If you’re new to the art of crafting wooden chess pieces without the use of a lathe, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the correct techniques. Otherwise, you may end up producing pieces that lack uniformity, refinement, or the intended shape.
To help you out, let me provide you with a comprehensive guide of techniques and steps to get it right your first time!
10 Best Wood Types For Making the Chess Board and Pieces
1. Maple
Maple wood is a great option for carving wooden chess pieces due to its straight wood grain and fine texture, which adds a unique beauty to the finished product. The light color of the wood also enhances the appearance of the chessboard.
However, since Maple is very hard and dense, it requires sharp wood carving tools to carve chess pieces, especially if you do not have a lathe. The durability and strength of Maple wood make it also an excellent choice for making long-lasting chess pieces.
2. Erable
European Field Maple, or Erable, is an excellent wood choice for making wooden chess pieces. This hardwood can be easily shaped and cut using standard woodcarving tools, even without a lathe.
Erable wood possesses an attractive rich hue similar to honey, which can be improved even more by utilizing a high-quality sealant in the final finishing process. It produces a stunning deep-grained luster that varies in grain and sheen pattern depending on the angle and lighting.
3. Boxwood
Boxwood is an excellent wood choice for crafting a wooden chess board and carving chess pieces due to its hard and dense characteristics. Its light color adds a unique look to the finished product and ages beautifully to form a natural hue.
The quality of Boxwood varies according to its grade and price, which can affect the characteristics and pricing of the resulting wooden chess pieces.
Ebonized Boxwood is a cheaper alternative that maintains good quality, making it a great option for those on a budget. With staining, Ebonized Boxwood can achieve a solid black hue, giving it the same appeal as the expensive authentic Ebony wood and improving its value.
4. Aspen
This is an ideal wood choice for whittling wooden chess pieces without a lathe due to its softness, durability, and ease of carving. Its whittling-friendly nature allows for easy shaping, cutting, and curving using a whittling knife, and it also finishes easily.
One significant advantage of Aspen is its availability, making it an excellent option for the commercial production of wooden chess pieces and boards. Aspen wood has a creamy whitish color which contributes a one-of-a-kind aesthetic appeal to the chessboard.
It produces a smooth finish when made for wooden chess pieces without a lathe and holds its shape well, making it an ideal option for beginners in wood carving.
5. Birch
Birchwood is a popular choice for making chess boards white squares due to its light color. It is also a great option for making wooden chess pieces, with excellent durability that stems from its high density and hardness.
Birchwood is hard enough to require sharp wood carving tools but does not break apart easily. Woodworkers appreciate Birchwood’s natural pale color with a close grain pattern, making it easy to cut, shape, and stain.
6. Walnut
American walnut stands out as a superb option for crafting wooden chess pieces, thanks to its unique combination of purple, red, and yellow tones that remain unparalleled, even when compared to stained alternatives.
In addition to its attractive appearance, walnut is a versatile and sturdy wood commonly used for creating household furniture. Its straight or wavy grain adds to its durability. Walnut is also easy to polish and finish, allowing for customization with different stains or colors.
7. Mahogany
Mahogany is a strong and resilient wood favored by chess enthusiasts for making wooden chess pieces that can last a long time with minimal maintenance. While whittling mahogany can be difficult, making chess pieces without a lathe with practice is possible.
8. Sheeshan Golden Rosewood
Due to its versatility and attractive medium brown color, this material is highly sought after for creating chess sets, catering to both personal and commercial preferences.
It showcases an attractive texture with visible wood grain when polished with high-quality products. It’s an affordable option that is easy to cut, shape, and whittle due to its dimensional stability.
Moreover, properly sealed and finished wooden chess pieces from this material can last over ten years, making it a reliable and long-lasting option for chess enthusiasts.
9. Palisander
Palisander, commonly known as rosewood, is frequently regarded as a luxurious choice for fashioning wooden chess pieces due to its exquisite appearance and light coloration.
While it may come at a slightly higher cost, it proves to be a worthwhile investment for creating truly remarkable chess sets.
One of the unique features of Palisander is its uniform and dense grain, which can produce an attractive sheen when stained. This makes it a popular choice for creating chess boards, including squares.
10. Wenge
Wenge is a highly desirable wood for dark wood carvings due to its unique and deep dark color, among the darkest shades in natural wood. It also displays a purple hue in certain lighting conditions, which adds to its appeal.
Wenge is a cost-effective and sustainable option for creating black squares on chess boards and pieces, and it has a tight grain with a geometric appearance that enhances its aesthetic appeal.
While it is challenging to find due to its high cost and difficulty to glue due to resin cells, Wenge is a durable and workable wood, like the dark Indian Rosewood, that can be crafted into quality chess boards and pieces using push and pull cuts without a lathe.
Steps to Crafting Wood Chess Pieces Without Using Lathes
Tools & Materials
Wood
While any type of wood can be used, hardwoods such as cherry, oak, and maple are recommended.
Jigsaw/Hand Saw
Although a hand saw is necessary, a jigsaw will make the job more manageable.
Sandpaper
Various grits of sandpaper are needed to refine and shape the pieces.
Wood Finish
Several finishes are available, but beeswax and mineral oil are excellent choices.
Wood Glue
Glue is necessary to adhere the pieces together.
Other Materials
- Sheets of paper or a notepad in A4 size
- Measuring tool
- Writing instrument
- Abrasive paper with two levels of grit
- Protective handwear
- Substance for sealing
- Coloring liquid for wood
- Saw with pulling action
- Cutting tool for carving
Step #1: Think of the Design
To begin creating your wooden chess pieces without a lathe, it is crucial to research and gather a variety of designs from books or the internet.
Platforms such as Google or Pinterest images can provide inspiration and ideas for designing your queens, kings, bishops, rooks, knights, and pawns. Using an A4 paper or notebook to sketch out the designs is recommended.
For beginners, it is best to start with simple designs since complex ones require advanced carving tools and skills. When designing a specific chess piece, it’s important to consider the shape and size of the bottom, collar, shank, and head.
Carving complex shapes can be time-consuming, so it’s better to opt for simpler designs. Draw the final shape of each chess piece on paper with actual size dimensions in a 2D scale. This helps you to visualize the design on a 3D scale more easily.
Step #2: Start Cutting the Wood
Once you’ve settled on your designs, the subsequent step involves cutting the wood block. The table below provides the recommended dimensions for each chess piece and outlines the minimum size of the wood log required to craft them.
| Chess Piece | Recommended Size | Wood Log Size |
| Queen | 8.5cm by 4.30cm | 10.2cm by 6cm |
| King | 9.5cm by 4.80cm | 11.5cm by 6.5cm |
| Rook | 5.5cm by 3cm | 6.6cm by 4cm |
| Bishop | 7cm by 4 cm | 8.5cm by 5cm |
| Knight | 6cm by 3 cm | 7.2cm by 4cm |
| Pawn | 5cm by 3cm | 6cm by 4cm |
Step #3: Sand the Wood Pieces
One technique to make the wooden chess pieces without a lathe smooth and even is by sanding. First, use 80-grit sandpaper and sand in the direction of the grain with even pressure to remove bumps and ensure an even color.
Next, use 220-grit sandpaper for a smoother surface to make carving easier. Sanding opens the wood’s pores, allowing stains and sealants to absorb better. Clean the surface with a rag afterward to avoid clogging the carving tools.
Step #4: Carve the Pawn
Carving pawns can be challenging without a lathe, but with the right techniques, it is achievable. Always refer to the design in the notebook and identify areas that need to be deepened before carving the outline of the pawn.
The push-cut technique is used to carve pawns, starting from the head and working down to the bottom, collar, and shank. And stop cuts make it easier to separate lines. The chipping away technique is used for some exotic chess designs, like the Balinese chess style.
Remember to use a small piece of wood block larger than the standard size of the pawn.
Step #5: Carve the Knight
The hardest chess wood piece to carve without a lathe is the knight. Aside from complex curves, they all need to look identical.
First, ensure the knight’s base is thick and strong to give it a solid appearance. Thin out two opposite sides of the knight to give it an oval shape while keeping the other two thicker opposite sides.
Carve the rest of the knight using the push-cut strategy, starting from the top and middle parts and working down. Use chisels and a knife to add the mane details, which is the most challenging part to shape.
Check the symmetry of the knight to ensure that it matches the basic knight chess pieces, and add finishing touches such as making V cuts for the ears and pointy eyes.
Step #6: Carve the Bishop
Instead of just a thinly carved stick, use the stop-cut method to carve bishop pieces without a lathe. Start carving the bishop from top to bottom, with a rounded 3D oval shape for the head and a thin body.
Don’t forget to add a small angled V-cut on the right side of the bishop’s head, as this is the bishop’s signature.
To ensure the bishop remains stable and doesn’t tip over, it’s necessary for the base to have sufficient width and thickness. Since the bishop is relatively tall compared to its width, a sturdy and thick base is essential.
Additionally, to create a finished look, carving a small ball shape on top of the bishop’s head is important.
After carving, clean the bishop with a rag, stain it to your desired color, and seal it with a suitable finish. Remember, the bishop is different from the queen, so don’t add complex shapes and cuts to it.
Step #7: Carve the Rook
Carving a rook is straightforward compared to other chess pieces without a lathe. The basic shape of a rook resembles a small cube placed on top of a larger cube, with some lines as separators.
This simple design is ideal for beginners in woodcarving. However, if you are an expert, you can add more details to make the rook look more realistic. This can be achieved by adding four to six castle walls around the rook’s body.
To achieve this, carve out a hollow space inside the rook, then carve the outer circular shape while leaving gaps for the castle’s walls. Lastly, make a few cuts beneath the walls to enhance the rook’s appearance and add more intricate details.
For an impressive appearance, it’s recommended to make the rook appear bigger than the other chess pieces to resemble a castle on the chessboard.
Step #8: Carve the Queen
To carve the queen pieces without a lathe, use push-cuts for the head and stop-cut techniques for the base. The queen is larger and has more fine details than the bishop, and it should not be made by adding shapes to the bishop.
The queen and king are almost equal in height, and all other pieces should be smaller. Carve the queen by making cuts to give good depth to the head section.
Make the crown with V cuts and a wavy shape. Round or make a small circle on the wood log to avoid splitting, and use the chip carving method to shape it. Thin carefully to avoid breaking the wood, and be creative when carving the upper quarter area.
Step #9: Carve the King
To carve the king, follow the same steps as carving the queen but ensure the king is taller and larger than the knight. It’s recommended to make the king taller by a few inches because he is the leader of the chess set. Use stop cuts to carve the king’s head and make it look detailed.
The only difference between the queen and king is their head. Begin by carving a big piece of wood and utilizing the chip carving technique to shape it. Thin some areas to add layers and details, but be careful not to thin too much as it can split the wood.
Carve a shape in a wavy form for the king’s crown, add a cross, and carve it out by making cuts. Be creative when carving the upper quarter area of the king.
Step #10: Sealing the Chess Pieces
Now that you know how to make wooden chess pieces without a lathe, it’s time to finish and seal them.
You can use polyurethane, wax, or any finisher of your choice to enhance the appearance of the chess pieces. Polyurethane is especially good at improving the shine and making them look even more appealing.
Finishing and sealing protect the chess pieces by preventing moisture and water damage. They also hide any cracks, holes, or gaps in the wood. So, finishing and sealing the chess pieces is essential to ensure their longevity and preserve their beauty.
How Can You Make Faces On Your Chess Pieces?
Carving faces on your chess pieces without a lathe is a great way to add a personal touch to your set and make it stand out from other sets
Tools needed:
- A regular or hand-forged knife for splitting the wood.
- A carving knife for whittling the faces
To carve faces on your chess pieces, follow these steps:
- Ensure your wood logs are dry and soft before carving the faces, as cutting wet wood can be difficult.
- Use a knife to make rough cuts on the wood blocks to outline the faces, which will determine the shape of the face.
- Make straight cuts to create a mane or hair, especially for the queen, knight, and king.
- Smooth out the angular shape of the face and carve the eyes and pointy ears of the chess pieces using precise cuts.
- Use the carving knife to add intricacy to the chess pieces’ eyes, mouths, noses, and ears.
- After carving the faces of the chess pieces, ensure to wipe the surface clean and apply a suitable wood stain and finish.
How to Make A Chess Board By Hand
To make a chessboard or carve chess pieces by hand can be a rewarding woodworking project. Hardwood such as walnut, birch, aspen, boxwood, erable, and maple are the best wood for making a chessboard.
These woods are durable and have a beautiful grain pattern that will enhance the appearance of the chessboard. Here are the tools you need:
- Stain or paint for squares
- Wood with a minimum space of 1-inch allowance on all sides
- Tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Chisels
- V gouge
- Chip carving knife
Here are the steps to make a chessboard by hand:
- Start with a big piece of square wood and divide it into 8 squares.
- Each square should be bigger than a chess piece, with dimensions of around 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches.
- Purchase a 4-foot by 12-foot wooden board and cut it to your desired size using a hand saw.
- Carve the chess board using your preferred method. You can make round or sharp edges.
- Color the squares with stain, paint, or pyrography.
- Pyrography [1] or wood burning can provide an authentic look and precise coloring while sealing the board.
Ideal Thickness of A Wooden Chessboard
For the wooden chessboard, it’s advisable to use a thickness of ¾”, with individual squares measuring 2.5″ x 2.5″. The overall dimensions of the board should encompass 21″ x 21″.
Ultimately, the ideal thickness of a wooden chessboard should provide a sturdy and stable surface for the chess pieces to stand on while also fitting the aesthetic and practical needs of the user.
Ideal Weight of a Wooden Chess Set
To achieve the ideal weight for a chess set, it should weigh 3 1/8 pounds or 50 ounces. A standard chess set consists of 32 chess pieces, with each piece weighing approximately 1.47 ounces.
The weight of a chess set may vary depending on the materials used in its construction. Generally, a heavier chess set is more expensive because it is made from costly materials.
How Many Chess Pieces Are in a Set? What are Their Sizes?
A standard chess set includes 32 high-quality chess pieces, 16 for each player. The sizes of the chess pieces can vary, but the general dimensions of the pieces are as follows:
- King: 9.5cm by 4.80cm tall
- Queen: 8.5cm by 4.30cm tall
- Bishop: 7cm by 4 cm
- Knight: 6cm by 3 cm tall
- Rook: 5.5cm by 3cm tall
- Pawn: 5cm by 3cm tall
Read Next: How to Make Melamine Drawer Boxes
Conclusion
Mastering the art of crafting wooden chess pieces without the aid of a lathe demands patience, skill, and meticulous attention to detail. While the process of carving each individual piece can be time-intensive, the end result is a stunning, handcrafted set that possesses a distinct and cherished quality.
It’s essential to select the appropriate wood, adhere to the designated designs and measurements, and employ precise carving techniques when fashioning wooden chess pieces to achieve the finest possible results.
You've probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
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