Did someone say woodworking? How about making a chessboard? No? Well I’m gonna do it anyways! On my ever growing list of skills to learn, wood working has been at the top for quite some time. The only problem is, well, my confidence after my last woodworking project. Click here to read about my table building experience! Coming back to the chessboard though, the question I got asked the most was, why? Well, now I’m going to answer that!
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Drawing Up The Chessboard Plans
Being completely restless, I needed a project. Something I could make and then hold in my hands. I do love writing stories, but it’s a different kind of feeling to make something you might write about, in real life. So, I got to work planning out the chessboard.
Here were the supplies:
- Scrap Wood
- Three Different Colors Of Wood Stain
- One Latch
- Two Handles
- Two Hinges
- Green Felt
Now this was just for phase one. Phase two, which I’ll be writing about later, involved the chessboard pieces. With the plan set, I asked my grandpa if he could help me with this new skill I was developing.
Making The Box For The Chessboard
I tried to get the design as simple as possible, so it came down to making a box with an intricate lid. That being said, it was no easy task. After we had picked the best boards from my grandpa’s collection, angles had to be cut and sanding needed to be done.
It was then, when I was standing in the warm morning light, rubbing a board with sandpaper, that I began to realize why this really is an amazing craft. The simple fact that you are making something you can use is one thing, but the process of designing, cutting, sanding, all of it can be so relaxing. Well, some of the time. Other times you’re wanting to pull your hair out trying to get perfect 90 degree angles. Thankfully my grandpa had a frame clamp, and we were able to get the shape we needed.
The Chessboard Squares
I’ll be seeing these chessboard squares in my nightmares. Sixty four tiny squares needed to be individually cut, sanded, stained, then glued in the top frame. Now I knew this was going to be some undertaking, but I had no idea. Without my grandpa’s help, I really don’t think I could’ve finished it! He was the one who suggested we round off the edges of each square as well which, at first, I wasn’t too sure about that. I mean, most chessboard are completely smooth on the top right? Then I realized, this is my chessboard. I can make it however I want! Rounded edges it is!
Now, being the indecisive person I am, we went to roughly three stores before I finally picked out my stain colors. Thankfully I only had to pick out two though, because my grandpa had a pretty extensive collection. By this point, we had finished the top frame, and the stain had dried enough (or so we thought), that we started laying the squares in their places. The problem came when our gloves carried some of the black stain, onto the lighter stain creating a black paint gone wild kind of look on the other pieces. Then our carefully cut squares decided they didn’t want to fit together. After being completely exhausted, my grandpa and I decided to quit until the next time I could come over. Then the next day while I was at work, my grandpa surprised me by getting all of the pieces to fit in the frame, and gluing them down.
The End Of Our Woodworking
The last few finishing touches were needed, with a bit of stain to finish up the box, and attaching the hardware. The handles were the biggest chore even compared to when we accidentally put the hinges on the wrong side. Trying to line up the screws and center the handles on each side was just tedious. We stuck it out though, and with a little green felt, I covered the bottom and inside of the box!
All in all, this part of the project took about three full days of working from 7:00am to 5:00pm. It was good work though. Then, when you finished up for the day and eased back into your seat with a nice meal, there was just this sense of accomplishment that I’ve never felt from anything else. Like my dad and I always say, nothing compares to relaxing after a hard days work.
Watch Out For Part 2!
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