Mid Century Modern DIY Chess Pieces
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- čas přidán 15. 05. 2024
- My son loves to play chess and I have no idea how to play. So I decided to build a chess set!
I originally thought of turning these on the lathe but quickly gave up on that plan, as I lack the skills to do so. But I am a huge fan of modern art and minimalist objects. And started to do some research and eventually came across a set created by Lanier Graham in 1966 and fell in love with its simplicity and really enjoyed how all of the pieces fit in a tiny little box.
This build is Part 1 of 2 and may likely contain an optional Part 3 which would be a box to hold the chess pieces.
What I really like about this set is that the dimensions are not terribly specific.
In my case, I chose to go with chess pieces that were 20mm by 20mm, so a Pawn would end up being 20mm cubed.
I will give the dimensions of each piece in terms of blocks, allowing you to adjust the piece size if you wish.
Checkout the Chessboard build here: • How to Make a Modern C...
~ Sizing and Dimensions ~
Because I started with the chess pieces I wasn't concerned too much about the size of the pieces, but make sure to check and confirm the official rules of Chess. I think your pieces are supposed to be about 25% smaller than the squares they go on. 1” square would be a ¾” piece.
Pawn - 1x1 block
Rook - 1x2 block
Knight - 1x2 block
Bishop - 1x2 block
Queen & King - 1x6 block, plus the kerf of your bandsaw or hand saw blade
~ Now we will need to do some layout ~
The Pawns are simple, create a cube
The Rook is also super simple, create a block 1x2
For the Knight, I made a mark in the middle and divided the width essentially creating a lap joint.
The Bishop is a 45-degree angle starting at one end and should end in the middle of the piece.
The King and Queen are a bit different, find the middle and draw a 45-degree line on both sides of the half so that you have a V.
~ Final Steps ~
Once everything has been cut out and obviously for each colour of the wood ( I chose maple and walnut, but you could use any contrasting woods ) it was time for a lot of sanding. Because this chess set is “Modern” we want to maintain the sharp edges so break the edges but do not round them.
I applied a few coats of Tung oil, it was rather daunting applying then cleaning off the excess oil but it turned out amazing!
Keep an eye out for Part 2 where I build the Chessboard!
• How to Make a Modern C...
I hope you enjoyed this one, and please if you haven’t already, please like 👍 and subscribe 😁
You can also check this out on the blog
imamaker.ca/2019/07/mid-centu...
imamaker.ca/2019/09/maple-and...
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Tools Used:
Thickness Planer
Band Saw
Table Saw
80 Tooth crosscut blade
Sand Paper
Tung oil
Rotring 800 Pencil
Square
Ruler
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
2:13 - Chess piece layout
7:56 - Sanding…
8:12 - Applying finish
9:00 - Chess piece layout
9:58 - Cleaning up the pieces
#maker #woodworking #diy #reclaimed #scrap wood #chess
Thank you Jordan for helping out with the camera work 😄 - Jak na to + styl
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Thanks ❤️
Oh my god. I thought this was cool from the start, but when they stacked together like that... next level. I love this.
haha, i need to make a box for them now :)
Love this design, cannot think anything more minimalistic, elegant and functional!
Thanks so much!
first i was like: this makes a really cool chess set. then you stacked them together in a perfect rectangle and it blew my mind. absolutely beautiful, man!
Lol, thanks!
Wow.. simple and great. I love the way you can store it like a puzzle!
Outstanding Work Pal!💐
Elegence in simplicity. I very much like this.
Wow this video is awesome, I love that they all stack so neatly together
Thanks, I need to make a box for them. Thas on the to-do list :)
Excellent work. Thank you for sharing your talents 👏👏🌈🇭🇲😀♟👏👏👏
Great work! Simple and elegant, I love it.
Thanks so much, it was a fun build as well!
That's beautiful and I love it how you can put it in a box!
Thanks! You he box will be a future prolactin for sure!
Beautiful design.. Unique pieces and well thought out ! Nice video too
Thanks so much!
I started with Part2, and finish with this one. very good job on the design of the pieces very modern!
haha, I really wasn't sure what order to build them. I made the board last because I wasn't sure how large to make it.
Thanks for watching!
Holy moly that's next level chess. Love that they stack together!
Thanks, I ant to build a nice box for them.
Awww. That looks so simple but genius!!! Def going to try to make it myself
Awesome! Let me know if you do!
Rocking on Rolling on this build mate 💪💪💪 to you 🎥🔨👍
Thank you sir :)
Next level of coolness. Great job.
Thanks so much for watching!
@@heyimamaker what wood were used for this project?
@@droneguy69 Maple for the light and Walnut for the dark.
this is fantastic! inspired to make something like this! i've been hella caught up on how to make simple-ish pieces
Skateboard pieces or a skateboard chessboard would be awesome!!!!
I love this (even though I suck at chess) I like how you did all the proportions and how it stacks together. It's really clean looking. Great job!! 👍🍻
Lol, I still have no idea how to play :)
really nice video! Love the process
Thanks so much!
Oh! When that gorgeous rotring makes an appearance! 😍
No but really great video and phenomenal chess set!! The stacking! Absolutely brilliant! It floored me! So so good!
Thank you, my friend! 🥪
Genius!!! The best!
Well done!
Thanks :)
I really like these. I built a chess board out of plywood for one of my very first videos, but haven't made any pieces for it yet...so clever how they fit together in a rectangle!
Lol, i made the pieces before I made the board :)
The design was nice and simple, its from MoMa.
Two games in one Chess and a puzzle when you put the game away. Love the design!
I really should see if I can turn some chess pieces, good idea!
Nicee ! I would love to see also some box for the pieces.. ❤
Sounds like a good spring project!
at the end you surprised me.... they create a rectangle! nice job... looking forward to see part 2
Part 2 should be out in a few days if I get the time to finish the edit ;)
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I bet this is the one of the best DIY on how to make chess peices...... and Hey! Maker
it's my pleasure to click your's DIY on it,,,, Good luck
Thanks for the kind words :)
Hermoso lo que hiciste, compadre
this is amazing, just one small detail only nerds like me will see: Since we are looking from the hites perspective tge left white rook is on A1 that means that the King is on D1 when its supposed to be on E1 and the Queen on D1 but its still amazing keep it up!
Thanks, I appreciate the comment :)
I Google the board setup, and thought I did it correctly but someone point out my error on Reddit 😂
WOW bravo!!! Your a genius!!
Thanks!
Les choses les plus simples,sont les meilleures.
Bravo jolie travail 👍
Merci!
@@heyimamaker 😉😉
Parabéns excelente trabalho! Very Good!
Dunking the pieces in the can to finish them was brilliant!! I would have been trying to rub it on each piece!!
lol, ain't no one got time for hand finishing these things 😄
Great idea, great talent. Could be a wonky Rubix Cube, I may make these for kids on the street as a puzzle and chess set. Thanks
Thanks so much Allan, and let me know how it goes if you decide to make a set!
Beauty chess board
After reading the description, I was going to look up the set you mentioned by Lanier Graham, but I will wait for part 2 as I really enjoyed this. Will you be making a board? :) What a great way to connect with your son. I played chess as a child with my Dad and I loved it. He was a brilliant player :) Blessings to you all there ॐ
Thanks!
I'm slowly editing the Board video now :) Hope to get it done in a few days.
@@heyimamaker I look forward to it ॐ
This is very cool!! My wife and I both be play chess. Well she's been on me since she saw Lanier Graham's about 6 months ago. Okay!! All the "Honey doo" wood work projects stopped.
I'm making the pieces slightly larger..(she found this old hardwood board with 2"/50mm squares!)..
Kudos 👍👍👍
Have fun learning with your son!!!
Awesome, let me know how it goes!
@@heyimamaker 😎 I have the set done!
My wife is a little physically challenged in her hands and wanted the spec's to be in her grip, so to speak. I grabbed a few of the thicker than normal rough sawn pieces I have, 2 1/2" x 3 1/4"and went to work.
After cleaning, and jointing with the 10", I decided to go with 1 3/4" as standard cube for her. She loves the size and weight. The set will be part of a games table I am making as well. Why not? Lol 😆!
Backgammon, Chess, Checkers, Dice, and cards. The field is composed of 2 1/4" squares. The Chess pieces are pine, and I will stain one set DARK walnut(what I have...) leave the other plain and finish all in linseed oil.
Almost there!!!
Well, much time later... I am unable to put a photo here....lol! I did some simple saw kerf embellishments on the major pieces. The wife loves them and they look cool 😎!
@@johnwhitley2898 that's awesome! I'm actually going to make another set this weekend if all goes according to plan.
@@heyimamaker Good Show!!! That's really cool!
You know, this woodworking thing is pretty addictive..... I awfully glad that the twelve step program for getting better, is MORE projects!!!!! 😂🤣!
@@johnwhitley2898 It's good to have a change for sure!
Very cool project! Just a note on safety: Gloves should never be worn when using the table saw. Cheers
I've made a giant chess set out of this concept! Floor standing chess, 39 inch King!!!
Amazing! did you use wood?
@@heyimamaker yes
Nice but how do you keep track of which ones are which!?
C'est quoi la marque de vôtre équerre en métal ? Merci!
I'd love to have the patterns and/or dimensions. Thanks!
Hello Joe, I have a bit more detail over here imamaker.ca/2019/07/29/mid-century-modern-chess-pieces-part-1/
@@heyimamaker That's a great help. Thanks!
@@joewoodchuck3824 no problem!
@@heyimamaker I need a project like this. I must get 6' of 1" square trim.
If I only still had access to a milling machine.
Nice set, have you ever seen the specially designed smaller fat chess pieces? They were like little overweight chessmen, the base of the pieces are the same as a normal set, maybe a little bigger, but the height was about half the size with robust proportions making them look fat. I haven't seen them in some time.
No, I did do some searching and saw quite a few interesting sets. There was one that had rounded bottoms and the board squares were also rounded so they always stayed centered but would wobble.
@@heyimamaker I believe the chessstore.com used to carry them for a limited time. There's endless possibilities when it comes to designs for Chessboards and Chessmen. Your set there looks like it could actually be used in real play.
@@slowlearnerschessclub7983 Thanks, I'm glad that you like it :)
Just an idea, to make sure the rook, knight, and bishop don't get confused, which could happen if turned wrong or looking straight on from the back, put a notch in the middle of the bishop representing the mitre, and two notches one on each side of the top representing ears for the knights, and then the big block of course then would clearly be the rook.
Please don't think I'm nitpicking, just the practical chessplayer coming out.
@@slowlearnerschessclub7983 Not at all, I like constructive feedback :)
I thought the pointy one was going the be the king and the V shaped ones was going to be the queen, but based on how he set them up at the end it’s the other way around
I could be wrong but the queen is usually the tallest piece, but I think I also have the king and queen in the wrong locations. Someone pointed out that I started in the wrong coloured square.
@@heyimamaker the king should be a "phallus" and the queen a chalice
I suppose he'll use a hologram board.
But I also made a Chess board 😜
I think you used a template
Not sure what you mean.
I’ve seen someone use a template that’s literally the same as this set, did you make the template?
@@sosotik In the description, I mentioned that its a chess set was originally designed by Lanier Graham in the late 60's but I just made them from site. If you like, message me I wouldn't mind seeing the other set.
WTF are you doing? How you are operating the table saw is absolutely NOT SAFE. If you do that in your shop, fine. But don't show that stuff on yt.
You don't agree with a push block and a cross cut sled?
Why not offer some sage advice rather than a blanket statement about safety.
ugly. I prefer the classic pieces
If you ever get confident enough to try to make the pieces on the lathe, I would recommend the Yves Tanguy style as it's pretty minimalistic. I learned about the style from WoodYouMakeIt here on CZcams and have been able to make a few sets in that style with my limited lathe skills.
I might be able to make some, but they would not be very consistent 😂
I'll checkout that channel!
@@heyimamakerGoing for consistency is definitely a struggle especially when you have a tool that can tell you exactly how much you messed up haha. Pretty just have to accept a certain amount of error though.