This DIY triangle peg game is the perfect gift for friends or family and will have them remembering playing the game at Cracker Barrel in years past.
Father's Day is tomorrow, so Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there, including my own. I'm always on the lookout for fun DIY projects that I can make for my family.
I've done things like beer caddies, wine caddies and coasters. But recently I wanted to make a game. I was trying to think of a small wooden game that could make and instantly remembered the peg game at Cracker Barrel. If you've been to Cracker Barrel, you know what I'm talking about. It was at every table, so you more than likely played it while waiting for your food.
I scoured the internet to see if I could find a good triangle peg game plan that I could adapt to what I wanted to make and found one on Woodworker's Journal. You can get the template from the link for the cutting but I did change a few things around. First thing is I changed the thickness of the wood I used. I also just used three magnets instead of two so I could just pull the top piece off instead of having a rotating hinge.
I happened to have a few spare pieces of Ash that I used to make this. So if you want to make one for yourself or give them to your friends or family, these are fun to make and even more fun to play. Be careful though, this triangle peg game can be a wee bit difficult to beat and you might get frustrated!
Pro Tips/Notes
- You want to use a good hard wood like ash, maple, oat or walnut.
- If you just want the game but not a place to hide the nails, you can cut out 1 triangle and drill the holes.
- For staining, I prefer Danish oil as it stains and protects the wood.
Other DIY Gift Ideas
If you’ve made this triangle peg game or any other project on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more projects, meals and anything else I'm up to.
Triangle Peg Game
This DIY peg game is the perfect gift for friends or family and will have them remembering playing the game at Cracker Barrel in years past.
Materials
- Hardwood (Ash, Oak, Walnut, Maple) - 1" x 8" @ 14"
- Titebond III wood glue
- Masonry nails
- (6) ⅜" neodymium magnets
- 80, 150, 220 grit sandpaper
- Wood stain
- Polyurethane
Tools
- Planer
- Miter saw
- Drill press
- 2 ¾" Forstner bit
- Clamps
- Hand sander
- Spray mount adhesive
Instructions
- Cut piece of wood in half with miter saw so you have two pieces at 7" length. Plane one piece of wood to ¾" thickness and the other to ½" thickness. You can also just buy two pieces of wood at those thicknesses if you don't have a planer.
- Print out three templates. Cut out the template and using spray mount adhesive, glue the paper to each piece of wood. The ½" thick piece of wood will have the template glued on the front and back, while the ¾" thick piece of wood will have the template glued to just one side.
- With the ¾" thick piece of wood. Drill the 2 ¾" center hole with the Forstner bit to a depth of ½".
- Drill three ⅜" diameter holes, ⅛" deep, where marked on the template into the ¾" thick piece. The template has a pivot screw location, but I just drilled another hole ⅜" diameter hole. These are going to house the magnets.
- With the ½" thick piece, drill the 15 peg holes. Make these holes ¼" deep with a 9/64" diameter drill bit.
- Turn over ½" thick piece of wood and drill three ⅜" diameter holes, ⅛". deep, where marked on the template. You'll want these to line up with the other piece of wood as it will be stacked on top and the magnets will hold it together.
- Using a miter saw, cut out the triangle for both pieces. You can also use a band saw, but I don't have one.
- Glue the 6 magnets into their locations. Make sure the magnets will come together with opposite poles facing when the project is assembled so they’ll attract one another.
- Sand with 80, 150 and 220 sandpaper.
- If using wood stain, stain the wood now. Then finish with a couple of coats of polyurethane.
Notes
- You want to use a good hard wood like ash, maple, oat or walnut.
- If you just want the game but not a place to hide the nails, you can cut out 1 triangle and drill the holes.
- For staining, I prefer Danish oil as it stains and protects the wood.
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J Sloth says
I can still only get it down to 2 pieces !! Loads of fun when the power goes out or when guests ask "what the heck is this thing?"
Linda Chandler says
Regarding your triangle peg game instructions: your instructions say to cut out the templates. Either There is no link to any templates Or they are well hidden. Can you please send me the link so I can print them? Thank you
Ryan says
Sorry it is in the body of the text. Here you go! http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/LastManDrillingTemplate.pdf
Linda Chandler says
Thank you, Ryan, I have a suggestion.. Where you have "2. Print out three templates." Make that template word another link to the template. It will be easier to find. Thanks. I am looking forward to creating your peg game. this is the best one I've seen on the internet. I am also looking forward to more of your creations. Stay healthy.
Ryan says
Just updated thanks!