Chess Material

I need suggestions as to what is a good material to turn the white, light colored figures of a chess set. I have tried hard Maple but the density is too soft for the detail I desire. The darker pieces are to be turned from Babinga. The tallest figure will be less then 3 inches.

Thanks,

MGH

Reply to
MGH
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First time I've ever heard hard maple described as being too soft for any purpose. My guess is, you don't have hard maple at all.

There's a simple test to tell hard maple and soft maple apart: you can dent soft maple with your fingernail, but not hard maple.

BTW, density and hardness are not the same thing.

Reply to
Doug Miller

You could try basswood, very light color and is the most popluar wood used by carvers because it holds detail very well. It is easy to carver or turn and works well.

Randy

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Reply to
randyswoodshoop

He thinks hard maple is too soft, and you suggest he try basswood instead?

Reply to
Doug Miller

I'm with you. Hard maple is usually rejected for practical use as "too hard" for much of anything besides cutting boards.

I think he is looking for something more dense, not "harder". Maybe look into some seasoned white oak if he doesn't mind the grain, or even some beech.

Robert

Reply to
nailshooter41

Holly is often used for this. It is a white wood.

Reply to
Gerald Ross

IMO, it would be difficult to find a wood better suited to his stated purpose than hard maple. I think the wood he has is *soft* maple.

Reply to
Doug Miller

Box/boxwood also suits, if you can get the stuff. Expensive, but very hard, and among the traditional woods for the purpose. FWIW, I would agree that the OPs hard maple is mislabeled soft maple.

Distinctly lighter rather than dead white is the rule for most woods - Holly is one of the few that is both somewhat hard and really white. Tagua might be an option, but tagua that large is not anything I'm aware of being out there. Even a pure white wood will not stay white if the set is actually used, of course.

Basswood is loved by carvers in part becasue it's very soft and light, easy to carve - so not at all what the OP is looking for.

Reply to
Ecnerwal

You're statement "...the density is too soft..." doesn't follow. Either you're looking for something *hard* or something that's denser than maple so the pieces have some weight to them.

Lead is *very* dense but soft. Density doesn't equate to hardness.

I've got a hand-turned chess set. The pieces are weighted with lead in the base to give them the desired weight and then covered with felt. I submit that this may be a reasonable solution for you as well.

~Mark.

Reply to
Woody

In message , Ecnerwal writes

The Holly I have is in general, almost white, sort of polar white rather than Arctic White. There are also pieces with a green tinge ( I Suspect Oxidation of some sort)

One problem is when it comes to finishing. As soon as you apply sanding sealer, you will see how non clear the sealer is. CA is an excellent option or Poly

Reply to
John

Catalpa, fine grain and white. Good for carving.

Mart> On Jan 21, 7:16 am, snipped-for-privacy@milmac.com (Doug Miller) wrote: >

Reply to
Martin H. Eastburn

Thanks for input. You suggestion of Yellow Mulberry is worth a try. I have several Mulberry trees and I'll never miss one or at least some branches. I don't know if these are the Yellow Mulberry though. I'll have to grab the saw and trudge through the snow.

I have some Pecan and Hickory and was thinking of giving these a try as well as other wood types and bleaching.

MGH

Reply to
MGH

I still think the maple you have is soft maple, not hard maple. Did you try the fingernail test I suggested?

Reply to
Doug Miller

I haven't done any chess pieces in quite a while. I would however recommend white holly or alternative ivory. Holly is fairly dense and holds detail well, but is sometimes hard to find. Alternative Ivory is a man made material that looks like ivory and will hold excellent detail. It is a bit more expensive than wood, but would give you the excellent detail holding quality you need and it makes a very attractive chess piece. I originally purchased my supply from a place in England, but I believe that Craft Supplies USA carries the material in smaller pieces than you can purchase it in from England.

Fred Holder

Reply to
woodturner

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