DIY: Quoit a special holiday project

The Romans in Britain entertained themselves by throwing hoops over pegs. Now you can, too. Photo / Michael Craig

Greig Morgan says the kids will be cock-a-hoop with this game.

Quoits is a traditional game in which players try to throw rings over a series of small upright posts, and the person with the ring closer to the post scores higher. This game has stood the test of time as it dates back to Roman-occupied Britain. This simple game is easy to make and will keep you and the kids entertained for hours, especially with the school holidays on now. So, why not make one? They'll thank you for it.

Step 1

Measure and mark with the aid of a square and cut your 70mm x 30mm to length on the waste side of the pencil line. I cut two pieces at 600mm before placing them across one another making a cross shape, and marking either side of the centre on both pieces.

Step 2

With the width of both pieces marked out, next measure and scribe a pencil line half the thickness, 15mm on both pieces, then cut a series of saw cuts side-by-side down to the pencil mark. This makes it easier when chiselling out - this is called a crossed halving joint, where two pieces cross each other, sitting flush top and bottom.

Step 3

With the cross joint fitting nice and tight apply a bit of wood glue and fit together, then mark the centre position as well as about 35mm on all four ends, before drilling about 15-20mm deep. Next, measure and cut your dowel to length: I made mine about 180mm long before applying a bit of glue to hold them in place.

Step 4

Cut your rope sisal pieces to length of about 500mm, before applying Super Glue and butting the joints together to create the rope rings.

Step 5

Plane an arris around the top side of the timber before staining or painting and drawing on the score numbers. You're good to go.

Materials

70mm x 30mm pine
25mm dowel
12mm sisal rope
Super Glue
Stain or paint
PVA glue
Twist crayon

Tools

Hand saw
Chisel
Drill
25mm drill bit
Tape measure
Pencil
Square
Hand plane
Paintbrush