Custom chess boards, cut one square at a time.
Right Angle Design Woodworking builds custom chess boards from solid exotic hardwoods — walnut, maple, ebony, zebrawood and canary wood. Each board is drawn to your dimensions, glued end-grain style for long wear, and finished by hand in our Atlanta shop.
Standard Chess Board
Black walnut · Maple · Danish oil polish
$850
A classic tournament-sized board built from alternating black walnut and maple squares. The dark squares are cut from solid walnut, the light from hard maple, matched for tone and grain so the pattern reads cleanly across the whole field. Finished with a hand-rubbed Danish oil polish that deepens the color and protects the surface.
- End-grain style square construction for long wear
- Black walnut and hard maple, no dyes or stains
- Hand-rubbed Danish oil finish, ready for play
End-grain construction
Squares are oriented vertically so the board is kind to pieces and knives alike — the surface wears slowly and stays flat.
Matched squares
Dark and light woods are chosen board by board so tone and grain read consistently across the whole field.
Drawn to your table
Custom sizing starts with your pieces and your surface — not a standard catalog dimension.
Choose the wood for your custom chess board
Black walnut & hard maple
The classic tournament pairing. Dark squares cut from solid walnut, light squares from hard maple — matched for tone and grain so the field reads cleanly.
Ebony accents
For a more dramatic board, ebony frames or borders add depth without competing with the squares. Used sparingly so the geometry stays legible.
Zebrawood or canary wood
Exotic options for a statement piece. Zebrawood brings bold stripes; canary wood warms to amber over time. Both are chosen board by board.
From conversation to checkmate.
- 01Tell us the size, the wood and the deadline.
- 02We draw the board to scale and photograph the candidate boards.
- 03A deposit reserves your slot and the material.
- 04Squares are milled, matched, glued and pressed.
- 05Sanded flush, oiled, waxed and signed.
- 06Shipped nationwide with care notes for your wood.
Common questions about custom chess boards
What makes a custom chess board different from a store-bought one?
A custom board is cut from the actual wood you approve, not printed or veneered. The squares are real end-grain hardwood, the finish is hand-rubbed oil and wax, and the dimensions are drawn for your table and your pieces.
What size chess board can you build?
Our Standard Chess Board is 16 × 16 × 1.5 inches — tournament-sized with 2-inch squares. We can scale up or down for your pieces and table, from a compact travel set to a large coffee-table board.
How long does a custom chess board take?
Most boards ship in four to six weeks. End-grain construction needs extra drying time between milling and glue-up so the squares stay flat through the seasons.
Do you ship chess boards nationwide?
Yes. We build in Atlanta and ship across the country, double-boxed with care instructions for the specific wood you chose. Atlanta-area clients can collect from the shop.
Ready for a board built for your table?
Start with a free consultation. We will scope the size, wood and timeline, then reserve your slot on the bench.