Chesspiece Prototypes - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

azbison · 02-14-2008, 07:57 PM

I'm using a $30 used Delta 40-530 saw with #5 Olson PGT blades. Here are a few protypes I've made trying to figure out the best saw/blade/jig configuration, as well a few different piece designs. I've played with Padauk, Walnut, Maple, and Zebrawood...

Enjoy

minowevie · 02-14-2008, 08:42 PM

Shazammm. Wow. those are great. are those your patterns also. those look great. For Sure. welcome to are group there azbison. Nice compound cuts . tell us about your self. and stick around. Evie

snatiep · 02-14-2008, 08:43 PM

Hi Azbison!

They look great! I'm about to start cutting a full set of chess pieces now that I have the chess board done.

Are you glueing up the stock to cut the chess pieces, or do you have full chunks to cut from.

I have some 3/4" Padauk that I might glue up to cut some pieces from.

How was the Walnut to work with? I also have some larger pieces of Walnut I might cut the dark pieces out of. I see you used a #5 blade, that cut the walnut alright!

azbison · 02-14-2008, 09:03 PM

Well, not much to tell, I'm a manager at a large IT company and work at home. My four car garage was calling me so I got my table saw out and built whiteboard easels for Christmas presents. That got me going and I built a jewelry box out of Cherry for my niece. That turned out so nice, I had to do a chessboard, I have that done and now I need pieces. I tried carving by hand, that didn't work. I tried carving with a Dremel, that didn't work. I tried sanding them into shape, that didn't work. So I found this old scroll saw, I had to take it completely apart and scrub the rust off of it and lube it and put some new hardware on it, and started working on chess pieces. The bishop was article #1 and it convinced me that was the way to go. I started looking for patterns and the advice I got was make your own. So I have about 7 different patterns now, The zebrawood queen you see is from my neo-classic pattern, the bishop from my classic, and the martian with an onion dome hasn't found a home yet, but I'm working on it.

I live in Arizona with my wife, mother-in-law, 5year old son, 7 persian cats, an english bulldog and a french bulldog.

azbison · 02-14-2008, 09:07 PM

Snatie,

Paduak worked very well. You have to be patient, and make sure to wrap the wood in packing tape, don't know why, but it seems to protect it from burning. I got a turning blank from woodworkerssource.com of Paduak and used that as my stock. It turned out great. I got four pieces out of the $10 blank. The Zebrawood was a bit tougher since the hardness changes with the stripes, and I has some leopardwood I tried but those never worked. They always burned. The maple is very burn sensitive and you need a real tight blade so you can go quickly and evenly. The walnut is not as sensitive, and it looks SO good. I'll post another pic of my two latest walnut creations. I need to sand the bases and clearcoat them.

minowevie · 02-14-2008, 09:24 PM

Wow, I can see you are a goooo get her. nothing stopes you when you have a idea, and the wish to make it happen. you will be and already are a benafit to are group. welcome for sure. your work is awsome. Evie

Marsha · 02-15-2008, 02:14 AM

Azbison, first let me welcome you to the forum. I think your prototypes are quite interesting. I can't wait to see a full set. I agree with you reguarding the maple, very burny indeed. I also found the zebra wood a bit tough, although I think it was the smell and not the cutting itself. I've cut several of Diane Thompson's chess sets and now I'm looking for a new pattern. I admire your ability to create your own pattern.
Keep up the good work
Marsha

azbison · 02-15-2008, 03:10 AM

Has anybody done any compound cuts with another "soft" hardwood. Something a bit more substantial than pine, possibly basswood or ash? Is it as "burny"? Mahogany is a great wood to cut, but the color is so middle-of-the-road. I'd like to find something really blonde that contrasts with the walnut.

Marsha, if you want a design, let me know what you are looking for... I've done designs as quick as 30 min. Let me know the size of the base you want and a theme... maybe something will come to me.

oops99 · 02-15-2008, 06:25 AM

Hey Azbison,

Welcome to the group, I think all the pieces look great, that's $30 well spent.

oops99

Marsha · 02-15-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azbison

Has anybody done any compound cuts with another "soft" hardwood. Something a bit more substantial than pine, possibly basswood or ash? Is it as "burny"? Mahogany is a great wood to cut, but the color is so middle-of-the-road. I'd like to find something really blonde that contrasts with the walnut.

Marsha, if you want a design, let me know what you are looking for... I've done designs as quick as 30 min. Let me know the size of the base you want and a theme... maybe something will come to me.

Azbison, thanks for the offer, but I really have no clue. I've only used 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" blocks so the base would need to fit that dimension. I do think something with some fretwork in the design would be cool.
Woods I've used are red cedar, poplar, maple, and of course sugar pine.
Marsha

02-14-2008, 08:43 PM	#3
snatiep Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St. Paul, Mn Posts: 15	Hi Azbison! They look great! I'm about to start cutting a full set of chess pieces now that I have the chess board done. Are you glueing up the stock to cut the chess pieces, or do you have full chunks to cut from. I have some 3/4" Padauk that I might glue up to cut some pieces from. How was the Walnut to work with? I also have some larger pieces of Walnut I might cut the dark pieces out of. I see you used a #5 blade, that cut the walnut alright! __________________ -Nate Hawk 226 (2) Dewalts

02-15-2008, 02:14 AM	#7
Marsha Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 1,606	Azbison, first let me welcome you to the forum. I think your prototypes are quite interesting. I can't wait to see a full set. I agree with you reguarding the maple, very burny indeed. I also found the zebra wood a bit tough, although I think it was the smell and not the cutting itself. I've cut several of Diane Thompson's chess sets and now I'm looking for a new pattern. I admire your ability to create your own pattern. Keep up the good work Marsha __________________ LIFE'S SHORT, USE IT WELL

02-15-2008, 06:25 AM	#9
oops99 Tom B. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York Posts: 508	Hey Azbison, Welcome to the group, I think all the pieces look great, that's $30 well spent. oops99 __________________ oops99 KEEP THE PIECE Glue it back on, they'll never notice. DW788

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02-14-2008, 07:57 PM	#1
azbison Jr. Sawdust Taster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 508	Chesspiece Prototypes I'm using a $30 used Delta 40-530 saw with #5 Olson PGT blades. Here are a few protypes I've made trying to figure out the best saw/blade/jig configuration, as well a few different piece designs. I've played with Padauk, Walnut, Maple, and Zebrawood... Enjoy Last edited by azbison; 01-08-2009 at 11:26 PM.

02-14-2008, 08:42 PM	#2
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,299	Shazammm. Wow. those are great. are those your patterns also. those look great. For Sure. welcome to are group there azbison. Nice compound cuts . tell us about your self. and stick around. Evie

02-14-2008, 09:03 PM	#4
azbison Jr. Sawdust Taster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 508	Well, not much to tell, I'm a manager at a large IT company and work at home. My four car garage was calling me so I got my table saw out and built whiteboard easels for Christmas presents. That got me going and I built a jewelry box out of Cherry for my niece. That turned out so nice, I had to do a chessboard, I have that done and now I need pieces. I tried carving by hand, that didn't work. I tried carving with a Dremel, that didn't work. I tried sanding them into shape, that didn't work. So I found this old scroll saw, I had to take it completely apart and scrub the rust off of it and lube it and put some new hardware on it, and started working on chess pieces. The bishop was article #1 and it convinced me that was the way to go. I started looking for patterns and the advice I got was make your own. So I have about 7 different patterns now, The zebrawood queen you see is from my neo-classic pattern, the bishop from my classic, and the martian with an onion dome hasn't found a home yet, but I'm working on it. I live in Arizona with my wife, mother-in-law, 5year old son, 7 persian cats, an english bulldog and a french bulldog.

02-14-2008, 09:07 PM	#5
azbison Jr. Sawdust Taster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 508	Snatie, Paduak worked very well. You have to be patient, and make sure to wrap the wood in packing tape, don't know why, but it seems to protect it from burning. I got a turning blank from woodworkerssource.com of Paduak and used that as my stock. It turned out great. I got four pieces out of the $10 blank. The Zebrawood was a bit tougher since the hardness changes with the stripes, and I has some leopardwood I tried but those never worked. They always burned. The maple is very burn sensitive and you need a real tight blade so you can go quickly and evenly. The walnut is not as sensitive, and it looks SO good. I'll post another pic of my two latest walnut creations. I need to sand the bases and clearcoat them.

02-14-2008, 09:24 PM	#6
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,299	Wow, I can see you are a goooo get her. nothing stopes you when you have a idea, and the wish to make it happen. you will be and already are a benafit to are group. welcome for sure. your work is awsome. Evie

02-15-2008, 03:10 AM	#8
azbison Jr. Sawdust Taster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 508	Has anybody done any compound cuts with another "soft" hardwood. Something a bit more substantial than pine, possibly basswood or ash? Is it as "burny"? Mahogany is a great wood to cut, but the color is so middle-of-the-road. I'd like to find something really blonde that contrasts with the walnut. Marsha, if you want a design, let me know what you are looking for... I've done designs as quick as 30 min. Let me know the size of the base you want and a theme... maybe something will come to me.