If there’s not a power sander in your tool arsenal already, this project would likely be a good excuse to invest in one! We used 220 grit paper on medium speed with our random orbital sander (similar, ours is discontinued). Sanding removes any pesky splinters and ensures that your pieces slide as smoothly as possible. This is the most time-consuming step of the project, but also the most important. We’ll recycle our scraps as kindling for our next Tree House bonfire! 2| Sand, Sand, Sand. These only have the potential to snag on other pieces and make the game much less fun. Remember, a nominal 2″ x 3″ actually measures 1.5″ x 2.5″, so we’re shooting for exactly 7.5″ per piece.Īs cuts are made, it’s a good idea to remove any nasty knots or crummy boards. The goal here is for the length of one cut board to equal the exact width of three boards stacked side by side. We find that any time we’re making multiple cuts of the same length, clamping a slug to the miter saw’s fence will speed things up significantly! Just be sure to make a test cut or two to ensure things are measuring accurately. The first step in the process is to cut all of the boards to 7.5″ length.

Two different colors of paint (optional).

It might not be a bad idea to also grab an extra board or two as backup!) (Note: Be sure to select the straightest boards with the fewest knots.

Five or more 2″ x 3″ x 8′ boards cut to 7.5″ pieces.

A set made from 2″ x 3″ lumber is still substantial in size and measures 27″ tall before the first move! 2″ x 3″ lumber is also lighter and easier to store and transport, so it seemed like the best fit for us! Supplies Needed Many of the giant Jenga tutorials we were able to find online suggested using 2″ x 4″ boards, but in doing a bit of research, we found that a 2″ x 3″ board reflects the scale of original Jenga (1.5cm x 2.5cm x 7.5cm) exactly. Or you could spend a fun afternoon working in the garage and put the $110 you’ve saved toward food and drink to enjoy while you marvel at your woodworking skills.

We still play classic Jenga at our Tree House frequently, but we decided it was time for us to create a giant Jenga game to enjoy this summer outdoors. Jenga games at Vargo family reunions got notoriously competitive, with a running record of max tower height scrawled inside the travel-worn box.

Original Jenga is a simple and fun game that led to hours and hours of family fun throughout our respective childhoods. We’re all spending a lot more time at home right now, so yard games will be a favorite past-time this summer! Today we’re outlining three steps for a simple $10 DIY giant Jenga game – but with an added twist.

Extra large jenga