a chess board on timber decking

[DaveT]

hello
Im seeking some ideas that may help me create a chess board on/in 70x19 5mm gapped merbu timber decking (yet to be laid). Some limiting factors include ease of construction, hardwearing, low maintenance etc. Im trying to steer away from fussyness of recesssing tiles or using different types of timber in squares to create the pattern. A thought I have is to etch the lighter squares with something. I am happy to coat the deck with sealant once a year but Im not sure I want to etch it that frequently. thanks for any ideas.
regards
David

[Bob Willson]

Buy a timber chess board and glue it to the deck. Everything else requires either effort or skill

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

How 'bout laying 8 boards side by side then, using a board as a fence and circ saw, trench 9 shallow (a mm or two) rebates across 'em, spaced the same as the board width to define the squares? You could stain the darker squares without worrying about the stain "spreading."

[Tex B]

Still trying to picture this Dave. I assume you're talking about a big chess board, with big pieces, where the players walk around the board to move their pieces. In which case you'll need squares bigger than your 70mm decking, probably 200 - 300 mm squares so you've got about 2 meters to each side of the board. Actually, bigger than that would be better so you wouldn't be bending so much for each move?

Maybe build the deck, lay out the board with tape to the size that you want, use white paint on alternating squares, and finish the deck with whatever you plan to use.

Be interested to see how you turn the pieces.

But maybe I'm not picturing what you had in mind?

Tex

[DaveT]

Hello
thankyou for your feed back. I like the idea of laying 8 larger boards beside each and defining each sq with a recess, perhaps routing 1-2mm out of the top of alternate squares will also achieve the desired pattern, although this creates trip hazards. Yes the chess board will be approx 1200 square with approx 150mm sq squares. I am able to source some good quality and quite affordable chess pieces locally - 100 dia base and 300 high. Im trying to make a multi use hardwearing entertaining area that people can entertain on without having chess as the focus. My question is perhaps outside the areas usually covered in the wood working forum but i do appreciate the feedback.
David

[Trifid]

If the board is only going to be 1200x1200; why not make a table? When not playing chess, it would be fine for putting food on - especially if you make it a bit longer.

Or you can make it bench height for sitting on.

[Bleedin Thumb]

Triffid that sound good.
A large square seat with coaster feet so it can be moved out of the way. About 450 high.
Eliminates the trip hazzard. Very multifunctional. You could also make the top so it flips up to store your chess peices. Or insulate it to make a big esky for the beer....Now thats lateral thinking!

[DaveT]

Some good ideas Trifid & Bleedin Thumb. I intended making a waterproof box seat container thingy to house the pieces but your lateral thinking has me wondering if a seat that morf into a table would be more effective. It would eliminate all the problems I have to overcome with the deck

[Tex B]

I reckon a table is the go. At 300mm, the pieces are still less than knee high. Put the table about waist high and you can play without squatting, have no trip hazard, keep your decking nice, get a multi purpose table, and have some place to put your beer while you're checking.

Tex