Chess Board (End Grain)
64 alternating walnut and maple squares, built end grain with the classic two-glue-up method.
Strip layout to scale, left edge to right edge — heartwood tones from the species data the 3D preview uses.
| Finished size | 12″ × 12″ × 1 1/2″ thick |
|---|---|
| Construction | End grain (two glue-ups) |
| Strips | 8 |
| Species | Walnut, black, Maple, hard (sugar) |
| Difficulty | intermediate |
| Est. lumber to buy | ≈ 2.9 board feet (incl. 15% waste) |
Opens this exact layout in the free designer — live 3D preview, printable cut list, and lumber cost at your prices. Edit anything.
About this pattern
The chess board is the classic first end-grain project: 64 alternating squares of black walnut and hard maple, made with the standard two-glue-up method. Rip four strips of each species at 1 1/2″, alternate them walnut–maple into a striped panel, and glue it up. Once the panel is flat, crosscut it into 1 1/2″ slices, flip every other slice end for end, and glue again — the stripes turn into a true checkerboard with the end grain facing up.
Keep the strip width, slice width, and kerf identical from cut to cut or the squares won’t come out square; a stop block on the crosscut sled matters more here than on any other pattern. Use a dead-flat glue-up surface and cauls, because end-grain panels telegraph every misalignment. Walnut and hard maple are the traditional pairing: both machine cleanly, contrast strongly, and are closed-grain, food-safe species. Finish with mineral oil and board butter.