Comments on: Turning a Chess Set

By: Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:59:08 +0000

Apologies. I have re-read the blog and clearly I missed a section. To answer my own question – a combination of the indexing system and a carving knife were used.

By: Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:55:28 +0000

I enjoyed reading through your account of the design and production of the chess set. You do not specifically mention how you achieved what appears in the illustration to be a ‘facetted’ crown for the King and Queen. Was this done on the lathe and if so how how did you achieve the effect?

By: Chess set literature « Trial and Error

Chess set literature « Trial and Error — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:03:45 +0000

[...] internet provides some instant gratification while waiting for the book to arrive. Edwards Smith talks through the process of turning a set of chessmen in great detail. I’ll follow in his [...]

By: Edwards Smith

Edwards Smith — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:12:41 +0000

Dear Greg:

Thanks for your kind words. The more you do the better you get. Since chess pieces are small you can afford to
replace earlier trials with better specimens.

Sincerely,
Edwards

By: Greg McAteer

Greg McAteer — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:19:16 +0000

I am just about to buy a lathe and start woodturning with my 10 year old son. One of my aims is to get good enough to turn a chess set and stumbling across your site has been inspirational – so thank you very much – I hope I am just a fraction as good as you and I will be happy!
Regards,
Greg

By: Edwards Smith

Edwards Smith — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:56:40 +0000

Dear Kirk:

Thanks so much for the feedback. Glad you found the blog entry inspirational. It was the design that took the most work for me. Making the pieces was simple. Wood is very durable and ever so much more fun than plastic. My student is a collector and has a number of chess sets but I have not had any complaints from him about the pieces breaking. I hope you turn a set for yourself and your students.

Edwards

By: Kirk

Kirk — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:59:06 +0000

Beautiful! I am a teacher and run a chess club here at school. I ‘accidentally’ stumbled onto your site, as I’m trying my skills in wood turning. My students keep breaking the plastic chessmen, and I thought, “Hey, what if..?”
I agree with you that the Staunton Knight is somewhat an over-rated piece and doesn’t seem to fit with the other pieces. I was thinking of using a type of Crusader’s Helm for the knight.
How did your student like the pieces?

By: Chuck Ellis

Chuck Ellis — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:43:26 +0000

Hi, My wife passed your site along to me… I just recently bought Darlow’s book about turning chessmen… I plan to do a set in the not too distant future.

By: Edwards Smith

Edwards Smith — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:38:14 +0000

I would be most happy to help you. It might help if you tell me about your woodworking
skills and equipment.

By: Llorens Peiro-Llinares

Llorens Peiro-Llinares — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:00:38 +0000

I like learn turning and craft chessmen. Can you guide to me? Thank you very much