Diamond Washer Game

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)                      If there is one thing I know, it's that the Gummerman's (Laura and Todd) know how to throw a fun backyard party.  A while back, they had some people over for a backyard hang. They had horseshoes, bocce ball, and a couple games I had never seen– one being washers. It's a simple game. It's literally just throwing washers into a box from about 20 feet. You get a point for getting the washer in the big section or three for getting it in the small sections in the middle. You might be thinking, cool game, with an eye roll. I was right there with you until I played, and it is a cool game! It's fun, and you can hold a drink while you play it. We recently had a porch party here at ABM headquarters, and I made a washer game just for it. Here's how I did it.  

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)Supplies:

-1" x 10" pine ( you only need around 4 feet) I used scrap plywood which I ripped to 10".
-1/8" plywood for backing
-handle (Optional, but it does make it easier to carry. I just used a pull I liked from Lowe's.)
-locking mechanism (I used three window latches to secure case) (optional)
-six washers (get at least 2" ones, you need a bit of weight to get a good throw)
-paint or stain
-polyurethane (optional)

Tools:

-miter saw
-table saw (optional)
-jig saw (optional) or hand saw
-drill
-measuring tape
-pencil

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Step One: I built one diamond, which I cut in half (you'll see that below). You can choose to build two separate halves if you don't have a table saw, but they fit perfectly if you cut it in half! Instead of giving you exact measurements, I'm going to tell you the easy way to do it with minimal measuring with your tape. The first cut should be the longest two pieces. They are just straight cuts, at 12" long for one and 11.25" for the other. Lay those out, then build off of them. The next two are about 5" with one straight cut and the other at 45˚ (all angles are 45˚). The finishing piece is two 45˚ angles, and you can just hold the uncut piece up to the pieces you have set up and mark where you need to cut. If you do it that way, cuts will always work. It minimizes having to use too much math! After you have all the pieces cut, glue them together, then either screw or nail the pieces together. If you plan on cutting it in half like I did, make sure you don't put any screws or nails in the middle. I measured and marked the middle all the way around so I knew where to avoid.

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Step Two: Once you have the diamond put together, run it through the table saw to cut it in half. Make sure you adjust the height of the blade higher than the width of the wood. 

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Now you have two sides!

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Step Three: After I cut the diamond in half, it was just a matter of  cutting the smaller pieces and and gluing them in. You don't need to measure at all for this. Just hold the piece above where they drop in and mark with a pencil (still 45˚ for any angle, easy!). After you get those busted out, lay them on the 1/8" ply and trace. Then cut out with a hand saw or jig saw. Then glue on (nail or screw on is optional). After this, the rest is optional: screw on the handle and locking mechanisms, then paint. 

And that is it! You are ready for a rousing game of washers. The bigger compartment is 1 point and the smaller compartments are 3 points. Washers!

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  I painted the washers half gold for three and half white for the other three (since it was already silver.)

Gold vs. Silver! 

Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)
Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Diamond Washer game (so cute!  click to learn how to make your own!)  Credits // Author: Joshua Rhodes. Photography: Joshua Rhodes and Janae Hardy. Photos edited with Stella from The Signature Collection.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.