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August 31, 2020 By Amy Leave a Comment

What Are Dart Boards Made Of? – Some Useful Information For You!

The Dartboard is known as a must-have item in the game of darts- a very famous recreational game worldwide. So what are dart boards made of? Not many people are clear about their correct materials.

Fortunately, we are happy to show you our informative article about “what dartboards are made of” to give you a more in-depth look into this popular item.

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What Are Dart Boards Made Of?

As you all know, the dartboard is one of the main components of the darts games. It acts as a target in this sport. Until now, dartboards have undergone dramatic changes in their history. Having said that, dartboards have been made from various materials, so what are dart boards made of?

Nowadays, we can see that sisal fibers are the most familiar materials found in current dartboards. Modern dartboards are also made of several other materials such as coiled paper, cork, plastic, sisal fibers, etc. Per item has a particular function.

Cork

Let us introduce you to the very first material of dartboards – Cork. Cork is a material found mainly in lower quality items. Cork is slightly cheap and lightweight in construction. However, it has a regrettable tendency of wearing out in a short time, discouraging players from heavy playing.

Serious players never seem to have the intention of using cork; neither do competitive games. Thus, it has fallen into disfavor. People consider buying cork dart boards only when they have got a limited budget or simply don’t want to invest much cash.

Paper

what are professional dart boards made of

Another material that is applied to the production of dart boards around the world is coiled paper. All paper sheets are scrolled together to form the board’s striking surface, and that’s the way the coiled paper is made.

Dartboards of this type are relatively cheap, and, according to some popular belief, durable.

Thrown darts imbed themselves upon impact among layers of paper, but the fact is that just a slight whir on the point of a dart can puncture and rip the paper material, leading to irreparable damage. For this reason, coiled paper dartboards are not long-lasting or suitable for any serious play.

Different Types Of Dart Boards – An Ultimate Guide For You

Sisal Fibers

Sisal, also known as sisal hem, is a rigid and sturdy fiber obtained from the Mexican Agave plant; this is the same material used for making ropes or small rugs.

This kind of fiber is a versatile ingredient that various corporations worldwide have utilized to manufacture rope, cloth, paper, carpet, and of course, dartboards.

To your information, it is a company called Nodor that manufactured the earliest sisal boards in the United Kingdom. The name of the company indicates that sisal boards possessed no unpleasant odors, as compared to wooden ones.

A true dartboard is made by plaiding sisal fibers into long bundles and forming them into tubes. Thin wafers are subsequently created by cutting all these tubes then the wafers are forced into the circular form and fixed to the board. The next step is to make sisal boards free from fibers coarse nature and eventually turn smooth.

To tell you the truth, Sisal fibers are highly recommended for various reasons because of their accessibility, versatility, and at comparatively low expense. The use of equal and hard fibers would be a guarantee for a high-quality dartboard.

Plastic

Today, we are taken by surprise with the advent of electronic dartboards thanks to modern technology. Unlike traditional bristled fiber dartboards, Electronic dartboards are made of plastic and certainly offer some considerably higher quality of life convenience.

You know, plastic electronic dartboards have been designed with several scoring methods applied to the variety of Darts game. The disadvantages of electronic dartboards are their relatively high cost and restriction on the usage of soft tip darts.

Additionally, the striking surface of Plastic electronic dartboards is made of countless small holes where darts are thrown, which do increase the risk of a bounce out.

Other materials

Besides the typical materials of dartboards that we have introduced to you, the earliest dartboards were also made of wood and clay. However, these types of dartboards are no longer familiar, available, or accessible on the market; very few exist and are played on today.

Wrapping

Overall, in the past, dartboards were mostly made of wood and clay. At present, we can see dartboards from a wide variety of materials such as wound paper, cork, sisal fibers, plastic, etc. Each of which has a specific function.

Hopefully, after our above useful information about the question “what are dart boards made of?”, you will have a better understanding of their various materials to serve your different purposes.

Thanks for reading!

August 26, 2020 By Amy Leave a Comment

Different Types Of Dart Boards – An Ultimate Guide For You

There are many types of dart boards in the market nowadays, and the players need to depend on their needs, level, or preferences to figure out which type is the most suitable for them.

In this article, we will go into detail about some most prominent types of dart boards recently to help you differentiate and decide on which type you need.

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Some Different Types of Dart Boards That You Must Know

1. Bristle Dart Boards

The bristle dart boards are made of thousands of bristles crammed into a cylinder shape which was later snipped into boards. Most of the bristle dart boards are made from sisal in Africa then exported throughout the world.

What makes the bristle dart boards preferable by most players is their low-maintenance. Unlike other types of dart board that need to be cleaned up regularly, bristle boards don’t demand much cleaning from users.

Additionally, bristle dart boards are remarkably long-lasting compared to other types. To test its longevity, we can compare its reaction when a dart hits the board.

On other types of boards, there will be a tiny hole that remains on the surface. Meanwhile, on the bristle board, there is none.

2. Coiled Paper Dart Boards

Coiled paper dart boards are the cheapest types of dart boards that you could find. Made from wound paper, a steel and plastic frame, coiled paper dart boards are mostly used for kids with recreational aims.

These coiled paper boards are disposable and cheap so you can easily buy a dozen of this type for the price of a bristle board.

When you throw a dart at a coiled paper board, it’s likely to have a permanent hole. Thus, for a long time, the coiled paper board will be damaged quickly and cannot be used, for sure.

Additionally, the coiled paper dart boards don’t have an automatic score tracking device either, but that’s acceptable for a low-budget board. So, the coiled paper dart boards are suitable for new players who intend to use just for entertaining and don’t want to invest much money.

3. Electronic Dart Boards

Electronic dart boards are relatively new models, but it has quickly gained much favour from the dart players community because of its innovativeness. In clubs, bars, sports centers or parks, it’s easy to spot electronic dart boards instead of a traditional bristle one.

According to the manufacturers, the design and features can change a bit, but the operating principles have remained. The surface of a board will be filled with small holes which can be activated once a dart hits them to record a score.

The darts used for this kind of board are soft tip darts, that’s the reason why electronic boards are also called soft tip dart boards.

The reasons behind soft tip dart boards’ popularity are its automatic scoring system. Some models can also do permanent stat tracking and analyze the performance, which makes it so comfortable for users.

There is only one crucial disadvantage to consider is that it is expensive and cannot work with other types of darts except the soft tip darts, so the users always have to buy the soft tip darts along with the electronic dart boards.

How to Trim a Yucca Plant in 3 Simple Steps

4. Magnetic Dart Boards

Magnetic dart boards are often considered as a casual choice for non-professional players.

Unlike most types of boards, the magnetic dart boards are designed to be used with magnetic flat-tipped darts. When players throw a dart, it will be stuck to the board.

Thus, the magnetic dart boards are quite more durable and safer compared to other types. If you want to buy a dart board for kids but worrying about sharp darts, this type is an appropriate choice.

To add-in, magnetic dart boards are quite affordable – not much more expensive than bristle boards. There is only one point to remember is that: through the time, the magnetic charge will lose, and the magnetic dart boards are useless then.

5. Wooden Dart Boards

Before the bristle or the electronic dart boards were invented, the wooden dart boards had long been the golden standard of the dart players community. However, in recent days, they are used less than before.

Wooden dart boards were mostly made from elmwood, which makes it quite easy to be humidified. So, the wooden boards require regular moisturizing, otherwise, it will be dried out and start cracking.

Not only it’s easy to get moist, but the wood is also the main cause of the strong smell of this type of board. The manufacturers do as much as possible to reduce the odour, but it is impossible to eliminate completely.

Despite its inconvenience, playing with the wooden boards provoke a unique feeling that other types cannot create. The nostalgia, royal and ancient vibe from the wooden boards are the fantasy of some “gourmet” players.

In terms of durability, the wooden dart boards are quite long-lasting if users apply appropriate maintenance, but not much more than bristle boards. Comparing the price, wooden boards are a bit more expensive than the bristle, making them an option for traditionalists, not for casuals.

6. Cork Dart Boards

Cork dart boards are often mistaken as bristle boards, but they are not similar in general. Cork dart boards are made from cork and are more durable compared to paper boards. The cork dart board can work well with soft tip darts, and so, it is an ideal option for kids and beginners even more than the paper boards.

It can be concluded that the cork dart board is a “halfway point” between the bristle and paper boards. However, cork dart boards aren’t as popular as bristle and paper boards so it’s difficult to find and buy a cork dart board than other types.

Additionally, this type of dart board demands no maintenance which makes it a good choice for non-professional players. But, because of its so-so quality, we don’t recommend you to buy it if you tend to play darts professionally.

Conclusion

By this post, we have provided much background information about some popular types of dart boards. Each type has its pros and cons, so, it’s hard for us to choose “the best” type overall.

Wish this article gives you many useful insights about types of dart boards.

Thank you for reading!

January 25, 2020 By Amy Leave a Comment

How to Trim a Yucca Plant in 3 Simple Steps

Yucca is a perennial shrub characterized by its robust, sword-shaped leaves. The plant also has white flowers you can spot from a distance. Above all, Yucca is a bush highly cultivated in the Americas.

But Where Does Yucca Grow?

The Yucca shrub thrives in Mexico, Guatemala, Baja California, Southwestern United States, and Alberta. You can also find shrub plantations in the Caribbean Islands. In essence, the Yucca plant does well under different climatic and ecological conditions. You must, anyhow, provide enough.

Warmth
Sunlight
Nutrient value for the vegetation to flourish

Advantages of Planting Yucca

You can then propagate Yucca to yield the following benefits. One, the shrub is excellent for outdoor aesthetics. Its brightly coloured flowers appeal to the eye. They make outdoor spaces beautiful.

Besides, Yucca is famous for its edible parts. In real sense, people harvest the plant’s fruits, flowers, seeds, stems, and roots for food. More so, the leaves come in handy when making a fire.

American natives, for instance, use dry Yucca leaves to ignite fires. Moreover, the natives also use the plant’s roots to produce shampoo thanks to the high amounts of saponin compounds in the shrub.

Propagating Yucca

As you now know, Yucca is a plant with many uses. Cultivating the shrub, therefore, is a life-changer. But how do you grow the bush out of cuttings fast? Read through the sections below to learn more.

1. Watch Out for the Seasons

Yucca is ideal for indoor and outdoor cultivation. You must, however, watch out for the different seasons to maximize the yield. Winter, for example, is the best time for indoor propagation. Outdoor growers, on the contrary, get advised to plant the clippings in early spring.

2. Prepare the Clippings

Next, you need the right cuttings for the job. Clippings gathered from mature wood are the most ideal. Recall, the cuttings are less susceptible to rot. Cutting must, however, happen in spring or summer.

But there is more. You also need to cut off some few top leaves from the clippings. Doing so protects the plant from excessive water loss during root growth.

Once done, you can then store the cuttings in a shaded place for a few days. Storage under such conditions encourages drying. Besides, the process fosters better rooting.

3. Bury the Cuttings Under the Earth

You can then plant Yucca in your yard or a flower pot. The latter, however, gets recommended because it encourages the plant’s chances of survival. But how do you go through the process altogether?

It’s simple. All you must do is place the clipping into a pot full of soil. You can then store the vase in an unshaded area, a place with ample sunlight supply. Last, you can water the pan and wait for the cutting’s roots to develop. The roots only take a month to grow.

Trimming

A time, however, comes when you must prune the shrub for rejuvenation and aesthetics. But how do you overcome such an uphill task? The secret lies in the following pointers. They will teach you how to trim a yucca plant from scratch.

1. Investing in the Right Tools

A pair of leather gardening gloves and sharp pruning shear will do the job right. The gardening gloves protect your hands from injury. Shears, on the other side, cut through the wood without causing damage to the plant.

2. Remove the Dead Organic Matter

Next, you must remove the dry flower stalk using the shears. Precision, however, counts in this line of work. You must, therefore, shear the panicles at a distance of three to four inches to prevent water from penetrating the heart of the shrub.

3. Cut the Flower Stalks Regularly

Trimming the yucca plant is not hard. You must, however, prune the shrub once a while to ensure that the dead stalks do not make the plant unsightly. Besides, strive to give the yucca plant a desirable shape.

How to Trim Weigela

Conclusion

Yucca is one of the most versatile plants you will ever see. The shrub survives in arid conditions. It also thrives indoors. Yucca is, therefore, perfect for interior décor and landscaping. More so, the bush bears fruit. The edible sections form a significant source of food for humanity.

Additionally, Yucca is excellent for shampoo manufacture. In short, the plant carries a lot of benefits you cannot overlook. That said, you must plant the shrub when you can to enjoy its many benefits.

But propagation starts with adequate preparation. You should, therefore, find the best cuttings for cultivation. Next, you must prepare the “potted” earth for planting. Vases are better than outdoor spaces because they increase the plant’s chances of survival.

Above all, you must learn how to take care of the bush. Pruning regularly matters. You must, however, trim the yucca plant in a way that does not encourage destruction.

January 25, 2020 By Amy Leave a Comment

How to Trim Weigela

Weigela is a deciduous shrub that grows up to five meters tall on maturity. The plant with an Eastern-Asian origin is also famous for its oblong leaves that measure up to fifteen centimetres in length. Weigela also has white, pink, and red flowers that make it conspicuous from a distance. In short, the Weigela plant is perfect for landscaping.

But Where Does the Shrub Grow?

The shrub is a perfect border plant. You can, therefore, cultivate it in your yard or garden. All you must do is provide the right conditions for propagation.

How to Make the Plant Thrive

Weigela is a plant like any other. That means it does well in certain conditions and not others. For example, the shrub thrives in well-drained soils. Such soils are perfect for cultivation because they encourage airflow, water seepage, and nutrient absorption.

Besides, the plant does well in soils with sufficient nutrients. That said, you must revamp the earth’s nutrient composition by adding a slow-release fertilizer. Better still, you should cultivate the shrub in areas with a high insolation cover. After all, the plant blooms in spring when the sun is shining brightly.

Cultivation

How do you cultivate Weigela? First, you need the right tools for the job. The equipment you require includes:

Manure
Knife
Mulch
Hand rake
Pruning tool
Shovel

You can then choose the best location for planting. An area that receives over four hours of sunlight is ideal. Next, you need to flood the new shrub with water before planting.

Once done, you can dig a hole in the ground using a shovel. However, ensure the gap is as long as the plant’s rootball and broader than its circumference. Also, grind hard soils into fine particles. The soil matter will come in handy during backfilling.

You can then mix compost with the loose particles to produce highly-enriched soils. You then have to extract the Weigela from the water bath and cut off any roots with a pruning tool. Next, you must slice the rootball sides in three distinct places to expose the interior.

It is then and only then that you can plant the rootball into the hole you dug earlier. You must, however, ensure that the shrub is growing at the same depth it did in the nursery. Backfilling can then happen after setting everything straight.

Last, you need water the plant as you press the dirt by hand to remove any air pockets. You can then add organic mulch over the soil to protect the young shrub from the sun’s unforgiving heat. Also, water the plant weekly. Above all, care for the young bush to keep it neat.

Weigela Trimming

Pruning the shrub is more of a necessity than a need. It helps give the weigela bush the right shape. Besides, clipping separates diseased and dead branches from the healthy parts. Most importantly, trimming encourages air circulation and light penetration. In essence, pruning rejuvenates the bush.

But how do you know when to trim weigela? It’s simple. Gardening experts advise you to cut off the excess branches in the late spring. Pruning at such a time prevents you from interfering with the weigela blooming phase. It also ensures you do not harm new flower outgrowths. After all, the plant blooms on branches that are more than a year old.

The Process

People prune Weigela to achieve the perfect shape and for rejuvenation. You must, therefore, learn how to trim the hedge right by

1. Investing In The Right Tools

Buying a sharp pair of clippers or a pruning tool makes the process painless. You must also invest in a superb gardening glove to protect yourself from injury. Last, you need to get yourself motivated.

2. Creating The Right Mental Picture

Brainstorming is vital to your success. It helps you visualize a dream that is yet to come true. Also, creating a mental picture enables you to achieve the perfect shape fast. It eliminates costly errors, too.

3. Cutting Through The Mesh

A bush will always be messy when left unattended. You should, therefore, cut about one-third of each branch section to achieve the perfect shrub height. Besides, cut all branches up to the point they form a V-connection. The above techniques will help you reshape the bush.

Rejuvenation, however, requires a different set of tricks. One, you must spot old or dying branches before splitting them apart. Next, you need to extract them from the healthy shrub. Repeat the process every year.

Conclusion

Weigela is one of the most manageable shrubs you can plant in your yard. The plant, however, requires some care and attention after blooming. You must, therefore, use the tips outlined above to your advantage. They will help you manicure an unkempt garden fast.

Besides, you do not have to spend a lot of money by hiring a gardener!