A swelling or bulging dartboard is one of the most common complaints I see from players once they start playing on their own dartboards at home. This form of dartboard deformation typically catches players off guard and leaves them desperate for an explanation and a fix.
If you are at all interested in prolonging your dartboard’s life it will be essential that you be able to identify the factors that contribute to swelling, bulging, and other types of deformation.
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Why Do Dartboards Bulge?
Bristle dartboards bulge across their surface due to the sisal fibers undergoing deterioration. The most common factor that leads to this swelling or bulging of a dartboard is moisture.
This type of bulging/swelling can happen on different types of dartboards but is most commonly seen in bristle dartboards.
While a bulging dartboard is undoubtedly a very infuriating thing to have to deal with, it can easily be avoided if you follow some simple precautions.
Before we start talking about prevention let’s talk a bit about the reasons why it happens in the first place. These are the most common reasons that cause dartboards to swell and bulge.
Humidity Damage
Do not soak your bristle board, get it damp, wet, or try to clean the surface of the board with any kind of liquid. You must keep your dartboard dry at all times.
Humidity is one of the most damaging environmental factors you can encounter and one of the principal causes of dartboard bulging and swelling.
Sisal fibers have a tendency to absorb humidity and moisture out of the environment. Even in a moderately humid climate, your dartboard will slowly absorb moisture out of the air and slowly begin to degrade.
If your dartboard is outside, exposure to rain and the elevated humidity of outdoor environments can cause rapid and severe deterioration of your dart board.
All of this happens because sisal fibers that become engorged with moisture lose their alignment within the compressed structure, which weakens the surface layer of the board and results in unwanted swelling and bulging.
Temperature Fluctuation
Temperature swings increase the risk that your board develops bulges and swelling areas significantly. You will often see this happening to boards that are kept in places that regularly experience temperature fluctuations such as garages, attics, backyards, etc.
This happens because sisal fibers, like the vast majority of materials, expand and contract as they heat up or cool down. As the fibers change temperature they change in size and over time lose their alignment.
Another effect of recurring changes in temperature on sisal fibers is that they lose their elasticity and their ability to “bounce” back into shape. The result is the same, dartboards that gradually lose their even fiber distribution and begin to bulge outward.
Wear And Tear
Good old wear and tear is another cause of dart board bulging. Sisal fibers come tightly packed and highly compressed to give boards longevity and durability. However, once this fiber density is lost through repeated use, the board tends to deform and develop bulges on its surface.
How To Prevent Dartboard Bulging
Now that you know the reasons why dart boards bulge and swell, you can do something to prevent it from happening in the first place.
The very first thing you have to do is make sure that you never, ever spray your board with water or wipe it down with a wet cloth, as some people often suggest. This will have the exact opposite effect that you may be looking for, and will most definitely cause your board to bulge and eventually deform beyond use.
To clean your dartboard properly, you should use a low-pressure vacuum and a soft-bristled brush.
Since temperature fluctuations and high humidity will cause your dartboard to bulge, it helps to keep your board in an environment that is controlled and consistent.
This means that if you want to avoid dartboard bulges, keep your board inside. Dartboards that are kept outdoors will maintain their integrity for a significantly shorter time.
Moreover, if you live in a high-humidity environment, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier. This will guarantee that your board remains as dry as possible; and thus, bulge free.
About wear and tear, there isn’t much you can do to avoid it, beyond rotating your dartboard regularly.
Generally speaking, however, higher-quality dartboards will fare better than cheaper options. Therefore, if you want to avoid deformation caused by use and daily wear, consider investing in a premium quality board such as one of the Winmau multi-core models.
Check out our review of the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core Dartboard.
Even a quality dartboard will eventually start bulging or swelling or just wear out; this is just a matter of fact. However, you can follow the tips above to make sure your board maintains its shape and surface integrity for as long as possible.
