Chess Board and Case

[jhatchell]

I did several tests before I settled on what you see above.  One of the tests was to leave the light squares the completely unstained natural leather and use the super shene as a resist on those squares.  It produced a very white vs. dark appearance. I settled on the colors above (staining the entire carved board first with tan, then using Super Shene as a resist on the parts I wanted light and then coming back over it with Dark Brown Gel Antique), because I wanted it to have an antique kind of look.  I tried on one of my tests to apply the finish coats of Super Shene with a sponge, but ended up having to purchase a cheap air brush kit to keep it from smearing and becoming ruined.  

The bottom picture is probably closest in color to how it actually looked.  The top 2 pictures make the light squares kind of look yellow.  I didn't try painting each square.  I could maybe try that with some Angellus paint.  

[JayEhl]

I think your work is most excellent.  And as mentioned above, your love and craftsmanship going into the project shows and will remind your son of you.   As far as folks posting things here that are "professional looking", we all started somewhere.  We only get better if we help each other get better.    

Please continue to share!!! 

[toxo]

17 hours ago, jhatchell said:

I did several tests before I settled on what you see above.  One of the tests was to leave the light squares the completely unstained natural leather and use the super shene as a resist on those squares.  It produced a very white vs. dark appearance. I settled on the colors above (staining the entire carved board first with tan, then using Super Shene as a resist on the parts I wanted light and then coming back over it with Dark Brown Gel Antique), because I wanted it to have an antique kind of look.  I tried on one of my tests to apply the finish coats of Super Shene with a sponge, but ended up having to purchase a cheap air brush kit to keep it from smearing and becoming ruined.  

The bottom picture is probably closest in color to how it actually looked.  The top 2 pictures make the light squares kind of look yellow.  I didn't try painting each square.  I could maybe try that with some Angellus paint.  

I hope it didn't come across as a criticism. Many people like that antique look, especially for decorative sets.

Does it lay flat easily?

[jhatchell]

It does lay flat easily.  I didn't take your comment about the colors as criticism at all.  My reply was just an explanation of what I tried.  

[BrightBear]

I think it is awesome just as it is. No need for an Angelious coat. If it was given to me it would be one of my most cherished possessions just because of all the thought and time you invested in it.