I'd actually recommend starting with the Queen, rather than Pawns. That way, if your first attempts aren't perfect, you can still keep them as spare queens for pawn promotions. They'll be off the board and out of sight over 99% of the time.
I'm mesmerized by your videos! I love that you are a beginner and you are showing us your mistakes as well as your successes. I started turning pens as part of my physical therapy at the hospital after hand surgery and fell in love with wood turning. I've been away from it for a while, but my family just bought me a mini lathe and a tool set for my birthday last week and I am going to start back up again. Thank you for your wonderful inspiring videos!
Surprisingly, I'm also a SW developer (~22 years in business), and I've bought my first lathe and started woodturning just a couple of months ago. :-) Thank you for your videos!
Good morning I want to ask thank you very much for taking your videos to explain and teach people to lose their fear of trying to make objects never imagined able to do . Thank you for taking the have us ... I am Brazilian and always watch your work . You make be inspired to carry out my work has not posted anything but I am taking courage ...
James Wegner so you are a programmer? what language do you program in? im currently learning to program in C#² and C, also some assembly in school! I love to program, what did make? Games? Websites? programs for the industries? PLC's?
Massive thank you James, you inspired me (and gave great instructions) to make my own set, my daughter asked if I could make a chess set to give as a Christmas present to her bf.
Hi James, if you would like to see, a Facebook group called Post your woodworking pieces and videos has recently formed to showcase item made by keen amateurs. I’m not plugging the group and if this is inappropriate please do not be offended and remove. Kevin
James, Thanks so much for this. My Dad's a woodturner (former woodwork/woodshop teacher), and I was looking for help in how to start making a chess set. These videos are just what I needed! Cheers, Andy
brilliant video. Your mounting solution using the screw is so simple and accurate. That was holding in me back from starting my set but now i have a way.
The dog chewed up a knight, bishop and a pawn and I didn't want to buy a new chess set. After watching your how-to, I said "I can do that" and did. Thanks a lot. Loved the pipe end trick for the ball.
Great video's and I really like the chuck you made , I have been struggling with the same problem, so after watching your vids,first thing tomorrow I'm starting my set again with the help of your chuck idea and other tips. Thanks James.
Amateur my foot, James that was as professional as they come. You have now inspired me to have a go. As I don’t possess a chuck the long screw will do the job. Thank you for that. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺.
Great video, hope the turning is still going well. I can't wait to get my lathe out of storage and start turning again. I think your idea to learn while making a chess set is great, I might have to make a set as a reintroduction.
Thanks for passing on the info on the check that's a good idea. The idea of the pipe for the tops is great I have never seen that and that is a great way to get them all about the same.
Nice James. I'm going to give a chess board and chess sets ago after I finish the 1st floor bath top and cabinet. I just completed a medicine cabinet out for 1/4 sawn white oak and 4 doors. Took me 8 months, but it looks so cool
Very good job, your doing great, your bowl looks much better than my first one. Have been making pens and am starting now on bowls and small pill boxes.
Love the pipe technique. I'm still prototyping and trying to get two pawns that looks alike. Your pipe trick and the wooden chuck are a great step forward for me.
I really enjoyed this video and learned a lot. I tried to make my own version of the chuck you made, however mine kept coming loose and wouldn't stay centered. Is there any chance you could go more in depth on how to attach the chess piece to the chuck so it is centered and secure?
Did you give any thought to making a template of your prototype pawn? It might make the transfer of dimensions etc. to you stock if not more accurate, at least faster. Just a thought but from what I saw in this video you are well beyond a beginner. Keep up the good work.
Great stuff James, thanks for sharing your process. Also, awesome to see when the pawn popped off the mandrel (lol) - same thing happened to me a couple times, til I got a longer screw. I LOVE that sharpened pipe idea, definitely going to use that myself. I was hoping you could answer some questions that would help me out with my own chess set. What kind of wood did you use for the mandrel? Why didn't you start with the blank on the mandrel, or immediately after the mounting hole/forstner hole? To me, that would preclude any misalignment when re-mounting the piece in the chuck.
I'm also a software engineer. I've built my own 3D printer, perhaps I'll 3D print a chess set. You can buy a screw chuck, and you might be able to find mini jaws for your full size scroll chuck to grab the base of the piece inside the weight hole. But your home made solution is cheap and got the job done. Your pipe cutter is nice, but it won't stay sharp long. You can fix that by hardening it, heat it to red heat with a torch, and then dunk it red hot into oil.
It's great that you were able to learn the pipe trick in a school. It's disappointing trades are not being taught in schools anymore. At least in most public schools. Great demo. Thank you!
I've watched all or most of your chess set tutorial. It is fabulous.. Much appreciate your sharing your journey.. Incredible outcome especially considering HF lathe and tools. You provide the proof it is work and talent, not the best tools which yields the best results. Hope you are still doing wood turning.
Whoa I didn't even realize that's what he was using. That's the exact set up I'm probably going to go for. I've heard a lot of bad about the tools, but I've heard a lot of really good things about the lathe itself. Sadly, for a good set of tools it costs MORE than the lathe itself. Crazy. But just goes to show if you want it bad enough, it can be done. Hats off to ya and thanks for posting this video.
Hola muy bonito el trabajo, el torno y las herramientas de mano muy buena aqui en Chile es muy dificil conseguirlas o comprar no hay asi que todo hay que hacerlas en forma artesanal, gracias por lo aprendido
Hi James. I have borrowed your chuck idea for the set I am turning for my son's surprise college graduation present. Dumb question. First two pieces were flawless. I destroyed three blanks yesterday, when I reversed them they were off center. Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong? The bottom is flat and the holes are marked center. I am considering leaving "extra wood" just to clean up wobble going forward. Curious of your thoghts. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work.
I figured it out after all. Took some slowing down and thinking the process through. I appreciate the response and I am really happy with my progress. Happy New Year!
I've had a bit of an issue with this chuck technique. I have lost a couple of my pieces and goofed up my waste block. After re-watching this I'm wondering if I need to switch out my screws that I am using. Some of my mentors have recommended using sheet metal screws to hold a waste block onto a metal faceplate to prevent sheering off from big catches. I had 1 big sheet metal screw driven into the chess piece down the center. Shortly after I turned on the machine the threads would start to tear through it's hold on the wood. I'll go pick up some larger wood screws and give it another go tonight. Thanks for posting these videos, -Todd
Wood Frontier Hi Todd. I'm using a 3.5 inch wood screw - very coarse threads. Forget the thickness but using a 3/16ths drill bit. Have not had a problem since. Maybe cause I'm rounding the stock before using the chuck - no catches this way.... Good luck - let us know how it turns out. Thanks for watching!
James Wegner Thanks for the encouragement. Last week there was a big storm so I didn't have a chance to give it a go until tonight. The wood screw worked magnificently! I was worried getting the hole drilled down the center perfectly without having a jacob's chuck or a drillpress handy. I was able to drill straight down (or close enough) with my handheld drill, but I made a mistake in not going deep enough with it. oops! I completed a king and experimented with a bit of darker stain. It turned out well. Also - the storm knocked down a LOT of big branches around the city. Now I have plenty of elm, box elder, and mystery wood.
What if you would mark spots on the chisel holder and also mark your chisel with how deep you would go at different spots of the pawn. Do you think it could work?
+James Wegner I am just starting to do this project myself. Somehow, I hadn't even considered how I'd work out the bottom and weight the pieces even though I play some chess myself. I feel fairly comfortable with designing and shaping my pieces, but I am brand new to turning. I am curious about your chuck and accessories, since I will need to go make those purchases to do this project. Just curious: what chuck do you use on both ends (i.e. what chuck are you using to hold your home-made wood chuck and what are you using to hold the forsner bit and standard bit)? what size bit, length, and size screw did you end up using? did you have any trouble doing the taller (i.e. queen and king) pieces using this screw/wooden chuck method? Thanks! (PS I'm going to make my set out of a light tigre caspi and east indian rosewood, w/ everything scaled on a king somewhere around ~5.5 inches tall)
Use a threaded arbor and drill and tap holes into the wood. Blanks dont have to be round. Then, a set screw can be inserted as a weight. glue a piece of felt onto the bottom.
Nice vid. Good trick with the tube to turn the ball. Just wondering . . . I didn't see you using a skew chisel. A lot of beginners fear the skew chisel but with a a bit of practice you will find it does much finer work.
antipodesman Thanks for watching and commenting! The only pieces that ended up in the fireplace all had skew chisel catch marks on them! So yes - I need a ton more practice indeed!
Hello, my name is Filipe, I'm from Brazil. I would like to ask you: what is this equipment do you use? how many watts? and if possible, please, how many rotations per minute?
this is a great video ... and i am a junior programmer and i like woodworking to and stone carving ... what u do in programming i mean what kind of programmer r u...?
Your H school teacher must have learned the ball trick from the same trade program as my GG grandfather the Masons. He was a master woodworker who all his life did finish work and furniture the Masonic Temples. He had a set of pipes as lathe tools too. He taught me the trick back in the late 50's. I couldn't couldn't count the number of chair legs and arms he had me do with 3 and 4 inch balls.
Greetings James, I looked through most of the postings and didn't see anyone ask this question. So if someone did, I apologize. Wondering what kind of stain you put on your dark walnut pieces? I like the color it makes. I am unsure if I want to apply stain or go natural dark walnut. Thanks in advance for any advice. Also, have you attempted to make a chess board yet for your chess pieces? Take care.
Hi James was wondering the lathe and turning tools are they from harbor freight I'm looking into trying to turn I was making something and use my drill as a lathe for a part I needed and loved it so I figured I would try to get some input on it the reviews on the lathe are good but the tools very mixed I just can't afford to spend a lot on anything I figure to start they would work upgrade over time
Michael if you've been using a drill as a lathe then anything should be an improvement, don't worry about the quality of the tools to start with, get a decent lathe that will last instead. Tools are simple to upgrade as you go, plus you'll knock the edges off them while you're learning so you don't want to be sharpening good tools down to nubs!
JW Is there a way to download your videos of the different pcs of a chess set? Will You Tube delete them after so long? I really like your methods and would hate to take the time and effort to do the pawns and then find out the other pcs are no longer available. Thanks, roylo.
Always wondered how John Jaques turned his pawns to make such perfect spheres...mystery solved. Did you know his company also made the finest croquet sets and also invented Ping Pong and Tiddly Winks?His chess set design is perhaps one of the most significant contributions to chess history and he is mostly unknown.
+Damien Gregory Profile tools are always scrapers the process just doesn't work with a cutting tools. For a piece as large as this pawn though it wouldn't work. The amount of force you would need to form the shape would almost certainly break the work piece and even if it didn't the finish would be awful. A ball profile tool might be a good addition but the pipe seems to be working well.
Here's an idea ... to solve for the weight issue and deal with the re-mounting, why not epoxy in a could of stacked nuts and use a machine screw instead of the wood screw through the waste block? I usually "ready, shoot, aim" so I'll thank you for your inspiration and head out to the lathe and make a chess set today. ... Cheers!
You'll find it at: www.rockler.com/oneway-talon-chuck-system?source=googleps&gclid=CjwKCAjwlrnNBRBMEiwApKU4PIGmWsVyTmwykneBrRWLuj8up9j6Co6F930HxZH_boG_fLQo1jEAthoC0NYQAvD_BwE Thanks for watching!
Hi James me again lol when you make the chess board Steve from mer mortals one of his very first videos he ever made may even be his first has a chess board he did but the glass like finish is beautiful on it he gives the steps and abrasives he used on it just an fyi for you
Michael LaPointe Hi - thanks so much for watching and for your comments! So far - I absolutely love the lathe. Have no complaints. I follow Steve Ramsey, but thanks for the reminder!
taking a shot in the dark here because i dont think you will respond but here goes....i am making a chess set for myself and your pipe trick is genius and has saved me time for sure. but i am having just one problem with it, on your video i can literally see the end bit rounding off in real time (meaning it is very fast) but for me it goes really slow. so slow in fact that it ends up burning the wood from friction. i am using a brass coupling to do this. the only thing i can think of is tyhat it may be too soft and just dulls down before any real `removal`happens. help me JAMES!!
I try to answer as often as I can. I think you're right. I kept the pipe really sharp - 2 pawns per sharpening about. That should fix it. Thanks for the kind words, and let me see your set when finished! Thanks for watching!
James Wegner oh wow you answered fast lol. I used sand paper to sharpen the inside. how much sanding would you recommend I do? just a couple quick swipes or what? I am very new to this stuff and do not know. also I will definitely show you the set once it's done, but I doubt it will be any time soon. thanks again
Pennies for weights - GENIUS ! I like the design of set except for those german knights, very plain imo. Give yourself a promotion to french lardy knights.
I'd actually recommend starting with the Queen, rather than Pawns. That way, if your first attempts aren't perfect, you can still keep them as spare queens for pawn promotions. They'll be off the board and out of sight over 99% of the time.
Great idea! Thanks for watching!
I'm mesmerized by your videos! I love that you are a beginner and you are showing us your mistakes as well as your successes. I started turning pens as part of my physical therapy at the hospital after hand surgery and fell in love with wood turning. I've been away from it for a while, but my family just bought me a mini lathe and a tool set for my birthday last week and I am going to start back up again. Thank you for your wonderful inspiring videos!
Thank you for your very kind words, and thank you for watching!
Surprisingly, I'm also a SW developer (~22 years in business), and I've bought my first lathe and started woodturning just a couple of months ago. :-) Thank you for your videos!
Although I enjoyed I T - this is way more fun. Thanks for watching Alex, and best of luck with your new lathe!
The pipe and chuck hack is just what I need. I’m turning my first set as well and found your video very helpful.
Good morning I want to ask thank you very much for taking your videos to explain and teach people to lose their fear of trying to make objects never imagined able to do . Thank you for taking the have us ... I am Brazilian and always watch your work . You make be inspired to carry out my work has not posted anything but I am taking courage ...
+Alex Camilo Thank you Alex - I appreciate your comments. It's never too soon to get started! Thank you for watching!
Thank you both. I'm learning a lot!
James Wegner so you are a programmer? what language do you program in? im currently learning to program in C#² and C, also some assembly in school! I love to program, what did make? Games? Websites? programs for the industries? PLC's?
Nice start to you chess set. I really like the trick with the pipe.
Great videos on turning a Chess set. Nice to see you work/speak about the problems you are running into and your solution...
Keep up the nice work!!
Thanks for watching!
Excellent video, thanks James
Massive thank you James, you inspired me (and gave great instructions) to make my own set, my daughter asked if I could make a chess set to give as a Christmas present to her bf.
Thanks for the kind words! Would love to see the pics (they did not show here). And thanks for watching.
Hi James, if you would like to see, a Facebook group called Post your woodworking pieces and videos has recently formed to showcase item made by keen amateurs.
I’m not plugging the group and if this is inappropriate please do not be offended and remove. Kevin
James,
Thanks so much for this. My Dad's a woodturner (former woodwork/woodshop teacher), and I was looking for help in how to start making a chess set. These videos are just what I needed!
Cheers,
Andy
So glad this helps folks! Show us the set you make, ok?
Thanks for watching!
brilliant video. Your mounting solution using the screw is so simple and accurate. That was holding in me back from starting my set but now i have a way.
That was not my idea - found it on Luke Sellers channel. When you make yours - please post it. Thanks for watching!
Nice video, the pipe trick was really cool!
The dog chewed up a knight, bishop and a pawn and I didn't want to buy a new chess set. After watching your how-to, I said "I can do that" and did. Thanks a lot. Loved the pipe end trick for the ball.
+Stephen Novak Glad I could help! Thank you for watching!
Great video's and I really like the chuck you made , I have been struggling with the same problem, so after watching your vids,first thing tomorrow I'm starting my set again with the help of your chuck idea and other tips. Thanks James.
+Iggy T I got the idea from another TH-camr. Glad to help though. Thanks for watching!
Amateur my foot, James that was as professional as they come. You have now inspired me to have a go. As I don’t possess a chuck the long screw will do the job. Thank you for that. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺.
Thanks for watching!
Amazing work! Looks like this set is going to be a family heirloom!
Thanks for watching!
Great work! Our children enjoyed watching it very much.
That's great! Thanks for watching!
Enjoyed watching this.Thanks for the inspiration to try it myself. Hope the rest of your set goes as well as this.
royothebuzz Thank you Roy. I hope so too! If you mae one, please post it!
Great video, hope the turning is still going well. I can't wait to get my lathe out of storage and start turning again. I think your idea to learn while making a chess set is great, I might have to make a set as a reintroduction.
+Wobblycogs Workshop Go for it - it's so fun!
Thanks for passing on the info on the check that's a good idea. The idea of the pipe for the tops is great I have never seen that and that is a great way to get them all about the same.
+Dirk Mitchell Thanks Dirk!
Inspirational genius!
Ciao James ...è veramente bello e istruttivo quello che fai !! complimenti !!
Nice James. I'm going to give a chess board and chess sets ago after I finish the 1st floor bath top and cabinet. I just completed a medicine cabinet out for 1/4 sawn white oak and 4 doors. Took me 8 months, but it looks so cool
I'm learning a lot keep it up
this guy is awesome. Love his attitude. Keep it up!
Thanks for the kind words and Thanks for watching!
Very good job, your doing great, your bowl looks much better than my first one.
Have been making pens and am starting now on bowls and small pill boxes.
Thanks for watching!
Well done!
Hermoso trabajo muy elaborado. saludos desde Puerto Rico.
Thanks for watching!
I really like the alternate "chuck" with the screw attachment. Also the pipe used for top beads is really great. Keep 'em coming.
Thanks Dwight! Learning a lot, and having fun!
Love the pipe technique. I'm still prototyping and trying to get two pawns that looks alike. Your pipe trick and the wooden chuck are a great step forward for me.
***** Thanks Brian. Please post your pieces too!
Hello James thank you for sharing. Your videos are inspiring.. What type of scroll chuck are you using?Thank you again
Muy bien maestro le saludo desde Caracas Venezuela
Great job! And thanks for the shout out.
Luke Sellers Thanks Luke. Did you ever post a video of your completed set? Would love to see it.
I really enjoyed this video and learned a lot. I tried to make my own version of the chuck you made, however mine kept coming loose and wouldn't stay centered. Is there any chance you could go more in depth on how to attach the chess piece to the chuck so it is centered and secure?
Did you give any thought to making a template of your prototype pawn? It might make the transfer of dimensions etc. to you stock if not more accurate, at least faster. Just a thought but from what I saw in this video you are well beyond a beginner. Keep up the good work.
Great stuff James, thanks for sharing your process. Also, awesome to see when the pawn popped off the mandrel (lol) - same thing happened to me a couple times, til I got a longer screw. I LOVE that sharpened pipe idea, definitely going to use that myself. I was hoping you could answer some questions that would help me out with my own chess set.
What kind of wood did you use for the mandrel? Why didn't you start with the blank on the mandrel, or immediately after the mounting hole/forstner hole? To me, that would preclude any misalignment when re-mounting the piece in the chuck.
Thank you for the kind words. And thanks for watching!
I'm also a software engineer. I've built my own 3D printer, perhaps I'll 3D print a chess set.
You can buy a screw chuck, and you might be able to find mini jaws for your full size scroll chuck to grab the base of the piece inside the weight hole.
But your home made solution is cheap and got the job done. Your pipe cutter is nice, but it won't stay sharp long. You can fix that by hardening it, heat it to red heat with a torch, and then dunk it red hot into oil.
Good info. Thanks for watching!
Whoa.......12:10 I have never seen anything like this before.....GREAT IDEA!!!
Thanks! And thanks for watching!
Yet another video I'm getting around to. You can see the completed set on my lumberjocks page for now.
Luke Sellers Did not know that - will go and watch - Thanks!
Great video! Can you tell me exactly what what machine is this ! Tanks
It's great that you were able to learn the pipe trick in a school. It's disappointing trades are not being taught in schools anymore. At least in most public schools. Great demo.
Thank you!
Rob Austin I agree Rob. Not everyone needs to go to college. Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
James: I might have missed the actual sizes of the pieces when I watch your "excellent" videos. Base dia and ht of king and pawns/ many thanks.
thank u James great idea about the wood block holder. and the pipe
Thanks for watching!
@@BlackForestDesigns
Thanks for the holder made one used it. The pipe piece worked great for me. my son was amazed and happy.
@@MANJITSINGH-ko2oi That's great. Come back and post a photo of your project!
HI@@BlackForestDesigns I am using ur block idea and the pipe it really works. I c if my son can put up a picture for u. cheers.
I've watched all or most of your chess set tutorial. It is fabulous.. Much appreciate your sharing your journey.. Incredible outcome especially considering HF lathe and tools. You provide the proof it is work and talent, not the best tools which yields the best results.
Hope you are still doing wood turning.
Very kind of you to say! Thanks for watching!
Whoa I didn't even realize that's what he was using. That's the exact set up I'm probably going to go for. I've heard a lot of bad about the tools, but I've heard a lot of really good things about the lathe itself. Sadly, for a good set of tools it costs MORE than the lathe itself. Crazy. But just goes to show if you want it bad enough, it can be done. Hats off to ya and thanks for posting this video.
Your video is excellent
John Mc Monagle Thank you John - and thanks for watching!
hi James, thanks for the excellent videos. Any chance you could share the patterns for this chess set? Thank You.
great job
MrHarley60 Thanks for watching!
Make me want to get a lathe. Good work
Coach CaL Hey thanks for watching. Get one! Mine was under $200 (of course by the time you buy chisels, chucks, etc. it does add up fast!)
I love the trick with the pipe
Thanks for watching!
Hola muy bonito el trabajo, el torno y las herramientas de mano muy buena aqui en Chile es muy dificil conseguirlas o comprar no hay asi que todo hay que hacerlas en forma artesanal, gracias por lo aprendido
Thanks for watching!
Hi James. I have borrowed your chuck idea for the set I am turning for my son's surprise college graduation present. Dumb question. First two pieces were flawless. I destroyed three blanks yesterday, when I reversed them they were off center. Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong? The bottom is flat and the holes are marked center. I am considering leaving "extra wood" just to clean up wobble going forward. Curious of your thoghts. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work.
Thanks for watching! I really have no idea what to tell you - sorry!
I figured it out after all. Took some slowing down and thinking the process through. I appreciate the response and I am really happy with my progress. Happy New Year!
That's great! Happy New Year to you!
I've had a bit of an issue with this chuck technique. I have lost a couple of my pieces and goofed up my waste block. After re-watching this I'm wondering if I need to switch out my screws that I am using.
Some of my mentors have recommended using sheet metal screws to hold a waste block onto a metal faceplate to prevent sheering off from big catches. I had 1 big sheet metal screw driven into the chess piece down the center. Shortly after I turned on the machine the threads would start to tear through it's hold on the wood.
I'll go pick up some larger wood screws and give it another go tonight.
Thanks for posting these videos,
-Todd
Wood Frontier Hi Todd. I'm using a 3.5 inch wood screw - very coarse threads. Forget the thickness but using a 3/16ths drill bit. Have not had a problem since. Maybe cause I'm rounding the stock before using the chuck - no catches this way....
Good luck - let us know how it turns out. Thanks for watching!
James Wegner Thanks for the encouragement. Last week there was a big storm so I didn't have a chance to give it a go until tonight. The wood screw worked magnificently! I was worried getting the hole drilled down the center perfectly without having a jacob's chuck or a drillpress handy. I was able to drill straight down (or close enough) with my handheld drill, but I made a mistake in not going deep enough with it. oops!
I completed a king and experimented with a bit of darker stain. It turned out well.
Also - the storm knocked down a LOT of big branches around the city. Now I have plenty of elm, box elder, and mystery wood.
très intéressant ce que vous faites verry good .
Thanks for watching!
What if you would mark spots on the chisel holder and also mark your chisel with how deep you would go at different spots of the pawn. Do you think it could work?
+James Wegner
I am just starting to do this project myself. Somehow, I hadn't even considered how I'd work out the bottom and weight the pieces even though I play some chess myself. I feel fairly comfortable with designing and shaping my pieces, but I am brand new to turning. I am curious about your chuck and accessories, since I will need to go make those purchases to do this project.
Just curious:
what chuck do you use on both ends (i.e. what chuck are you using to hold your home-made wood chuck and what are you using to hold the forsner bit and standard bit)?
what size bit, length, and size screw did you end up using?
did you have any trouble doing the taller (i.e. queen and king) pieces using this screw/wooden chuck method?
Thanks!
(PS I'm going to make my set out of a light tigre caspi and east indian rosewood, w/ everything scaled on a king somewhere around ~5.5 inches tall)
Thanks for watching!
Use a threaded arbor and drill and tap holes into the wood. Blanks dont have to be round. Then, a set screw can be inserted as a weight. glue a piece of felt onto the bottom.
Better off to use the counterbore in the bottom to fit on the fixture to turn. Still hold in place with a screw
Great idea. Thanks for watching!
What chuck are you using James best wishes.
Great job! I am a newby to turning and I loved what I learned from you.
+Herb Fogelberg Thank you for watching!
Nice vid. Good trick with the tube to turn the ball. Just wondering . . . I didn't see you using a skew chisel. A lot of beginners fear the skew chisel but with a a bit of practice you will find it does much finer work.
antipodesman Thanks for watching and commenting! The only pieces that ended up in the fireplace all had skew chisel catch marks on them! So yes - I need a ton more practice indeed!
One way I have heard is using a shadow of a chess piece on the new work piece.
Jim
Did you end up needing a longer screw or a thicker screw? Im just getting ready to try wood turning and your video is inspiring
Longer. Thank you for watching!
Like the pipe trick. Never saw that before. I would say well done.
Thank you for watching and for your comment!
oh yes i liked the pipe trick that was cool
Great trick with the pipe! What software do you use for editing your videos?
AslanAtreyu Using Adobe Premier Pro. Thanks for watching!
Hello, my name is Filipe, I'm from Brazil. I would like to ask you: what is this equipment do you use? how many watts? and if possible, please, how many rotations per minute?
this is a great video ... and
i am a junior programmer and i like woodworking to and stone carving
... what u do in programming i mean what kind of programmer r u...?
Used to code in .Net
Muito bom! Maravilha! 👏👏👏👏👏
Your H school teacher must have learned the ball trick from the same trade program as my GG grandfather the Masons. He was a master woodworker who all his life did finish work and furniture the Masonic Temples. He had a set of pipes as lathe tools too. He taught me the trick back in the late 50's. I couldn't couldn't count the number of chair legs and arms he had me do with 3 and 4 inch balls.
Robert Elliott PH.d Thanks Robert for the info. It's a great technique, and works perfect every time. Thanks for watching!
Greetings James, I looked through most of the postings and didn't see anyone ask this question. So if someone did, I apologize. Wondering what kind of stain you put on your dark walnut pieces? I like the color it makes. I am unsure if I want to apply stain or go natural dark walnut. Thanks in advance for any advice. Also, have you attempted to make a chess board yet for your chess pieces? Take care.
+Cheetofingers Drew Just used a Minwax walnut stain. Really richened it up. My son wants to make the board. Thanks for watching!
What type of wood did you use please?
Can this be done with dry wood and green wood?
Hi James was wondering the lathe and turning tools are they from harbor freight I'm looking into trying to turn I was making something and use my drill as a lathe for a part I needed and loved it so I figured I would try to get some input on it the reviews on the lathe are good but the tools very mixed I just can't afford to spend a lot on anything I figure to start they would work upgrade over time
Michael if you've been using a drill as a lathe then anything should be an improvement, don't worry about the quality of the tools to start with, get a decent lathe that will last instead. Tools are simple to upgrade as you go, plus you'll knock the edges off them while you're learning so you don't want to be sharpening good tools down to nubs!
Thanks Alan. Thats good to know
JW Is there a way to download your videos of the different pcs of a chess set? Will You Tube delete them after so long? I really like your methods and would hate to take the time and effort to do the pawns and then find out the other pcs are no longer available. Thanks, roylo.
They will be there for a loooong time. Thanks for watching!
Have you thought about the board? I think you could build similar to a end grain cutting board.
Will be tring for a board this winter. Thanks for watching!
Always wondered how John Jaques turned his pawns to make such perfect spheres...mystery solved. Did you know his company also made the finest croquet sets and also invented Ping Pong and Tiddly Winks?His chess set design is perhaps one of the most significant contributions to chess history and he is mostly unknown.
Jim Coady Thanks for posting and for watching!
Reverse thread screws should keep it in place
You're absolutely right. Wish I had one. Thanks for watching!
great work, james! theyre a bit too large for me, but still very impressive!
Many thanks!
what about using two screws in the bottom
Would this work: Cut a piece of 1/4" steel plate to the desired profile shape, put a chisel edge on it and use that to make the pawn in a single cut?
Damien Gregory Might work - but sounds like a lot of metal work too. Thanks for watching!!
+Damien Gregory Profile tools are always scrapers the process just doesn't work with a cutting tools. For a piece as large as this pawn though it wouldn't work. The amount of force you would need to form the shape would almost certainly break the work piece and even if it didn't the finish would be awful. A ball profile tool might be a good addition but the pipe seems to be working well.
It is gonna be a very nice chess set.
Thanks for watching - I really appreciate your comment!
Here's an idea ... to solve for the weight issue and deal with the re-mounting, why not epoxy in a could of stacked nuts and use a machine screw instead of the wood screw through the waste block?
I usually "ready, shoot, aim" so I'll thank you for your inspiration and head out to the lathe and make a chess set today. ... Cheers!
Nearly done - If I do another I'll consider that. Thanks for watching! If you make one please post it!
Bellissimo lavoro...volevo sapere le foto degli scacchi dove le posso trovare?..Grazie
Thanks for watching!
What is the name of the piano music in the intro? Great video!
Sorry - I don't remember. Thanks for watching!
why can't he use the normal chuck? wouldn't it hold it just the same as the wood one?
Would have had to waste some wood. Thanks for watching!
what wood are you using for these
Alder is the light wood. Walnut the other.
Thanks for watching!
What is model lathe??
Awesome video James, what is the diameter of the pawns base?
About 1 7/8ths. Thanks for watching!!
Thanxs for the video. But, I wish you had shown the whole process until the final varnishing layer. Enjoy! ;)
What type of chuck are you using for that lathe
You'll find it at:
www.rockler.com/oneway-talon-chuck-system?source=googleps&gclid=CjwKCAjwlrnNBRBMEiwApKU4PIGmWsVyTmwykneBrRWLuj8up9j6Co6F930HxZH_boG_fLQo1jEAthoC0NYQAvD_BwE
Thanks for watching!
Nice.
Thanks for watching!
and do you have a magazine or something thats telling you how to do this
Nope. Just a beginner.
Thanks for watching!
Hi James me again lol when you make the chess board Steve from mer mortals one of his very first videos he ever made may even be his first has a chess board he did but the glass like finish is beautiful on it he gives the steps and abrasives he used on it just an fyi for you
Michael LaPointe Hi - thanks so much for watching and for your comments! So far - I absolutely love the lathe. Have no complaints. I follow Steve Ramsey, but thanks for the reminder!
taking a shot in the dark here because i dont think you will respond but here goes....i am making a chess set for myself and your pipe trick is genius and has saved me time for sure. but i am having just one problem with it, on your video i can literally see the end bit rounding off in real time (meaning it is very fast) but for me it goes really slow. so slow in fact that it ends up burning the wood from friction. i am using a brass coupling to do this. the only thing i can think of is tyhat it may be too soft and just dulls down before any real `removal`happens. help me JAMES!!
I try to answer as often as I can.
I think you're right. I kept the pipe really sharp - 2 pawns per sharpening about. That should fix it. Thanks for the kind words, and let me see your set when finished!
Thanks for watching!
James Wegner oh wow you answered fast lol. I used sand paper to sharpen the inside. how much sanding would you recommend I do? just a couple quick swipes or what? I am very new to this stuff and do not know. also I will definitely show you the set once it's done, but I doubt it will be any time soon. thanks again
May I ask? what jaw chuck is that.
oneway.ca/products-category/chucks/Stronghold-Chucks-Category/Stronghold-Chuck-(Complete)
Thanks for watching.
Pennies for weights - GENIUS ! I like the design of set except for those german knights, very plain imo. Give yourself a promotion to french lardy knights.
tubewatcher38 LOL - Thanks for watching Tube. The whole set is a little plain - by design. I wouldn't want the knights to overly stand out.
good
Thanks for watching!
You can always burnish the finished piece by holding a handful of shavings against it.
Regards, Rich, UK.
How long did it take to make one pawn? With out all the speeding up?
About 90 minutes total.
James Wegner cool you'll get better I've been turning since June and could probalbly turn one in 20-30 minutes
I included time for cutting from raw wood, all finishing, installing the weights, and adding bottom felt. More to it than just turning.
James Wegner oh i see than my time probably wouldve been more than yours.
You could never sell this for a profit unless you can make a whole set in a half hour
Lol. You’re right. Even at minimum wage it would be $1,920! Thanks for watching!