DIY Four In A Row Yard Game

By

SKILL
intermediate

In this tutorial you'll learn how to make a Four In a Row yard game. This is a fun project that is built out of basic wood and supplies you can get at your local Home Depot. The kids will enjoy this game and play this outside for hours. Four in a Row is created similar to the smaller version you can buy in the stores. Simply insert the discs until a player has for disks in a row in any direction.

Tools

  • 18V ONE+ HP Brushless Air Strike 18 GA Brad Nailer
  • 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2" Hammer Drill
  • 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 7-1/4" Circular saw
  • 18V ONE+ 5" Random Orbit Sander

Steps

STEP 1

Cut the plywood to size. Cut the 1/2 thick plywood to 4 feet by 30 inches. Cut two pieces of 1/4 inch thick plywood to 4 feet by 30 inches.

Tools

Circular Saw

Materials

4x8 Sheet of 1/4" Plywood. 4x8 Sheet of 1/2" Plywood
Step 1

STEP 2

Clamp the two 1/4 inch thick pieces of plywood together. Measure for hole locations in the 1/4 inch plywood according to the plans.

Step 2

STEP 3

Use a small drill bit to drill a pilot hole at each hole location. This game is 7 holes left to right and 6 holes top to bottom.

Tools

Drill
Step 3

STEP 4

Cut the circles for the two 1/4 inch sheets that are clamped to each other. Use a 4 inch circular saw. Secure the boards and take your time to safely cut each hole. Hole saws are dangerous so please read the directions on how to safely use the hole saws.

Tools

Hammer Drill

Materials

4" Hole Saw
Step 4

STEP 5

Cut the 1/2 inch thick 5 inch diameter discs with the 5 inch hole saw.

Tools

Hammer Drill

Materials

5" Hole Saw
Step 5

STEP 6

Sand the disks and the plywood game board. Use an orbital sander. Use a belt sander for the disks if you have one.

Tools

Sander
Step 6

STEP 7

Cut the spacers that will go between the boards. Make six 1 inch wide by 30 inch long strips. Glue and attach them with 5/8" nails. Cut the two end boards to 3 1/2 inches in width by 30 inches.

Tools

Circular Saw
Step 7

STEP 8

Paint or stain the the game pieces prior to adding the other side. This will ensure you are able to get all the areas covered.

Materials

Wood Stain
Step 8

STEP 9

Attach the other side of the game board using glue and 5/8 inch long 18 gauge nails.

Tools

Brad Nailer

Materials

Brad Nails
Step 9

STEP 10

Cut a 1x2 board down to 48 inches in width. Next, use 2 1/2 inch hinges on each end to allow the board to flip down. This is how you will empty the discs. Add 1 or 2 smaller 1 inch hinges toward the center that are between the discs.

Tools

Circular Saw, Drill
Step 10

STEP 11

Build the stand for the game. This involves cutting 2x4 boards to length. All of the angles used are 45 degrees.

Tools

Drill

Materials

3" Wood Screws
Step 11

STEP 12

Here is what the side stands will look like. Paint or stain the stand.

Tools

Sander
Step 12

STEP 13

Attach the stand to the game board sides using 3 inch long screws and wood glue.

Tools

Drill

Materials

3" Wood Screws

STEP 14

Add a latch. I don't have it pictured, but a bolt latch will work well.

Tools

Drill

Materials

Latch
Step 14

STEP 15

Add a 48 inch wide lower support to help give the stand additional strength. Paint or stain half of the disks so 21 are a different color then the other 21. Enjoy your Four in a Row game!

Tools

Drill

Materials

3" Wood Screws, Wood Stain
Step 15