Simple Chess Board

[Cambo]

Just thought i'd share a pic of a simple chess board I made for a xmas present. Made from a 100 yr old red gum stump and vic ash beams taken from my fathers place when he renovated.

Cheers
Cambo

[Gumby]

That's superb. Well done. How do you create a top like that ? I'm a newbie at this. Is there a short way of doing it or is it as complicated as it looks ?

[Cambo]

Thanks Gumby

This was my first one, but i've seen two ways to do it. Cut individual squares and glue to a framed board underneath (which is what I did), or use veneers (layout alternating strips, use masking tape to keep them together, and cut parallel strips). Depending on what you're used to, either is probably as quick, although the marquetry method is probably faster for those who know what they're doing (ie. not me). My method was a bit fidly but i got there in the end. I used a bandsaw for the rough square shape, then sanded the edges to final width/depth for all to match.

Cheers
Cambo

[Zed]

Hi,

When I was a kid in woodwork class the method was like this :

get your wood (obviously brown & white) I think we used teak & ash...

cut 5 lengths of white and 5 lengths of black timber into strips of the same length, width,breadth (make sure its "Nice and square" in each axis) - of course allow for the lengths to be of dimensions that will allow decent size squares say 40mm a side....

Lengths should be equivalent to 6 squares long each (dont forget to allow for the kerf wastage of your table saw).

glue the white and brown lengths together in alternate pattern to form a zebra stripe 4 deep. (white black white black) you could bisquit it if you want to make sure you have a good bond....

once dry take out of clamping system and mark the squares across the now horozontally laminated timber (hopefully you've allowed yourself enough wastage to account for the kerf of your table saw ) once this is cut you should have timber laminations that are squared and white black. create your cross hatch and glue together in a jig.

I hope this makes sense ) ..... remember i did this back in 1979 when I was a wee nipper... I cant quite remember the count of how many lengths of squares you need as my maths sucks at the best of times but I suppose if you waste a few bits of timber so long as you get 4 black and 4 white in each line to form 64 squares you're laughing. (mine looked crap by the way.... in sure now i'm an adult I could do better!)

[JackoH]

Nice one Bro!
Thanks Cambo & Zed. Am going to try that one day, afterI've finished turning a set of chessmen. Red Gum/black. Claret Ash/white. They will be a work in progress for a long time I think....

[Cambo]

Yeah I considered turning a chess set for about a nano-second before opting for a bought set. Maybe one day when i have more time than i currently do - not to mention more skill!

Would love to see how yours turn out. Good luck!

[Dusty]

Excellent, Cambo,

The finish looks great in the photo.

What did you finish it with?

Good work

[Cambo]

Hi Dusty

I was pretty short of time in the lead up to xmas so just went with a basic polyurethane finish (feat watson). I usually sand up to at least 600 grit, wet the surface with a damp cloth to raise the grain then sand again before applying 4-5 five coats. I dont use a brush, but prefer to wipe it on with a cloth as I get a smoother finish this way. I've found that if the preparation is good enough i often don't need to sand between coats and only very lightly if so.

While a oil varnish/ wax finish would probably be better, ran out of time on this one.

Thanks for the feedback!
Cheers
Cambo

[derekcohen]

Cambo

That's beautiful workmanship.

Regards from Perth

Derek