Reservist creates masterpiece at arts and crafts center wood shop Published April 15, 2009 By Earlene Smith 81st Mission Support Group KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- Senior Airman Craig Harris was at the arts and crafts center on official business when a wooden chess board on display caught his eye. Being a chess player, he decided to take a closer look. The solid wood board was just what he had been looking for so he asked Bob McFall, arts and crafts center director, about purchasing it. Mr. McFall suggested he make his own board in the wood shop with the assistance of the center woodcrafters. Airman Harris hadn't done any woodworking since he was in school, but with time on his hands, he decided to give it a try. For 1½ months, Airman Harris sawed, sanded and glued pieces of black walnut, maple and mahogany wood together ending up with a 24-inch solid wood board that, with proper care, will last a lifetime. "At the same time I was working on the board, I decided to make ceramic chess pieces to go with it." he said. "So I acquired the greenware from the center's multi-craft shop and cleaned, painted and fired it. When the pieces were finished, I glued felt to the bottom of each one to prevent scratching the board. "The more I did, the more I wanted to do," he added. With wood left over from the chess board project, Airman Harris made checker pieces and a tray. Then, using a picture as a guide, he drew a pattern for a chess box, adding a few touches of his own. In about 2½ weeks, he had a pine box stained a walnut color. Inside, each chess piece has its own felt-covered receptacle. Airman Harris, a reservist with the 403rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, still had a little time left before returning to his job with the Atlanta school system, so he used his skills to make a wooden serving tray as a gift for his wife. "I'll be back to Keesler in April," Airman Harris said, "and I'll definitely be visiting the arts and crafts center. My wife saw the chess board and there are some things she'd like me to make for her; and I'm thinking about making a gun cabinet for myself. That's one thing about the arts and crafts center -- you never run out of things to do." The arts and craft center wood shop is equipped with table saws, band saws, scroll saws and radial arm saws; sanders, routers, jointers, shaper, planer, lathes, hand tools, assorted wood types and a library of woodworking books and patterns. The wood shop carpenter is ready to assist customers with any project from a cutting board to dining room furniture. People without woodworking experience can attend one of the center's monthly beginners' woodworking classes. The next class is 5-7 p.m., April 29. The $25 fee includes shop use and materials. For more information on the arts and crafts center, call 377-2821 or log on to http://www.keeslerservices.us