Turning chess pieces

So, I can’t answer your questions, but I am thanking you for starting this blog. I am in the process of creating a chess set for my daughter.
The questions I have about turning pieces for the set would be about the ratio of height and foot print to the size of the board? Is there a ratio for the height of the pawn to the queen and king? If there is a ratio, is it written down some where?
I plan on turning the pawns, the rooks, the bishop, and start with turning the kings and queens. I will most likely cut the basic shape of the knight on the band saw and then carve the features. I am planning on letting my daughter do the carving, after I buy her a Kevlar glove for her left hand.
Here is a link from LJ Chessnut.

-- Mel

I’m not aware of an “official” way. Most commercially produced ones use profiled cutters in one piece. That or a duplicator where there is a pattern to follow.

If I were doing it by hand, I would have a card with notches for each feature and mark a line on the blank for each to get the size the same.

-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/

http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archives/nov_dec00/html/money_maker.htm

-- It must be jelly baby, cause jam don't shake like that...

PSI does have a duplication set that has all the chess pieces in it. that my be an option…

-- look Ma! I still got all eleven of my fingers! - http://www.termitecrafts.com

I don’t know anything about turning. But from the recent pieces you post I think you can do it.

Please post your progress; I, for one, will be folowing.

I fully agree with Ianwater. You can turn anything my friend!

Personally, I would turn the lower parts, flatten the upper sides and scrollsaw or band saw the top parts to shape (knights and towers).

Best,

Serge

http://atelierdubricoleur.wordpress.com

-- Learn from yesterday, work today and enjoy success tomorrow. -- http://atelierdubricoleur.wordpress.com

Hello

To all thanks for the comments, the link and your encouragement

to continue …..

Thanks

-- Diggerjack-France ---The only limit is the limit of the mind and the mind have no limit

I posted a chess set awhile back if you want to look at it. For the knight I turned the base then used a scrollsaw to shape the horse by doing a 3D cut. The hardest piece I found to do was the pawns. If you have 8 pawns standing in a row the least difference will show. I made one then used it as a pattern, using capilers to transfer the highs and lows. I made a few pawns that I just had to toss out, sometimes even the color of two pieces of maple will be different and not look right. However, it was alot of fun turnig the set, it is a challange. Good luck with yours.

-- Tom D