Making a Folding Travel Chess Board with Magnets

[@johnryan1211]

Mike, you are the definition of a craftsman. I never get tired of watching your videos.

[@quaesitorluminis2846]

I have been looking forward to this video for a long time. You made this board for my dad not too long before he passed away at the age of 42. Thanks to you I now have this beautiful board to cherish and play with. It was my dad’s favorite possession and now it is mine. Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this board. Really. I am very happy with it. And so was dad.

[@Woodumakeit]

Oh wow! Thank you so much for letting me know. I had emailed your dad when I released the video but he never responded. I was concerned, knowing that he was an EMT, because he was always so responsive. He was a real pleasure to work with. My condolences to you and your family. I hope you will have many years of enjoyment from this board.

[@karl_alan]

Glad I'm not the only one that loves a maple/sepele combo. Board looks great!

[@AlbertoRodriguez-ju6hc]

Growing up I watched a lot of Norm Abram new Yankee work shop and a lot of Roy Underhill wood wright shop and I never seen them build a chessboard before. I gotta say you are 1 of the greats.👍

[@the-dark-matter]

Classic music, chess, and woodworking!! man you have such CLASS!! Thank you very much for a great video! The final board looks fantastic!

[@andrewupson2987]

If you were to make another folding board would you add hinges? Even though the magnets hold it nicely when folded. Be neat to see you make a folding board with storage for the chess pieces.

[@Woodumakeit]

That's definitely worth trying if I have an opportunity to make another folding board.

[@allisonkalinowski]

Here I am thinking maybe I can do this... My son has taken to chess and I want to make one with him, though probably way more basic given I have only a few tools lol

[@joelalli5943]

Another beautiful board. Great work Mike. I really like the intro. It made me pay special attention to the improvements you have made. Always a fan of process improvements. The handful you point out are excellent. Great idea to bring in this element in your video.

[@Woodumakeit]

Thanks, Joe!

[@EleazarAli]

Quite lovely. I'll need a board like this at some point in my future.

[@johnwoo2016]

Wonderful woodwork video Mike. I myself however have come to the sad conclusion, that it is not possible to hold a folding chess board open with just magnets. My attempt was to make it seemless; so there was no need for a locking mechanism on the side. But I don't think a 2 x hinge folding chess board can remain open, from just neodymium magnets alone. I have so far used 24 x 10mm x 3mm magnets, across 4 separate areas. Which prevents the board from closing, when held at 45 degrees. Obviously one could use 20mm magnets, but the height of a chess board is only 20mm. Every magnet you incorporate into the wood, either side, adds more weight; that the magnets have to prevent closing. I was originally hoping the board could remain 'locked' open, from the strength of the magnets alone. But I don't think it's physically possible. 🙁

[@MCsCreations]

Amazing, Mike... That's a real work of art! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@todds4101]

And looking forward to seeing that CNC video. I bought a Next Wave HD510 about a year ago. Love it, but it's a steep learning curve to keep everthing in unison (feed rate, deptch of each pass, spindle speed, etc.).

[@mswashu]

Silicone molds of each half without the joining magnets inserted would be lovely. [hint, hint]

[@HeathenHammer123]

Love this type of vid. Going into the vault and seeing how you’ve evolved. Well done.

[@sinantuncay1069]

It looks like a backgammon box. Some countries call it Tavla. But they mainly use hinges and a latch to fold it .

[@byetodd]

I would love to have one built like this!

[@lwo7736]

Hi Mike. Quick tip from a Phycisist... the best way for a magnet to lose it's magnetism is to hit it with a hammer haha. It disaligns the domains in the metallic crystal lattice (whose alignment initially causes ferromagnetism). It seems like it wasn't a problem here but maybe watch out for that if you want the REMs to maintain their pull

[@Woodumakeit]

I figured that a hit from a relatively soft dead-blow hammer wouldn't be a problem, but I'll keep that in mind the next time I work with magnets. Thanks!

[@thatmagicstore]

I screamed that when I saw him banging the magnets. Don't hit them. It's why I wouldn't use magnets for things like this. Just use a latch.

[@kathrynnewton5203]

Would I make it? Well yes, yes I would. Nice job.

[@michaelnorman5640]

I’m glad I found you, what an elegant touch been watching your stuff a couple days now just can’t stop! What a great artist in your own way! Keep up the great work my friend!

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

In the process of making this chess board following your presentation. Regards Paul 🇮🇪

[@beedissle994]

This board is super sexy! Would be great to have for traveling. I've been wanting to make a travel board which holds the pieces as well. That CNC machine is a game changer. Thanks for posting your amazing work!

[@Nikioko]

I would make it in quarters.

[@khushal346]

Its totally an Art, and Mike you are an artist.

[@todds4101]

Looking back I don't think I've been very good about commenting on your videos. I'll try to do better. You are a very talented carpenter, Mike. This level of talent is hard to come by these days. Very nice work on your projects. Keep up the great work. Most of all, be safe! Cheers!!

[@Chess_Improvement]

great job, very beautiful , note: the playing side must be flat without carving between the squares "horrible for playing"

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

A real craftsman

[@26tp]

Another great piece Mike, well done. Yes I will make it. How thick is the board and how wide is the frame? Thanks.

[@Woodumakeit]

With 2-1/4" squares, the playing field is 18". The frame pieces are 2" wide, so the total board size is 22" x 22" and it is approximately 1" thick.

[@26tp]

@@Woodumakeit thanks

[@-johnny-deep-]

Wow! Nice. What were those little disc things I saw near the end that you used to put the board on while doing the final rub down?

[@lafaina79]

Also tools improvements makes a difference eh?! I'm a toolaholic, love it!

[@jefferychow4765]

Did you ever think about making checkers boards instead?

[@john848sbk1]

this is so cool. thanks for the inspiration!

[@JackMoskowitz]

Another absolutely beautiful piece. How do you account for wood movement between the frame and the squares? Seems like it might be a problem.

[@acadiasprings9102]

Of course I’d do this; with the right tools. I’d make it if I could.

[@DrunkenKnight71]

very beautiful board...thanks for sharing!

[@johnmarcustaylor]

Magnets. spared from the dumb idea i was contemplating. genius.

[@lafaina79]

Can u expand on finishing methods? An episode where you explain different types and how/why? You always describe the process but I'm looking for a comparison video explanation, silly request?

[@melissaschaefer854]

Beautiful!

[@maciejkrasuski]

Please. do one for me... Great job.

[@swms26]

I saw this and the "Sales x" boards on utube. Your work is extremely nice. ....invess

[@carltonbirds]

Very lovely 👍

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@MeMe-cd1wy]

You mentioned clients. How do you market your work. Where can I get information on how to have a chess board made?

[@leighredfern9783]

Beautiful

[@ahmetkireli4889]

Nice work but the bevels around the squares is a handicap when playing chess. Believe me I play chess every day and gliding the pieces on a plane boar is preferred. thank you nice piece of art.

[@Apollo0351]

Absolutely love the design, and your craftsmanship is impeccable. Curious why do you do a coat of shellac before your laquer?

[@Woodumakeit]

The shellac helps to seal the wood, so that saves me a couple of coats of lacquer, which is quite a bit more expensive than shellac. It also adds an amber hue, which I like for a more classic look.

[@Softroader]

I don't play chess (maybe I should learn) but your work is still wonderful.

[@MHasan-jo6bn]

Learn it - once you understand you will crave for it everyday.

[@PaulMarlmountWoodcrafts]

Class.

[@nielshenriksen1043]

I love playing chess and also with my son (on 11 who beats me) and one of my projects on my todo is a chessboard :)

[@enriquevarela1248]

Amazing

[@TheFridayForge]

I thing of beauty.

[@onghetanthinhphat1829]

I want one

[@hackn3y199]

awesome

[@edreynoldssr8910]

Mike, of course this came out beautiful, but, I'm curious, did the client want this to be in two pieces ? My preference would have been to put three Soss hinges in the center. There's always a different way to do things, it's your personal choice. Like your way too.

[@Woodumakeit]

In the client's original email, he had suggested a folding board with hinges, but I thought that magnets would make it more interesting. And it was probably easier for me than having to deal with getting all the hinges to line up properly. 🙂

[@edreynoldssr8910]

@@Woodumakeit True, it is a bear to do, besides your way came out beautiful. Like I said there's a million ways to do something, their all original and their all great.No real wrong way.

[@hackn3y199]

how would you add a metal sheet so the playing board is magnetic?

[@lafaina79]

Hey Mike, I'm about to finish my board made out of black walnut/white maple with cherry and red cedar frame. I have Tung oil or cooked linseed oil, what would be the best approach with those?

[@marclatini3592]

Where do you get your brass material?

[@Woodumakeit]

I buy it from Online Metals here: www.onlinemetals.com

[@pateljay4024]

I need dimensions

[@untrupus]

cool

[@demmertp]

"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"

[@demmertp]

The "V" groove between the squares was a neat touch. And the super magnets for opening and carrying the board was brilliant.

[@Sifo_Dyas]

What happened to the logo in the final pics?

[@AlanPieroway]

The logo was placed on the bottom side. I could tell from the placement of the magnets for folding the board.

[@David-fv7zg]

Im curious why you use a brush for the shellac when you have a sprayer?

[@Woodumakeit]

I generally just keep lacquer in my spray gun, and that way I don't need to clean it after each use. I should probably just get another spray gun for shellac. If I was going to apply a lot of shellac, or if I was applying it to different colors of wood that may bleed together when brushing (e.g., padauk and maple), then I would definitely spray. In this particular case, I wasn't worried about brush marks because I sand most of the shellac off. But some of the shellac remains deeper in the wood fibers to give it a nice color.

[@marikmarik7272]

Здравствуйте! Как можно заказать у Вас такую доску с фигурами? И сколько это будет стоить!

[@vernsteinbrecker3759]

Great job, and no I don’t think I would

[@lwo7736]

How is that cnc router so accurate?!

[@Woodumakeit]

It's pretty amazing how precise it can be with quick movements and almost instantaneous changes in direction. I'll have a video out soon that shows amazing precision with the CNC.

[@jamsonjsk]

Curious, when you finish with a shellac and then lacquer, are there any issues with the finishes bonding? I'm still new to finishes.

[@Woodumakeit]

Most shellacs have wax in them, so that would definitely be a concern. I use a de-waxed shellac to help ensure a proper bond. I used to use Zinsser Sealcoat but it became quite expensive at the start of COVID, so I've swiched to using this product so that I can mix up my own at a low cost: amzn.to/3gTvMzM

[@antoniocicerodefarias9228]

Como faço para adquirir um?

[@Woodumakeit]

Envie-me um e-mail para [e-mail] e podemos discutir.

[@TheRealMafoo]

Your craftsmanship is amazing. Have you thought about using a barrel hinge? Like in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5mvf4iIa7SlhpY I would love your board, but with that hinge. The nice thing about using a hinge like that is you can use both sides of the board without seeing the magnets, allowing the side with notatin for study, and the side without visible when on display. It also allows you to protect the side you feel is most important when closed.

[@arenotdiy7280]

#iwouldmakeit

[@robertdillon9989]

I’m concerned with the volume of wood dust you inhale. And it’s completely unnecessary. I’m aware you use vacuum devices, but the table saw and others still generate dust , just look at your floor , thats your lungs

[@leeacton9572]

KZbin put your video in my feed, and I thought it was funny because I did a similar video three years ago. I did some modifications to an existing chess board I had, and I came upon the idea to use magnets for hinges. At 1:30 in my video, you will see how they operate as a hinge. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYDQgJqtg9xmf9k