If you love playing outdoor games such as corn hole, this outdoor DIY beverage holder tutorial may be your next summer project. My design is a little different from any I’ve seen online. Now, this handy scorekeeper and beverage holder isn’t for me. I can’t play corn hole because I’ve had a bad shoulder for years. A good friend is helping her daughter throw a big 21st birthday party this weekend, so I told her I’d make her some of these drink holders.
Materials to Make DIY Beverage Holder
You could use new materials for this project, but I used reclaimed materials. I used pallet boards and pallet 2x4s. In addition, I used rods left over from crib sides. They originally had screw sections on them to hold them to the crib, but that has been cut off for years. If you don’t have these rods, you could use rebar.
Visit the My Repurposed Life Amazon Store to shop my favorite items.
After sanding the pallet board, I cut the following sizes for each project.
- 12” (2) sides
- 10 Ā½ “ (1) bottom
- 3 Ā½” (2) ends
36” 2x4
Your ends will depend on how wide your board (bottom) is.
Clamp and Use a Nail Gun for a Temporary Hold
I like to use Irwin quick clamps and my nail gun to give a temporary hold until I can secure the joints with wood screws.
Drill Countersink Holes
Using a countersink bit aids in giving a good look when securing the wood screws. I drilled all the holes, then added the screws all at one time. The brad nails give a hold until I can secure the screws.
Secure with Screws
The screws fit well into the countersink holes.
Sand Pallet Beverage Holder
After installing all the pieces, everything gets a good sanding. I like to round over my corners to remove any sharp edges. If you want something a little less rustic, you may want to use new lumber. I’m okay with less than perfect.
Cut Metal Rod with Jigsaw
A jigsaw was used to cut the metal rod in half, leaving two pieces around 17” in length.
Drill Two Holes in the bottom of the 2x4
Drill two holes in the bottom of each 2x4 stand to insert metal rods. The size will depend on what size rods you are using. Getting these holes straight is a little challenging. Keep your drill level and go slow. You may have to bring your bit out to release the wood chips.
Insert Rods Into 2x4
After inserting the rods, push or hammer 2x4 into the ground.
Drill Scorekeeping Peg Holes in DIY Beverage Holder
I made a template from a shutter slat for the scorekeeping peg holes. After drilling the first hole, I added a peg to align the template. Then I drilled the furthest hole and inserted a peg there as well. Finally, I drilled all the other holes.
After a couple of boxes, I realized it was easiest to spin the jig around to do the other side.
Continue drilling holes and sand smooth.
Mark a 2x4 Pattern on the Bottom of the Wooden Box
Using my combination square, I centered a scrap 2x4 and marked it for drilling pilot holes.
Drill Countersink Holes
Using the pilot holes as a guide, I drilled countersink holes to allow the screws in the diy beverage holder to be out of the way. Attach the box to the top of the 2x4 stand.
Assembled DIY Beverage holder
I love how clean and unobtrusive the DIY beverage holders are in the ground. Because the box has no dividers, there is plenty of room for drinks, bug spray, and even your phone!
You may want to paint your backyard beverage holders. For now, I chose to leave mine natural.
Pegs for DIY Beverage Holders
This is where I scored the plastic pegs for the scoring peg holes in the beverage holders.
Add a Base to DIY Beverage Holders
My friend requested that one of the beverage holders have a base for ping pong use in the garage. So, they have four stands that will rest in the ground, and this one will be perfect for the garage.
The beverage holders can be customized so folks can keep up with the scoring.
gail
see more great pallet projects here
Need help dismantling pallets?
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Jennie
How fun is this for the Arizona winter. I love the rustic look, but my husband would want something that could be hosed off, and the termites wouldnāt eat. We do have terrible termites. So he would make a metal bottom. Sometimes I think his logic, although correct, is no fun š
Shirley
By the way I forgot to mention that Amazon sells several different types of game pegs for the game purposes. I just typed in plastic game pegs.
Shirley
This brings back so many memories of the ones I made simply years ago for our outdoor drinks, snacks and actually the landline portable phones..lol. I donāt think cell phones were even a thing yet. They were box like but I also would use them by adding a tray to the top of an unused one for drinks and snacks and ashtrays for those who smoked, when we had several people over. They are so nice and convenient!! I must say though I think I just might make some like yours with the corn hole pegs for Xmas gifts this year as my son plays corn hole weekly with relatives and heās also in championship games in his local area. I bet this would be nice for them to have around so thanks for the idea and the memories! š
Gail Wilson
I so enjoyed reading your comment Shirley! Isn't it fun to remember the good old days? š I think that's a great idea to make these as Christmas gifts.
gail
Lily
Love this! Could you provide the measurements for the pieces of wood that you used on the added base? Thank you!
Gail Wilson
I'm sorry, I don't have the measurements. You can see there are two pieces that are longer, with the other two being shorter. I'm guessing they might be 18" and about 12". I just used scrap pieces.
good luck, have fun!!!
gail
Julie Briones
Such a clever idea, Gail! I just linked up at Talk of the Town... Thank you for being such a wonderful hostess!
Jennie
Oh, this would have been fabulous when I was a kid. We were a large Italian family. At get together there was bocce ball, horse shoes, or a game that had a board with holes, numbers an these small hard leather balls. I donāt remember what my grandfather called it. Oh, makes me think about how weāve all scattered all over the US. Iām making my grandson a bean bag game with holes and numbers. He loves to throw and kick balls. So fun