I have been asked by a friend to make a chess board. The wood working part is easy but he wants the letter/number coordinates placed around the perimeter. I haven't any idea how to do this and make it look nice. Anyone have any suggestions??

 

The ends towards each player are labled as  R  K  B  Q  K  B  K  R

 

Along one side, usually the right or King's side, number are incised.   Starting from the back row as a 1 and continues to count until the other back row is reach.   Each player can read just the set of numbers along the right hand side

 

KP to K 4, = King's Pawn moves straight ahead two places.  Your move...

 

 

Incise them with a letter number stamp, deep as can be.    Get a bottle of gold paint, like used on a plastic model car.   Fill the incised areas.  Sand even to make them smooth and flush. add a finish over them.

Thanks, Steven, for the information. I really appreciate the input because I know absolutely nothing about. I barely got thru checkers.

Craft store will have nice sets of small letters that you can either inlay or stick on.

 

1/2 inch brass ones would be nice.

Pantograph?  I made one to do the letters of my brewery  valve stands .  Worked out nicely.

 

Pantograph designs of a very good  shop build  machine that uses a router can be had from that crazy Canadian we all love Mattias Wandel on his website.

 

You can of course modify the arm lengths to get different results.  I used steel; 1/4" pins for the hinge points in very tightly drilled holes so there's no play. .

Thanks for all of the ideas, I really appreciate the input. As of now, he's changed his mind and wants to go without the coordinates.