I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Well,

If I wasn't sure how it would look, I'd sure make a quick full scale
model out of cardboard with magic marker squares, and see what your
friend thought of it.

Saves remaking it if he's not pleased.

Sounds like a fun project.

Old Guy

On Jul 6, 9:41*pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. *I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". *His chess *pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. *I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. *I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. *I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? *I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". *If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". *To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. *But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. *Comments please. *Thanks.

First thing I'd worry about is weight. How thick is this going to be?
If it's about half the size of a 3/4 plywood sheet, and a sheet of
plywood weights about 25lb per quarter inch, that's something like
forty pounds or so for a 40x40x3/4. Heavy and awkward. Is it going to
go to any conventions or things like that?

Maybe a torsion box, or something similar so it can still be 3/4 or
even one inch thick but weigh a lot less?

Dan

On Jul 6, 9:41*pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. *I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". *His chess *pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. *I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. *I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. *I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? *I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". *If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". *To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. *But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. *Comments please. *Thanks.

In article
,
Old Guy wrote:

Well,

If I wasn't sure how it would look, I'd sure make a quick full scale
model out of cardboard with magic marker squares, and see what your
friend thought of it.

Saves remaking it if he's not pleased.

Sounds like a fun project.

Old Guy

That was my first reaction: "FUN!"

Chess boards of any size are a great way to use up sink-cut-outs from
solid surface.
I can see an entire chess board filled with cartoon characters. Jessica
Rabbit as a queen.... scratch that... too distracting.*

It will be really hard to NOT make it look tacky.
Yogi Bear will make a nice bishop. G

This is not going to be easy.

*(I have a thing for Jessica Rabbit. NO therapy has helped me much.)

I don't think the scale is a real issuel. I think your biggest problem
will be disimilar materials and expansion in general. Therefore, I
would suggest one of two methods.

1. Use quality hardwood veneer plywood squares of the two materials.
2. Use veneer squares on a stable substrate, such as MDF

If you use plywood, then the edge gluing would be an issue so I would
go with slots and splines along one edge direction. Then do a hardwood
boarder.. You could also do a plywood base with the squares just
placed down on that with no splines and then a hardwood band. Start by
applying the hardwood band to two sides and try to keep it and the
squares super square (ie cutting the squares on the table saw. Then
band the two open sides once you are done.


On Jul 6, 7:41*pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. *I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". *His chess *pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. *I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. *I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. *I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? *I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". *If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". *To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. *But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. *Comments please. *Thanks.

On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. Too much freaking work.

wrote:

: http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

: In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
: it's actually
: a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.



That's beautiful. What are the materials used?


-- Andy Barss

On Jul 6, 10:41*pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. *I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". *His chess *pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. *I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. *I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. *I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? *I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". *If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". *To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. *But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. *Comments please. *Thanks.

There's going to be a lot of wood movement in a board that big. I
don't know that making the squares from solid wood is a good idea.
It'd be a shame to go to all of that effort and have the board develop
splits and warp. Veneer on plywood would be more stable and more
economical.

You may want to think about embedding rare earth magnets in the figure
bases and pieces of steel in the board, or vice versa, so the figures
would stay put unless you wanted to move them.

R

"barry712" wrote:

I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who
wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking
the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic
book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each
of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work
may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I
have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look
right". If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40"
X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4')
foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the
action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please.
Thanks.

Glue up adjoining strips of 5"-6" wide, then cross cut in 5"-6" strips
and slip one (1) block, then glue to get checkerboard pattern.

When cured, clean bottom till smooth, then laminate to a piece of
plywood, say 1/4" (6mm) thick.

If you make the blocks 1/4" thick, you get a 1/2" panel that could be
loose fit into the rest of the table, same as you would a drawer
bottom.




Lew

What a beautiful application of sapwood and a natural edge.


wrote in message
...
On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants
me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may
help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right".
If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X
40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. Too much freaking work.


** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

In article
,
wrote:

On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. Too much freaking work.

YOU, sir, are a madman. Absolutely delightful. What a wonderful piece of
work it is.
$ 5000.00 minimum.

On Jul 7, 6:32*pm, wrote:
On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:

I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. *I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". *His chess *pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. *I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. *I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. *I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? *I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". *If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". *To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. *But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. *Comments please. *Thanks.

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. *I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. *Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. *The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. *Too much freaking work.

Very sweet work! I love the way you handled the crenelations on the
Rooks.

I gotta ask - what did you let that thing go for? Oh, and how _could_
you?!

R

"RicodJour" wrote
On Jul 7, 6:32 pm, wrote:
On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:

I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants
me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may
help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right".
If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X
40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. Too much freaking work.

Very sweet work! I love the way you handled the crenelations on the
Rooks.

I gotta ask - what did you let that thing go for? Oh, and how _could_
you?!

I really like it too. Not only different, but wonderful forms and colors.
I was impressed by the inclusion of the two knots at the edges of the
chessboard.

Robatoy:

I can see an entire chess board filled with cartoon characters. Jessica
Rabbit as a queen.... scratch that... too distracting.*

[snip]

*(I have a thing for Jessica Rabbit. NO therapy has helped me much.)

If nothing else, maybe this will help:
http://pixeloo.blogspot.com/2008/04/...-untooned.html

On Jul 9, 11:32*am, Rejnold Byzio wrote:
Robatoy:

I can see an entire chess board filled with cartoon characters. Jessica
Rabbit as a queen.... scratch that... too distracting.*

[snip]

*(I have a thing for Jessica Rabbit. NO therapy has helped me much.)

If nothing else, maybe this will help:http://pixeloo.blogspot.com/2008/04/...-untooned.html

That guy is just awesome. What a brilliant idea!

Ahhh yessss.. Jessica. Off to the large format printer she goes.

Thanks for that.

On Jul 9, 10:55*am, "Lee Michaels" wrote:
"RicodJour" *wrote
On Jul 7, 6:32 pm, wrote:



On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:

I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants
me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may
help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right"..
If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X
40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks..

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. Too much freaking work.

Very sweet work! *I love the way you handled the crenelations on the
Rooks.

I gotta ask - what did you let that thing go for? *Oh, and how _could_
you?! *

I really like it too. *Not only different, but wonderful forms and colors.
I was impressed by the inclusion of the two knots at the edges of the
chessboard.

Those knots were a brilliant touch.

Nice idea, but 256 mitered pieces...............eiiiiieeeeaaaahhhhh!

Barry


wrote in message
...
On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants
me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may
help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right".
If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X
40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Something I have done in the past is to make a raised grid over the
squares,
sort of like window mullions. I have the pieces fit a bit tighter
into the squares
than normal so it doesn't make the board much larger, you still get
the same
spacing between the pieces. Mine were just flat, but with this large
of a board
you could have a small molding (256 pieces mitered at both ends,
yikes!) to
break up the large board. The profile could match the profile on your
turned
bases.

http://krtwood.com/images/chess/chess01.jpg

In this case the grid was necessary to cover the edges of the bark,
it's actually
a T shaped piece that is glued into slots in the plywood base.

You don't necessarily have to do a wide frame, you can also go tall.
Gives a
similar massive look without the extra width.

If I ever do another chess set it's going to be for me, and someone
else can have
it when I am worm food. Too much freaking work.

Yes, I had thought about that, too. Not sure how to attack that problem
using solid wood. Maybe a central board that is thinner, say 3/8", with a
3/4" grooved frame that surrounds it? I don't know.........that's why I am
appealing to you guys. I've never done anything like this before.....but it
sounded like a challenge. Thanks.

Barry


"RicodJour" wrote in message
...
On Jul 6, 10:41 pm, "barry712" wrote:
I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants
me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X 40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

There's going to be a lot of wood movement in a board that big. I
don't know that making the squares from solid wood is a good idea.
It'd be a shame to go to all of that effort and have the board develop
splits and warp. Veneer on plywood would be more stable and more
economical.

You may want to think about embedding rare earth magnets in the figure
bases and pieces of steel in the board, or vice versa, so the figures
would stay put unless you wanted to move them.

R

I was thinking maybe 3/8" squares from soild wood loose fit into a 3/4"
frame. Thanks. Barry


"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
news:aWBck.842$4a3.86@trnddc04...
"barry712" wrote:

I have a very good friend who runs a gallery in Gatlinburg, TN who wants
me
to make him a very nice, and rather large, chessboard. I'm thinking the
squares will be something like 5". His chess pieces will be comic book
action figures about 8" tall. I will turn a 4" round base for each of
these. I'm guessing the board itself will be glued up of squares of
maple/cherry or maple/walnut. I'm thinking some simple inlay work may
help
to dress up the board.

Does anyone have any advice/plans/ideas on how I should proceed? I have
some concerns that the board will simply be too large to "look right". If
the board is composed of 64 - 5" squares, that means it will be 40" X
40",
plus it really should have a border or 5" or 6". To me, a four (4') foot
chessboard is not too practical. But it is more a display for the action
figures than it is a board for playing chess. Comments please. Thanks.

Glue up adjoining strips of 5"-6" wide, then cross cut in 5"-6" strips and
slip one (1) block, then glue to get checkerboard pattern.

When cured, clean bottom till smooth, then laminate to a piece of plywood,
say 1/4" (6mm) thick.

If you make the blocks 1/4" thick, you get a 1/2" panel that could be
loose fit into the rest of the table, same as you would a drawer bottom.




Lew