How to Build a Chess Board

A wood chess board can cost a lot of money. Why not make one yourself? All you need are some simple tools, basic skills and a little time, and you can make this simple homemade wood chess board that will become a family heirloom.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Cut a flat piece of wood into a square that is 18 and 3/8 inches on each side. To make a perfect cut the first time, measure each side with a ruler, and draw a line with a pencil. Then use a table or hand saw to make the cut.

2. Sand down the rough edges. A belt sander will give you the smoothest finish, but coarse sandpaper can work well for those who prefer to sand by hand.

3. Use your pencil and a ruler to draw a square within your wood piece that is 14 inches on each side. This will give you a 2 and 5/16 inch boarder.

4. Draw in the squares of your chess board. The playing area will have 8 rows and 8 columns. Each square should be 1 and 3/4 inches on each side.

5. Use dark brown or black craft stain to stain every other square into a chess board pattern.

6. Finish by polishing your chess board with tung oil to keep it shiny and protected.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of staining within the lines to create your chess board pattern, start with two boards with different color stains. Cut each board into 1 and 3/4 inch strips. Glue them into a rectangle with alternating colors. Cut them into 1 and 3/4 inch strips the other direction so you have strips of alternating squares. Arrange them into a chess board shape, trim the edges and finish.