DIY How to Make a Wooden Checkerboard

Measure and cut a piece of 1/2 inch thick plywood to 1 foot by 1 foot with a circular saw or table saw. Sand the front, back and edges of the board with 120-grit sandpaper in circular motions to remove sharp corners and splinters. Then sand with a piece of 180-grit sandpaper to give the wood a smooth finish.

Use a ruler to measure and trace straight lines two inches from each edge of the square. This two-inch border will be the frame of the checkerboard.

Measure and trace eight one-inch wide vertical sections within the inner section of the checkerboard with a ruler and pencil. Start one inch away from the frame line on the left and make seven vertical lines one inch apart. Turn the ruler horizontal and draw seven horizontal lines one inch apart. This creates the grid for your checkerboard.

Cover the edges of every other square in the grid with masking tape. Make sure the pieces of tape are all even and straight. Paint the squares that aren't edged with tape with black acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry and add another coat. Wait about three hours to make sure the paint is completely dry and remove the tape. Wait 24 hours before moving on to the next step.

Tape off the edges of black squares and paint the remaining squares red. Paint them with two coats of red acrylic paint and wait three hours for the paint to dry. Remove the tape. Use the same taping and painting technique to paint the frame either red or black.

Paint a clear, glossy coat of acrylic varnish over the board to protect the paint. Use a sponge brush to avoid leaving brush marks. Wait at least 24 hours for the varnish to dry before playing checkers on your homemade wooden checkerboard.