Polling interest in group buy

Regardless of how it turns out you are a considerate person of good character for thinking of us on the forum.

Can't swing any chess items now,after talking the wife(not easy) into letting me go for an expensive astronomy binocular set up.....Actually, two of them.

Ya' gotta' time those birthdays right.

Nice I put down +1 tentative. 

But mr Magic, you know you can use that board for other things than storing pieces right? you put rope on it and you can carry it as a purse perfect for any occasion and walnut goes with anything  

Not my style...The purse thing.

Tough crowd...hmm, silverware storage? Pencilbox? Tobacco? It's all your multipurpose box you need!

Since the Great One PM’d me, how could a lowly Wits-end refuse?

Solid wood or veneer, that is the question. Please understand i am far from an expert on the matter and there are others here that are proper professionals. But here are some things i consider, and I’d appreciate learning from the collective input as well. 

Both have pros and cons depending on the project, size of the piece, and one’s personal thoughts. Plus, i have far more experience with musical instruments than chess boards, not from building them, but from owning and playing them. 

I’ve found solid wood difficult to use in larger “sheets” due to shrinkage, wood movement, and warping. But it could be all about me right? Solid wood can be categorized and hard woods and soft woods for obvious reasons. Either one will accept repairs easier (again imho) than a veneered piece. The condition or moisture content of the woods used is also critical as is the humidity of where the finished project will reside. I have some very nice instruments do very thin solid woods, but you’ll find a very elaborate network of support inside each one to hold it all in proper place. (And retain the acoustic properties of the woods and shapes.)

Veneers can hold up to the shrinkage, wood movement, and warping better than solid woods. (IMHO) Some view veneers more eco friendly as well, reducing the demand on exotic woods. A veneer of harder to get woods uses far less and retains the aesthetics of the original desired wood. I’d be interested in knowing what the veneer is covering and how it is assembled. (Glues, adhesives, that sort of thing) I’ve seen less expensive soft woods, particle board, plywood, leather, even felt beneath veneers. 

In my experience, and that is a very small body of work, it depends on how thin you want the piece to be, how heavy or light you want, and of course the price point. 

We’ve all seen very cheaply made projects of both choices, with paper thin (literally) veneers that peel, bubble, and lift. Off course cheaply made solid wood projects are prone to warp, split, and buckle. 

My personal preference is always solid wood for my “smaller” type of projects. However, I’ve seen extremely nice furniture (tables, chairs, desks, etc) of quality veneered surfaces. 

Now that I’ve blabbed on, I’d very much like to hear from the true experts. Professional wood-whisperers, where art thou? 

From my days as a collector of fine acoustic guitars,solid wood is the way to go. Not just sonically....but veneer holds up better if you are an abuser.

Very true Magic! The solid wood guitars i own range from about $1,900 to $4,600. Conversely, i have a couple veneer and composite guitars that also sound “okay” and they were about $500-$800. They’re better to gig with since i didn’t have to worry about some drunk falling or spilling adult beverages on them. But they had no where near the acoustic quality. But we’re talking chess boards now and i think one can find either veneer or solid wood varieties at one’s price point. I’d like to put myself in the solid wood category, but I’m open to learning from all of you on this one. Just my very humble opinion.

Thanks mr W! Your feedback is appreciated.

This is the original folding board from the 50's I'm guessing. I think it's veneer and it holds up pretty well.

That is a very nice set up! It has more than held up, it has a wonderful vintage look. One that only time can create. Thanks for posting!

New update, see OP.

So what do you guys think? Framed folding board just like the original, 2.25" in walnut/birch veneer is the one we want?

Edit: oh yeah, how do we want the direction of the grains? Towards the player of side ways? Most votes will be the one. For me I say towards player.

The material and size seems good to me. I say grain side ways. Hey question on the interior, will it have the straps to hold pieces or do they move around inside? I guess it doesn't really matter as we can pad the inside with a micro cloth or something. Hold pieces in place, clean pieces/glasses.

I'd go for like the original, no straps. Besides, straps will eventually stretch out than it will lost it's function.

Thanks for the update. I’m good with veneer, walnut/birch, 2.25 and no straps. I am still debating on my end though. You know me. It is not on my a-list. Haha! I’m 60/40 in as of right now.

Whaaaaat? How can you say it's not on your A list? You have Noj 1950 dubrovnik! You heathen be gone!

Don’t you know me by now? It is a-list or nothing.

New update in OP.

What do you guys think about shipment asked? I think it will have influence on their pricing but you will get that shipping fee anyway, so the way I see it we have two options:

- Shipping individually from the manufacturer directly

- Shipping to me and from here I ship the whole batch to one address in USA and from there the single point of contact there ship it domestically.

Mr. Novak sent me pictures of his beautiful original board with all measurements, I've forwarded to Giglio Asla so that's covered now.

Many thanks for Mr. Novak's help

You do know that when this project comes to realization and you have that board, your Noj set will look perfect on it, the whole setup will double it's value, your wife will cook for you and your dog let himself out 3 times a day and listen to you?

Mr Michael / heres some stools to match the board