Chess Board Router Template + Accessories
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Chess Board Router Template - Clear Acrylic
The Chess Board Router Template is designed for woodworkers, makers, and DIYers who want to create custom wooden chess boards and checker boards with a clean, repeatable layout. This clear acrylic template helps you route accurate square pockets so you can build a board with contrasting wood inlays, epoxy-filled squares, or a custom combination of materials.
The template features 2" squares to create a finished 16" x 16" playing area. The example board shown was made from Purpleheart and filled with black epoxy, but this template can also be used with wood inlays such as Curly Maple, Walnut, or Padauk depending on the look you want.
What You Can Make With This Template
This clear acrylic chess board template is a great fit for game board projects where accuracy, repeatability, and a clean finished look matter.
- Wooden chess boards
- Checker boards
- Epoxy-filled chess boards
- Wood inlay chess boards
- Custom game boards for gifts
- Market-ready woodworking products
- Display-quality coffee table game boards
- Small-batch game boards for woodworkers and makers
Why Use a Clear Acrylic Chess Board Template?
Clear acrylic makes it easier to position the template on your wood before routing. You can see the grain, colour variation, knots, glue lines, and board edges underneath the template, which helps you line up the playing area exactly where you want it.
The template is reusable, rigid, and easier to repeat than measuring and marking every square by hand. This is especially helpful when you want a clean chess board layout, a consistent checker board pattern, or a repeatable product you can make more than once.
We recommend using Template Tape to securely attach the acrylic template to your wood while routing.
Recommended Products to Use With This Template
For best results, pair this chess board template with the right tape, router bit, wood, inlays, and finish for your project:
- Template Tape - Use this to secure the acrylic template to your wood while routing.
- Flush Trim Plunge Bit - Recommended for routing the square pockets with this template.
- Dimensional Wood - A great option for making custom chess boards, checker boards, and game board blanks.
- Cutting Board Strips - Useful for creating mixed-species game board blanks and decorative borders.
- Butcher Block Strips - A strong option for building thicker, premium-looking board blanks.
- Grand Finishing Hardwax Oil - A great finish choice for chess boards, checker boards, game boards, gifts, and display pieces.
How to Use This Chess Board Router Template
This template is designed to help you route clean square pockets for a chess or checker board layout. Start with a flat, stable wood blank and test your routing setup on scrap material before working on your finished board.
- Prepare a flat wood blank that is large enough for your chess board design.
- Position the clear acrylic template on the wood and line it up around the grain, colour variation, knots, glue lines, or board edges.
- Secure the template to the wood using Template Tape.
- Use the recommended router bit to route the square pockets.
- Remove the template and clean up the routed areas as needed.
- Add your wood inlays or fill the pockets with your chosen epoxy colour.
- Once the inlays or epoxy are ready, sand the board flat and smooth.
- Apply your preferred finish based on the final look and use of the board.
Take your time when routing and make sure the template does not shift. A stable template setup helps keep the square layout clean, consistent, and better aligned across the finished board.
Chess Board Template and Inlay Options
This product is available with multiple template, inlay, and checker options depending on your project.
Acrylic Chess Template
- What's Included: One clear acrylic chess board template
- Template Size: 11.5" long by 11.5" wide
- Template Thickness: 1/4"
- Square Size: 2" squares
- Finished Playing Area: 16" x 16"
- Use: Routing chess or checker board square pockets
- Template SKU: 06-007
32 Curly Maple Inlays
- Quantity: 32 inlays
- Size: 2" wide by 2" long by approximately 1/4" thick
32 Walnut Inlays
- Quantity: 32 inlays
- Size: 2" wide by 2" long by approximately 1/4" thick
32 Padauk Inlays
- Quantity: 32 inlays
- Size: 2" wide by 2" long by approximately 1/4" thick
12 Walnut Checkers
- Quantity: 12 checkers
- Size: 1.5" diameter by approximately 1/4" thick
- Note: These checkers will need a light sanding before applying a wood finish.
12 Ambrosia Maple Checkers
- Quantity: 12 checkers
- Size: 1.5" diameter by approximately 1/4" thick
- Note: These checkers will need a light sanding before applying a wood finish.
12 Padauk Checkers
- Quantity: 12 checkers
- Size: 1.5" diameter by approximately 1/4" thick
- Note: These checkers will need a light sanding before applying a wood finish.
Template Details
- Product: Chess Board Router Template
- Material: Clear acrylic
- Template Thickness: 1/4"
- Template Size: 11.5" long by 11.5" wide
- Square Size: 2" squares
- Finished Playing Area: 16" x 16"
- Use: Routing chess board or checker board square pockets
- Reusable: Yes
- Template SKU: 06-007
Helpful Router Template Guides
New to acrylic router templates or planning a custom woodworking project? These guides can help you understand template use, routing, and bit selection:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this Chess Board Router Template used for?
This template is used to route square pockets for making wooden chess boards and checker boards.
What size are the squares?
The template is designed for 2" squares.
What is the finished playing area?
The finished playing area is 16" x 16".
What size is the acrylic template?
The acrylic template is 11.5" long by 11.5" wide and 1/4" thick.
Can I use this template for a checker board?
Yes. The same square layout can be used to make a checker board.
Can I use epoxy instead of wood inlays?
Yes. The example board was made from Purpleheart and filled with black epoxy. You can also use wood inlays depending on the design you want.
What inlay options are available?
The listed inlay options include Curly Maple, Walnut, and Padauk. Each set includes 32 inlays that are 2" wide by 2" long by approximately 1/4" thick.
Are checker pieces available?
Yes. Checker options include Walnut, Ambrosia Maple, and Padauk checkers. Each set includes 12 checkers that are 1.5" diameter by approximately 1/4" thick.
What router bit should I use?
We recommend the Flush Trim Plunge Bit linked above for routing the square pockets with this template.
Do I need Template Tape?
Template Tape is recommended for securing the acrylic template to the wood while routing. This helps prevent the template from shifting and keeps the layout more accurate.
Is this template reusable?
Yes. The clear acrylic template is reusable when handled and stored properly.
Can I make chess boards to sell?
Yes. Finished chess and checker boards make great handmade gifts, market products, and small-batch woodworking items.
The Chess Board Router Template is a clean and repeatable way to make custom chess boards and checker boards from wood, epoxy, or inlay combinations. Use it to create handmade game boards for gifts, markets, display pieces, and small-batch woodworking products.
