Okay, I finally made it! My pieces were made from purple heart and tiger maple (because I had that lying around). I won't use purple heart again: burns too easily. And, you'll notice there are no round pieces. I'm not great with a lathe, and after trying your router table method, I decided it was too risky for my set-up. So, I cut some grooves instead...which actually turned out better than I expected. I also sprayed the circles with black paint before sanding (something I do with routed signs).

My wife and I played last night and it really was a fun game (of course, I won both times, so....)! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. Thanks for the plans and for the inspiration! I'll definitely be making more of these...just as soon as I can figure out how much to sell them for!

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Wowzers Dale Boyer ! I love how you handled the "round' pieces by giving them a different marking. Thats a safe and great looking alternative to the dowel making. The trick you did with painting before sanding is something I wanted to try on a few of the boards, but never got up the nerve to try it. I even had an idea of making the pieces looked "dipped" in a bright color glossy paint that would match the indentations on the board.

Regardless, yours turned out quite well… and watch out, it won't take long for your wife to start beating you at the game. I lose to my kids from time to time if I'm not 100% zeroed in on the game!

Thank you so much for sharing with me – Are you on Facebook? I'd love it if you shared this on my https://www.facebook.com/dn... page so I can share it out there to let folks see it.

(My daughter beat me twice. Oh well. :) )

Done! I think I'm going to go back and trim the ends and hand-sand them to remove the burn marks.

As for the paint... I've made several routed signs that way, and it's a simple process: just spray paint the grooves (I use Rustoleum 2X Primer, as it works a lot better than a glossy paint), then sand the entire face, which leaves the grooves painted. It might take a bit of sanding--oftentimes folks will use a belt sander for that purpose--and you'll need to make sure your grooves are sufficiently deep. A drum sander works great, if you've got access!

AND... my local supplier has 1" dowels in oak, cherry, and walnut, so I'm going to use those in the future, as well. Take care!

This handcrafted Quarto set is absolutely stunning! The attention to detail and quality craftsmanship truly make it stand out. It’s amazing how a beautifully made board can enhance the playing experience. This would make a perfect addition to any board game collection or a unique gift for strategy game lovers!

The handcrafted Quarto set looks absolutely stunning! The level of detail and craftsmanship really elevate this classic strategy game. It’s amazing how a simple yet deep game can become even more special with such high-quality materials. This would make a fantastic gift for any board game lover!

Hi Doug,
Can you tell me the dimensions of the cloth bag you made? I'm putting together three of the sets to try and sell at the local farmers market and want to copy that idea. Just need to make sure they hold all the pieces without looking stuffed.
Thanks,
Dale

Hey Dale! I made several bags, but the ones I gave away as gifts were a better size than the one I kept. Each piece of fabric should be a little bigger than 6.5" across (since one set of four is 4" across and 1" tall when laying down) and 8 or 9" tall to accommodate the draw string. I stack the 8 tall in the bottom then the 8 short on top of them. It depends on how much play you want or if you want them to be snug. Sorry I don't have a better answer for you!

And, there you have it: four sets ready to (hopefully) sell! I used 1" diameter hardwood dowels to make the round pieces, and my wife was gracious enough to make the bags. Thanks again, Doug, for your help and inspiration!
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Woah! Awesome Dale! I love the pull string and bead choice on the bags, and the sets turned out awesome! Hope you sell all four! Will you be playing games with folks to help them understand what a fun game it is?

Oh, absolutely!! My wife also suggested a separate small table set up for people to play against each other to try it out and (hopefully) become addicted to it.
When we first played this game, we went by the common board game rule of "once you've let go of the piece, you can't move it any further". However, I saw one instructional video where it was said you have until you give your opponent the next piece. Which way do you play?

Oh interesting! I hadnt considered the idea of moving your piece after you place it but before you give the opponent a piece. We play like you did, once your hand is off the piece is played.

I prefer that way... the other way seems to be a lot easier (almost like cheating). In my search for answers, I found an email address for Blaise Muller and have just sent him a note asking which way HE believes it should be played. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

(Oh, and if it applies to you....Happy Father's Day!)