More Board Building Discussion

The myrtlewood has too many different patterns to my liking. It makes the board 'chaotic'. I like uniform patterns like the beautiful purpleheart.

I think it is beautiful to look at but I prefer simpler patterns as well.

Not a lot of work but I like the outcome:

As others have mentioned, there seems to be too many different grain patterns on one board for it to look cohesive. I usually like myrtlewood. I like different grain patterns on occasion. But you're using all the patterns, all together, all at once. Just like spice in cooking, a little bit goes a long way. I might be wrong, and it might look amazing when it's complete and everything comes together. But right now, it looks too much for a chess board. I hope I'm wrong, because that's some really nice wood you purchased. Just too much all at once. 

I'm not a woodworker. I don't know the official technical terms of the grain patterns. But here's my stab at it. Choose one pattern as an accent. Not all four. In my personal subjective opinion of course.

Not every piece of lumber will work when trying to make 64 small squares look good together. Sometimes, it's best to just save a certain piece for another project.

I like notty streaky, nothing wrong with that. 

Now I think about it, are you describing a woman mr P? Me like!

Too soon to say as we’re all looking at it with the “long grain” perspective. Looking forward to see the transverse aspect when you get to that point. I’m thinking the Purple Heart will “anchor” the aesthetic appearance while the myrtle wood will be “free” to pop as it will. Every piece of wood has it’s own personality. I’ve made NAF style flutes and i can say that no matter what i attempt, i have to respect the wood’s character and flow with it, not against it.

Yep, this is that slightly darker myrtlewood board too. When you look at myrtlewood on the pallet, there is a TON of variation. This board is another good experiment, when it's broken up and the patterns are mixed about it will all look different. Especially interesting is that's just one section of a myrtlewood board. That's not scraps from 5 different boards, the grain pattern changes that much on certain pieces.

Good point! haven't thought of that when all are spread out. Can't wait to see the final result.

More development. You gotta be a believer to be a builder

Looks a lot less distracting with the pattern broken up. Check out the "bottom" though, you could argue that it isn't even the same piece of wood. The mysteries of the myrtle...

I prefer the "bottom" side to the "top" side. The grain matches more on the "bottom".

Huh? What happened? What did you do? It looks great now!

Totally agree! Cannot wait to see the pop when you oil the board. “A river runs through it.”

Well, here goes the first glue-up. You’re right @Bryan-HallWS, the purple wood is HARD. I took your advice and made very small passes through my jointer and planner, it really helped. 

Pretty flat glue up, I use the mini dewalts to make mine flat. Do you have any more clamps!? Try to get at least 4 on there for strength!!!

Yes, got the other clamps on just after the last picture. Plus some weight pressing down/flat as well. Really enjoying it too!

Looks good so far!

Is that sugar maple?

I like the streaks in the left most purple heart. You're going to love that board when it's done!

Thank you! I believe it is sugar maple. 

Notes on this one: 

Speedset white glue is not good for lining things up. It tacks up too quick and makes it too hard to see the board when doing the glue up. 

Myrtlewood is more varied than I could have ever imagined. I think I'd go with the more predictable myrtlewood boards in the future, but it was fun to play with this one. The more featured side... It almost looks 3 dimensional after being oiled. Absolutely crazy. The backside looks a lot more traditional but there is a hue variation that I never noticed until the oil was on. Pretty interesting! 

The myrtlewood changes the look so much that I don't think I would have recognized the purpleheart. I like this board - especially the backside - better than any other purpleheart that I have seen.

Glad you like it!

I agree, when I first oiled it up a did a double take and moved it through a few different lighting scenarios. The purpleheart looks so different with this version of the myrtlewood.