Welcome to the Honda Ridgeline Saturday Project series produced in partnership with Honda. Each project is designed to be approachable using basic tools and materials. And to show you how versatile the all-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline can be, we’ll build each project right in the bed of the truck!
This 4-In-A-Row Game is fun for the whole family and can be made with basic materials and tools. If you’re not familiar with this classic game, the goal is to achieve four discs in a row while blocking your competitor from doing the same. The fact that it’s oversized makes it that much more fun.
The design was inspired by a tutorial I found on Home Depot’s website.
4 – 1 1/2″, 3/8″ diameter bolts with nuts and washers
1. Cut the Parts
Using a circular saw and a chop saw, cut out all of the parts listed in the cut list. This is one project where you should be able to get away with cutting all of this stuff ahead of time, something I normally don’t recommend doing.
2. Main Panel Holes and Disks
Clamp the two main panels together and use the diagram in the PDF to lay out the hole locations. Construct a shop-made trammel arm with a router and a straight bit and use it to cut the 42 holes. Adjust the trammel arm as needed to make the game discs as well in the 1/2″ plywood. As an alternative, you could use hole saws to make the panels (4″ hole saw) and the discs (5″ hole saw).
3. Assemble Main Panel and Release
The various panel dividers are sandwiched between the two main panels. You can use glue alone, glue and screws, or glue and brad nails to make the final connections.
4. Assemble Release Mechanism
Using the details in the PDF as a guide, attach the various components of the release mechanism. Remember, some parts are fixed and some are intended to move, so be careful where you add your glue and where you drive your screws/nails. When attaching the small cross-pieces to the release rail, you might be tempted to use a clamp to hold the long rail pieces in place. But be careful not to clamp too tight since the rails needs to slide back and forth. I didn’t show it in the video, but you might consider putting a few pieces of paper or business cards under the long strips when you apply the clamps. This will give the release rail some breathing room.
5. Assemble Legs and Base
The legs are attached directly to the main game panel with screws. The legs then interface with the base pieces using 1 1/2″ long, 3/8″ diameter bolts. The reason I went with bolts here is to allow the game to disassemble for easier storage. Also, you might decide to raise the height of the game as your children get taller, and the detachable legs should make that a little easier.
This game was an immediate hit my son Mateo and I’m sure the kids in your family will enjoy it too. If you’re going to store it outside, make sure you apply a good outdoor finish. And to keep the disks from binding, be sure to sand them down on both faces and the edges, especially if you plan to apply a thick film finish. Have fun making your 4-In-A-Row Game and be sure to send in your pictures after you make it.
Comments
T
Tom Buhl
on 09/02/2016 at 10:05 PM
Look at the moon!
G
Greg Keller
on 09/03/2016 at 06:43 AM
What kind of plywood is that? It looks like Baltic birch with the nice number of ply’s but is a 4×8 sheet. I have not found a good supply for Baltic birch here in northern NJ, so am always on the lookout for the good stuff.
Marc Spagnuolo
on 09/03/2016 at 09:18 AM
It’s all Baltic Birch. BB comes in 4×8 and 5×5.
J
Josh Monroe
on 09/03/2016 at 06:20 PM
Just finished mine today. I modified your plans slightly, but the result is awesome. Its just in time for the Labor Day picnic and party we’re attending this weekend! Thanks for the post, Marc.
A
Aaron
on 09/04/2016 at 08:53 PM
I greatly appreciate all the videos you’ve made, and everything I’ve learned from them. That being said, I really hope that ya put up some real woodworking videos again soon, instead of these advertisements.
J
Johnnie johnson
on 09/04/2016 at 10:27 PM
Josh, would like to know how and why you modified your plans?
Marc Spagnuolo
on 09/05/2016 at 10:08 AM
Nothing like a classic back-handed compliment, lol. Thanks for watching Aaron. Just a shame that after watching, learning and enjoying my free videos for years you choose this as your first comment. Now we both get to be disappointed. :)While you’re here, let’s take this opportunity to talk about woodworking instead of my methods of incorporating advertising. Since you mentioned “real” woodworking, I’d really like to know what you mean by that. In my book, anything involving cutting wood or sheetgoods into smaller pieces and connecting them back together again for some purpose constitutes real woodworking. Of course these Honda projects are intended to be entry-level and use basic tools, materials, and techniques, but why do you feel that’s not “real” woodworking?
J
Jean-François
on 09/06/2016 at 12:03 PM
To me this project is as “real woodworking” as it can be. Sure it’s not fine art, but all ww does not have to be. There are beds, tables and fancy wood boxes to be made, but one can find as much fun in making games and utility stuff. And the smile in Mateo’s face cannot certainly be more “real”!My 25 (Canadian) cents.Jf.
Marc Spagnuolo
on 09/06/2016 at 12:16 PM
Hear, hear!
l
lstaub
on 09/08/2016 at 01:26 PM
You have gone to gimmicky dark side with this truck sponsorship strategy and lost this follower.
Marc Spagnuolo
on 09/08/2016 at 01:59 PM
OK. There’s a door. Make sure it doesn’t hit you in the butt on the way out. :) If you begrudge me making a living, I’d rather you weren’t a viewer anyway. But thanks for your past viewership.
S
Seraph
on 09/09/2016 at 02:18 PM
I wish more hard working content providers like yourself would respond this way to these type of “fans” in the comment section who have been enjoying and profiting from your work for years at zero cost. Color me impressed =)
G
Gregg
on 09/09/2016 at 06:42 PM
Thanks Marc.Beginner and first time commenter. I dig your work, all of it. I can’t watch the Friday videos live, but I alway follow up. I get your updates sent straight to my RSS feed.And now 2 questions. For this build, I don’t have a router yet….. How many hole saws will I go through trying to make this? Can you do it with one, without dulling and burning it up?i think my neighbor has a brad nailer, but I’d prefer not to bother him. Can I make it without that tool?Thanks again.
Marc Spagnuolo
on 09/10/2016 at 09:15 AM
Honestly not sure about the hole saw. I didn’t use it to make all of mine so I don’t know how long they’ll last. But if you go slow, they shouldn’t heat up too much and you shouldn’t have any premature wearing. But….that’s still a lot of holes. So, I really don’t know for sure. And if you use screws, you don’t need the brad nailer.
G
Gregg
on 09/10/2016 at 11:41 AM
Thanks! It’ll be a while before I finish it, but I’ll report back. Appreciate all you do for beginners like me!
J
John Davidson
on 09/16/2016 at 06:38 PM
Very cool! Look at that Moon.
M
Matt
on 09/22/2016 at 09:57 PM
The hole saws make it through just fine! The problem I ran into is that the 5 inch hole saw cuts a really nice accurate 5 inch hole. The disk (the part you use) is a smaller circumference at 4 3/4 inches. These disks when stacked vertically in the same column of the game board will not properly fill the 4 inch holes in the board. The top hole in the game board looks like a waning moon (since this episode is moon heavy) when the final disk is inserted. I believe the only way to do this project, the way Marc describes it, is to follow his process and use a router with a trammel to get a disk that is as close to 5 inches as possible. Take it from me, I had a really slick process set up in my drill press with a 5 inch hole saw. Then my 10 year-old daughter pointed out the problem. I’m building the trammel tomorrow!Thanks, Marc for all of your help, ideas, and humor through the years! I really enjoy what you have done for woodworking!
D
Dieter
on 09/24/2016 at 12:54 AM
When using a hole saw for making the disks you can always adjust the distances of the holes in the grid to match the real diameters of the disks. So, if your disks are 4 3/4 inches, make the grid that 4 3/4 inches, too. You probably will need to adjust the outer dimensions too, but that is no big task, either.
W
Wildtim
on 09/29/2016 at 08:02 PM
if you dont have a brad nailer you can just use brads (small nails) and a hammer. Nothing more basic than pounding a few nails the kids might even be able to help.
T
The Knotty Workshop
on 10/16/2016 at 08:21 PM
Love this response, love your videos. Don’t stop what you’re doing. I’ve learned so much from your tutorials. I’m glad you’re being sponsored to keep providing this great and free content.
J
Jason
on 12/09/2016 at 07:16 PM
Seriously? With all his free resources he plugs a truck for a few seconds and you feel the need to leave a snarky comment? Would you have felt any different if he was plugging a power tool? Ironically, I first saw that truck in another one of his videos, liked it and now I’m looking at buying one. No joke.Anyway…thanks Marc for all the great videos!
J
Jason
on 12/09/2016 at 07:22 PM
Please make a video where you do NOTHING but plug products. Thin the herd, weed out the crybabies…and then we can all go back to woodworking and making cool stuff. ;-)ps…in case my sarcasm wasn’t clear…I’ve got no problem with you trying to make a few bucks to offset the cost of making these videos.
J
Jason
on 12/09/2016 at 07:35 PM
If you look at the Home Depot instructions that Marc references, they use a hole saw, and their holes are spaced at 4-3/4″.
W
Weston Swanson
on 02/04/2017 at 02:28 AM
Just finished mine today! I ended up staining the panels with minwax golden oak and left half the disks raw and the other half dark walnut! This was a very fun build! I ended up using a hole saw due to the lack of equipment! I just started following you on Instagram as well. Thanks!
K
Karen
on 03/12/2017 at 07:57 PM
This is a great Video. my husband is also a wood worker and he also enjoys these kinds of videos. never to GREAT to learn new things, Thank you Marc
M
Mariano Aguirre
on 06/09/2017 at 05:28 PM
I made one with cheap harbor freight hole saws the router. I prefer Lenox hole saws, but they are more expensive. Hole saws can last a long time because they can be sharpened. The hole saw was faster, but more tiring. I did the router for the discs and the saw for the game board. None of my tools are super awesome, and they both got quite hot after an hour of use.
J
Jay Perdue
on 06/30/2018 at 09:46 PM
hi and thanks for all your videos. But to the point im bout to make this and was going to just use the hole saws but then thought about how the 5″ hole saw will not make a 5″ disc it cuts a 5″ hole. do you think this what like 1/8″ will make a difference to the point of needing to adjust how far i space my holes? and or should i just use the router? i figured the hole saw would definetly be quicker and easier but just thought i would ask your opinion about the size difference. but i do love how you respond to the haters. no need in worrying about the nonsense.
Marc Spagnuolo
on 07/01/2018 at 09:14 AM
Honestly, I like the router method. But I don’t think you need to make any adjustments if you use the hole saw. Ultimately, the hole saw becomes more labor intensive when you have that many to do. You also have to think about the saw teeth dulling. The router is definitely the better tool for the job so if you have one, I’d say use that.
F
Faiber Loaiza
on 09/11/2018 at 12:57 PM
Video esplicativo de mueble para organizar la bicicleta….por favor me regalas el link
D
Dave
on 03/25/2019 at 04:04 PM
I recently built this these past few weekends for a fundraiser and used the 5″ hole saw method. Yes, the kirf of the hole saw blade is 1/8″, thus making each disc 4.75″ in diameter. Multiplied by 6, it adds up to being off by 1.5″ and looks pretty bad. I ended up remaking all the pucks via the router (had fun making a new jig that doesn’t require a hole in your puck), which still had to be slightly smaller than 5″ due to some tolerance in the width of the slots. In the end, I was off by about 3/4″ and had to add a small 1/2″ piece of plywood on top of the catch at the bottom to offset the whole stack (also had to carve out a space in the dividers for it to slide out of the way when open. Other modification I made was adding about 1/16-1/8″ spacers to the dividers to make the depth of the slots slightly bigger than 1/2″, as the pucks and the dividers are both made out of the same plywood. I didn’t want to sand all the pucks thinner.Every project I learn new things and problem solving is part of the engagement of this hobby! So, if anyone asks how many sides a circle has, I say 2!Thanks again for putting out all your videos for the community to learn!
N
Nikki Bascome
on 03/17/2020 at 01:27 PM
Thank you so much for this video. I am a very “amateur” wood worker with little experience. You make it seem easy enough, here’s wishing me luck while we’re on lockdown…with kids…
D
Don
on 07/01/2020 at 12:10 AM
How do you secure the dividers on the release rail.with out them falling off? What length of screw did you use did you go from the bottom or top of the release rail? Thanks Don
T
Tony Hubscher
on 09/04/2024 at 05:28 AM
Hi Marc, can I use this plan to make and sell fully completed and assembled and painted and delivered and invoiced games from my website? Please.
