Colorful Dominoes

We are going to make a classic childhood toy of Dominoes. Using simple tools and a bit of time we can make beautiful pieces of art that will last a lifetime and have meaning and pride.

We are going to need basic tools and supplies to build this project.

Supplies:

1. Super glue
2. Wood (in this I used 1/2 Poplar)
3. 7mm drill bit. different pencils may be different sizes.
4. A few packs of colored pencils.

Tools:

1. A saw. I used a band saw for ease and speed
2. Drill or drill press
3. Sanding block. I used and table sander for ease and speed
4. Small hammer to set the pencils in the hole
5. Straight edge
6. SAFETY EQUIPMENT: Gloves, Eye Protection

Here I have started off measuring 3 pencils wide with extra space. The extra space is needed to fit all 6 pencils evenly. With these pencils I figure that my blocks will need to be a little over 3cm x 6cm. I used a mini square to help keep everything straight. We will need to cut 28 of these blocks for a Double 6 domino set. Use a saw to cut the blocks out and set them aside.

If you are making a Double 9 or 12 set you will have to increase the size of the blocks.

The next step is to ensure all the blocks are the same size. If you used a table saw this step can be skipped. If you used a band saw or a jig saw this step is necessary for uniformity. I placed several blocks together on a table sander and smoothed the cuts and ensures they were all square. I use the mini square again to ensure they are all even and square.

After this is completed we can move on to marking centers for drilling. I first start by finding the center. Use and straight edge to draw a line from wood corner to center corner. Where the lines intersect is drill spot for "1". Ensure your drill press is square or hand drill is at a 90 degree. Drill each block separately and mark each block center before hand like I did before. Do not drill all the way through the block. Only drill to a depth of 1/4 inch.

Now that we are done drilling our first set of holes, we can start placing in the pencils. Place a small drop of super glue in the hole and drive in the back of the pencil. Should be snug enough for cutting. Repeat for the next domino.

Mark the other side of the domino and get ready to drill them. For the 1-2 block in the picture I found the center of the block and then found the center again and that marked the drill location for the 2's.

Repeat this same process until all blocks are drilled and pencils are placed.

Home Stretch!

The center line of the domino we marked in step 1 will be used to show the two sides. With a steady hand, this can be done with a file, Dremel, or a hobby saw. Once again for speed and ease I used the band saw.

Lets start sanding. I used the table sander to quickly remove the edges of the pencil and to smooth any imperfections in the wood. Use a sanding block to curve over the edges so they are not as sharp.

I used some clear that I had laying around but you could use Polyurethane. You must place some type of sealant since the color is exposed. After they have all dried enjoy years of play.