Meet Your Instructor

Sarah Watlington Instructor Sarah Watlington is an artist who works primarily with wood as well as within the parameters of function. Read More

Make A Backgammon Board

with Sarah Watlington

Densely Packed Week of Learning  – Veneering, Parquetry, Joinery

Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games. Its history can be traced back nearly 5,000 years!  This backgammon board is packed full of precision woodworking skills and new techniques. It is both challenging and rewarding like the game itself.

In this class, we will focus on the importance of both machine and hand tools in high precision woodworking and the harmony that is created when using them in conjunction with each other. You will build two boxes that together will form the backgammon board. The frames of the boxes will be solid wood and the panels will be veneered with parquetry inlays. Time will be spent discussing the pros and cons of veneering versus solid wood construction.  Through the process, you will be familiarized with hand planes and proper blade sharpening techniques.

Some of the key learning points include:

• Tradition veneering techniques that include cutting your own veneers
• Lumber selection for grain and graphics
• Parquetry and inlay
• Hand planes
• Sharpening with water stones
• Box construction and small joinery solutions
• Raised panel construction
• Hinge setting

If time allows, we may be able to make the playing pieces that go with your board.  If time gets tight, these can be purchased online.

Instructor Sarah Watlington is an alumnus of the Krenov School of Fine Woodworking and a professional furniture maker working at Offerman Woodshop.

This class is for those who have some basic power tools and some woodworking skills under their belt.  If you haven’t done any projects or used tools before you’ll want to attend the Beginning Woodwork class before taking this one.