Crack/Split in our Chessboard

All,

I would appreciate your advice please.

The images in the link below show a crack/split in the chessboard I've owned for 35 years, but I only recently knew about after I started playing chess again with my daughter.

https://imgur.com/a/KpEwG2S

I should be grateful to hear what you would suggest is the best way to fix it please?

Some points to note:

• The split wood doesn't move much (. to open it up or close it)
• It's only small gap and I need to get the glue in there
• Currently, the scews fall out. Given how small the split and screw holes are how best can I fix this?

Many thanks,

JC

I would suggest you ask this question on an antique restoration forum.

But if it was mine, I would try to open the crack just enough to get some wood glue into it, then put straight pieces of scrap wood either side (to protect the original wood) and then put several clamps across the scrap pieces of wood. Be careful not to glue the scrap pieces of wood to the the original.

If you cannot get wood glue into the crack, you could use low viscosity super glue - this will seep into any cracks. You will have to clamp it quickly though if you use super glue.

If the screws not holding continues to be an issue, you could fill the holes with woodfiller and re-drill.

IpswichMatt wrote:

I would suggest you ask this question on an antique restoration forum.

But if it was mine, I would try to open the crack just enough to get some wood glue into it, then put straight pieces of scrap wood either side (to protect the original wood) and then put several clamps across the scrap pieces of wood. Be careful not to glue the scrap pieces of wood to the the original.

If you cannot get wood glue into the crack, you could use low viscosity super glue - this will seep into any cracks. You will have to clamp it quickly though if you use super glue.

If the screws not holding continues to be an issue, you could fill the holes with woodfiller and re-drill.

Thanks so much Matt, it's appreciated! The board probably has more sentimental value than monetary so I'll take your advice on-board and give it a go. Thank you!

@WildSerenity.. Can't seem to open the photo on the link you shared. Can you share that again? I too got a board that's of similar age (or maybe more) and looking for solutions to make it better

Hi Salujakbs, the link below should work:
https://imgur.com/a/chess-board-split-KpEwG2S

Thanks for sharing @WildSerenity. I can see them now. My board has somewhat different condition. I can see some gaps within the squares from the top. By the way, did you get them corrected?