A chessboard is an ambitious project. You can probably find quite a few videos and instructions to help you with the process. You may even find a local woodworker who is willing to give you some hands-on help.
You don’t need a lot of pressure to create a decent glue joint, but you will want fairly even pressure. If you put a single clamp in the middle of a 2×4 “caul” the ends will not receive as much pressure as the middle.
For the dark squares, you might find that purpleheart is pretty expensive. Walnut is likely to be a more affordable option. For the light squares, hard maple has a beautiful blonde color. Soft maple is usually a little less expensive, but has a slight gray cast.
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