Dice

One day Ian was over and wanted to make something out of wood (a very common request from our great grandsons).   I explained that I always start with and idea then draw up a plan.   So we were casting about for a simple project and I remembered that Missy had been looking for dice during the previous holidays.   I thought dice might be a nice project for the great grand kids.  

I googled dice and discovered that the patterns on dice are standardized, I assume to level the playing field for games etc.   The opposite sides must add to 7.   We drew up a quick plan incorporating the dice face diagram and some cubes.  
Of course the dice would be solid wood and larger than some so I siezed on using 2X wood (1-1/2" thick) and cut out 1-1/2 X 1-1/2" cubes.   So I knew we needed some way to consistently mark the patterns.   After seeing the pattern displayed as a cross, I came up with a cross shaped series of boxes with templates on the top.

I started with the remnants of a 2x8 from a previous project.

Ripped to 1-1/2 X 1-1/2" strips.

Close look at the end of one of the 1-1/2 X 1-1/2" strips.

And cross cut at the same 1-1/2" to make cubes.

Now I needed to round the edges just a little.   So its off to the router table.

One die cube the other with rounded edges.

What face pattern?

I cut out some strips of 3/16" plywood.

Notched then glued together to make a frame of cubes about 1/32" larger than the cubes.

Gluing in the templates.

Top side of pattern.

I center punched the patterns on the faces using the pattern.

Some of the dice with center punched patterns.

Then I drilled out a dimple at the center punches on the drill press.

Complete sets.