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Pucket backgammon game serving tray

15K views 84 replies 24 participants last post by  lew 
#1 ·
Building the tray

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
building the tray.

To make projects for my daughter, is just about the best thing I know.
So when she told me she needed a serving tray, for her new apartment and had a backgammon on her wish list, I decided it was a chance.
It was just about at the same time I saw or LJ buddy doubleDD posting a pucket game and thought that would bee fun for drinking games, with her study friends (she study to become a Constructing architect), so I send you a thanks for the inspiration.
So now it was all about fulfilling her dreams and spice it up with a pucket game.
Of course I wanted it all in one piece, why not. ;-)

Pucket game is also known as: puck game, sling hockey, sling puck game.


Here the sketch I made as I went on, adjusted while working on the project and finally gave some colours once done, so others could get easier around it.


This was actually the first sketch, to be honest.


It was still winter, so what better way to spend the hours, than in a warm workshop creating.


Just a few weeks before, I found these wonderful hardwood boards in the street, just three houses away and yes, I love recycle, so of course I had to use them.


Sawing out the sides.


That will be luxury fire in the wood stove.


Planing to thickness.
When I see this picture, I wonder why I never use the digital read out I mounted… Guess it's the habit.


The size of the board was set due to the fact, I had some cut off's from thin ply, that I got a bunch of for next to nothing, the company had used the rest and sold the cut off's, I think a lot of companies should do that, it would be good for us all.
For the length, I looked at what proportion I liked and what seemed to give a good area, for playing the pucket game.


In comes the heavy artillery, this will make the fingers an easy and fast game.
I have really come to like this one and have always been a fan of the fingers, I think they are time less, meaning they never become or go out of fashion. Where dovetails are on an off and not all projects or styles go with them. As an architect, I have always been fascinated with the 'classic', where trends were never my big thing.
Don't read me wrong, I love dovetails on the right projects and time pieces where they fit, but try to say Le Corbusier and dovetail in the same sentence, without adding the word gun….


To make the fingers get to the centre, I make a wee spacer block.


And route the fingers.


Here a test piece to set it all up.
I tend to do test pieces more and more, it's like the immortality has gone with the years, to much scrap wood, comes with too much self confidence, laugh.


Well close enough to be accepted.


The final once are just perfect, so the setup time were worth it.


Frames, frames, frames.


That looks just fair, so I'm a happy monkey for now.


Making a few shavings, to make the tops, smooth and completely level.


Funny shavings, kind of makes me hungry.
Also tells me this is difficult wood, that want to split and crack.


Back to the test piece, now setting the depth for the rabbet, that will g´hold the plywood bottom in place.
My ohhh I have used that blade setting jig a lot, that was really a build worth making.


Running the test piece through the table saw a couple of times.


To find the right setting.


The bottoms were cut to size and fitted in the rabbets.


Looks good to me.


This might turn out quite decent.


The pucket game side, will need a divider in the middle, so I use some scrap to find the height and then cut a size to size.


Keeping the divider a wee bit over sized, so I can adjust once the tray is glued.


More setting on the table saw.


And a backstop on the saw on the first cuts, to avoid tear out.


Then just repetitive cuts, to make the opening for the pucket pieces to go through.


Like this.


And a wee clean up with a shoulderplane.


Really love this fellow, it just feels right in the hand.


That will be a fine fit, not too high, not too low.


And a workbench wood porn photo. Just to tell the truth in the background.
When I were working on this projects I were all over the place, working on the different parts at the same time, while waiting for things to dry and just what was more easy, but I have tried in this blog to keep the processes apart, to not confuse you guys, so you might sometimes see things from next part appear, like the backgammon on the plywood here.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, perhaps a tray…

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
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#4 ·
Looks like you're moving right along Mads. I like the backgammon idea a lot. Thanks for the plug on the inspiration. I'll be waiting to see the finished product. Whenever hockey is on T/V my grandson wants to play a game with his dad. I think my son wants it more as a drinking game too. LOL.
 
#5 ·
Nice, procedural approach Mads, from finding the materials to making test pieces.
It's going to be an interesting multi-function tray with good write up to follow!

I had to bite my tongue as I was going to inquire about that backgammon base suddenly showing up, then I finished reading the last paragraph 8^)
 
#11 ·
Hi there,

Lew, I enjoy sharing these adventures, where there's a story to go with it, especially when my daughter is involved. She already does. ;-) Thank you.
Doug, nope no more needed and I love it all, thank you so.
doubleDD, It was you and your project, that suddenly made it all come together, so I'm the one saying thank you. It's quite fun, I have yet to try it as a beer game, but I'm sure it will be even more fun. Smiles and thanks.
Splintergroup, This project were kind of perfect for a step by step blog, so I enjoyed taking the photos even more than usual. Love that you were sharp on that one, I were sure it would be noticed. Thanks.
Jim Jakosh, Laughs, yes I also like the price of the wood and have a lot left, so that's even better. Smiles and thanks.
Bobsboxes, Thank you, I also find this three in one to be really cool here, she can serve for two on each side of the divider, it's just the right size.
Dave Polaschek, I always say this, that we invent nothing, just find new ways and at best make it our own and something new or better. Smiles.
mtnwild, Ha ha ha, yes there are some Enegizer bunny in me, but also remember I'm retired so I have all the time in the world and this were build over some weeks. Smiles and laughs.
kaerlighedsbamsen, Laughing, yes we think alike in many ways. Good to see you here Ty.

Best of my thoughts,
Mads
 
#14 ·
Hi James,
Thank you, the saw blade gauge is a really old project I made and posted here on LJ: https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/36682 it has been useful for so many years, that I have considered to build a new, but I would almost feel guilty, as it works perfectly fine and it has become a part of the shop. Laugh.
Yes that shoulder plane is a gem, it also have a bullnose attachment and it's one of these tools that works even it has several functions.
Smiles.
 
#18 ·
Making the pieces

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
making the pieces.

This time we will be working round and round and round…
Ok, let's just go for it!


We are back in the shop, winter and snow, the project on the table.


I had these backgammon pieces in a drawer and were thinking that I should order some, for the games.
But honestly… They are boring and didn't you say recycle MaFe?


Ok, we start at the lathe, with a piece of beech, recycled from a trashed wine rack.


This is how it looks, when I set the late up, for spinning a wee wood.


The parts for recycle.


Finding the centre.


Marking it.


Picking up some turning tools.


This is what we need.


First roughly into size.


A caliper to set final size.


This thingy is brilliant, once you have the size, it's just to set it.
Cut for app every ten cm as guide.


With a gauge, I just connect them roughly.


To get this.


To finish it, I use this tool again, I don't remember the name of.
That's super easy.
Of course I could have made a dowel maker for it, but this was fast and I needed two sizes.


Sanding up to grit 600.


Job done.


Now I just need some more in the other size…


Rods sized and sanded on the lathe, ready for next phase.
I The camera is my trusted shop friend, it has taken almost all pictures on my blogs for the last ten years and live in the shop only, had to change the lens one, the old one was simply dusted completely to death.


A test cut.
But how on earth can I control the width and avoid tear out on a round piece, while doing it relatively safe…


Finding matching drill bit sizes.


I have an idea!
A hole in same diameter as the rod.


Adjusting the saws width.


Running the jig through.


Get it?


Trimming the jig, so the hole is flat with the table of the saw.


Now I can feed the rod into the jig and run it through the saw.
Easy peasy.

Check this video, to see it in action:


Gave it an ugly handle for safety.
Like this even the cut of got recycled.


Tadaaaaa!
Ok, no pause yet, there's a long way to go still.


For the other size, I just repeated the process and even reused the jig.


Let's go crazy, let's get nuts…
Well I realized, that I had made around 150 pieces!
Two game boards, one for my daughter and one for me, 2×8 large size for the puckets, 2×30 for the backgammons and finally I made 30 backgammon pieces for my allotment, ohh yes and some extras for testing.
Dam I thought that making these would be piece of cake!


Ok back to it MaFe!
I came up with this idea, to speed it up a wee and for safety.
A round over bit on the router table, the fence at app half size and a stick with sandpaper glued to it, to spin the pieces, without having to get my fingers too close to the bit, after all one might loose focus doing 150 of these small round bastards two sides.


Just like this.
Wath this video, to see how it works:


After a few hours with some good music on the stereo and a wee pipe tobacco, this was what I ended up with.


Not too bad, I'm quite pleased.


Time to close up the shop for the day.
I can go home dreaming of a board game now.


Next up was trying some dyes, as I wanted the wood to stand out.
Think these are fine, so I just have to decide.


Well first I have to give them all a light sanding.


After an hour I really had it, just around quarter of the way.
No more hand sanding!!!


Time to think something up.
As you can see, I used an invisible drill bit, to make a fed holes in some plywood.


Added a bolt.


Threw it on the drill and put some tack it in the hollow part of the jig.


A piece goes in.


Spin baby spin!


Soon I was done.
This was really worth it.
The sanding also became better, than the one I could make by hand.


Time for a cover up.


Dye to die for.
Starting out black, like my humor.


Me like.


Trying again to cut corners, by throwing the pieces into a back, with the dye.


Then a light massage and a little time.


Seems to be working.


It worked, but looks a wee strange…


After drying, they were left to soak in some Danish oil, for twenty minutes.


Suck it up baby.


Extra oil is wiped off.


The natural colour became almost caramel, sexy.


This project seems to never stop, we are on day three of these pieces now.
Polish with brown stick, then wax.


Whoooooo!!!
That's a difference.


Happy I am.


Again it takes forever, two sides, all the way around and then 150 of them.


Backgammon pieces.


Pucket pieces.


Ok, it was worth it, you can't buy this.


And with fire in the wood stove, I say good bye for now.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, try not to fall into pieces.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#35 ·
painting the backgammon side

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
painting the backgammon.

So now we are at the point, that some of you noticed earlier, the part where make the backgammon side of the tray.

I had many doubts, if I should route out and put contrasting colours in, or if I should paint it, so I looked what contrasting woods I had and had only dark. This made the choice easier and I were kind of happy for this, as I think it would have made the project even bigger.


A new day, a new dawn.
Danish wienerbrød and coffee.
It's going to be a good day


Well let's get to it.
Calculating the spacing and deciding on a layout.


Measure twice draw once. To avoid mistakes, I make a template, where I check the measures twice and then use this for all the layout.


It's a good place to start a day, fire in the stove and a wee good tobacco, while the workshop is heating up, after cold night.


First the layout is drawn with a sharp pencil and then the corners are marked, with this wonderful awl, Jim send me as a gift years back and I always enjoy to use. Thanks Jim Cheers.


Now a good ruler, with cork backing to keep it from moving and a sharp marking knife.


Every line is now cut, so a groove is made into the surface, not too deep, just deep enough. ;-)


Colour testing again, was thinking of using yellow as this is my daughters favourite colour, but I thought it made it difficult to see the marking.


Wood dye in a plate, thinned a wee, just a wee, a quality paint brush, a little stiff but fine hairs, synthetic and most of all a steady hand.
I right handed, just holding the camera here.


New colour and a tobacco break, keep calm and see it as a meditation.


As you can see the scoring helps to keep the dye where it's supposed to.
Of course not always, so there will be a wee clean up after.


I put my hand on a scrap piece of ply, so I don't mess up.


Well, well, well, now it just need to dry and I can sand of the small mistakes.


Perhaps I should play a little hand Pucket, while I wait.


This is going to be great fun.


I'm happy, this is going to be fine.


Now time to let the dye dry and meditate in front of the fire.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, or a deep meditative focus.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#36 ·
Sorry if you got lost in cyberspace, it was me, who made a image mistake, using a template and forgot to change numbers.
It should all be fine now… I hope.
Smiles,
Mads
 
#47 ·
Assembly, wood nails, glue and endgrain planing.

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
assembly.

Yes we are over the parts, painting, pieces and can finally put it all together, seems close to be done, even there's a long way yet.

This will be a talk about end grain, finger joints, wood nails and more.


Today we might start with a game of backgammon, but looking at the corners makes me realize I need some more work.


Pucket then?
MaFe just get started, no excuses!


Time for glue up.
White indoor glue.


A good squeeze out from every area, witness, tight joints and well spread glue.


I add Japanese wood nails, to make the game board indestructible, also just because I find them sexy and it brings me joy, using clamps to make sure it's tight.


Pegged from top and bottom, this is where you check square and warp, before the glue dry.
We can never have too many clamps, yet I hate to spend money on these, except the Japanese once, they add beauty to the working, the silver once you see here are such.


Once the glue is dry, the wood nails can loose their heads…


Trim flush, with a ultra sharp chisel, using a skewed cut, not a straight blow with a hammer, think of the chisel as how you would cut into a branch with a knife..


The test pieces are also glued up and get a little drawer bottom also.


Glue on every surface, that will get contact.


The scrap box…
I will give my daughter this one, so she can store the pieces in it, when she use the board game as a tray.


Unclamping.


Time to to correct the mistakes I made on purpose…
From same wood as the sides, strips are cut and then cut into small pieces.


Yeps, we need to close the ends.
I choose this method, because I'm lazy and I find this fix quick and easy.
But yes, you could choose a router and stopped groove instead, then you needed no corrections.


That's all there is to it.


Ok and a saw cut…


Also had to fix a broken off corner, I kind of love these little fixes.


It will blend in later.


The small box gets a sanding, to flush the finger joints, you can see this gives a matt dusty surface, remember this when you look at the planed end later.


Back at the workbench.


One of my favourite moments.
Low angle plane, handling the end grain as a butter knife in butter.

This is how I approach planing end grain, on corner joints. Low angle plane, held skewed, repetitive straight hit with power behind, once you are at level with the object, long gentle strokes, where you slow let the plane loose contact with the surface, before you reach the other end.

Here a short video of endgrain planing, to get the fingers flush with the tray sides:

Notice I use my shop stool as a dead man, this was where I decided I needed finally to build one, laugh.


That's good in my book.
You can see the tiny difference at the side, where I made the rabbet close up, I enjoy this little hidden story.


Marking up for the dividers.
Jim that awl is sexy! Thanks.


Again to avoid mistakes, I make a template, to transfer the placement.


Marking.


Ready for assembly.


Japanese wood nails, notice I use some cork on the clamps, since this Mahogany like wood is fragile.


A wee tobacco and then one more.


Glue on all touching sides, perhaps a wee generous here…

Nailed it.


Remember to flush…


Adding pressure with a clamp.


Hmmmmmm…..
One of the warped a wee, so the bottom would not stick to the divider.
So I had to make an alternative clamp. Inspired by boat builders and instrument makers, this was what I could do in a hurry.
It worked and took the warp out of the tray also, so I was really pleased, when I came back next day and unclamped it.


One of the game boards had a wee knot that had fallen out, so a tiny repair was needed. As always I try to keep the story with in the piece, so I just clean up the hole and make a tiny inly, made of same wood as the top (just split the top of a wee plywood cut off).


Glue.


Bang it in place with a piece of wood between, so no marks are left on the surface.


Repaired but still there, just as I like it.
Please notice how the two knot heads, are looking at the repair and something outside the picture.


To make sure the bottom never gets loose, wood nails are added, this because it's going to be used as a serving tray also, so there might get heavy weight into it from other side at times.
The tape is to make sure I don't go too deep.


Trimmed flush and for me it just added beauty to the backgammon side.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, or even a wee learning something new, or different.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#53 ·
sewing...

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
sewing…

Yes you read it right sewing, not sawing!
Men can do that also and have great fun.

But it will be a quick one here, as I'm aware most of you will just shake your heads ans say 'get a life, get a wife',laughs (I'm single now).


The game is also used as tray, so I realized the game pieces might end up somewhere and that somewhere can be lost.
So time to sit down by my sewing machine, where I also make a lot of my hammock gear, but that's another story.


Do you get it, TOOLS!


Gadgets.


And sewing of course, here preparing the rolled hems, for the draw strings.


Small clamps, not so fare away from what we usually do. ;-)


I'm actually serious, the sewing machine is just another tool, that can make our dreams become real.


While talking, a few stuff sacks are made.


Well a load, made some extra for my tour gear, now I had the machine running.


But for this project, one for the pucket pieces and one for the backgammon pieces.


And they can click together, so they don't get lost.


Here all the once needed for now, the extra is for the extra set of backgammon pieces I made for my allotment, where I plan to paint a game on my garden table.


Talking about tools.
Here my sexy 1970 sewing tool box, in a naughty computer color.


Tadaaaaa!!!

Ok we stop now, promise there will be no more sewing in this blog.

See you soon, next up is making the pucket game play.

Hope it can be to some inspiration and your wife will not hate me now…

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#54 ·
What a great skill to have!

Always thought I should learn, never did..

In the Navy the parachute riggers were the sewers. Always admired their work. They were always making cool things, like different styles of duffel bags and suit cases, along with their regular work. I think they were making a little extra money on the side!?

Keeping it all real, very cool….
 
#70 ·
figuring out the Pucket

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
figuring out the Pucket.

This part will be about figuring out the Pucket game, where to put the bungee, how tight, how high and much more.


We start with an empty sheet… tray.
Hmmmmm how do we find out, where to put the bungees?


Again the answer is a test setup, so first I make some profiles, like the once on the board.


Do you see the picture?


Bungee jumping, naaaaa I have probably put on to much weight, to jump out hanging in a 3mm bungee.
But I dig into my sewing stuff again, to try out a bunch of difference types and dimensions.


Making a series of holes, to find the right distance to the back.
You have to be able to get a proper draw, but also space in front for all the pieces.


Well now it's just to try out, by shooting.


Actually the first one is plenty, that's good as it leaves more space for playing.


Yeeeeehaaaaaa!


Got the idea to use these tighteners, like this the bungee can be adjusted to the individual users desire.


Ready for some serious testing.

You can watch some test shooting here:


Last thing I want to be sure of, is the height of the string.
Too high and the pucks will be caught under the string, too low and they will fly off the board.


No more testing, we want some holes now.
A nylon washer, a drill bit for wood and a stop - yes this time a stop is a good idea, as I want the holes to be stepped and it will be a disaster to go through.
The nylon washer to make sure the deep stop don't make marks on the wood.


Well let's skip the nylon washer and make a jig, you know I love to make jigs.
A piece of plexiglass.


Cleaning up all the edges.


Drilling a hole with the drill bit.


Anti scratch jig.


Setting the desired deepness of hole.


Marking.


Jig on top.


Drill the hole.


Seems to work really fine.


Yabadabadooo, perfect holes, no marks and no tear out.
On the right you can see with deep stop only - marks and tear out.


You can never have to many drills, like this there's no bit change.
I have become a big fan of Makita tools, battery tools, the just do the job. Even the old once with the small batteries, soon need some new batteries and I have one where I overloaded it, so it smoked quite heavily… and it keeps smelling like that, but have run for a year now after my mistake. I tried to force a screw in with the drilling setting.


After marking the holes positions, a backing plate is clamped tight.


First a pilot hole.


Then the bigger hole, using the jig.


Finally the hole for the bungee, all the way through.


Stepped hole, the larger hole will be able to hide the knot on the bungee.


Fine crisp hole, due to the back stop.


Strings attached and time to close up the shop.

But watch this and see why the happy monkey had a smile on his face, when he closed up the shop:

Hope it can be to some inspiration, or even a flying puck.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#79 ·
Lacquer and finally playing with my daughter

Pucket backgammon game serving tray
Lacquer and finally playing with my daughter.

So we are back for the last part, here the part I like the least and the part I like the most.

Fist finish, in this case lacquer, this part is something I am not a big fan of, it's time consuming, difficult, easy to make mistakes and just on my list of arrggghhhh. But it's also where the magic happens at times, where we get the piece to pop out and I guess it's all about practice and patience.

The part I like the best, is getting it wrapped up and giving it to some one who cares and appreciate it, this is where all the hours suddenly makes sense.


I gave the test tray a coat of the lacquer I wanted to use and it looks just the way I want it. It's a ship floor lacquer, that have this caramel brownish glow, that makes it look old from the beginning and this was just what I wanted.


First up, I cut some small pieces of scrap.


Drilled countersinked… holes.


Added drywall screws, so we have paint cones.


Yes it's for the lacquering, so I can make both sides at once and not stick to anything.


You see.


Thinning up the first layer, so I'm sure it will soak dee into the wood.
App 25% as I remember.


Look at the difference, between the done and the not done behind, especially the mahogany is a miracle to watch.


I put screws in the holes, so it could fly in the air, this was a wonderful chance and made the lacquering so much easier.
I was a wee worried for the flaming that came out on this side… no idea why the plywood reacted like that. But we will see after a few coats.


The other one did not flame at all.
Here resting on the small paint cones.


Lifted off easy next day.


After 24 hours it was sanded back to wood.


Hmmm due to Covid I cant get a proper brush, so I will try with this one…


Well it works, not easy with that big a brush, but it works.


Also this sides flames…


And now we get chat wonderful caramel colour I wanted.


The flaming looks really cool now, this one is my favourite now and will just get better and better with time.


Once the lacquer was dry after three coats in total, it was time for some bungees.
The small wood trolls looked at the bigger of the tighteners, so I took that one, and also threw in a small brass washer.


Now you see why we made the stepped holes.
A knot, a washer and pull through, then the knot ends up inside the game.


Other side like this, so one can adjust the tension as you prefer, just making a knot where it's all lose, so it does not fall through the tensioner.


Cut off and burn end.


It's starting to look like a game.


Once the lacquer was all cured, it could be set up.
This will bring plenty of fun moments I'm sure.


I'm happy with the result, so it's going to be interesting to see what my daughter thinks.


Pack it up.


Spare pieces in a plastic bag.


My daughter gets the small extra tray, to keep pieces in.
Notice the wax had dried up, leaving a matt surface…
Will fix that with my daughter.


Ready for backgammon, I will keep the second one in the workshop, think it belongs here, the allotment have other games.


The flaming became really nice, difficult to see in the photos, but that's actually the coolest of them.


Ahhh she can use it for this also, so she will get a set also.
Not my pipe of course.


Branded up.


I can't wait!


Packed up and ready to go.


Also made her a small lino cutting set, as she told me she would love to try out some lino work. Bench hook, strop and tools.


Off we go, even the car is full of sawdust, ok I admit, I have never been interested in cars, so my cars don't get much attention, they are the lowest creatures on my tool list I guess. Laugh.


Finally!!!
In my daughters home, where she serves us coffee on the tray.


And yes she were happy, also for the lino set.
It was almost like christMads evening.

Here you can get to laugh at us, seeing our first Pucket game, it's really fun, but my ohhh, I got so focused and completely tense playing it, as you can see:


So it was good, when she said it was time for some backgammon and coffee.


Spend a few hours with coffee, backgammon and just hanging out, what a joy, what a happy old monkey I am.


When I left, she even gave it spot in the bookcase, so I were confident, she liked it and it will come to use.


Back home, I made some late dinner, drank my beer and sat down with a smile on my face, thinking it was all worth it

Thank you for reading this never ending story, I felt it was fun, to make something with more details, less 'I can do that' and most of all a lot of heart.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, perhaps some joy with your kids.

Best thoughts and a big hug, to those who had the patience, to read the whole blog,

MaFe
 
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