chess board

[Bill P]

I just oiled my second chess board, and put the pic in the gallery.  This is so outside my comfort zone!

Bill

[Gabby]

Hey Bill it's just like posting on your website. Nothing to it.
Great board.
Gabby

[Bill P]

   I didn't mean posting the picture was outside my comfort zone, I meant making the board. 

Bill

[wombatie]

You have to spell things out for Gabby he's on his own planet.  LOL  Anyway you did an excellent job, well done.

Marg

[frankorona]

Excellent job, invited to play

[Russ C]

Great job Bill, nick work. Thanks for the pic. 

[newfie]

great job on the board Bill.what woods did you use for it?

[Bill P]

I used walnut and maple.

And thanks, everyone, for the kind words.

Bill

[dgman]

Hey Bill, Do you have the chess pieces done for this board?

[Rapid Roger]

Bill,
You did a real nice job on the chess board.
I have a question. Is the field (squares) floating inside the frame? If not, you might have a problem in a year or two with the corners of the frame breaking apart. I have made a few chess boards and I have had that problem. It is amazing how much the field will expand and contract with humidity. Or, did you glue the field to a backer like plywood or hardboard?
I used solid wood on my field and even though I finished both sides and edges the same it still expanded and broke the frame. I even had used finger joints on the corners of the frame for strength and they still pushed apart at two corners.
I would try to keep at least 1/8" movement for the field inside the frame. That of course requires a bit of planning ahead when cutting the parts for both the field and the frame.
You might want to google for plans of making a "real wood" chess boards to find out the secrets.

Rog

[Bill P]

Rog, I glued the field to 1/2" mdf.  Do you think that will help?

Dan, I'm done with the whole set, but I didn't take pictures because it looks just like the one I did a few months ago.  I'll attach that photo to this post.

Bill

[Rapid Roger]

Rog, I glued the field to 1/2" mdf.  Do you think that will help

Bill

Yes, I'm sure it will help. How thick did you make the field?
You probably know more about chess boards than I do. I have only been wood working for about six years and had never had a problem with expansion/contraction of wood (even though I knew about it) until I made two chess boards for my son and son-in-law three years ago. It is amazing how much wood can move with just a change in humidity!
I also experienced a problem with an rather large octagon box that I made but, I'm not really sure if it was due to humidity or if a grandchild dropped it or something.
Good luck and, if you have never had a problem before, I hope your luck continues.

Rog

[dgman]

Hey Bill, I'm thinking of doing a chess set myself. Who's pattern did you use?

[Gabby]

  I didn't mean posting the picture was outside my comfort zone, I meant making the board. 

Bill

Well bill you have 2 be mor pacific in futr ya cudda fouled me. LOL
Marg a'm sendin my lital bug iyd frens to git ya? tissen heer is ma planut... muahahahahahaha
GABBY

[Bill P]

Rog, the field is 1/2" thick, so the board totals 1"

Dan, most of the pieces are from the Classic Set featured in the book Making Wooden Chess Sets by Jim Kape.  I substituted the knights from an older version he designed a few years before the book came out.  I bought the older patterns directly from him a couple of years ago.

I highly recommend making the jig to hold the pieces.  That, and a sled for my table saw (to cut the blanks down to size) are the best investments I've ever made with my time in making jigs.

Gabby, I'll b more pacific in the futter.

Bill