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Step 1
To start you will need a materials list. This is a suggested one that will make your first effort simple with limited tools needed.
Materials:
1ea. 2 foot x 2 foot piece of 1/4 inch plywood (best interior grade if possible)
2ea. 8 foot 1 inch x 2 inch boards(make sure they are straight and true, no warp-age)
3. clear fast drying contact wood glue
Tools:
A Table saw is best but a good skill saw will work just fine.
A Sander. Palm sanders do a nice job.
A Tape measure
A Square
A. Pint of stain dark color
A. Sharp pencil
A. Set of clamps
This should be all that's needed to get a start on this project
Measure twice cut once! -
Step 2
Layout your piece of ply wood first. You will want to use your square and layout a box 15 inch by 15 inch. This will give you a frame to work with as well. Cut slow and make sure your finished piece is square.
Second: Take one of your 1"x2" 8 foot boards. You can either measure each cut or set up a jig which will stop your board at a set length. You will want to cut 64 pcs. 1 1/2" long. A chop saw works great for this task. Set up a stop at the end and cut and slide and cut and slide. Make sure to check your length every so often to make sure your stop has not moved. Also make sure your last piece is right length in case the board was short to start with. IF so cut the extra piece from the second board
Third: Cut 2pcs 1"x2"15". Then cut 2pcs 1"x2"x12". These will be the frame for your chess board. -
Step 3
Once all the pieces have been cut its time to draw assemble the board.
Place the two 15 inch pieces of 1"x2" on top of our plywood. Then place the remaining two 12" pieces inside of them to form a boarder around the outside of your base. You can either clamp these pieces in place or suing a small finishing nail to hold them secure for now. Next lay your 64 pieces inside of the box. If they were cut right they should make a perfect 8 by 8 square chess board. If they all fit right and look as you would like. You now stain 1/2(32pcs) of the squares. Then you can start to glue the frame and squares pieces down. Let them dry and lightly sand a needed. Finish with either a tung oil or several coats of poly.
There you have it a easy nice inlaid looking chess board to give as a gift or use on your own
