Introduction: Supersized Game That Is Not Jenga

This is a GREAT improvement  over Jenga, it has more pieces and it has mallets!. This game is very quick and easy to make.  It is super sized and it can be stacked well over 5’ high. The mallets add to the fun for kids and makes the large size boards easier to move.

Step 1: Materials

4- - 10’ long 2”X3” pine (the radiata pine boards available at Home Depot  are great for this project ,they are usually quite dry and it is a light weight pine.

Tools

A tape measure or ruler

saw (I used a table saw with a cross cut sled )

You can use whatever type of saw you have

Router with a round over bit

Optional:

Hardhats (i found some at garage sales)

A game box for the set (I will  a separate instructable.)

 

Step 2: Round Over Edges

Round over the edges of the boards with a router with a small round over bit.

If you don’ t have a router , or if you want to include small children in the build project, you can just soften up the edges with sandpaper.

Step 3: Trim Ends Off Boards

Trim a thin piece of wood off one end of each board., to remove the paint on the end of the boards.

Step 4: Cut the Boards

Before you cut the boards, you will need to lie 3 of them side by side and measure across them. Mine measured 7 3/4 “ across, but, if you buy or have different wood this may come out different. This is the length that we need for each game board.

Next , cut the pieces, I used a table saw with a crosscut sled. I miter saw or even a hand saw with a miter box would work fine. Before cutting the pieces set up a stop on your saw or miter box so that each piece comes out the same without measuring every time.

Cut 58 pieces at 7 ¾ (or the other board length you came up with). Be sure to start cutting at the end where you trimmed the paint. That leaves approximately 16” of pine left over for the mallet.

Step 5: Finishing the Boards

To prevent chipping of the wood and potential injuries round over the ends of each of the game pieces with your router.

Step 6: Make the Mallet

I actually turned the mallet for my first set on the lathe. This plan has a simpler design because most people don’t have lathes at home.

Set your saw up to cut a 1 ¼ “ strip of wood. Then cut the 16” board length wise. Run the cut off piece through the saw so that it is the same 1 ¼” width. Then flip the pieces on their sides and run them both though again so that you end up with two pieces that are 1 ¼ X 1 ¼ “ X 16.  Roundover edges with router.

Then cut the two pieces so you end up with 4- 1 ¼ X 1 ¼ “ X 8 pieces.

 

Hold two pieces in a T shape and pre drill a hole for the screw. I used 2 ½ inch screws, because they were handy . Put glue (either wood or white glue) on the pieces before screwing together. Do it again for the second mallet.

Voila mallets!

Step 7: Play!

SET-UP

Start with two layers of two blocks each, evenly spaced as in photo.

 

These two layers should not be removed while playing the game.

 

Continue with three blocks per layer using all the remaining blocks.

Each layer is laid at right angles to the previous layer.

 

 

 

TO PLAY

Remove a block, placing the block on the top of the tower

with a maximum of three blocks per layer.

 

The mallets can be used to hit the block to move it, it can also be turn around to push a block out with the handle of the mallet.

 

Blocks can not be removed from the top two completed layers.

 

THE WINNER

The last player placing a stable block on top of the tower wins.

 

Whoever makes the tower collapse is the loser and

rebuilds the tower for the next challenge!