Ken, from a long-time woodworker, here's a tip when gluing end-grain. Apply a thin coat of glue to the end grain and let it dry, then apply more glue and clamp together. The end grain soaks in the first layer of glue and seals it so the second layer doesn't get soaked up by the end grain. Makes a much stronger end-grain glue up.

Another great project Ken. Nice to see that the rolling bench you made for the electric planer works so well.

Chess board was an optional project in High School Wood Shop. Almost everyone made one. I made a 48 inch round table with a single pedistal. In 1977. Made from reclaimed crate wood. I still use the table. The shop teacher wanted to buy the table.

That's going to be beautiful, Ken! Well done.

Making a chessboard sounds like a tough job. I bet your planer will come in handy! Wow, this was wonderful to watch Ken! So fun to see. I think you did an excellent job making this for your first time attempting it. I do like the contrast between the wood for the checkerboard and I like that it is light and not such a huge contrast. Beautiful work. Thanks for this video! I'm impressed with the sander too. It did a great job. I really enjoyed watching this.

Gooood morning,on to a new adventure,we are going along for the ride,looking great, have a bless day😊🪻💜🇺🇸

looking great so far stay tune to next video

Ken, a amazing looking 👀 chess or checker board now for the competition to begin and kyia was tearing up some ground in the background excellent job and video 😮😊❤

Nice project. 3/4" solid squares is pretty thick for a chess board. Commercial boards are usually thin veneer (like 1/16). You may find that the board will move around a little with the weather. Most boards are glued to something dead flat the doesn't move (like MDF) to hold movement in check. The movement won't be a problem unless you plan to put a mitered edging around the board.

Took me down memory lane. In Jr high I built a chess board. Just like your doing. I also put a border around the whole board with 45° at the corners. This kept my board in good condition for years. My brothers n sister played checkers on it so many times.

25 years ago my beloved Father in law made me a chessboard with each piece hand carved. He went to be with the Lord 12 years ago and this reminds me of how blessed I was to have him in my life.

Good job Ken glad to see you having fun with your projects

Looks good....Reminds me of when I was a kid, I made a cutting board, in Carpenters class. 22:58

Lol, that moon walk was awesome! 😎

We like it Ken. Great gift project.

Great starter project Ken. I'm sure it will be fun for all. The chisel was a good choice for scraping the glue off. A hand planner works well too. That glue would gum up the planner blades as well if it weren't removed. - I see someone has already mentioned the end grain pre-gluing trick for better joints. Great advice. Unsealed end grain can draw the glue out of a joint. IMHO I save the sanding for the final finish. Sanding can round edges and cause mismatch final thickness issues. To match the glued panel strip widths better you can use the same trick you used running the solid wood strips through the planner. It will help final checkered glue up too. To eliminate the screw pail weight tower (HA-HA) you made, a flat bar or channel over the panel that clamped to your table saw deck would hold the panel flat. I have even used 2x4's with bar clamps when I didn't have access to any steel or aluminum channel. If you use some craft paper over your table saw deck during your glue ups you will prevent stickage and limit cleanup later. - I don't know if it is common practice but I always coat both sides of the joint before final clamp up. I put each strip in individually and coat each edge in glue as it goes in the setup. Final clamp up is tight but not too much so. If you clamp the wood too tight you can literally squeeze the glue out of the joint and end up with a stressed joint that is weak and easily cracked. Once the main squeezing clamps are as tight as I want I do a quick wet cloth glue wipe off to get the bulk of the glue off the surfaces before I add all the other "flattening" clamps as they may be needed Have fun, but be careful.

Looking good, Ken. I like to build things out of hardwood rather than pine. Its easier to work with. I think you will like it too.

That will be one beautiful chessboard when finished.

Gooooood morning, Ken! Love the board... I really like this home made wooden style vs some cheap cardboard that comes with a chess set. I have one made from onyx I bought in Mexico.

My first attempt to make a checker board, looked good until it bowed. I made the checkers too thin. I still kept it as a reminder to correct on future boards. My understanding was my uncle Chester Ross was a four state checker champion. All I know is he did not want to play anymore after I started winning.

Very nice work Ken. Can’t say I blame you for stacking that weight 3 fasteners high because it started to roll just like you mentioned. Guess that could be referred to as “the board of corrections”.

Very nice work Ken, it inspires me to have more projects…. God Bless and Keep You!

Looks like a cool and practical project. Thanks Ken!

Beautiful, can't wait to see the pieces that go with the set> "Make it so"?

This is going to be gorgeous!

Hi Ken . That was a nice piece of work.

I like to use a razor knife blade or a single edge razor blade instead of a chisel. I am a bit clumsy and I drag the razor rather than push the chisel. I toss it when I am done so no sharpening.

Ken that’s looking good, thanks for sharing 😊

Fun tims on the way.

Ken: Been looking for your brothers site but with no luck.

If you put parchment paper down and lay your glue wood on it, it won’t stick to the surface your laying it on just a tip from Big ED from Central City Kentucky. Have a great day.

Did you know that the Purina people used to own Jack? They make food for everything.

I made one of these way back in 1972 in Vo Ag class. Like you I had some small ridges on the board but we didn't have a planer in the shop. (very small school, low budget) I should have left the belt sander alone because it did more damage than good. 🙂

Nice looking checkered board.

You can darken oak with ammonia (by fuming). It is easy.

Ken, The next toy you'll have to buy is a drum sander.

How about a wall mounted something for organizing your railroad cars, supplies or whatever. I'm a slot car guy myself but am always looking for good ideas.

Looks great!

Nice project. I think you can beat that version of Chad when the board is done, don't know about the other one. I am a fan of hardwood over soft. Hardwood gets urethaned, softwood gets paint unless they are premade doors or windows, then I usually stain and urethane. But if it is something I am going to make and care about, hardwood all the way. Did you look other than at the big box stores for hardwood?

I just bought that same Dewalt Sander. $49 al Lowes. Oops! Mine is not cordless. Ken has the Big Bucks!

Ken when using cauls, I cover them in that packaging tape the glue will not stick to it

Very nice

Hey Ken, you exlain everything so well and make it seem so easy. There for, I'm gonna give it a go, and make a chess board for my hubby. Thank you!

Ken I really enjoyed this I love chess but have never been that good of a player but taught many other in my past how to play that is the names of the pieces and the rules then it was up to them to develop the skill

Great job! Looks beautiful... So Ken.... When was it that you discovered that taking a 16" wide board, making 7 cuts on the table saw and then when you laid them out, the outcome was no longer 16"? I guess you found out that after cutting it too short, board stretchers only live in a fictional world of exactness...

Good build. I liked your planer build because it's not over built. Most would have used full 2x4 for the whole build. Grossly overbuilt and would look horrible. Cheers, Lee

My brother made a chess table in shop class for Dad. I'm a little more on the gardening side.

need to use some wax paper to keep it from sticking to the tablesaw and the wood you put on top when weighing it down

Very nice!

Your chess opponent was speechless! He looks kinda stiff. Probably intimidated with your gaming savvy. I look forward to your next match with him. 😲

Interesting. God bless.

I hate snipe. I have seen woodworkers that use a solid piece of wood or metal that extends well beyond the fold down extensions. Otherwise you have to set the fold down ones with a long level before every use. The other alternative is to spend a whole lot more money on your surface planer, AKA thicknesser for people who don't live in the US.

❤looks good 🙏🙂

Watch your hood strings when running the table saw. I’d hate for you to have them catch in the saw blade.

Are you basically retiring from buildings? Must have missed the episode where you told us. Not that you don't deserve it. And I do enjoy the projects in your garage.😊

Old gift cards work great to spread glue.

Good morning!

From a retired guy. Ger some 2ah batteries. Lot easier to handle on your small jobs

Enjoying playing with toy

Hi Ken how thick are the pieces you used I had a go today and cut the wood to 15mm then not having a planer or drum sander attacked it with a belt sander causing dips which turned out to be a disaster😟but one learns from mistakes I think thicker wood maybe 20mm may be better Regards Ken

Good day to all, play on. Or, l should have sayed "Walk on".

You might try making a butcher block cutting board for your wife.

Could you make a Chinese checker board?

mytefine chess board.

I worked for the Jack, 11 to 5 (AM). Crazy nights when the bars closed. I was in High School, almost flunked out.

👏🏻👋🙋‍♂️😁

Board looks nice. But I'm surprised that you didn't make each square equal on all sides. No will ever know unless you tell them....lol

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