Does having your kids at home ever feel like a circus? Embrace the fun and create your own carnival game with a DIY ring toss! It’s a great game to play one-on-one or for the whole family to enjoy. We can guarantee this game won’t cause the kids to throw tantrums—just rings.
DIY Ring Toss: Create Your Own Carnival
Materials Needed
- 1" x 8" x 48" Board*
- 7/8" x -36" Wood Dowel
- #8 x 1-1/4" Flat Head Phillips Wood Screw
- Sandpaper**, 150g, 220g & 320g
- Drill Bits: 3/32" & 7/8" Spade Bit
- (6) Dive Rings (Click here to purchase from Walmart)
*Board Dimensions are “nominal.” Actual dimensions are smaller due to lumber industry standards. Cuts are actual length.
**Starting grit will depend on board surface condition, a rough surface will require starting with a coarse grit first.
Tools Used
Miter Saw or Circular Saw, Drill/Driver, Orbital Sander, Tape Measure, 20V 1.5Ah Battery, 20V 4.0Ah Battery, 20V Battery Charger, Safety Glasses, 7/8" Spade Bit & Drill Bits. Also need: Clamps.
LUMBER CUT LIST & LAYOUT GUIDE
For the ring toss bases: use the 1" x 8" board to cut (2) 24" pieces
For the pins: Use the 36" dowel to cut (2) 8" rods, (2) 6" rods & (2) 4" rods
For the pins: Use the 36" dowel to cut (2) 8" rods, (2) 6" rods & (2) 4" rods


ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Cut out all material using the Lumber & Sheet Cut Layout Guide.

Step 2
Mark (3) points in the center of the base boards. Follow the measurements shown in the diagram.

Step 3
Use a 7/8" spade bit to drill a 3/8" deep hole into each point on the base boards. Place scrap board underneath or elevate the base board before drilling. The spade bit point will go through the bottom of the board.


Step 4
Before final assembly, sand and finish pieces to your desire.
- Rougher finish – Use 60-80 grit sandpaper to hand sand with the grain of the wood.
- Smoother finish – Use 60-80 grit sandpaper to remove scratches & imperfections, followed by using 120-220 grit to smooth
- Finish sanding – Use 320-400 grit sandpaper
- Super fine sanding – Use 600+ grit sandpaper
If you like, you can spray paint each dowel the color of your choice and then stain the base board.

Step 5
Place a 4", 6", and 8" pin in each hole and attach with #8 x 1/4" wood screws. Repeat on the other base board.

PRO-TIP: To help keep pins from splitting, drill a 3/32" hole in the bottom of each pin. Do this by placing the pin into the 7/8" hole on the base. Flip the base over and use the spade bit hole on the underside of the base board as a guide to drill into the pin.

Step 6
Project complete!

RINGER, ZINGER
Ring toss is the perfect game for toddlers. It helps develop their fine motor skills like those of the hands and fingers as well as hand-eye coordination. For a fun twist, place plastic cups upside down on each pole. Teams take turns tossing their rings to knock off cups and get ringers (rings over a pole). Three points for each ringer and one point for every cup knocked off. First team to get 21 points wins.

DID YOU KNOW? This 14th-century British game of quoits (ring toss) may have originated from the ancient Greek sport of discus throwing.
Hope you have as much fun playing this game as you do making it. If you build one, post your project pictures and tag us at #DoItWithHART.