I was able to prep wood for 3 chessboards. We knocked one out (bloodwood and maple). We were going to make a wenge and maple / padauk and maple but the wenge and padauk layout looks really nice! I called it a Halloween chessboard but it looks like your standard checkers board. I'm torn as to whether I go with wenge and padauk. It would be unique. I also helped my son finish his first keepsake box (mine too). He turned the little handle himself. Overall, we're really pleased with the box - it's the first time we've tried splines. And I finished my cherry desk top. Bas - I failed with the Arm-R-Seal Enduro-Var finish but I was psyched with the Odie's Oil finish (thanks to Dan Campbell for the recommendation). That's what he used on the box as well. I'll upload pics of the desk once it's installed on the mobile base.