Dartboards are made up of many different materials. The most common dartboard is made out of a cork board with a layer of sisal fibers on top. Other materials that dartboards can be made from include: plastic, metal, and even glass.
Today, there are four main types of dartboards – bristle, sisal, electronic, and magnetic dartboards. They each have their own benefits and negatives that make them different from one another.
Let’s look at each board type and find out what material it’s made from:
1. Bristle Dartboards
Bristle dartboards usually use horse or boar hair. The hair is then soaked in beeswax and then boiled in a mixture of water, soap, and glue.
Bristle dartboards are made from natural materials such as horse or boar hair, soap, and water. They do not contain any metal springs or wires. Bristles are often made of nylon.
Bristles help create a better bounce when the dart hits them because they are not rigid like metal springs.
Bristle dartboards lack the harmful side-effects of wood, eliminating any potential risk of splinters. The bristles work like a brush when hitting the board, and are less likely to break than darts thrown at a solid dartboard.
Possible advantages of using this type of board include the ability to get a better grip on things and minimizing bounce outs, which improves chances at winning. On the other hand, there are cons to using this type of board such as having to replace them more often due to constant wear and tear from throwing darts.
2. Sisal Dartboards
Sisal Dartboards are usually made of two layers of thin, woven sisal fibers glued to a round backing board. The layer of fibers must be tight and uniform to ensure that the dart is not hindered in its flight.
A dartboard is composed of a circular base and a layer of tightly stretched and trimmed sisal fibers. It is typically constructed from cork as well, which serves to hold the darts in place while also providing some padding. Sisal provides the most consistent surface for throwing darts, but other materials can be used too.
Sisal is a plant-based material that’s been used for centuries for crafting items such as rope and furniture.
Sisal dartboards provide a natural alternative to synthetic or plastic materials and can be recycled, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking to not bring toxic substances into your home.
Cons of using a sisal dartboard: Care needs to be taken not to damage the board with sharp darts, which can cause the fibers in the board to become loose.
The process of making a sisal dartboard requires weaving real sisal plant leaves together. The leaves are then dried in the sun before getting turned into darts.
3. Electronic Dartboards
Electronic dartboards are made from high-quality materials and are easy to manipulate. It has a wide variety of games you can play with it and has a life expectancy of 3-5 years.
A typical electronic dartboard is made out of two sheets of scratch-resistant clear plastic, a thin layer of circuitry, an aluminum or steel ring that the darts hit and bounce off, a layer of electrical contacts, and a colorful printed surface.
The circuitry is hidden behind the surface to protect it from damage by errant darts.
Benefits of using an Electronic Dartboard:
- They’re designed for fun for all ages
- They allow for multiple types of players
- They have no sharp points or dangerous projectiles
- You can play games against the computer or your friends
- There’s no need to worry about arguments over whose turn it is
- The computer keeps the score for you
4. Magnetic Dartboards
Magnetic dartboards are a game of skill and can be played by kids and adults alike. The rules of the game are simple, you need to throw a metal dart onto your opponent’s board. If you throw the dart close to the corkboard, it will stick in place.
The material that is used to make a magnetic dartboard usually depends on what kind of board one desires. Some boards may not have any magnetic surface at all and so they need to be made from some other material such as wood or plastic.
The benefit of this type of material is that it will not oxidize over time like some steel surfaces may do and so these boards can remain vibrant for quite some time. That being said, there are also disadvantages because if one does not take care when cleaning their board then these materials
