Thread: Staunton Chess Set

That would end in a jiu-jitsu match for sure. sans the chess pieces.

Ok... some small development.

regarding the Kings Finial.
I've not given up reproducing the original, yet. But in the mean time I've knocked up these two options.
A soldiers helmet spike and a basic cross.
Shown next the a queen for perspective.

King 2 options.jpgKing 2 options cross.jpg

I think i will turn both in walnut too and owing to the fact that they are friction fit, are interchangeable so players may choose their preferred King.

Any input on the cross, in regards to the overall look?

Steve

Hi Steve

I'm really enjoying following your progress.

For the King's finial, could you start with a rectangular blank, say 10mm x 5mm, and shape the crown before turning the round bits?

Ian, yeah I guess i could, but I've been trying a few different things and have nailled down a process that is working for me ATM.

1. Hold 25mm square blank in chuck, support with live center
2. Turn a small section at live center end to 12mm diameter
3. Establish heights of bead, diameter of vertical section and taper of the tennon
4. Turn profile excluding tiny bead at top 3mm diameter.
5. Arrange my expensive indexing system to match grain direction
6. File flats on both sides being careful not to mar the bead
7. Sand
8. Turn tiny bead on top and cut off with skew
9. Finish

Too many options to explore... or I'm procrastinating as I do not know where to start on the knights!

King 3 options.jpgKing 3 options fancy.jpg

Great work, I think I prefer the cross over the finial. Of the two crosses I am leaning toward the first one you posted. I really like the contrast between the cross and the body of the king in the second pic in the previous post
Still looking forward to seeing how you tackle the knights

I prefer the cross over the point and the first cross. Looks more solid.

To my eye the cross looks far nicer than the finial (which looks Germanic) edit...like a pickelhaube.
John

Yep i agree. sometimes simple is much nicer. and it's easier too!

Scanned my "templates" thought you guys might like to see how i do it?

Finalised a finial today for the kings. going with the basic frugal cross. It's the nicest for sure.

And started the knight! gee I've been putting this off!
photo below. )

img055.jpg

IMG_4265.jpg

Here are the Kings, finished. and all the others minus the knights...

Finished Kings.jpg

Chess men sans knight cropped.jpg

Horses heads. Have I seen them turn a head profile ring from endgrain then split them off radialy ? So you get 50 heads per ring, enough to master the finish carving. Phil

Originally Posted by pommyphil

Horses heads. Have I seen them turn a head profile ring from endgrain then split them off radialy ? So you get 50 heads per ring, enough to master the finish carving. Phil

Hi phil,
Yeah I have read something similar,,, petty neat trick

Update...

It's official, I stink at carving. So i haven't been successful at all!
So i'm going o try the bandsaw technique next with an altered design. simpler (

Anyway, here are some update pictures of the rest of the process.

Visiting my father during the xmas holiday he organised some lead shot for me to use as weight, I had previously thought of using a section of steel, but reading some reviews on some other "weighted" pieces, some complained about splitting, which i quickly identified as a wood movement issue with a non-flexible centre. So i thought that the lead shot would be a great way to add the weight and allow movement, in the future.

IMG_4309.jpg
Lead shot.

IMG_4310.jpg
Mixed with no more gaps, they should stay flexible for years.
IMG_4311.jpg
a few at a time, as the starts to go off quickly, and filling the holes neatly was a little time consuming
IMG_4312.jpg
Drying
IMG_4348.jpg
I pick up a kangaroo hide on ebay from a guy in QLD. Previously i was talking about felt, etc. which where great and common place but i've spent way to long on these little suckers already. So I up'd the ante, and pulled the tiger on the roo leather.
IMG_4349.jpgIMG_4350.jpg
At the same time i needed a way to cut consistent circles, of different sizes, a qick search on ebay and i got this great circle cutter on ebay from Hong Kong, (free freight for about $10, bargin, It's great and allows circles, from 19mm to 100+mm
It does a great job and the wife and kids can use it for craft too!
IMG_4351.jpgIMG_4352.jpg
Glued the bases on.
Very happy with the finished pieces. They are very luxurious!

Might get around the knights before Christmas next year!
Procrastinating owing to my lack of confidence with carving. The Bandsaw method will go better i know... I hope.

Happy Easter

Steve

Great to hear from you again Steve.

I love the leather circle cutter. Much neater than a pair of scissors.

You must be pretty handy with a small skew after all that turning. Your pieces look great.

I have done a bit of carving but a small piece like you knight with fine detail would be a big challenge for me. I tried to carve a lion's head on end grain Oak once but it wasn't pretty.
You could ask Underfoot in the carving Forum. He is a fantastic carver. I think he is even bigger than you so he will understand the challenge of big mits holding small pieces of timber.

Last week I was driving through Gosford and saw your old shop and wondered what you were up to. Cowra is a good area, I am sure you enjoy living there.

Good luck with the Knight.