I like the look of flat top checkering more than normal pointed checkering. Perhaps because it is different I suspect. I have never tried to cut new flat pattern panel, but have cleaned up and lightly chased old work. Often it does not point up and look great to my eye, so I just keep it flat. But it can not be anymore difficult than checkering some of the Claro or English orchard walnuts, with wide growth rings giving you a hard ridge then butter soft or cotton fluff in between areas. Getting, and keeping them straight and level can be a nightmare. Worse is when you suddenly find an area like that, on a stock you decided to do some silly extra-extra fine checkering like anything over 20LPI.
My worst nightmare was a panel I tried to cut at 28 LPI and hit one of these hard/soft/soft/hard areas. No matter what I did, it kept coming out looking like a drunk pig on ice skates, dancing on ice, in the dark. Tried soaking with extra finish to stiffen the wood, tried cutting the pathway with a veiner, tried cutting it with a scapel, even tried super thin CA glue to try to get the wood hard, then after cutting it removed most of the CA and blended with very thin finish. The CA worked, with all of the above, but there was a slight difference in finish, in that area. In time it blended out with normal darkening from oils an dirt picked up off hand. But I still know it is there. After that I decided that 18-20 LPI is plenty fine enough for me and can only imagine what a job it was when I see anything like a Sauer double I came across with 28 and 32 LPI checkering. Beautiful job, massive panels with countless curves and points, but way above my pay grade.
