Life In 19x19

Hi there. I live in western Canada. I'm a terrible Go player, but my son plays competitively. My son suggested this forum for me because I'm a woodworker and I'm interested in making Go boards. I understand the basic requirements, but I wanted to find a place where I could ask questions to experienced Go players for when I build my boards. So that's why I'm here, and I hope you folks won't mind if I ask some questions occasionally about traditional Go boards. Thanks

Welcome!

I'm a terrible go player too, and they haven't thrown me off yet. So welcome to the forum.

Welcome!

This might interest you, although it's in German: http://www.gungfu.de/go/gobans/index.html

I think there's a thread in the forum here somewhere about someone who made his own set of boards... not just a 19x19 one, but also 13x13 and 9x9, plus an adorable 2x2 board with legs.

Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone.

jts wrote:Welcome!

This might interest you, although it's in German: http://www.gungfu.de/go/gobans/index.html

I think there's a thread in the forum here somewhere about someone who made his own set of boards... not just a 19x19 one, but also 13x13 and 9x9, plus an adorable 2x2 board with legs.

That's a great link. I'll email that person and see if he speaks English or French. And I'll look for the other thread too.
Thank you very much

Hey mom!!!

I´m glad you decided to take my advice and join this forum... I recently joined and it's awesome

I am really looking forward to seeing how your handcrafted go boards turn out!

love, david

Howdy, and welcome! While traditional boards are cool, and sound like an interesting project, I like the idea of mixing in some new ideas as well. There's always room for ingenuity (even in byo-yomi)!

Chew Terr wrote:Howdy, and welcome! While traditional boards are cool, and sound like an interesting project, I like the idea of mixing in some new ideas as well. There's always room for ingenuity (even in byo-yomi)!

Chew Terr you make an interesting point. I'm beginning to think that provided my grid is precise and accurate, perhaps I should think more in terms of my own creativity and less in terms of trying to copy Kaya boards coming out of Asia. My boards will obviously never be those, so maybe I should just concentrate on making them *mine*. Thank you.

It's probably a terrible idea, but I want a board made from gumbo limbo. =P I assume that's WAY too soft, though.

Chew Terr wrote:It's probably a terrible idea, but I want a board made from gumbo limbo. =P I assume that's WAY too soft, though.

Chew Terr, that's a wood I've never heard of and never seen available......and I can't comment on the hardness either because it's not found in any of the common references. Woodworkers usually refer to a wood's hardness in terms of the "Janka Hardness Scale". But if you live somewhere where it's commonly found, you could probably get your hands on some...sounds like it has lots of uses and grows fast.

Sea Witch wrote:

Chew Terr wrote:It's probably a terrible idea, but I want a board made from gumbo limbo. =P I assume that's WAY too soft, though.

Chew Terr, that's a wood I've never heard of and never seen available......and I can't comment on the hardness either because it's not found in any of the common references. Woodworkers usually refer to a wood's hardness in terms of the "Janka Hardness Scale". But if you live somewhere where it's commonly found, you could probably get your hands on some...sounds like it has lots of uses and grows fast.

It's tropical. It's soft, and easy to bend. I'm told that if you plant a branch of the tree, it can grow on its own. The evolutionary advantage here is that it grows where hurricanes hit, so it'll spread itself when trees are broken, though a tree will survive a lesser wind by being pliable/bendy. The tree is known as the 'tourist tree' because its bark is red and peeling. I am told that Native Americans in the Florida Keys used to make a tea from it because of healing properties. I am also told that it has acetaminaphine, which supports that claim. I have also sun-brewed the tea, and it is delicious with a bit of sugar.

Anyone who knows more accurately can correct me where I'm wrong. This is memoryfrom ages ago. I guess it's not very often that you hear someone go on a fan-rant about... a tree? Mostly I was amused to picture it as a go board because it's soft wood.

PeterHB wrote:Gumbo-limbo
Janka hardness 370 Gumbo Limbo {Bursera simaruba}

Thanks PeterHB that's a terrific link that I've never seen before!