I am making a chess board, and I can't decide how to finish it. I am going for a very glossy, piano finish, black and white, something like this board: http://www.worldofstock.com/stock-photos/black-and-white-chess-set-reflection/PRE1268 I am making the board out of smooth birch plywood. I was...

Hey, this is my first post ever on this forum. I'm working on making a mini wooden sword, except I don't want the wood texture to show as the finished product. Basically, I'm here to ask, as a complete beginner, how to paint the sword (as well as what paint to use), how to prepare the wood...