Wooden Chess Set

This is a set of plans for making wooden chess pieces using basic woodworking tools, no lathe work is required. The pieces are made from 7 mm plywood and round pine dowels in various sizes, plus a few other items obtainable from craft suppliers. The plans cover a standard chess set, plus 3 extra pieces which are used for Chinese Chess ( XiangQi )

LIST OF PARTS

For a basic chess set : 37 mm diameter plywood discs, 7mm thick , cut with a hole saw : 48

25 mm diameter plywood discs as above : 18

Pine Dowel 19 mm diameter : 650 mm

Pine Dowel 6 mm diameter : 1500 mm

12 mm diameter wooden beads : 24

15 mm wooden cubes : 8

7 mm plywood 100 mm x 400 mm

Tools, etc. : Electric Drill, Hole saws, 37 mm & 25 mm diameter & Coping Saw

Files & Sandpaper, Wood Glue, Dark Wood Stain, Urethane Oil Varnish

Felt, dressmaking pins & 6 mm lead balls [ optional ]

The plan shows the assembly of the parts. The two dowel sections are drilled through their centres with a 6.5 mm hole to fit over the central dowel. Beginning with the base, the 6 mm x 75 mm dowel is glued in, followed by the remaining pieces. The cross on the top is cut from 7 mm plywood. The construction of all the other pieces is similar to the King.

The 6 pieces which make up the crown can be made from ice block sticks. I made 2 White and 2 Black Queens to allow for Pawns being promoted.

The 7-sided block on the top is cut from a 15 mm wood cube, with two cuts going from the diagonal of one face to the corner of the opposite face. ( If 15 mm wood blocks are not available, you could make them by laminating two 15 mm x 15 mm pieces of 7 mm plywood ). The rhombic pieces are cut from 7 mm plywood.

The horse's head is made from 2 identical parts cut from 7 mm plywood with a coping saw. Details such as mane, eyes & mouth can be added as desired with a narrow file or utility knife.

Construction method is similar to the King and Queen.

Construction is straightforward in the usual way.

XiangQi or Chinese Chess is played with Elephants, Cannons and Guards ( also known as Advisers or Mandarins ). An excellent game, equally as intriguing as western chess and well worth learning.

FINISHING

The Black pieces can be stained with a dark wood stain, and all pieces finished with 3 coats of urethane oil varnish. If desired, the bases may be weighted with small lead balls ( fishing sinkers ) to give them a better feel. The sinkers can be glued into holes drilled in the base. After this, circles of felt can be glued to the bases. I used some dressmaking pins to add "pearls" and eyes to the pieces, but this is also optional.