Wooden Tetriminos (Tetris Blocks)

After ordering around 3000 wooden cubes for another project, I found myself with a bag of "leftovers" which were unsuitable because some corners were a little wonky. Instead of just tossing out the spare blocks, I found a handy little way to re-use them.

This is a project that can be done over a few days. It takes some time to sand the edges of the cubes, and you'll need to allow a few days for glue to set, and paint or stain to dry.

I turned my little Tetrimino blocks into magnets, but you could make them into anything really.

Step 1 Supplies

You'll need to get your hands on some wooden cubes. I ordered some from a site called Woodworks Ltd, but if you happen to be a whiz with a saw you could probably cut your own. The size of cubes you choose is also completely up to you, but that site I mentioned earlier offers them in sizes varying from 3/8" all the way to 5". I decided to use 1/2 inch cubes for my Tetriminos.

You'll also need the following:

• Sandpaper (I used somewhere around 100 grit, but if you want a smooth finish be sure to get some higher grit, too)
• Clamps
• Tack Glue, or Wood Glue
• Wood Stain or Paint
• An Idea for the End Product

Comments

[Flanaganandagain]

I love this idea. As an elementary school teacher, I give the kids 5 blocks and they try to figure out all of the possible ways to arrange them as pentominoes. Once they figure out all of the possible combinations, they get a grid and try to arrange them in a rectangle. See this link: http://www.scholastic.com/titles/chasingvermeer/pentominoes.pdf
or this one
http://www.scholastic.com/blueballiett/games/pentominoes_game.htm

[justinlamoureux]

Or wear gloves. lol

[justinlamoureux]

Clean your hands with cooking oil. :)

[justinlamoureux]

That would look awesome covering a coffee table or even placed a frame on a wall. Très cool!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Those are awesome! They look great with the stain, and nice idea making them magnets!

[jessyratfink]

Gorgeous. Very well documented, too! :D