Ron Swanson DIY 101: Can You Beat Parks & Rec's Ron Swanson at His Own Game?

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Last updated · 10 min play time

Ron Swanson is more than a fix-it man; he's a handyman who can repair or build anything. And his real-life double, Nick Offerman, is just as handy. Really, Nick Offerman = Ron Swanson. 
On screen, Swanson does it all, from repairing everything in April and Andy's home to handcrafting thoughtful gifts for his friends. Off screen, Offerman built his colleagues each a paddle out of wood from the set, once the series wrapped. He also has his own woodworking website, where he sells handcrafted tables, cutting boards, and DIY kits and has written books about woodworking. Offerman can answer any number of questions about the skill (see WIRED Tech Support YouTube video), as well as, if not better than his character on <i>Parks & Rec</i>.
So, if you think you have what it takes to out-DIY this dynamic duo, then try your best. Take our quiz and see if you can beat Swanson at his own game.
Test your DIY Knowledge
If you're a DIY master and you know everything about woodworking, basic home repair, and more, then our fun online quiz will test the limits of your DIY skills. From building canoes, keepsake boxes, and chairs to knowing what tools you should have in a basic toolkit, show Swanson what you got in our entertaining DIY quiz. 
Before you test your DIY skills with this Ron Swanson DIY 101 quiz, refresh your memory about different joint styles, tools, and about woodworking in general. This DIY quiz delves into the depths of woodworking, as that's both Swanson's and Offerman's forte. If you know woodworking like the back of your hand, you might just beat Swanson at his own game...or at the very least, you might match him.
Now, let's get started before Leslie Knope has Ron off doing some task that he hates. Take our Ron Swanson DIY 101 quiz, and you may just get your wood shop running smoothly!
Try all of our DIY Quizzes
Do you enjoy DIY projects? Then, you probably like the ability to take things into your own hands, learn, create, and practice. DIY-ers love seeing their imaginations take shape. They love putting their ideas into action. At QuizGriz, we have loads of DIY quizzes that can help you get your inspiration off the ground. 
Whether you see yourself as an electrician, plumber, or bicycle mechanic, our collection of DIY quizzes will put your skills to the test. Flip a house with our DIY Flipper Quiz. Think you're ready for Christmas? Then try to put Christmas together in time with our Christmas DIY quiz. When you gain multiple skills, you'll never grow bored...and you may never have to go shopping again. As the DIY master, himself, says, "People who buy things are suckers" – Ron Swanson.

Jessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.

Ron Swanson DIY 101 Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 405 Plays · 1 Comment

Question 1

After drinking six shots of whiskey, Ron proved his DIY skills to Leslie by building a harp. What tool was NOT used in its construction?

  • A
    Nailgun
  • B
    Bandsaw
  • C
    Oscillating spindle sander
  • D
    Spokeshave

Question 2

Ron capitalizes off the apocalypse by selling his flutes to members of The Reasonabilists cult. What are they made from?

  • A
    Diamonds
  • B
    Brass
  • C
    Wood
  • D
    Silver

Question 3

When the team builds Leslie a scale model of the department out of candy, Ron goes another way with her desk. What is NOT a step to build one?

  • A
    Attach the legs
  • B
    Cut your wood to the chosen dimensions
  • C
    Take measurements
  • D
    Cut a 45 degree angle

Question 4

“No home is complete without a proper toolbox," Ron Swanson decrees. What item is NOT necessary for one's basic toolkit?

  • A
    Vice grip
  • B
    Windex
  • C
    Level
  • D
    Tape measurer

Question 5

As a wedding gift to April and Andy, Ron repairs things around their home, starting with their bathroom sink. What is NOT a step in repairing a compression faucet leak?

  • A
    Shut off the water beneath the sink
  • B
    Replace the seat washer
  • C
    Remove the pipe beneath the sink
  • D
    Remove each handle

Question 6

Instead of waiting for the "government" to repair the roads, Ron takes it upon himself. What's the first step in fixing a pothole?

  • A
    Use a tamper to compact the area
  • B
    Remove loose rock and debris
  • C
    Fill in the hole with paver base
  • D
    Let it sit and dry

Question 7

For his help in getting his woodshop up to code, Ron gifted Mark Brendanawicz with a hand-made canoe. What's the first step to building one?

  • A
    Laminate the stems
  • B
    Dance around your woodshop to "Eye of the Tiger"
  • C
    Strip the hull
  • D
    Cut the forms

Question 8

After building a beautiful keepsake box for Chris Traeger, Ron says what will warp the wood?

  • A
    Alkaline
  • B
    Woodstain
  • C
    Saltwater
  • D
    Metal

Question 9

Be sentimental, like Ron, and build a picture frame for your dear friend. What's the first step?

  • A
    Glue it together
  • B
    Take a picture, it'll last longer
  • C
    Measure the dimensions
  • D
    Cut the materials

Question 10

Being that Ron doesn't trust the government, it's not too surprising that he's a bit of a survivalist. In one episode, he goes off-grid. What step must NOT be taken?

  • A
    Invest in solar and wind energy
  • B
    No social media presence
  • C
    Harvest rain with a cistern
  • D
    Buy a limited cell phone plan

Question 11

Do you have an award-winning chair? Then, you're no Ron Swanson. What's NOT a step in building a basic chair?

  • A
    Build the chair back
  • B
    Prepare for the connections
  • C
    Assemble the sides
  • D
    Cut 10 meter squares of plywood

Question 12

"People who buy things are suckers," Ron says after making Ben and Leslie's wedding rings in twenty minutes. What was NOT one of the steps he took?

  • A
    Heat the pieces in a cast iron bucket
  • B
    Forge and shape the rings
  • C
    Pan for gold
  • D
    Liquify the metal

Question 13

Ron Swanson's alter ego, Nick Offerman, is a woodworker in real life. Offerman did a woodworking DIY Q&A on YouTube. What type of wood does he say never to stain?

  • A
    Pine
  • B
    Birch
  • C
    Red Oak
  • D
    Poplar

Question 14

In the Q&A, someone asks Offerman about this joint, which is what?

  • A
    Bridle
  • B
    Finger
  • C
    Dovetail
  • D
    Distal interphalangeal

Question 15

Are woodworking aprons necessary? Offerman says yes. What is NOT one of the reasons he gives?

  • A
    Protects civilian clothing from finishing products
  • B
    Protects civilian clothing from dust
  • C
    Has pockets in which to store pencils, rulers, etc.
  • D
    Is cool looking

Question 16

Offerman was also asked the question – what angle should you cut a miter joint at? What was his answer?

  • A
    360 degrees
  • B
    45 degrees
  • C
    90 degrees
  • D
    25 degrees

Question 17

Offerman actually runs his own woodworking site, offering DIY kits, one of which involves building a stool. What item is NOT required for such a project?

  • A
    Power jointer
  • B
    Sandpaper
  • C
    Mallet
  • D
    Small handsaw

Question 18

Another DIY kit on offer is a Hatchet Kit. What tool is NOT required for this building project?

  • A
    Tablesaw
  • B
    Hammer
  • C
    Spokeshave
  • D
    Rasp

Question 19

Offerman said that his woodworking took off when he "started building decks and cabins in peoples’ yards...and got really into post-and-beam construction." What type of building materials does post-and-beam use?

  • A
    Heavy timbers
  • B
    Metal
  • C
    Dimensional lumber
  • D
    Bananas

Question 20

As the series wrapped, Offerman made his colleagues and castmates paddles from wood on the set. What is NOT a step in building such a heartfelt gift?

  • A
    Use a jigsaw to cut out the paddle shape
  • B
    Knock off the corners
  • C
    Trace the top shape of the paddle on the board
  • D
    Hog out the unnecessary wood

Comments (1)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.

I got 19 out of 20 and never watched the show!

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