| Project by scottb | posted 623 days ago | 472 views | 1 time favorited | 9 comments |  |
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3D Tic Tac Toe
My wife and I found this game at a Bed and Breakfast out in the Berkshires. Tic Tac Toe in 3 dimensions! The pieces were actual x’s and o’s, drilled so they’d be seen from the side. We played with the rules that the first to get three in a row, in any direction, won.
This is (yet another) project from my “pre-woodworking” days – too busy with the house and other art-projects, and virtually no tools to speak of. This would be a good candidate for Pop Woodworkings, “I can do it” section. Only tools used, my drill and (hand powered) miter saw. I didn’t have the tools (or the patience) to try to make actual x’s by hand. Blocks and spheres would do just fine.
With my kitchen table as a workbench, my corded drill, and a drill press attachment for it, I drilled through these “hardwood” blocks from the craft store, (the beads came pre-drilled) and I picked up the dowels at the BORG. The base is left over clear pine from one or another home reno project. The pieces are stained in Minwax Ipswich Pine or Provincial – the same as our kitchen (the cabinets are stained with both for a custom color), and the bottom is lined with green felt.
That Christmas (2002) I made up three of these, two I gave to family, and one we kept. I guess they came out pretty well, along with my printed out directions, Rob thought I bought it!
After playing with it some more, I’ve decided that I need to shorten the pegs – didn’t intend for there to be a 4th level to the game. I’ve also found it’s too easy to get three in a row, and unlike regular tic tac toe, VERY hard to block. No draws with this game. I like playing all the pieces until the end, and then seeing who got the MOST three in a rows. More fun, and doesn’t end too quick.
If you think of another way to play, please share it.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
9 comments so far
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 623 days ago
Interesting! I have never seen that before. Cool
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Scott Bryan
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posted 623 days ago
Hey Scott,
This is a very nice project. I am not sure that I would have the ability to discern the spatial relationships necessary to play this competitively (I have enough trouble with 2-D tic-tac-toe) but it does look interesting, especially given your lack of hand tools.
Too often, when faced with woodworking challenges, we tend to focus on a variety of reasons why we can’t complete a project instead of looking for a way to use the resources that we have on hand to overcome the apparent obstacles.
Nice use of your limited resources (at the time).
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
scottb
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3389 posts in 1205 days
posted 623 days ago
Thanks,
Scott – for the 2D version, if you go first, take a corner to win, if second go for the middle to tie.
Don’t have any hints for this one yet.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
MsDebbieP
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posted 623 days ago
looks like a really good brain exerciser
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Bradford
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posted 623 days ago
I hope you don’t mind us borrowing your idea. (blocks and spheres / 3 game rule) We promise to give credit due.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
scottb
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3389 posts in 1205 days
posted 623 days ago
Steal away, the idea isn’t mine, just the modification on the rules… but if we start to call it blocks and spheres… then that’s another story…
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Grumpy
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posted 623 days ago
Thats a new one on me Scott. Great idea.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
RobS
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posted 622 days ago
We still play the game here.. thanks again for the gift and glad I have one of your first projects..
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Karson
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25271 posts in 1278 days
posted 622 days ago
Great idea Scott. Thanks for the ideas. Might make a great toy for the Mason-Dixon Woodworkers toy workshop.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †