Talk me out of this....

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  • Russianwolf
    Veteran Member
    • Jan 2004
    • 3152
    • Martinsburg, WV, USA.
    • One of them there Toy saws
    #1

    Talk me out of this....

    Okay, I'm gearing up to make some more chess boards for the holidays. I still haven't gotten a lathe and still would like to make chess men to match the boards.

    Now I've gotten it in my head to make a springpole or treadle lathe. The setup is fairly simple (especially the springpole versions) and I have enough scrap timber laying around. But I'm wondering if it's really worth the trouble.

    The problem is I don't have $250 laying around to get a decent midi right now.

    So, talk me out of it guys.
    Mike
    Lakota's Dad

    If at first you don't succeed, deny you were trying in the first place.
    Tags: None
    • LCHIEN
      Super Moderator
      • Dec 2002
      • 21971
      • Katy, TX, USA.
      • BT3000 vintage 1999
      #2
      Originally posted by Russianwolf
      Okay, I'm gearing up to make some more chess boards for the holidays. I still haven't gotten a lathe and still would like to make chess men to match the boards.

      Now I've gotten it in my head to make a springpole or treadle lathe. The setup is fairly simple (especially the springpole versions) and I have enough scrap timber laying around. But I'm wondering if it's really worth the trouble.

      The problem is I don't have $250 laying around to get a decent midi right now.

      So, talk me out of it guys.
      Chess pieces are relatively short (<3 or 4" tall) and not too big in diameter (not more than 1.75" for a fair sized king) so maybe do one of those drill-based lathes? Either drill press or hand drill.

      Or, I once saw some plans for all bandsaw-cut pieces that were basically square but had lots of features.

      good luck!
      Loring in Katy, TX USA
      If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
      BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

        Comment

        • cabinetman
          Gone but not Forgotten RIP
          • Jun 2006
          • 15216
          • So. Florida
          • Delta
          #3
          Why don't you just carve it out by hand like this one.



          "I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"
          Attached Files

            Comment

            • jziegler
              Veteran Member
              • Aug 2005
              • 1149
              • Salem, NJ, USA.
              • Ryobi BT3100
              #4
              Mike,

              I've seen the bandsaw pieces that Loring mentioned and I think that they look pretty nice. I think there may be plans on the web. I also remember seeing a really tiny pen lathe at Harbor Freight, which is probably pretty poor quality, but might be able to get you started for small pieces. Might be worth a quick look. Not that I know anything about turning.

              Jim

                Comment

                • LCHIEN
                  Super Moderator
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 21971
                  • Katy, TX, USA.
                  • BT3000 vintage 1999
                  #5
                  chess pieces - bandsaw, no lathe

                  http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/p...hess/index.htm
                  Loring in Katy, TX USA
                  If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
                  BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

                    Comment

                    • Doug Jones
                      Established Member
                      • Oct 2004
                      • 332
                      • Indiana
                      • Delta 36-444
                      #6
                      Do you have a Menard's store near you. They have a very good mini-mini lathe "Wilton". Its the same lathe I started out on and eventually sold. I wish I would have kept it now. It was perfect for smaller turnings such as pens, chess pieces and such. On sale you can get it for $89, last I saw it on Amazon it was for $99.

                        Comment

                        • Tom Miller
                          Veteran Member
                          • Mar 2003
                          • 2507
                          • Twin Cities, MN
                          • BT3000 - Cuttin' it old school
                          #7
                          I guess if it were me, for the time being I'd try to use the tools I have, and do the best job I could with them. The type of lathe you're talking about sounds like a whole project of its own, that may only yield marginal results, with a steep learning curve.

                          There must be some good examples out there of chess pieces made with rectilinear ww tools. How about making something with a router profile?

                          I assume you don't have a scroll saw, as there are plenty of chess piece designs based on scroll sawing.

                          Regards,
                          Tom

                            Comment

                            • Russianwolf
                              Veteran Member
                              • Jan 2004
                              • 3152
                              • Martinsburg, WV, USA.
                              • One of them there Toy saws
                              #8
                              The drill press lathe may be an option for the time being. It's only $20. And the tools will switch over once I can get a real lathe.

                              Bandsaw is another possiblity, but I'd have to get a stationary belt sander. That's $100 minimum.

                              I have thought of power carving in the past and I could do that fairly inexpensively. Get a flex shaft and some bur bits for my Ryobi Speedsaw, but I don't know how much talent I have in that area.

                              I have a rectalinear design that I came up with a while back but I find that most people like "traditionally" styled pieces more.

                              I have a scrollsaw, but hate it. I don't know if I got blades that are too thin or what, but I spend more time changing blades than sawing something. Unless I want to make something out of pine that is. The maple I tried one time broke the blade every inch.
                              Mike
                              Lakota's Dad

                              If at first you don't succeed, deny you were trying in the first place.

                                Comment

                                • Tom Miller
                                  Veteran Member
                                  • Mar 2003
                                  • 2507
                                  • Twin Cities, MN
                                  • BT3000 - Cuttin' it old school
                                  #9
                                  Originally posted by Russianwolf
                                  I have a scrollsaw, but hate it. I don't know if I got blades that are too thin or what, but I spend more time changing blades than sawing something.
                                  I've never scrolled in my life, but I do recall hearing lots of raves about the blades from here. Perhaps this is old news to you, but before you toss the saw out the window you might check it out....

                                  Regards,
                                  Tom

                                    Comment

                                    • nadz
                                      Forum Newbie
                                      • Dec 2005
                                      • 82
                                      • Rocket City, AL, USA.
                                      #10
                                      i say build it...

                                      talk about a special gift!
                                      not only would you get a handcrafted chess board, but you would get a set of carved pieces built on a HOMEMADE LATHE?!?!? how cool is that!!!

                                      i say build it, even if all you ever turn on it are chess pieces, what a cool project...


                                      -adam
                                      -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Proudly piddling in my garage shop | BT3K, Rigid 10" CMS, Rigid 12" Planer, HF Jointer

                                        Comment

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