https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/folding-checker-table • Posted by Jess H.
I was switching apartments and wanted a multi-functional store-able side table for my reading bench. And it is Hufflepuff colors. I plan on making sewing themed chess pieces, once i have time. And I'll use buttons for checkers. I will keep them in a little pouch. But more on that later...
I was switching apartments and wanted a multi-functional store-able side table for my reading bench. And it is Hufflepuff colors. I plan on making sewing themed chess pieces, once i have time. And I'll use buttons for checkers. I will keep them in a little pouch. But more on that later...
the dinner tray i used was plain wood so i had to spray paint it black. I then used painters tape to mark what my borders would be. To make it a perfect square, i decided to leave a small space on either side. This also gives a place to rest claimed pieces.
I very carefully put the painters tape right where the edge of the tray starts to curve.
Then I started marking my rows. Chess boards are 8x8. so with the space that i had allotted for my squares, i mathed out how big each would by. I took the surface area i had and divided it by how many squares i needed.
the painters tape i had was not quite wide enough, so i had to overlap them.
Then to start the squares, i added the lines going the other way.
Then paint!! I used a latexish paint. I had to let it dry very well before i took the tape off. I might would recommend another type, but it was left over from painting my bedroom.
removing tape.
so far!! I recommend going ahead and cleaning up any paint that might have leaked under the tape. Once this is very good and dry. You will tape to create the rest of the squares. So these painted ones would get covered, and the diagonal spaces would be painted.
After you let that dry, and remove the tape (EXTREMELY CAREFULLY) so as not to pull up the squares under the tape. and remove border tape. Clean up any paint that might have leaked under the tape, and touch up corners of connecting paint.
Any other paint, like the black, that might have been removed or scraped up, go ahead and fix. You can see from this picture and the one above it that i had some maintenance to do.
I then sprayed it with a shiny protective coating. That way the squares would not get scratched up, and come off. And it makes it look super nice. I did not spray the legs of the tray. I now keep it by my reading bend, and when not in use fold it and put it underneath. It it handy for having a cup of coffee or tea to relax with.