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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Chordie's Chat Corner → My Chessboard Project
I decided to make my own chessboard I found a good instructional video on You Tube and dove in I'm having a blast sanding and glueing I never really worked with wood before but there's a little carpenter in all of us hope you enjoy this. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqKN8ZWSU5Q
Russell I think it will be a good looking board when you are done,I remember you saying chess was your your real passion or something like that. I never learned it,I lose patience when I play games.
thanks dino for the comment on Youtube I do love chess and it is a passion at least I seem to have more time to study but Music will always be on equal footing its like having two wives 
well score one for the all the carpenter bozo's in the world my improvised wood clamp failed to get a good hard clamp so when I made the cross cuts several squares broke off so in order to fix it I have to sand the hardened glue and refit each piece like a tile its a dissapointment but a lesson learned the next time I will use a couple good wood clamps but on the bright side the board looks nice and its only 4 pieces that need to be refitted,onward
Looks like a real nice project russ and you seem to be doing a great job with it! To sand the glue off the sides of the squares try putting the sandpaper on a smooth level surface like a desktop and then gently work the squares edge against the paper... It'll keep the edge true and make for a nicer joint when you reglue.
If you decide to make another one let me know. I have a couple ideas for you to add some nice little touches with very little extra effort.
Thank pix for the great tips it make a lot of sense to sand and get a square edge useing the table I have already started on the next board I have stained the wood and glued but this time I only glued the pieces two at a time to avoid bowing it worked and I would appreciate any ideas you have for this project to inhance the board
I think it'd look good if you take the edge of the natural and stained strips before you glue them and very lightly bevel the top edges. Then do the same after you cut it in strips. It'd make it look like each piece was set by hand... You'd end up with a very slight beveled joint around each square. Once the board is assembled you could apply 2 coats of sanding sealer and lightly sand it with some 4-600 paper. Then take a darker stain and lightly rube the whole board and buff with a clean cloth. The darker stain will lay is the bevel giving it nice lines and a vintage look (this will also hide all the glue joints). Then I'd use a semi-gloss Sparurethane to finish it with. Have them add a touch of raw umber to the clear and it'll give it the look of a nicely aged looking finish. Just some thought's I had when watching the vid...
WOW thats a lot of good info I am putting another video up to show the progress I am making with the first chessboard should i bevel them with sandpaper? I dont have many power tools mostly all the sanding is by hand not sure how to do that and make it look nice but its a great idea
You'd only need a real light bevel because it'll be doubled when you butt joint 2 of them... I'd simply take a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a block of wood and just give the edge 1 or 2 real light rubs at a 45* angle. Practice on some scraps by sanding them and then holding them together untill you get it the way you want it...
Thanks that sounds like something I can handle I uploaded this next video to share the progress I am making I was in such a hurry I mispelled my name in the opening credits as composer of the song "Aleta" its getting there little by little
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGcSnFij-k4
Russell looks like you are making good progress,I am sure your friend will like the second one you are making for him. Was that you playing in the background?
Yes dino all the background music I use are my composistions and this last one is the almost finished chessboard thanks for taking a peek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McNyQHc8Wok
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