Calm Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) Have spent some time looking at wood stains and wood and am feeling lost on finding what I want. For my birthday, I got this beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright chess set...without the board, which I am glad about because I don't think the silver patina color for the 'white' squares works with the gray of the chess pieces.So my dad, who is getting into making wood furniture for family members, has offered to make me a board with a storage drawer to keep my preciouses safe, but now I have to decide on what wood and stain I want to have it made out of....and I can't find what I want and am looking for pointers.See the link at the bottom of page for chess set itself, color of pieces is great on my computer at least.I am going for an ebony for the 'black' probably walnut wood (since he has bought that already for a chessboard for my grandson), but need to find a wood and stain that will yield a color at about a midrange to light gray with just a touch of cream to it to mimic the stone color of the lighter pieces. I was thinking that maybe going to a deep red/cherry stain would work instead of a lighter gray, but then the entire piece will be so dark.So anyone have any suggestions out there?I don't want my dad to have to bleach the wood...don't know if that would work anyway. Not sure if he wants to play with veneers, but if that is the best option I might be able to talk him into it....but still don't know how to choose what kind.Thanks ahead of time....http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B004O5J1LQ Edited November 16, 2011 by calmoriah
kolipoki09 Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 Have spent some time looking at wood stains and wood and am feeling lost on finding what I want. For my birthday, I got this beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright chess set...without the board, which I am glad about because I don't think the silver patina color for the 'white' squares works with the gray of the chess pieces.So my dad, who is getting into making wood furniture for family members, has offered to make me a board with a storage drawer to keep my preciouses safe, but now I have to decide on what wood and stain I want to have it made out of....and I can't find what I want and am looking for pointers.See the link at the bottom of page for chess set itself, color of pieces is great on my computer at least.I am going for an ebony for the 'black' probably walnut wood (since he has bought that already for a chessboard for my grandson), but need to find a wood and stain that will yield a color at about a midrange to light gray with just a touch of cream to it to mimic the stone color of the lighter pieces. I was thinking that maybe going to a deep red/cherry stain would work instead of a lighter gray, but then the entire piece will be so dark.So anyone have any suggestions out there?I don't want my dad to have to bleach the wood...don't know if that would work anyway. Not sure if he wants to play with veneers, but if that is the best option I might be able to talk him into it....but still don't know how to choose what kind.Thanks ahead of time....http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B004O5J1LQTry sending a PM to E=MC2. Kerry is a genius as a woodworker and a chess expert to boot. I'm sure he'd be glad to point you in the right direction.
Calm Posted November 16, 2011 Author Posted November 16, 2011 Yep, that was my next step...in fact if my dad hadn't offered, I was going to go begging something off of Kerry.
thesometimesaint Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 Aspen would be a light wood that might work.
Calm Posted November 16, 2011 Author Posted November 16, 2011 Thanks. Have you worked it at all? Just wondering if it has any "special needs".
ERayR Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 In a former life I ran a mill shop. I am partial to Oak woods. If you want a lighter color wood Aspen would work. However Aspen is pretty light, almost white. Also White Oak and Walnut for the squares on the board. With White Oak for the board perimeter and drawer. Use a clear sealer and it would be beautiful. Walnut is almost black and White Oak is a beige to creamy tan. If you would like something a little darker and with a reddish tinge go with Red Oak. When you get it done post a picture.
thesometimesaint Posted November 17, 2011 Posted November 17, 2011 Just in wood shop in HS. More years ago than I like to think about.
Calm Posted November 17, 2011 Author Posted November 17, 2011 I always wanted to take woodshop rather than home ec, but they didn't allow it in junior high and I was too shy in high school to do something so different. My grandpa had a woodshop at the back of his house that I would go into to smell the sawdust and wonder at the tools (it was too small to watch him at work) and it was my dream to have the same, but by the time we were in a situation to do so, my health had made me overly sensitive....ah well, another thing to look forward to in the next life.
ERayR Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 I always wanted to take woodshop rather than home ec, but they didn't allow it in junior high and I was too shy in high school to do something so different. My grandpa had a woodshop at the back of his house that I would go into to smell the sawdust and wonder at the tools (it was too small to watch him at work) and it was my dream to have the same, but by the time we were in a situation to do so, my health had made me overly sensitive....ah well, another thing to look forward to in the next life. I have always enjoyed working with wood. In a younger time I have enjoyed finishing the basements in 2 or 3 houses, making my daughters hope chests, making a king size bed headboard and frame and several other projects. The only frustration was that I never had the money to purchase the tools I needed so had to make do with what I had. However, despite the handicap I did passable work and made some nice pieces. Sometimes it was really soothing to work on these projects.
annewandering Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 Some of the more exotic woods like ebony are difficult to work with. Walnut would be nice because it has that dark almost greyish sheen to it. You are going to want a wood that will have similar characteristics because of the expanding and contracting problems. You dont want a wood that is very susceptible to that kind of change or the board will just break apart. Check out this chart. It might be useful to you. http://www.ibiblio.org/twa/info/lumberSelection.pdf
Calm Posted November 18, 2011 Author Posted November 18, 2011 (edited) Walnut for the dark then, white oak for the lighter as they seem to be a good match except in stability.....would it be best to just use a clear sealer on the white oak as I do want it to tend a little more grey than beige so was thinking maybe just a very light stain to at least give it some grayer highlights? Edited November 18, 2011 by calmoriah
Mudcat Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 (edited) Walnut for the dark then, white oak for the lighter as they seem to be a good match except in stability.....would it be best to just use a clear sealer on the white oak as I do want it to tend a little more grey than beige so was thinking maybe just a very light stain to at least give it some grayer highlights?I have messed around with a number of woods building guitars and knife handles.I think you would be more pleased with maple for your white wood. Oak has very open grain.. lots of little pores in it for stain or dirt to collect in. Your efforts at staining it will have small dotted sort or look to it. Maple is very dense, very white wood. The grain is pretty imperceptible and will likely give you a better result.If you are wanting a slight grey look, I would suggest finding some black food coloring, the kind you have to mix with water and mix it with denatured alcohol instead. Apply till you get the desired look, you may have to experiment a bit there. If it gets to dark sand it a little. Stain would work fine to, but you will have to thin it quite a bit to make it work it out.Your difficulty will be keeping the white wood from turning to an amber looking hue when you put protectant to preserve it. Polyurethane, tung oil and that sort of thing give your wood a "wet look" that makes it go a few shades darker. I would suggest using clear coat paint from an automotive store instead. It will cost you a few dollars more than other treatments but it doesn't discolor the wood in any significant manner.edit add... if you are going to use a router, take care with the walnut. If you don't route with the grain, you can have some nasty chip outs that will frustrate you. Edited November 18, 2011 by Mudcat
Garden Girl Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 I'm with you, Cal... I absolutely love the smell of wood/lumber. My husband used to have a work bench in the garage that he built (it was a work of art...Ha!) so he could work on his "projects." He had all his tools arranged on peg board... he could putter for hours. One time I told him I needed some quilt stands to hold the quilt frames while quilting. He made really nice ones and painted them white. After he passed away, it was always a joy to me to see the stands being used and remembering how he did such a good job... because they are painted white, they get used for wedding receptions with flowers or ribbons/bows... he used to kid that he was dangerous with a hammer and screwdriver. What a special man he was... sigh...GG 1
Anijen Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Love the frank Loyd Wright board but the pieces yuck... I like a wooden Staunten design. I think Mudcat has great advice he knows a lot about wood and I have built many a chess board in my life and you cant go wrong with maple!
ERayR Posted November 21, 2011 Posted November 21, 2011 Love the frank Loyd Wright board but the pieces yuck... I like a wooden Staunten design. I think Mudcat has great advice he knows a lot about wood and I have built many a chess board in my life and you cant go wrong with maple!My only problem with Maple is that it is so plain and to me has no character.
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