WANTED:VIC Wood for chess board.

[olas]

Hi All,
I'm having a go at building a chess board as my first project for my wife.
Would like to make the dark squares from Walnut and the light ones from Maple. I am also open to suggestions for different dark/light combinations that might be cheaper or easier to obtain.
Ok so here are the sizes I am after-

5 pieces @ 500mm long x 50mm wide x 50mm deep. (Dark)
5 pieces @ 500mm long x 50mm wide x 50mm deep. (light)

Regards,
Olas.

[marquetry]

Hi Olas, I'm in the process of putting together a chessboard myself. I used Black bean and Tassie oak for the squares. I tried to upload photos to my album but the files were to large. The Oak I got from a cabinet maker (easy) the black bean is harder to come by but well worth the effort as it finishes off very well. there is a tree-lopper I know who mills exotic timbers. His name is Bruno, owns a company called The Tree Feller, Phone number is 0419253559. His mill is in Avonsleigh near Cockatoo, if it's not too far to travel for you it would be worth a try. Just make sure you know your prices as he can be a bit of a rogue.

[tea lady]

Blackwood and tassie oak? Or blackwood and sap wood off the blackwood?

[issatree]

Hi Olas,
You could use Red Gum, Stained with Vinegar & Steel Wool, works really well.
The Lighter wood could be Variegated Pittosporum. It is absolutely White.
My 2 cents worth.

[fishflog]

New Guinea Rosewood & Hoop Pine looks good too.

Regards

Brian B

[tea lady]

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi Olas,
You could use Red Gum, Stained with Vinegar & Steel Wool, works really well.
The Lighter wood could be Variegated Pittosporum. It is absolutely White.
My 2 cents worth.

Wierdly, Tassie oak or vic ash goes blacker than red gum with the "liquid nightmare" treatment! . I thought it might cause probs next to something you were trying to keep white. Actually anything next to something you are trying to keep white can be a little tricky!

[olas]

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi Olas,
You could use Red Gum, Stained with Vinegar & Steel Wool, works really well.
The Lighter wood could be Variegated Pittosporum. It is absolutely White.
My 2 cents worth.

hi issatree,
thank you for the suggestions.
I was wandering if both the red gum and variegated Pittosporum were stained with vinegar and steel wool as I don't want to complicate things with two different finishes.
(by the way is Variegated Pittosporum easy to obtain? I have never heard of it before).

[olas]

thank you Eveyone for taking the time to answer my questions.
I apologize in advance for any stupid ones.

[issatree]

Hi Olas,
There are a lot of Turners who work on Red Gum the way I suggested. You could cut your your pieces & put them in a plastic tube, with the V /& S wool. As T/ L said there are other wood that work just as well. It's that I can get more Red Gum than other woods.
You Don't have to Stain The Pittosporum, as it is just plain White.
Google is always your Friend, so put " Variegated Pittosporum " in & you will get heaps of info.

[tea lady]

Variegated pittosporum comes more from peoples gardens. I got a bit, but probably not enough for you. I'd suggest going for a contrast rather than completely black and white.

Blackwood is softer than red gum and perhaps easier to work for a beginner. Although it has its own special problems.

I made one a few years ago now (So pretty close to my "first piece" with flat wood work. So purists don't look. The scratch is cos it has hung about too long in the shed waiting to be finished properly.)out of floor boards. Which can be got in a number of different woods. I think this is tassie oak and black butt or something like that. Piles of off cuts unfortunately don't come named.

[olas]

Originally Posted by tea lady

Variegated pittosporum comes more from peoples gardens. I got a bit, but probably not enough for you. I'd suggest going for a contrast rather than completely black and white.

Blackwood is softer than red gum and perhaps easier to work for a beginner. Although it has its own special problems.

I made one a few years ago now (So pretty close to my "first piece" with flat wood work. So purists don't look. The scratch is cos it has hung about too long in the shed waiting to be finished properly.)out of floor boards. Which can be got in a number of different woods. I think this is tassie oak and black butt or something like that. Piles of off cuts unfortunately don't come named.

G'day Tea lady,
Im definantly liking the idea of contrast as opposed to black and white.
Thank You.
Olas,

[olas]

Hi all,
have got my hands on some tassie oak and jarrah for my board.
Very happy with my aquisition.
appreciate all the suggestions.

regards,
Olas.

[tea lady]

Sounds good! Looking forward to seeing the results!