Chess board with marquetry

[AlexS]

This is the third of this type of chessboard that I've made for these clients, one for each son. The carcass is in Australian coachwood, and the the squares are jarrah and silver ash.
Open.jpg

Complete 1.jpg

Complete 2.jpg

[shedbound]

Very nice, has any of the marquetry been colored/dyed or is it all natural coloring? curious about the branch with the possum also as it drew my attention, is that a sapwood/heartwood contrast?
cheers
Joel

[AlexS]

Thanks Joel. The wood is all natural colour. The branches are rose mahogany, and yes, the contrast is between sapwood & heartwood.

[shedbound]

Thanks Alex. Again great craftmanship

[shanesmith80]

Absolutely amazing.

[Mobyturns]

Nicely done, looks stunning.

[dusteater]

Outstanding

[artme]

Beautifully executed Alex!!!!

[Christos]

Really nice.

Do they have any more children? Might need to plan for the next one.

[AlexS]

Thanks all.
The nice thing is that the last two are being used and appreciated.

[Bendigo Bob]

Wow Alex, just WOW. I found this thread because my wife suggested a chess board as my next project. All of a sudden all sorts of questions start going through ones head.

first one is do both timbers on the board need to be carefully selected for similar expansion contraction ratios? Second, aren't you worried that the border strip that runs at right angles to the grain on the squares will lead to distress? (zero exp/contraction vs some)

[AlexS]

Hi Bob, thanks for your interest.
If the timbers were solid, they may need to be selected for similar expansion rates, although as they're only 40mm squares, there'd probably be a fair bit of latitude. However, the squares and the pictures are all veneers, on a stable plywood backing, so the question of differential expansion doesn't arise.

[Bendigo Bob]

That's something new i learned today 63 and still learning (that veneer obviates the worry of expansion)
with a solid top I'm thinking I'll have to have an extra 1/4 size strip of squares all round on top of the 64 normal ones, then rebate that part to go into a mortise in the frame, gluing or fixing somehow in the centre of two sides only to allow for expansion. The resulting gap could be made to be part of the design.
Hmm, lots of thinking needed there. that alone will keep me busy

Thanks Alex

[chrisb691]

Lovely work Alex, can't quite make out the hinges. What are they?

[AlexS]

]They are Card Table hinges from Graeme Brown Antiques in Melbourne, you can see one a bit better in this pic.
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