, the grid is square visually.

[@confusedsay]

Beautiful

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@davidaIano]

You're a great person and I like you.

[@tommylee85]

You are very smart and have great taste!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@BLSchaf]

Really liked to see you supporting your son on his interest in go. The board looks cool, though i think i don't like the epoxy, but I can't certainly tell since I never touched a go board covered in epoxy. Great Project!

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks! It def makes it more modern feeling.

[@thomashverring9484]

Damn, that kerf-maker is smart! And I'm a hand tool guy and don't have a table saw, but heck, it's clever!

[@thomashverring9484]

I'm also a Go-player (not a very good one but learning) and want to make my own board. I'm probably going to make the dimensions more true to tradition but within my skillset. The aesthetics are very important to Go, both how things look and how they sound. A proper board is a little longer than it's wide and the lines on the long direction doesn't meat up-but it looks like it's exactly square! That's part of the aesthetic and quite mind blowing! Also, the stones should be pushing up against each other, just a half millimeter shy of enough room to be exactly on the lines. And the black stones should be a little larger than the whites to appear exactly the same size. Etc. etc! That's why some of the boards are extremely expensive. There are also "correct" materials for board and stones 😀 I think it's very fascinating. If your son still like playing Go, a teacher of some sort is necessary. It's impossible to learn Go just reading the rules or watching videos, although there are a few good KZbin channels. In Sente is a good channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn7WmaeFbc1qiLc

[@murdo_mck]

@@thomashverring9484 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIfYdYBvn7aEZ9U

[@thomashverring9484]

@@murdo_mck I've seen that one. They are made with all the lines straight, so probably not top of the line.

[@murdo_mck]

@@thomashverring9484 If you have not read it, I recommend "The Treasure Chest Enigma" by Noriyuki Nakayama. The book is a delight. The author too - I met him once when he was the guest of a Go congress in Edinburgh.

[@thomashverring9484]

@@murdo_mck Sounds interesting. I'll note it. Thank you!

[@DonsWoodies]

Very nice build. Love the drawers. I've done that same thing when drawer slides are not an option. For the inlays, instead of paint or sharpies, try Timbermate wood filler. You can get it in different colors. It's water-based and you just smear it into the grooves, let it dry, and sand off the excess. No bleed thru. I think you are right though, the Oak is really hard to get clean corners. Poplar or Maple would probably be easier to get sharp edges. You did a great job explaining the whole process. Nice change from all the chess board builds.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks so much! That’s an Interesting idea. I may need to try that next time

[@chocosherry19]

this is so good.

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@prakashgudimetlagudimetlap2533]

Great projects super sister

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks

[@TomTowles]

Great video

[@3x3CustomTamar]

Thanks!

[@just1rick21072]

Just started watching your videos and I really enjoy watching you and your home made jigs. I'm not sure if anyone has suggested this, but to solve the drawer problem why not just make them longer? You still had a lot of room in the middle of the board. Love your videos, keep up the great work.