DIY Wooden Tic Tac Toe Board: A Simple Scrap Wood Project Anyone Can Make

How to Make a Wooden Tic‑Tac‑Toe Board from Scrap Wood

If you’re looking for a quick, fun, and beginner‑friendly woodworking project, this DIY wooden tic‑tac‑toe board is a perfect choice. Using small offcuts of oak, cherry, and maple, you can create a charming handmade game that’s great for family game nights, gifting, or selling at craft fairs. In this guide, we’ll walk through each step of the build — from milling the wood to cutting the game pieces and adding the finishing touches.

Materials Needed

• Scrap pieces of oak, cherry, and maple

• Table saw

• Planer

• Miter gauge

• Drill press

• Hole saw

• Sandpaper (80, 120, 220 grit)

• Minwax penetrating stain (Special Walnut)

• Watco Danish Oil

• Pencil & measuring tools

Step 1: Mill and Prepare the Wood

The project begins by planing the wood to final thickness.

• The game board piece is planed to ¾ inch.

• The cherry and maple pieces for the game tokens are planed to ¼ inch.

This ensures all components are smooth, flat, and ready for accurate cuts.

Step 2: Cut the Game Board to Size

At the table saw:

• Joint one edge of the board for a clean reference surface.

• Rip the board to 6 inches wide.

• Use the miter gauge to cut it into a 6×6 inch square.

This creates the base for your tic‑tac‑toe grid.

Step 3: Sand the Board Smooth

Because the board had a bit of snipe from the planer, we sanded more aggressively than usual.

• Start with 80 grit, then move to 120, and finish with 220.

• Sand until the surface is smooth and ready for stain.

Step 4: Apply Stain for Contrast

To help the grid lines stand out later, apply a semi‑transparent stain.

• We used Minwax Special Walnut.

• Wipe on the stain evenly and allow it to dry completely.

Step 5: Make the Game Pieces

Instead of traditional X’s and O’s, this project uses squares and circles.

Squares

• Cut from cherry using the table saw.

Circles

• Cut from maple using a hole saw at the drill press.

Once all pieces are cut, hand‑sand them with 120 and 220 grit for smooth edges and surfaces.

Step 6: Finish the Game Pieces

Apply a simple finish to bring out the natural beauty of the wood.

• We used Watco Danish Oil for a warm, natural sheen.

Step 7: Score the Tic‑Tac‑Toe Grid

The final step is cutting the grid lines into the board.

• Make four cuts total: two horizontal and two vertical.

• Each cut is ⅛ inch deep, using a single blade width.

• This divides the board into nine 2‑inch squares.

Final Thoughts

In just a short time, you can turn scrap wood into a beautiful, functional tic‑tac‑toe game. It’s simple, charming, and endlessly giftable — and it’s the kind of project that invites creativity, whether you experiment with different woods, finishes, or game‑piece shapes.