M Toupin
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I didn't want to hijack Vaughn's chessboard thread so I'm starting this one. I'm in the planning stages of a chessboard, actually a rebuild of a chess table that was built probably over 60 years ago by my grandfather. It is a ash table that originally had walnut and maple squares and edge banding. Over the years pieces of the veneer broke, cracked and delaminated. At this point trying to salvage the veneer is really not feasible as many pieces are missing or damaged beyond repair and matching the original would be next to impossible. The plan is to remove the remaining veneer and redo it, the top is 7/8" ash, 36" X 36".
I've done a bit of veneering in the past, but the only experience up to this point I have has been one piece affairs. The concern I have is getting the squares square and exactly identical in size. I think anything but perfect would quickly magnify itself as each error adds to the next and before long I've got huge gaps. Is there any tips on making 32 identical veneer squares in each color? Some sort of jig seems like it might be the best bet, I haven't had real good luck cutting a few test pieces of cheap veneer by hand. I'm planning on using some really striking burl walnut and curly maple to redo the top. This stuff is expensive so I don't want to screw up too much of this stuff cutting it.
Mike
I've done a bit of veneering in the past, but the only experience up to this point I have has been one piece affairs. The concern I have is getting the squares square and exactly identical in size. I think anything but perfect would quickly magnify itself as each error adds to the next and before long I've got huge gaps. Is there any tips on making 32 identical veneer squares in each color? Some sort of jig seems like it might be the best bet, I haven't had real good luck cutting a few test pieces of cheap veneer by hand. I'm planning on using some really striking burl walnut and curly maple to redo the top. This stuff is expensive so I don't want to screw up too much of this stuff cutting it.
Mike