For McKee, this tilt-top chess table encompassed a lot of woodworking lessons. After shaping the legs and the turned center column from sapele, he started on the top. He created a solid poplar lumber core, wrapped it with lacewood edging, and glued a layer of 1⁄32-in. mahogany veneer to each side. He used rosewood and bird’s-eye maple veneer for the chessboard, and lacewood veneer for the surrounding field and bottom surface. Holly stringing surrounds the edges of the chessboard and the tabletop.
Sapele, lacewood, and veneer, 22sq x 28h (45h with table tilted up)

Michael McKee
Boston, Mass.

From FWW #268
Photo: Lance Patterson