Backgammon

Wood makes a very noisy playing surface. I think I'd like a nice leather
surface with wood surrounds.

--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"Jim Helfer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift, but I
> don't play, and I don't own a set. Wasn't able to find any plans from
> an internet search.
>
> Any backgammon players out there with some pointers that I might have
> missed?
>
> Or maybe the best idea would be to buy a cardboard set, take
> measurements, and come up with my own measured drawings ?
>
> Thanks for any ideas
> Jim

Jim Helfer wrote:
>
> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift, but I
> don't play, and I don't own a set. Wasn't able to find any plans from
> an internet search.
>
> Any backgammon players out there with some pointers that I might have
> missed?
>
> Or maybe the best idea would be to buy a cardboard set, take
> measurements, and come up with my own measured drawings ?
>
> Thanks for any ideas
> Jim
I made my set as a gift for a friend quite a few years back, but I
pretty much remember what I did (for me, it was an exercise in problem
solving.

For the triangles I started with three isosocles pyramids of contrasting
wood colors (I used walnut maple and I forget the third). I used the
band saw to slice thin layers off of the pyramids to make the triangles.
These were then glued to a backer board (I used 3/4 ply). The maple
and walnut pointing to the center of the board, the other wood between
them, pointing to the rim. I forgot to mention, I also glued in the
center of the plywood a strip of the forgotten wood type. I used
bubinga as the frame for the set as well as for the bar.

If I'm not clear in my explanation, ask for more detail.

Glen

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 09:26:02 -0400, Jim Helfer
<[email protected]> wrote:

> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift,

What's are you thinking of as "a backgammon set"? A board? A fold-up
board and case? Making the counters too? Dice? Dice cups?

There are quite a few parts to backgammon, and not all of them are
woodworking. I've no idea how to make counters - I'm a Go player and
although I've made boards, I've never thought of a good way to make
stones / counters that's any better than buying them, even cheap
plastic ones. The cups are also a good leatherworking and
leather-tooling project (as indeed is the board), but I can't see much
woodworking in them.

If you make a fold-up board, then be aware that counters are placed
"on the bar" (the centre ridge of the board, formed from the open
edges of the case). Make the case walls thick enough so that this
isn't a balancing trick - that would be really irritating to play.

The proportions of the points (the triangles on the board) are, AFAIR,
standardised and you should be able to find them on the web.
Otherwise copy them from another set, because they are slightly
significant. There are "clumsy finger" boards though, where the points
are separated apart more than usual, to make them easier to play for
less dextrous players.

If I made this, it sounds like a nice project to make the case and the
chance for either inlay work or coloured leatherwork to make the
board. I'd buy the dice and counters though.
--
Smert' spamionam

http://170.224.4.200/lkn?action=howTo&p=Build/FamGmBx&topic=howToLibrary

Jim Helfer <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift, but I
>don't play, and I don't own a set. Wasn't able to find any plans from
>an internet search.
>
> Any backgammon players out there with some pointers that I might have
>missed?
>
> Or maybe the best idea would be to buy a cardboard set, take
>measurements, and come up with my own measured drawings ?
>
> Thanks for any ideas
> Jim

Andy Dingley wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 09:26:02 -0400, Jim Helfer
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift,
>
>
> What's are you thinking of as "a backgammon set"? A board? A fold-up
> board and case? Making the counters too? Dice? Dice cups?
>
> There are quite a few parts to backgammon, and not all of them are
> woodworking. I've no idea how to make counters - I'm a Go player and
> although I've made boards, I've never thought of a good way to make
> stones / counters that's any better than buying them, even cheap
> plastic ones. The cups are also a good leatherworking and
> leather-tooling project (as indeed is the board), but I can't see much
> woodworking in them.
>

I'm working on my own Go board right now. Trying to figure out the
best way to ink the gridlines.

I have friends that do beadwork, and when I asked about making Go
stones, thew thought that using glass in molds would work. Can't say it
would be much cheaper than buying a low-end set of glass stones, though.


> If you make a fold-up board, then be aware that counters are placed
> "on the bar" (the centre ridge of the board, formed from the open
> edges of the case). Make the case walls thick enough so that this
> isn't a balancing trick - that would be really irritating to play.
>
> The proportions of the points (the triangles on the board) are, AFAIR,
> standardised and you should be able to find them on the web.
> Otherwise copy them from another set, because they are slightly
> significant. There are "clumsy finger" boards though, where the points
> are separated apart more than usual, to make them easier to play for
> less dextrous players.
>
> If I made this, it sounds like a nice project to make the case and the
> chance for either inlay work or coloured leatherwork to make the
> board. I'd buy the dice and counters though.

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 09:26:02 -0400, Jim Helfer
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift, but I
>don't play, and I don't own a set. Wasn't able to find any plans from
>an internet search.
>
> Any backgammon players out there with some pointers that I might have
>missed?
>
> Or maybe the best idea would be to buy a cardboard set, take
>measurements, and come up with my own measured drawings ?

Places that sell veneers sometimes have ready made backgammon board
veneers for sale. I haven't looked in a long time. The last one I
remember seeing was from Craftsman Wood Service in Chicago when they
were still around. You might look at Constantines.


- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 20:57:43 -0400, Jim Helfer
<[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm working on my own Go board right now. Trying to figure out the
>best way to ink the gridlines.

Inlay. I've done it with both commercial bandings or with black
epoxy. I've always used epoxy for the spots, so why not use it for
all? - I guess you could inlay a tiny dowel too, but I've not tried
that way.

The trick is to sort out a good purfling cutter before you start. Make
or buy something with two blades, held at the right spacing. Mine was
a pair of scalpel blades bolted to either side on a metal shim. Going
cross grain is easy, cutting along the grain it's horribly easy to get
pulled slightly off your line by near-parallel grain - it's worth
clamping your straight edge in place before making the cut.

If I did another one, it would be ash or maple veneer hot hide-glued
onto both sides of a piece of good birch ply. The inlay would be done
long afterwards with epoxy, then flattened with a #80 scraper plane.
After that I'd inlay some edge banding - a commercial built-up banding
(Tunbridge ware style). If you mix inlay and epoxy before flattening,
it's hard to flatten the epoxy without damaging the inlay. A little
filler in the epoxy (phenolic microballoons) makes it _much_ easier to
scrape flat.

--
Smert' spamionam

Jim Helfer wrote:

>
> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift, but I
> don't play, and I don't own a set. Wasn't able to find any plans from
> an internet search.
>
> Any backgammon players out there with some pointers that I might have
> missed?
>
> Or maybe the best idea would be to buy a cardboard set, take
> measurements, and come up with my own measured drawings ?
>
> Thanks for any ideas
> Jim
Your post reminded me of a project I did more years ago than I care to
admit.

I've posted some pictures on my website.
http://www.tomstudwell.com/Projects/Backgammon/Images/IMG_3392.JPG
and
http://www.tomstudwell.com/Projects/Backgammon/Images/IMG_3393.JPG

The base is mahogany, the points and pieces are walnut and maple with
the spacers cherry with prefab inlay strips separating the sections.
The base folds and latches holding the pieces and a pair of die inside.
Obviously strict backgammon players would scream at the missing second
pair of die and doubling die but these would simply require additional
slots that I didn't put in the original.

When I made this I had access to a milling machine that certainly made
making the points and the pieces fairly easy to make. I would do it
somewhat differently now but this piece is literally an antique at this
point and I've learned a lot since then...

TWS

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:33:59 +0100, Andy Dingley wrote:

> I'm a Go player and
> although I've made boards, I've never thought of a good way to make
> stones / counters that's any better than buying them, even cheap
> plastic ones.

I made Go stones from porcelain, black and white, and then polished them
using a lapidary technique. I probably couldn't make them for anyone else
at a price much lower than actual shell and stone authentic stones, but at
the time I wanted a nice Go set and didn't have the money for real stones.
Anyway, they're a lot nicer than plastic stones, and make an appropriate
clack when you snap them down. Wish I were a better Go player.

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 09:26:02 -0400, Jim Helfer
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:

>
> I anm thinking about constructing a backgammon set for a gift, but I
>don't play, and I don't own a set. Wasn't able to find any plans from
>an internet search.

I googled these instantly:
http://www.marquetry.co.uk/main/htmlproductsgames/backgammon1.php
http://www.bkgm.com/rgb/rgb.cgi?view+1118 2 mag articles listed



An interesting site with pics of game boards/pieces:
http://www.ancientgames.com/t82l.htm
http://www.ancientgames.com/u1052.htm


> Any backgammon players out there with some pointers that I might have
>missed?

Resaw your own thicker veneer.


> Or maybe the best idea would be to buy a cardboard set, take
>measurements, and come up with my own measured drawings ?

There ya go. And make it to the size which suits you personally.

--
"I'm sick and tired of having to rearrange my life
because of what the STUPIDEST people *might* do or
how they *might* react."
-- Bill Maher