I'm looking to create a basic, portable chess set that uses magnets in the pieces and board for easy travel. I'm envisioning flat rectangular tiles for the pieces, each with the respective symbols engraved on top, and a board that folds in half with hinges like a traditional chessboard. While I've considered gluing two types of wood for the board, I'm leaning towards just one type with carved lines to differentiate the squares and symbols for each color. Given that I've got a bit of experience and only basic hand tools, how challenging would this project be?
1 Answer
Making the chess set itself isn't overly challenging, but creating a beautifully crafted one can be tough. You can definitely do this, but just keep in mind the pieces may not all match perfectly. The fact that it will look handmade isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Honestly, most woodworking is just learning from your mistakes, so don’t hesitate to give it a go!
What about using the same wood and just carving the lines and symbols on the board? That sounds doable with some practice, right? Definitely less tricky than cutting multiple pieces identically.