I'm currently making a chess set made out of two broom handles! I'm using a angle grinder to carve the pieces. What can I say its boring being home all day with the covid 19 pandemic going on. I really enjoy other peoples home made diy chess pieces, if you have any pictures please share!
How about some pictures of your set in process?
Full disclaimer...These pics are crap. And...it's not a chess set but a Hnefatafl or "Viking chess". I love your avatar notmtwain! My version of berzerkers are wearing bear skins. Obviously, I'm not finished yet and the pics are in various stages of production. Some haven't been carved, sanded etc. and none have been stained. I have the wood for a board but that will be last. I'm worried the chain mail won't show up enough on the backs of the rounded top ones. Fingers crossed. I'll hollow out the kings crown as I did in the practice piece with a paddle bit. Here goes and try not to laugh. 
It's my first attempt at this kind of thing.
I'm currently making a chess set made out of two broom handles! I'm using a angle grinder to carve the pieces. What can I say its boring being home all day with the covid 19 pandemic going on. I really enjoy other peoples home made diy chess pieces, if you have any pictures please share!
How about some pictures of your set in process?
I only have four pawns so far. I have to make the pieces a bigger next time!
Full disclaimer...These pics are crap. And...it's not a chess set but a Hnefatafl or "Viking chess". I love your avatar notmtwain! My version of berzerkers are wearing bear skins. Obviously, I'm not finished yet and the pics are in various stages of production. Some haven't been carved, sanded etc. and none have been stained. I have the wood for a board but that will be last. I'm worried the chain mail won't show up enough on the backs of the rounded top ones. Fingers crossed. I'll hollow out the kings crown as I did in the practice piece with a paddle bit. Here goes and try not to laugh. It's my first attempt at this kind of thing.
They look awesome! I'm thinking of buying woodcarving knives to make Hnefatafl pieces
Full disclaimer...These pics are crap. And...it's not a chess set but a Hnefatafl or "Viking chess". I love your avatar notmtwain! My version of berzerkers are wearing bear skins. Obviously, I'm not finished yet and the pics are in various stages of production. Some haven't been carved, sanded etc. and none have been stained. I have the wood for a board but that will be last. I'm worried the chain mail won't show up enough on the backs of the rounded top ones. Fingers crossed. I'll hollow out the kings crown as I did in the practice piece with a paddle bit. Here goes and try not to laugh. It's my first attempt at this kind of thing.
They look awesome! I'm thinking of buying woodcarving knives to make Hnefatafl pieces
Thanks...I use a dremel tool with a small ball bit. I don't have the skill or patience for knives. Good luck with your set and be sure to post up the finished product!
I made a couple of chessboards to keep me busy as well. Pretty easy project and they turned out well.
I made a couple of chessboards to keep me busy as well. Pretty easy project and they turned out well.
They look really good!
Exxellent, I am impressed, I have always wanted to make a set myself, you may just have inspired me to finally do so!!!
Looks like a fun project! The pawns look good.
i have set that was gifted to me made from nuts and bolts. if i was to make my own set i think my first attempt would be one of them.
https://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/151795/make-a-nuts-and-bolts-chess-set/
Made these during the shutdown. Chess pieces are Cherry and Walnut
Made these during the shutdown. Chess pieces are Cherry and Walnut
Very nice!
I made a couple of chessboards to keep me busy as well. Pretty easy project and they turned out well.
Thank you! I look forward to seeing your pieces finished. They look like they'll turn out great.
They look really good!
I made a couple of chessboards to keep me busy as well. Pretty easy project and they turned out well.
WOW these are excellent! They look perfect!
@ChessAlliance, Thanks! They were fairly straightforward to make, just spray paint.
@ChessAlliance, Thanks! They were fairly straightforward to make, just spray paint.
Did you use a stencil?
@michaelcausey7, here's how I did it:
I started with a 1/2" birch panel and 1/2" poplar square dowels.
I mitered the dowels, then used glue and brad nails to attach to the sides. This covered up the plywood edges. Then sanded.
I stained the entire board to even the color, but didn't do a good job wiping away or sanding off the excess glue in the previous steps.
I taped the border, painted the field "Heirloom White" and marked off 2.25" squares.
Then I masked half of the dark squares and painted them "Midnight Blue." When those dried I masked off the other half and painted them.
My original idea included a thin color border in the wood, so it helped hide my glue mistake, but not completely.
I then added about 10 coats of satin finish polyurethane to finish it.
Even though it's not perfect (there are some paint mistakes, the lines aren't perfect, and I should have sanded more than I did) I am happy with the board. It was a good project and I am using it. I don't have process photos of the green squared board, but it was the same - though I did learn from my mistakes and it came out a bit better.
The neat thing is this is easy enough and you have the freedom to design it and pick colors that will really compliment the pieces you're building.
I'm currently making a chess set made out of two broom handles! I'm using a angle grinder to carve the pieces. What can I say its boring being home all day with the covid 19 pandemic going on. I really enjoy other peoples home made diy chess pieces, if you have any pictures please share!