Build Your Own Backyard Connect Four Game 4

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Build Your Own

Backyard Connect Four Game

#DIY #Craft #Games #Outdoor

I can’t believe that we’re already into Spring, and getting ready for summer.  This year is flying by.  With the cold days almost behind us, it’s time to start planning some outdoor activities, finally.  My family loves to have backyard barbecues and days of fun with friends and family.  We always put out some games, like the Cornhole Set that we built, so that everyone can have fun.  Years ago, I had found some plans online from a tool company on how to make your own backyard Connect Four game.  I figured that it would be pretty easy – yeah, right and that directions from a tool company, should be spot on and easy to understand.  Well, we were in for a bit of a shock.  Their measurements were off, products and tools needed were wrong and we pretty much said thanks for the idea, we’ll just do it ourselves.

After all of the hiccups, we finally were able to get things done.  Some of the list, thanks to friends from church, who are very knowledgeable in wood projects.  Drilling holes should be easy, right?  Well not for me, but thanks to Kelly, we were set up and ready.  He and his wife actually painted the checker pieces for us, too – so it saved us some steps.  Thank you, friends!!  Keep reading for the tutorial.

I hope you enjoy this craft idea.  If you end up making one, be sure and share a photo on my FB page, with what you come up with.  I’d love to see it!  I sure hope that you like the tutorial, and pray that you have a blessed day!

Please be sure to take the time to comment, and share this craft on your social media channels – thanks so much!!

Make Your Own Backyard Connect Four Game #Outdoors #Family #GameNight #DIY via #TigerStrypesBlog - Find out more at Share on X

Materials/Tools Used:

• ¾”x 4′ x 8′ sheet of plywood (1)
• 2′ x 4′ x 8′ boards (2)
• 2′ x 6′ x 8′ board (1)
• 1′ x 3′ x 8′ board (1)
• 1′ x 2′ x 8′ boards (6)
• 7″ game pieces (42)
• 1¼” deck screws (1 lb)
• 2½” deck screws (2 lbs)
• Door Hinges (2) and latch (1)
• Minwax Wood Stain or paint, Clear Coat
• Sander/Sandpaper
• Nail Gun
• Circular Saw
• Hole Saw
• Cordless Drill
• Paint/Stain
• & Time!

Instructions for the Backyard Connect Four Game:

The project directions that we got looked easy, but turned out to be confusing and somewhat wrong.  I will do my best to try and make it simpler for you to understand.  Take the materials list to your local hardware store and buy the products that you don’t have.  If you’re a DIY’er like I am, than a lot of the tools, screws, etc. are already in your garage, so no need to buy more.

Using the two (2) 2′ x 4′ x8′ boards, cut each of them down to one (1) 55″ piece and two (2) 17″ pieces, for a total of two (2) 2′ x4′ x 55″ pieces and four (4) 2′ x 4′ x 17″ pieces.  Now get the 2′ x 6′ x 8′ board and cut it into two (2) 36″ pieces. Take the 1′ x 3′ x 8′ board, and cut it down to one (1) 62″ piece. Next, using the six (6) 1′ x 2′ x 8′ boards, trim them to two (2) 43″ pieces, for a total of twelve (12) 1′ x 2′ x 43″ pieces.  Now, cut the plywood in half, being sure to measure to verify.

When that’s done, it’s time to make some angle cuts.  Take the four (4) 2′ x 4′ x 17″ pieces that you already cut. Set your miter saw to a 45° angle, and cut angles off both of the ends to create four (4) 2′ x 4′ x 17″ trapezoid shapes. You’re now ready to assemble the sides and legs. Attach one (1) 2′ x 4′ x 55″ piece to the center of one (1) 2′ x 6′ x 36″ piece, with a few of the 2½” deck screws. Then attach two (2) 2′ x 4′ x 17″ supports.  We messed up on this part and attached our up and down instead of flat, but it still works.  Do this again to make the other side, so you end up with two (2) identical pieces.

After those are done, you can start on the tedious process of the game board itself.  Take one (1) of the 64½” x 43″ plywood pieces. Get ready to cut forty-two (42) 6″ holes (we used a 5″ hole saw on ours, so we didn’t cut that many).  I’m sharing some of the directions from the Ryobi site, if you want to do it their way.  The holes should be laid out 7 across (64½” side) and 6 down (43″ side). In order to get the holes and spacing appropriate and symmetrical, use a chalk line to create center points of each hole.  Along the edges of the 64½” sides, mark the following measurements: 5¼”; 14¼”; 23¼”; 32¼”; 41¼”; 50¼”; and 59¼”. Place the chalk line tightly across the plywood lined up with these marks and “snap” to mark the wood.

Along both edges of the 43″ sides, mark the following measurements: 4½”; 11½”; 18½”; 25½”; 32½”; and 39½”. Again set the chalk line at these marks and “snap” again.  You’ll end up with a grid style marked on your plywood. The intersecting of these lines marks the centers of the holes that you will need to be cut.  Place the drill bit of the hole saw at each center point, and cut the holes.

After the holes are cut, you should sand the edges, to take care of splinters, etc.

When this was done, we decided to start staining the pieces, before putting things together.  We used some amazing Minwax stain, that we got at our local hardware store.  Colors and type are totally up to you.  You could find some great deals on Minwax online here – check it out.  You could also use some clear coat on top to seal everything in – find that here.

Now, using the 1¼” deck screws, attach six (6) of the 1′ x 2′ x 43″ spacers to one side of the plywood with holes. Center each spacer between the holes, and use two (2) 1′ x 2′ x 43″ pieces on each of the ends. This will create seven (7) columns (again, we ended up doing it a bit differently, but these dimensions should hopefully work for you). Use 3 screws per space (top, bottom, and middle). This way you know where the screws are when they are covered. There should be ½” between the hole and the spacer.

Now, you can put together the two pieces of plywood (photo above). Make sure you are “sandwiching” the spacers on the inside and checking that all sides are very flush. Use the 1 ¼” deck screws screwing in from the back of the game into the spacers. On spacers 4 and 5 use two (2) screws each at rows 2 and 4 on the front of the game.

Place the game board and the legs together. Using the 2 ½” deck screws, attach the legs to each side of the game board so that the wide side of the 2×4 is flush at the top and centered, and attached into the side spacers within the game board “sandwich.” (NOTE: The top of the game board has a bit more space to the first row of holes. The bottom has only about ½” of space.)  Use the last four (4) pieces of 1x2x43″ on the outside edges of the game board (vertically) to reinforce the sides of the game face and back, using the 2½” deck screws.  We didn’t do this part, but it might have made it more sturdy.

Attach the 1’x 3′ x 62″ piece of wood on the bottom of the game board to create the “trap door” that will let the game pieces fall out when it is opened. Use the door hinges to attach it in place and use the hook and latch to keep it  securely closed, while playing.

We also measured the distance between the legs, when it was all put together, and made a tray out of 2′ x 4′ pieces and another piece of leftover plywood that we had.  This doesn’t have to be done, but I figured it would help keep it all together and not have the pieces scatter all over the yard.

Now with this part, we messed up.  We had used all of the circles that we had cut out, not realizing that the spacers we had used, were a bit too small.  This meant, that after we had spent hours on this, painted everything, waited for it to dry… days and days, the pieces ended up being too thick.  I tried to put one in and it wouldn’t even fall down.  I about did (fell down) on the floor in the garage crying, but that’s another story.

We ended up having our friend Kelly, who had some extra wood in his garage cut the pieces from a thinner piece of plywood.  He and his sweet wife, ended up painting them half and half for us, so they were ready to use.  We were so thankful for their help.  I just wanted to put this in here, to let you know to make sure of certain things before hand.  This project was a bit of a pull out your hair month, but I digress.

Once everything is put together, and dry (again!), you’re ready to play.  Like most of us know, Connect Four is a two-player game. Players take turns, with their own color of checker pieces (one color for each player). The goal of the game is to get four pieces of your own color in a row — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, before your opponent does!

When it’s your turn, just drop one (1) of your checker pieces into an open slot at the top. This lets you build your row(s) or put a stop to your opponents row.  After you make your drop, it’s your opponent’s turn. The game’s over when one of the players is able to get four (4) of their checkers in a row.

To play another game, just pull the latch at the bottom, and release all of the checkers into your box.  Then you just start again.  It was so fun seeing our granddaughter play.  She loved the colors and hearing the sounds, when she dropped them in.  I think Papa let her win, though!! 🙂

What do you think of our Connect Four game?  I know the directions were a bit weird, but I hope you like it!  Please take a minute to leave me a comment on what you would like to create, and maybe if you have any tips on how to do it different, or better!

Be sure to tweet, pin, share, etc. – thanks!!

Affiliate links for Amazon are used on my site. This means that when you click on a link, and make a purchase, I earn a commission for that purchase. There is no extra charge for you, it’s just their sites way of saying thank you for helping them get a customer. I use affiliate links to help fund my crafting budget, as well as help provide for our home.  Parts of the instructions copied from Ryobi Tools website. Image by Freeimages.com

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