We’ve prepared your Carrooka board with the utmost care to last for years to come. It is made from birch plywood however and as wood is a natural material, it can change over time. You can help to protect the longevity and appearance of your board with a few simple steps:
Board storage and care:
Please store your Carrooka board in away from direct sources of heat – not close to a radiator or fireplace. If you are using a wall bracket, try to avoid placing it in direct sunlight, so not opposite bright sunny windows. Please also ensure it is a dry environment as any dampness may cause the wood grain to open up a little.
It is also essential to keep your board clean and dry. If you spill any liquids or food on to the surface, remove immediately with a dry cloth and then you may need to follow the re-waxing tips below.
Carrom powder:
Traditionally when playing the game of Carrom; you sprinkle a little Carrom Powder on to the board to help the counters slide. Our Carrooka boards are finely sanded, varnished and then waxed to create a super-smooth playing surface so that your counters glide with ease, meaning that you can play without powder. But you will find that if you add some playing powder you will:
- improve glide and reduce “stuttering”
- play faster shots
- have improved rebound off the rail
- reduce board scratches
We will send you a little sample of Carrom powder with your board. Our top tip for how much to use is “if you can see it, you’ve used too much!” You only need a teeny tiny sprinkle. When you’ve finished your free sample of powder, there’s information on the label as to where to buy more, although you may want to have a look around for alternatives, there are several on the market-
They all do the same job of reducing friction, but all have their own personality.
Vegetable starch powders – these are the most environmentally friendly powders, they tend to have a flour like appearance, they reduce friction and add some speed. They can make your board look a little dusty, but they do the job.
Wax sprinkles- these tend to be used for shuffleboard, we tried some on our Carrooka board and wow, you get speed, but it’s really hard to control where anything is going!
Super Disco powders- these are our favourite as instead of being a proper powder they are tiny spheres that act like little roller-skates under your counters. They tend to be made from acrylic. This one is a great powder- Hunter Disco Carrom Powder – Splay (UK) Limited
Please store all powders away from young children as they are a choking hazard.
Waxing your board:
Like any natural product, your Carrooka board will benefit from a good “feed” every so often. We tend to wax our own boards about once a year. Depending on how often you use your board, you may want to do the same. You’ll notice your board needs re-waxing if it becomes a little dull or rough. To do this you simply:
- Dust the surface of your board with a soft cloth or hoover on a gentle setting with a brush attachment, to remove any old powder or general dust.
- Lightly rub the surface of the board with some 1000 grit sandpaper (this is so smooth it’s almost like paper, please do not be tempted to use any other grade of sandpaper as it will be too rough), you’re aiming to pick up the old wax, but if you rub too much or too hard you may start to remove the varnish and stain, so please do this step with care.
- Apply a thin coat clear furniture wax such as Wax Polish Black Bison Paste: Furniture and Interior Woodwork Waxes | Liberon wood cares You apply wax with a soft cloth, leave it to dry and then buff it up with a soft shoe brush before a last polish with a clean dry cloth. It’s a ten minute job and if done correctly will restore a glow and protect the wooden surface for the best play experience.
Please avoid using any spray polishes that contain water. They will give you a quick shine, but may “raise the grain” of the wood as it absorbs the water and swells.