Is it alright to let full bowls sit on top of boards for long periods of time for storage? My board is a single 6" thick piece of agathis with the typical painted top, and the bowls are wood and filled with size 36 stones, so quite heavy.

I think it's quite common to store the bowls on top of the board. I don't recall ever having rings left on the board by this.

I certainly don't regard it as something to be scared of.

If these are Japanese-style bowls, their bottom doesn't contain any sharp edges which could cause indentation, either.

They are Japanese style. You don't think the paint(?) on top might get worn over time, or the weight of the bowls might cause strain to the wood?

Tell me the size and thickness of the rings + mass of the bowl + picture of the top side of goban.

I will tell you if you need to worry

Maybe the damage starts to show in the second century of ownership? I wouldn't worry too much. People slamming stones leave much more wear in my experience.

I don't really mind that so much, though. Some marks of wear show that it has been used.

Ok, I'll put my worries aside. Thank you.



Haha, are you teasing?

Hello derpycat,
Nothing to fear probably.
But apart from weight and material, you may want to consider the storage location.

I can imagine that if your go set is exposed to direct sunlight, UV rays may impact the board, over time?
The area covered by the bowls will not be exposed to direct sunlight. Same like my wooden floor in our living room discolours over time unevenly because of sun & shadow.

many high-end boards come with a cover (either light-soft wood, or thick cloth), to protect the board itself.

I don't know what kind of set up derpycat has. Thing is: he should be aware that it is wise to store it away from direct sunlight exposure and/or protect it with some kind of cover.

I think the biggest fear you should have it that by storing it in such a way you are not using it. That means that there is a good chance your skills are declining. Get that board out and, at the very least, practice tsumego!

_________________
Still officially AGA 5d but I play so irregularly these days that I am probably only 3d or 4d over the board (but hopefully still 5d in terms of knowledge, theory and the ability to contribute).

Pads.

And play.

No, I am not teasing.

In Japan, bowls can be stored on top of the uncovered board. If you look at videos from the NHK tournament you will see that the bowls are on top of the uncovered board before the game starts. After bows both players take their bowls off the board and put them on the floor. You will notice that the players do not slide the bowl on the board surface. That is good practice to avoid scratches. For longer time storage good floor boards have both a cloth cover and then, over that, a pawlownia wood cover. Pawlownia wood is soft, like balsa wood, and it protects the board from things dropped on it.

I do tsumego on it sometimes, but it's mostly tucked away at the moment because I just moved and I don't know anyone I can play around here . The board is definitely kept out of direct sunlight, though no expensive covers or cases. Maybe I'll put a linen cloth over it or something.

Thanks everyone for the help.