How To Build A Kubb Set

How to Brand a Kubb (aka Viking Chess) Game Gear up

A Kubb king sitting in a field

wanted to detect an interesting outdoor game to play in my lawn this fall but I didn't want to go the typical ring toss or corn pigsty route. After a lengthly amount of net-based research, I came upon an intriguing outdoor game I had never heard of or played earlier: Kubb (pronounced kOOb).

Kubb is also known as Viking chess (which is a way cooler proper name) and as it turns out, is quite a unique and entertaining way to spend an afternoon. Y'all tin play with as few as two people or as many every bit you desire, although having at least four beers on manus is recommended.

Here's a quick synopsis of how information technology works: y'all divide into two teams and each squad places a ready of five "skulls" in a row at one finish of a boundary. The teams so have turns attempting to knock over the other team'southward skulls by throwing "femurs" beyond the court.

In one case one of the teams topples all of the other team'south skulls, they tin can then knock over the rex to win the game. At that place are lots of intricacies to the rules so here is a dandy video explanation of how the game really works:

An overview of the thousand game Kubb

Subsequently looking at various Kubb sets online, I quickly came to the conclusion that the ones I could find for sale were a little more than pricey than I'd like and some of the reviews claimed that they weren't fabricated well. An expensive thing that isn't made well sounds similar a nifty DIY project to me, then I found some plans online and went to work.

If you lot are confused by any of these instructions, information technology might help to review some of the illustrations from this tutorial. I essentially followed their directions with some slight modifications.

Here'due south what yous'll need to get this project washed:

Materials

1 4″x4″x8′
6′ of 1 1/four″ Dowel
4′ of 3/iv″ Dowel
Fine grit Sandpaper
Stain/Finish (optional)

Total Fabric Cost: effectually $35

Tools

Miter Saw
Circular Saw (and a compatible argue)
Hand Saw (preferably a Japanese Dovetail Saw)
Combination Foursquare
Carpenter's Pencils
Miter box (optional)

Safety Warning

Ability tools and saws are dangerous to operate. Make sure you read and follow all prophylactic and instructional materials related to your tools. Wear protective eye, hearing, and animate gear. And most importantly always pay attention to what you are doing.

Cut the King

Mitre saw cutting the King of a Kubb set — Cutting the Rex

The four×4 is already the correct width for the King, then nosotros just need to cut it to its right length. Using a combination square mark your cut line 12″ from one stop of the 4×4 and make the cut with a miter saw. Set that piece aside.

Cut the 4×4 Downward to the Right Width and Height for the Skulls

saw cutting the kubb pieces — Cutting Skulls

After cutting the male monarch out of the four×4, yous must cut down the width of the remaining 4×4 to the right dimensions for the skulls. What we are wanting to do is make a two 3/iv″ square out of the remaining length of wood. Using a circular saw and a circular saw fence, drop your blade all the manner downward every bit low every bit information technology will go and set your debate for a iii/iv″ cut from the edge of the wood. Curl through your entire piece and then flip it and do another cutting that joins your previous cut.

Depending on the depth of your saw, y'all should exist able to cut at a 90-caste angle perpendicular downward into your previous cutting and you can simply discard the remaining wood. My saw would not drop far enough to join upward with my other cutting so I had to do an extra two cuts to rip the wood to the correct size.

Cutting the Skulls to Size

Tape measure on the wood that will be cut for the skulls — Measuring the skulls

Mark a cutting line for vi inches from one end of the slimmed-downward four×4. Using your miter saw, brand your cut. Repeat this process until yous have 10 skulls.

Cutting the Femurs

Grab your 1 1/four″ dowel and mark a 12″ cutline. Unremarkably y'all'd want to cut to either side of this cut line, just considering the dowel is exactly six feet long (or 2 3′ dowels), if you lot cut to the inside of the line, the femurs will get progressively smaller as you lot cut further downwards the dowel. I just went alee and cut down the center of the line, attempting to make them as equal as possible.

This doesn't accept to be perfect, provided yous don't desire to use your set to compete for the Kubb world championships. You should end upwards with half-dozen 12″-ish femurs.

Cut the Boundary Stakes

The remaining dowel is going to be used for 4 purlieus stakes. They crave a 45-degree bending cut on ane stop of each stake so that you tin press them into the basis with ease. Realign your saw to make a 45-caste angle cut, then measure a cutline. It should be 12″ from the very tip of the 45-degree angle to the base.

By flipping around the dowel you should simply have to make two 45 caste cuts for your four stakes, and then a straight 90 degree cut right down the heart of the concluding slice.

Cut Kubb pieces on a table (with a beer) — Finished cuts. (Note: 1/3 left of beer)

Cutting the King'south Crown

This is probably the most challenging role of this whole projection honestly. What you are attempting to practice is make something that resembles a king'south crown here. Honestly, if you don't intendance about the aesthetics, you could easily just skip this part because information technology doesn't really impact the play of the game. It just looks cooler if you do this step.

The top of the Kubb target — Marking up the King'southward Crown

Choice the side you want to be the height of the king, then draw an 'x' from corner to corner. With a combination square, mark the bisection of the x and then you lot accept a target right down the centre of the wood piece (I tried to eyeball this without the x and it concluded up kind of jacked up).

Using the 45-degree-angled edge on the head of the combination foursquare, describe 45-degree lines on each side of the king, from the corners in, and from the center points outward. These lines will look similar a simple crown.

Using a pull saw (preferably a Japanese-fashion dovetail saw which was given to yous as a gift from your crawly girlfriend) advisedly cut your crown out according to your lines. I got really sloppy due to my impatience at this point (every bit y'all tin can run across past the pictures), then if y'all are concerned with aesthetics, make sure yous take your time and let the saws do the work for you lot.

Sand all of the Pieces

Your pieces will likely accept rough edges and splintery bits at this signal, and so grab some sandpaper and become to work. Call back, working with sandpaper kicks up a lot of grit so be sure to use a respirator to protect your lungs during this process. Afterwards a lot of elbow grease, you should have end upwards with dainty, smoothen edges that aren't going to bulldoze splinters into your hands when you lot choice them up.

Finish Wood, Final Touches

At this indicate, you can add some stain or other protectant to your pieces. Y'all tin gussy upwards your prepare however you desire basically. This tutorial suggests doing some decorative cutlines on all the pieces too as staining and finishing them.

Since I knew we were going to be throwing poles at all the pieces anyway, I didn't mess with doing whatsoever finishing or decorative cutting.

Go knock some skulls

Ok, then that's about information technology. Catch a cold beverage and caput outside to enjoy your hard work with a circular of Kubb. It is said that after the Vikings conquered a hamlet they would gather for a game of Kubb to gloat their victory and unwind. Like the Vikings of erstwhile, it is time for you to do the same, then go forth and Kubb my friend.