Scavenger Chic

DIY Checkerboard Set from an Upcycled Door

• By Joan
• February 28, 2024
• No Comments

DIY Checkerboard or Chess Set from an Upcycled Door

 

Months ago I shared with you this DIY Parcheesi game created from an old hollow core door.

And this backgammon game, also made from a hollow door.

From 2 doors I was able to  cut enough pieces to create 6 oversized board games.  The next game board on my list is everybody’s favorite, the checkerboard.

Check back with the Backgammon board for all the info on what I did to fill in the edges of the hollow core doors.

My door piece is 24 inches square.  A standard chess or checkers set has  8 squares horizontally and vertically so each of my squares are going to be 2.4″ (divide 24 /10) which is the 8 squares plus an equal border around the entire perimeter.

Mark off your squares or use a stencil if you’re lucky enough to find one to your exact specifications.

Paint the entire board a base color in the lightest color you choose for your checkerboard then fill in the darker squares with a color of your choice.

Decorate the border of your checkerboard with any colors or design of your choosing.

I used a black paint pen to add a little interest around the border.

A frame is made from salvaged plaster lath, sanded and nailed to the side of the door.

Finish with a coat of clear or vintage wax depending on how aged you want your project to be.

Checkerboard Pieces

The DIY checker pieces are 24 slices of a branch, half painted black.

DIY Chess Pieces

The chess pieces are a little more involved.  I found some great instructions online and modified them for my own use. 

I needed my chess pieces to be big and chunky and a little rustic looking to go with my folk art door chess board.  The squares on my board are 2.4″ so I’m making my chess pieces out of this extremely thick, 2 inch, piece of old wood.

I ran my old piece of chunky wood thru my table saw several times giving me  pieces of wood as wide as the wood was thick, 2″.

With the same setting on the table saw, I cut the wood posts down into 2 inch cubes until I had 16 cubes.  These are the pawns.

If you have a smaller chess board use a thinner piece of wood, just make sure you’re making even cubes from your wood.

Cut 4 additional pieces, 2 pawns high, or 4 inches.  These are your rooks.

The king and queen are 6 pawns high.  Draw a arrow in the center of your pieces.

I used a table top scroll saw to make my king/queen cut. 

The knights are 3 pawns high.  Mark as shown and once again use a table top scroll saw, jigsaw or band saw to make your cut.  Cut 4 knights in total.

The bishops are 2 pawns high (4 inches).  I used a miter saw set at 45º to trim off the excess.  Cut 4 of these.

All of your pieces should now be cut.

Sand your pieces well.

I used this Varathane, stain and poly in Kona to stain the darker chess pieces.

And this Waverly white wax to give a finish to the lighter chess pieces.  You could also use paint, watered down paint or just leave a natural finish.  Use what you have.

In order to showcase my brand new chess pieces I had to paint one more checkerboard / chess board, I had given the other one away last year. Oops, but this way you get to see another option for a border design.

Once again, this game board is all hand painted.  The yellow dot is the tip of an eraser dipped in paint.

All set up and ready to play a game of chess…if only I played chess 😕 

When not in use, the game boards make great folk art  for  your walls.

As always, stay inspired.