Kids WIP: Solitaire Board

[rhancock]

There have been a few questions about making stuff with kids, so here's a quick project my brother and I did at the weekend with our 5 kids (my 6, 4 and 2 year olds and his 6 and 3 year olds).

I prepared the base boards in advance. I used 400 x 400 19mm ply left overs, but around 300mm would have been ideal. I quickly bevelled each edge of the ply with a #4 hand plane to create the gutter for the marbles, and gave each board a light sanding.

The kids marked out the pattern of holes with a hammer and nail, and then started drilling with an egg beater drill and countersink bit. Unfortunately the bit wasn't sharp enough, so we swapped to drilling out with an 8mm twist bit, and then widening with the countersink, both in the electric drill driver.

The kids helped mark the edge strips directly from each edge of the board, scratching crosses on each edge and its corresponding edge strip so they could match them up later. Then they cut the mitres on the mitre box - everyone's favourite task! The edge strips were given a quick sanding, and then glued and pinned on.

Even before the glue was set, the two 6 year olds were addicted to the game, while the others just wanted to throw marbles.

I'll polish the holes a little with the dremel and give it a coat of whatever's left over in the cupboard - maybe some walnut stain and varnish - but I'll have to do it after dark, as even my wife is addicted now!

I'd say the kids did less than 20% of the work, but they feel they made them and they all got to practice a few skills and use some new tools so they're all happy.

[tea lady]

(Nice purple top! )

[rhancock]

Thanks, TL, that's not me, that's my brother, I'm the good looking one taking the photos. I'll pass on your appreciation though.

[tea lady]

Thanks, TL, that's not me, that's my brother, I'm the good looking one taking the photos. I'll pass on your appreciation though.

I have "history" with purple! And I still say my shed WAS NOT PURPLE! I moved though. Now my shed is brown!

[Handyjack]

NIce project.

Other suggestions on the same theme are noughts and crosses, and nine mans morris.
I made the second one for my son and used short lenths of dowel for the pieces, one end was painted for the two sides.

[tea lady]

NIce project.

Other suggestions on the same theme are noughts and crosses, and nine mans morris.
I made the second one for my son and used short lenths of dowel for the pieces, one end was painted for the two sides.

nine mans morris? I can feel a google coming on!

[Handyjack]

Might also be called Nine Men's Morris. Nine Men's Morris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I used dowel for the pieces and painted the ends. If a piece ever got lost it would be easy to replace.

[mic-d]

Good idea Richard We just had my nephews here for a couple of weeks and I wish I thought of something like that to get their heads out of their nintendos...

[munruben]

Nothing like a crew of young helpers in the shed.

[mn pete]

Nicely done! I'm always looking for ideas for some quality shop time with Danger Boy.