The piece is long gone so gluing it back is out. I've been toying with cutting a chip to size and gluing it in place but matching could be a problem. Sawdust and CA glue i think are out as this might make a bigger mess. The other alternative might be to do an inlay of sorts. Problem is the chip is not center in either direction and would probably look odd.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Even with the divot, that is a beautiful chess board/table. I got nothing ... except maybe for an inlay/border thing all around the board of a nice wood wide enough to cover the divot.
You could do an inlay on all 4 sides. The inlay would be centered in the side and the size of two checker squares. Maybe you could get by with just two inlays on the two opposite sides.
Nice table! Beautifully well done mate! I would just do one inlay that's just a plain rectangle and then sign it. That way it would look like it was supposed to be there.
Your biggest issue will be matching the color and grain of an insert "patch". If it were mine, I would create a shallow rounded end "mortise" using a router with a straight bit and a small template. Then make a rounded end patch to insert into the opening. Practice first of course.
If you have a router edge guide and a plunge base router, you wouldn't need the template. Just hold the guide firmly against the edge and make a shallow pass, probably 1/16" deep from the photo.
If you don't think the rounded ends work best, square them up and make a rectangular patch instead. Very sharp chisels are a must in that case. Score your lines first with a sharp knife, then chisel to them using this approach, making a dutchman:
You could plunge-route or chisel-out a shallow well, on the damaged and opposing side, that can serve the purpose of holding the captured chess pieces. It could add a unique and very practical feature to your already stellar work
Best way to fix an issue or mistake, is to find a way to make it look intentional.
Several good suggestions here.
As you have some very nice inlays in the corners, I would likely continue the inlays, but perhaps not make them such a stark contrast, so a darker wood.
Thank you so much for the great suggestions and compliments. I think I'm going to sift through some off cuts and see if I can find a match for an inlay. Failing that possibly matching inlays on opposing sides. Probably Walnut or Wenge.
How did it happen .... by mistake.
What if you routed a trough in either side where captured checkers (or chess men) could be kept?
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