Introduction: How to Make Washer Toss Game
In this instructable I'm going to teach you how to make a washer toss game. This washer toss game is really fun to play, and it's easy and cheap to make. It requires few materials, including: 2x4, plywood, pvc, washers, screws and glue.
Go to the next step for necessary pieces and tools.
Step 1: Materials
We need the following:
4 - 16 inch 2x4
4 - 13 inch 2x4
8 - 1/2 inch washers, or any size washers that suit you
2 - 3 inch PVC couplings
2 16 inch squares of plywood. I used 3/8 inch. Use what you want.
wood screws (for the base, I used 6 X 3/4 and for the frame itself I used 2 X 8)
maybe wood putty
sand paper
paint (if you want)
I will say, that I have found my construction grade lumber to be disappointing. There were cracks that were hard to drill through or put a screw through, hence the wood putty being needed to hold the wood together. At one point, I just used my shorted wood screws I am using to attach the base, to keep the wood together. I also had a spot where the split resulted in the wood missing a chunk, so I had to rebuild it with wood putty. In addition, when I did that, I had a little bit left over, so i filled in all the screw holes. It is really simple to make too! You just need a drill, with drill bits and screw driver heads. And maybe a saw to cut the wood if you want, but I used a rotary tool to cut my plywood. The choice is yours
4 - 16 inch 2x4
4 - 13 inch 2x4
8 - 1/2 inch washers, or any size washers that suit you
2 - 3 inch PVC couplings
2 16 inch squares of plywood. I used 3/8 inch. Use what you want.
wood screws (for the base, I used 6 X 3/4 and for the frame itself I used 2 X 8)
maybe wood putty
sand paper
paint (if you want)
I will say, that I have found my construction grade lumber to be disappointing. There were cracks that were hard to drill through or put a screw through, hence the wood putty being needed to hold the wood together. At one point, I just used my shorted wood screws I am using to attach the base, to keep the wood together. I also had a spot where the split resulted in the wood missing a chunk, so I had to rebuild it with wood putty. In addition, when I did that, I had a little bit left over, so i filled in all the screw holes. It is really simple to make too! You just need a drill, with drill bits and screw driver heads. And maybe a saw to cut the wood if you want, but I used a rotary tool to cut my plywood. The choice is yours
Step 2: Wood
I got construction grade 2x4 that was 10 feet long. I would recommend if you have a bit more money to upgrade to higher grade wood, thats less likely to have splits and what not. I had to reconstruct an entire corner with wood putty, but I won't detail how it was done in the steps as its hopefully not needed for everyone.
I got my wood cut at the store, they charged an additional 7 dollars, but my only other option was by hand... which wouldn't be precise, so it was worth it for me. If you cut your own wood, you could try having mitered joints, where you would need a total of 8 16 inch pieces, but I went with the end to end.
Before I drilled. I used the end of a 2x4 to mark off the area on the wood where it would contact the other 2x4. Then I drilled 2 holes in each end to make it easier to put together.
I got my wood cut at the store, they charged an additional 7 dollars, but my only other option was by hand... which wouldn't be precise, so it was worth it for me. If you cut your own wood, you could try having mitered joints, where you would need a total of 8 16 inch pieces, but I went with the end to end.
Before I drilled. I used the end of a 2x4 to mark off the area on the wood where it would contact the other 2x4. Then I drilled 2 holes in each end to make it easier to put together.
Step 3: Make the Box
I first pre-drilled all my holes, not all the way through, but a little bit. Makes the screw go straighter and its nice. I used wood screws to hold the pieces together. I also used a pipe clamp to hold the wood in place while I screwed it together. It is really easy to make the frame for the box. You need to make 2 of the boxes. be sure to use 2 16 inch and 2 13 inch per box, so that they are both the same size boxes.
If you end up using wood putty, you can fill in your screw holes. I did because I had a bit extra made and decided to use it up instead of let it dry.
You will want to cut your plywood into 2 16 inch squares. How you do this, is up to you, be it a table saw, jigsaw or whatever. I used a jigsaw. You then use smaller wood screws to attach the plywood to your frame. You can sand the edges if you want.
If you end up using wood putty, you can fill in your screw holes. I did because I had a bit extra made and decided to use it up instead of let it dry.
You will want to cut your plywood into 2 16 inch squares. How you do this, is up to you, be it a table saw, jigsaw or whatever. I used a jigsaw. You then use smaller wood screws to attach the plywood to your frame. You can sand the edges if you want.
Step 4: Washers and PVC
If you want to color your washers, take 4, and spray paint them one color, and then spray paint another 4 a different color. you don't need to color them, but it makes it nice.
IF YOU WANT TO PAINT THE BOXES, do that before you put the PVC in, because it will be much much much easier. Also, sand sand sand sand the entire thing. I didn't sand the inside bottom, and when compared to the outside bottom, I really wish I did.
I then attached the PVC connector inside the center of the box. I used gorilla glue, but you can also use epoxy or whatever you want to secure it to the wood. try to center the pipe as much as possible.
There really is not too much more to do, but there are different things that can be done to the design.
IF YOU WANT TO PAINT THE BOXES, do that before you put the PVC in, because it will be much much much easier. Also, sand sand sand sand the entire thing. I didn't sand the inside bottom, and when compared to the outside bottom, I really wish I did.
I then attached the PVC connector inside the center of the box. I used gorilla glue, but you can also use epoxy or whatever you want to secure it to the wood. try to center the pipe as much as possible.
There really is not too much more to do, but there are different things that can be done to the design.
Step 5: Other Ideas
You can add some sort of handle mechanism or even latches to keep everything secure for travel. I added handles made from some spare rope I found in the garage. I then used Gorilla glue to secure the handles in the holes I drilled for them.
You could have miter joints, which requires more wood
You could use a higher grade wood, where you might be able to stain it then
You could use other thickness' of bases
Be sure to upload pics if you make it!
You could have miter joints, which requires more wood
You could use a higher grade wood, where you might be able to stain it then
You could use other thickness' of bases
Be sure to upload pics if you make it!