These were designed to be used with cork or EVA, with an OD between 1" - 1 5/8". Match the ID of the grip material you plan to use (1/4 or 1/2"), with the jig size. The slots of the jig were designed to fit the sawblades with no wobble so the cuts are perfect. You can vary the length of checkerboard by getting a different size 1/4" or 1/2" bolt, or a threaded rod & a nut from a hardware store.
*you need to use an Exacto saw blade with this jig
"Bricks" Grip made using Checkerboard Jig
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE BILLY VIVONA CHECKERBOARD JIG
Step 1 - Slide disk onto bolt, put piece of grip material onto bolt, then the other disk and nut. Place saw in slots and align the slots from both jigs, and tighten the nut so that the material and disks do not move.
Step 2 - While the saw is in the slots lined up, saw back and forth. Repeat for each slot.
Step 3 - remove grip material from bolt, and finish making cuts all the way through. You will end up with 8 pie shaped wedges.
Step 4 - repeat process with a different color grip material.
** the 1/2" jig has a large bolt, so I used a small cork spacer so the saw is not cutting into the bolt head. You can use anything as a spacer as long as it is not too big.
These photos show what you will end up with after cutting both colored grips.
Step 5 - Arrange the pieces so that you will glue them up alternating colors. Apply 2 coats of contact cement to 1 side of each piece. When the cement dries, press them together. Gluing one side makes it easier to glue the pieces together. VERY IMPORTANT - Make sure you glue the ID first, this will ensure all the pieces are even with you make the c-board in the grip. You will be left with 4 pieces.
Step 6 - Glue the 4 pieces together, making a half cylinder.
Step 7 - Glue the halves together. You will now have a striped cylinder.
Step 8 - put striped cylinder on mandrel. If making an EVA c-board, cut the cylinder using a piece of size D thread with the lathe turning at 1500-2000rpm. If using cork, hold a razorblade securely with a Vice grip, rest on the tool rest, and with the lathe turning less than 1000RPM feed the razor into the cork cylinder as it sits on the tool rest. If you have a bandsaw that is the easiest, most accurate, and quickest method to cut even width rings.
Step 9 - separate the discs into sets of 3. Offset them, and glue together forming your checkerboard.
