Hi All, I have a request to produce a chessboard, something I have never done but have thought about in the past. I had planned to veneer a board but of course I received a web photo from hell knows where asking if “this can be done”. From the web capture it seems possible, but we cannot trust pics anymore!
The photo below seems to show burlwood about 3/16 thick (my guess) glued up into a board. I have 2 questions:
1: Does burl move the same way as regular sawn stock when cut into small parts like this?
2: IF YOU HAVE TRIED THIS, or something close to it, please share your experience.
I know this is not the “ideal” way to proceed, so Lastly, and with all due respect, please don’t post long lessons on the basics of veneering until after my actual questions get some response.
Replies
I made a chessboard a year or so ago out of some thicker veneers (a fat 1/8th inch). It was a mix of walnut and maple. Also had a walnut mitered edging. So not quite the same as what you're looking at there. There is a lot going on with that board. If I were to guess, i'd say it's a bunch of layers sandwiched together with some veneers? It's hard to tell much from that photo... I'd have a lot of questions...
As for Burl movement, that's a bit of a crap shoot. By it's nature you've got grain going in all directions so it's a bit unpredictable. In such small proportions you are probably okay?
I have had some issues with my checkerboard and a bit of movement, in hind sight I should have made the veneers thinner, but overall it's held up well.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled