How to make a giant Connect Four game: Dad makes son a birthday present to remember

  • Step 1: Grid Layout Mark out the location of all 84 holes – 42 each on two sheets of the 1/4” beech plywood.
    Step 1: Grid Layout Mark out the location of all 84 holes – 42 each on two sheets of the 1/4” beech plywood. Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 2: Punching hole centres Once all of the hole centres are marked with pencil, use a punch to dimple the centre so ...
    Step 2: Punching hole centres Once all of the hole centres are marked with pencil, use a punch to dimple the centre so the bit doesn’t wander when you drill.  Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 3: Trim the Board to size
    Step 3: Trim the Board to size Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 4: Drill pilot holes
    Step 4: Drill pilot holes Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 5: Use a six-inch hole saw to cut the holes.
    Step 5: Use a six-inch hole saw to cut the holes. Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 6: Glue down the column guides
    Step 6: Glue down the column guides Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 7: Sandwich them together
    Step 7: Sandwich them together Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 8: Stain the frame
    Step 8: Stain the frame Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 9: Glue the channel (This will hold the face to the frame)
    Step 9: Glue the channel (This will hold the face to the frame) Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 10: Clamp the frame to the face
    Step 10: Clamp the frame to the face Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 11: Paint the checkers
    Step 11: Paint the checkers Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 12: Route a 1x2 for the Frame’s Top (Cut to the depth of the plywood so that it sits flush.)
    Step 12: Route a 1x2 for the Frame’s Top (Cut to the depth of the plywood so that it sits flush.) Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 13: Bevel the top using the bandsaw to funnel the checkers into place.
    Step 13: Bevel the top using the bandsaw to funnel the checkers into place. Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 14: Top frame funnel
    Step 14: Top frame funnel Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 15: Lay out the release mechanism (On another piece of 1x3, mark the locations of the channel guides.)
    Step 15: Lay out the release mechanism (On another piece of 1x3, mark the locations of the channel guides.) Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 16: Supports: Glue into place with about a 1” space at the top.
    Step 16: Supports: Glue into place with about a 1” space at the top. Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 17: Milling a slot for the release handle
    Step 17: Milling a slot for the release handle Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 18: The finished release mechanism.
    Step 18: The finished release mechanism. Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
  • Step 19: Usable handles
    Step 19: Usable handles Photo: Image credit Imgur/hahabird
of
  • Step 1: Grid Layout Mark out the location of all 84 holes – 42 each on two sheets of the 1/4” beech plywood.
  • Step 2: Punching hole centres Once all of the hole centres are marked with pencil, use a punch to dimple the centre so ...
  • Step 3: Trim the Board to size
  • Step 4: Drill pilot holes
  • Step 5: Use a six-inch hole saw to cut the holes.
  • Step 6: Glue down the column guides
  • Step 7: Sandwich them together
  • Step 8: Stain the frame
  • Step 9: Glue the channel (This will hold the face to the frame)
  • Step 10: Clamp the frame to the face
  • Step 11: Paint the checkers
  • Step 12: Route a 1x2 for the Frame’s Top (Cut to the depth of the plywood so that it sits flush.)
  • Step 13: Bevel the top using the bandsaw to funnel the checkers into place.
  • Step 14: Top frame funnel
  • Step 15: Lay out the release mechanism (On another piece of 1x3, mark the locations of the channel guides.)
  • Step 16: Supports: Glue into place with about a 1” space at the top.
  • Step 17: Milling a slot for the release handle
  • Step 18: The finished release mechanism.
  • Step 19: Usable handles

One lucky birthday boy is the proud owner of a giant Connect Four board, thanks to his clever dad.

Reddit user, HahaBird, shared that while brainstorming entertainment for his son's birthday party, the pair threw around the idea of having an extra-large board game to play with his friends.

"We decided that Connect Four would be simple (ha!) to make," he wrote.

The final product: Dad's awesome giant Connect Four game for son.
The final product: Dad's awesome giant Connect Four game for son. Photo: Imgur/hahabird

The finished product stands at about 5 feet tall. And the total cost was about $150 (approximately $AU 200.)

"The face is made from two sheets of 1/4" beech plywood, each with 42 6" holes drilled," he writes. "The checkers are 7" cork trivets from IKEA. The frame is made from 1x2, 1x3, and 1x4 hemlock."

If you're keen – the very cool dad shared a step-by-step guide with instructions on how to make your own giant Connect Four board.

These are the tools you'll need:

  • Drill
  • Six-inch hole saw
  • Router & router table
  • T-square
  • Skil-Saw
  • Band saw
  • Radial arm saw
  • Milling machine
  • Hammer
  • Clamps
  • Various wrenches

Pretty impressive, hey?

The project was so popular, other reddit users have asked if he'll make any other giant boards games. Giant mouse trap, anyone?