Shop update #232 (4-7-22) How to make a ring and hook game

I found out on Friday night that we were going to a birthday party for one of our neighbors at 6:00 pm on Saturday night.  When I woke up on Saturday morning I decided to make him a ring and hook game as a present.  If you know anything about me by this point, you will realize that I rarely just make one item if it is a simple project so I made 3.

I started by pulling out a single cedar fence picket from my pile in the shop and a bunch of scraps from under the outside workbench.

Using the miter saw, I cut the full size picket into 3 – 18″ lengths, some scrap 2×2’s into 3 – 14″ lengths, some scrap pieces fence picket into 3 – 24″ lengths and 3 – 18″ lengths.

I then gave them a good sanding with 120 grit paper.

The next step was to pre dill holes in the middle of the bases, tops, and 2×2’s.  Once they were drilled, I gave them a coat of dark walnut danish oil and let them dry out in the sunlight for a couple of hours.

I measured in 2 inches and installed some eyehooks into the bottom of the top pieces.  I also measure 6 inches up on the 2×2’s and installed hooks on 2 opposite sides.

I used some 2″ deck screws and connect the tops and bases to the 2×2 riser with the hooks closer to the bases.

I took the last of the 18″ pieces and drilled a slight hole every 3 inches with a 1 1/4″ forstner bit.

I picked up some string and keychains from the store and borrowed one of my wife’s lighters.

I tied one end to each ring and zapped it with the lighter to melt it all together.

I connected it to the hook and then stretched it up to the eyehook and cut it about 6 inches too long.  I then tied them to the eyehook so that the ring would almost reach the point where the hook screwed into the wood.  I trimmed the line and melted it shut.

I got the one finished at about 5:30 and took it to the party with me and advised my friend to keep it in the garage so that the danish oil could finish off gassing.  We had fun playing it that night and I look forward to making more.

The next day I finished the other 2 and laser engraved my name and website on them.  I plan on giving one to another friend and keeping the other one to put on my outside griddle surround.