Scrabble Board (Mahogany and Maple)

[atogrf1]

Surprising my sister with a Federal Inspired Scrabble table for Christmas.
The board will rotate on a lazy susan on a Federal Style table.
This is the preliminary stages of the "board".
The grid system is Sapele Mahogany and the tiles are Maple.  They are individual tiles and the grid sticks up a bit from the tiles to "lock" the playing pieces in place when they are played.  I just dyed the lettered tiles last night to match the colors on a scrabble board (Orange, Blue, Red, and Green).
I think I am going to make a Wenge center square with a brass star inlaid in it though.
Hope she likes it.

Open to suggestions for cutting off the "tines" when trimming the board back to square.

 

[waho6o9]

Beautiful work, she's going to love it.  Maybe make an exotic wood perimeter and cut with a Japanese hand saw.  [big grin]

 

[Frank Pellow]

WOW, that looks great!   [thumbs up]

I have made several different wooden board games, but this is the first time that I have seen anyone tackle a wooden Scrabble game.

 

[atogrf1]

Thanks.
I was thinking of banding some wenge and maple inside a mahogany border to frame it.
I thought the black and white of the woods would make a nice contrast and compliment the center square.

 

[nydesign]

Really great work, that will make a very nice gift. I'm sure your sister will be surprised.
I like the idea of the wenge and maple border.

 

[Rob-GB]

Absolutely cracking sir!
I have been threatening to make one for ages, but never got round to it [embarassed]

Are the grids half lapped to lock them in place? and how did you get all the tile labels done? (that has always been my poor excuse for not getting on with one, doubley  [embarassed])

I am sure your sister will be more than ecstatic to receive it.

For trimming...TS55 and a guide rail plus add some tile sized infills along the edge to be cut to reduce any possibility of breakout of the grid edges.

Stunning project.

Rob.

 

[atogrf1]

Thanks Rob!!!!! (and nydesign)

Yes, they are half-lapped.
I ripped a wide piece of mahogany, half lapped it, and then ripped the strips out of that to interlock them.  It took some tweaking to get the fit perfect, but it paid off.

Good idea about putting tiles in between while ripping.  I hadn't thought of that.  Thanks for the good idea.

 

[greenMonster]

You're missing some squares!

j/k, looks great. Nice project!

How did you do the text?

 

[atogrf1]

Got the tiles laser engraved at a place here in the states (listed below).
Talked to a guy named Paul.  REALLY helpful.
I made the blank ones myself.
They ran me about $1.65/ea and took a couple of weeks to get.

Paul
Significant Signs
802-723-4566
2501 Charleston Rd
Island Pond, VT
05846

 

[Rob-GB]

Got the tiles laser engraved at a place here in the states (listed below).
Talked to a guy named Paul.  REALLY helpful.
I made the blank ones myself.
They ran me about $1.65/ea and took a couple of weeks to get.

Right, so I have to get practicing my soldering iron calligraphy and I have yet to master the Bic Biro...... ;D ;D
Can't wait to see the final result.
Rob.

 

[atogrf1]

LOL.  Sure, when you get done, post it.  HEE HEE.

 

[fdengel]

Another way to trim those off would be a router with a flush trim bit.

 

[atogrf1]

Thanks for the tip.  Maybe running a bearing along a straight edge clamped to it to help stabilize it would help solidify them during the routing process.  Another good idea.  Thank you!!!!
My biggest fear is the "tines" cracking as the blades hit it.
They are only about 3/16" thick and 5/16" high, so they are very fragile.

 

[mattfc]

Thanks for the tip.  Maybe running a bearing along a straight edge clamped to it to help stabilize it would help solidify them during the routing process.  Another good idea.  Thank you!!!!
My biggest fear is the "tines" cracking as the blades hit it.
They are only about 3/16" thick and 5/16" high, so they are very fragile.

Its looking great! Maybe clamp it between two bits of wood, should help reduce tearout. A bandsaw with a fine blade might work well, as will just be downwards motion, so clamped with a board above and below should be able to do delicately

 

[atogrf1]

Thanks.
Another good idea.
Sounds like the least risky of the bunch.