This project was built and designed by Caleb from Caleb’s Fine Woodworking.
It walks through the process of making a classic walnut and maple chess board using simple tools and careful joinery.
The design highlights the beauty of two contrasting hardwoods while focusing on accurate layout and clean finishing techniques.
It’s a detailed, rewarding project that brings function and craftsmanship together.
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A Board That Doubles as Art
A chess board isn’t just a game surface—it can be a centerpiece in a room when built with care.
By using walnut and maple, Caleb creates a strong contrast between light and dark squares that immediately catches the eye.
This project focuses on layout precision, surface prep, and methodical gluing to achieve tight joints and a smooth finish.
The result is a board that’s durable, elegant, and a pleasure to play on.
Preparing the Lumber
Caleb starts by selecting quality boards of walnut and maple. These hardwoods are known for their durability and rich appearance, making them ideal for a piece that will see regular use.
Each board is cut to a length that allows for square sizes of about 1¾ inches. After crosscutting, Caleb joints one edge of each board to ensure a flat, straight reference for ripping the strips.
While a table saw can handle these cuts, he opts for a bandsaw to reduce waste.
This does require a bit more cleanup later, but it makes the most of the lumber.
Creating Uniform Strips
Once the edges are jointed, the boards are ripped into strips slightly wider than needed. This allows room for planing later, which ensures all strips are perfectly sized and square.
Caleb prepares four strips each of walnut and maple.
These are then glued together in alternating pairs—walnut, maple, walnut, maple—creating a striped panel that can later be cut into the checker pattern.
Gluing in pairs keeps the width manageable for the planer, resulting in an even and flat surface. Once the glue dries, the panel is run through the planer to flatten both sides.
Forming the Checker Pattern
To create the iconic checkerboard layout, the striped panel is crosscut into multiple strips.
Each strip is carefully rotated 180 degrees to alternate the color pattern from the previous one.
Caleb takes his time to line up all edges before clamping. Any offset at this stage will be noticeable later, so precise alignment is critical for a clean final result.
The glue-up is done with uniform pressure and plenty of clamping, allowing the panel to dry into a flat and cohesive board.
Adding a Border
To elevate the design, Caleb adds a border around the playing surface.
The inner edge of the maple border is cut at a 45-degree angle, allowing it to wrap around the checkerboard pattern seamlessly.
He checks the fit with a dry assembly to make sure everything aligns tightly before gluing. This gives him a chance to make minor adjustments without wasting material or damaging the board.
Once the maple pieces are secured, the walnut border is prepared and attached using the same method. The alternating border materials mirror the board itself, creating a subtle layered effect that adds depth to the piece.
Surface Sanding and Edge Work
With the border attached, the board is run through a drum sander to remove glue residue and bring everything to a uniform thickness. If a drum sander isn’t available, a belt sander or hand sanding can get the job done with a bit more effort.
After the top is smooth, Caleb routes the edges to soften the feel and add a polished appearance. This simple step makes the board more comfortable to handle and gives it a finished, professional look.
Finishing for Beauty and Protection
To protect the board and enhance the grain, a brush-on polyurethane is applied in multiple coats.
This finish provides a durable surface while drawing out the natural color variation in both walnut and maple.
Caleb allows the finish to cure fully, then buffs the surface for a soft sheen. The final result is smooth to the touch and built to last, whether it’s used for display or daily games.
A Timeless and Rewarding Build
The finished board is a striking combination of careful craftsmanship and timeless materials. Walnut and maple pair beautifully, and the overall design reflects the care Caleb puts into each stage of the build.
While the project requires attention to detail, it doesn’t rely on overly complex techniques.
With patience and basic tools, any intermediate woodworker can achieve similar results.
Please support Caleb by visiting his website: https://www.calebscustomwoodworks.com/.
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
Chess boards are one of those projects where precision really matters — even small gaps or misaligned strips become obvious once the finish goes on. The alternating glue-up approach Caleb uses is smart because it keeps each step manageable while building toward that perfect checkerboard pattern. Working with strips in pairs also helps prevent the panel from getting unwieldy during the glue-up process.
Walnut and maple make an excellent pairing for this type of project. Both woods move at similar rates with seasonal changes, which helps prevent cracking or warping down the line. The natural color contrast is striking without being too harsh, and both species take finish beautifully. If you’re considering this project, it’s worth investing in well-dried lumber — moisture differences between the two species can cause problems later.
That border detail really elevates the whole piece from a simple game board to furniture-quality work. The 45-degree miters on the inner edge create clean transitions, and using both wood species in the border ties everything together visually. For anyone tackling this project, take your time with those final sanding grits before finishing — any scratches or mill marks will telegraph right through that polyurethane, especially on the maple.