How To Choose A Chess Box - Slide-Top - Chess Brief Case - Cheap Chess Box Options

How to choose a chess box to fit your chess needs. Quick look at the three chess boxes that I have available - Slide-Top, Premium Leather and the chess Brief case from the House of Staunton. I presented several cheap chess box options. I am also looking forward to reviewing the coffer chess box as well in the future. In this video I talk briefly about some of the comparing features of the different chess boxes and talk about the things that are important to me as well as perhaps might be important to you in choosing chess boxes for your chess pieces. Be sure to leave a like if you enjoyed the video and if you would like to see more chess content from me, don't forget to subscribe. Thanks again!
My dear chess friends! Although it's been in the works for a few months now, I am excited to share with you that I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join several chess affiliate programs starting 12/8/21. As a chess youtube creator, some of the chess distributors are starting to see me as a valuable component in helping grow our chess community. Although there are not many chess affiliate programs offered at this time, I have joined so far House of Staunton, Wholesale Chess and USChess sales. Being an affiliate member does not mean I work for the company or that I am being sponsored by them; what it means is that the links which I post to chess merchandise from those companies will be affiliated and if you click into those links and decide to make a purchase there, a very small fraction of the proceeds may end up going to help support this channel and allow it to grow, for which I am thankful to you all for your wondeful support. Many people suggested I create a donation link, which I am still not entirely sure about. With affiliate links, if you wish to help support this channel, you have the opportunity to make your contribution this way. Once again, thank you everyone for your support. I will edit the previous videos to include affiliate link so be sure to check them out. Thanks again, have a blessed day!
Affiliate Link:
Black Slide Top Box:
www.pntra.com/t/1-8930-259551...
Chess
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[@mellow-jello]

Looking at these boxes, consider wine bottle boxes as an inexpensive alternative. They also include felt bottoms, latches, and handles which enhance portability.

[@AlSuChess]

Any particular wine boxes you would recommend! I think that's a brilliant suggestion though! Really appreciate it!

[@ericb252]

Your videos are so professional looking, I'm telling you the content on here is amazing!

[@AlSuChess]

Thank Eric, I try to make it better ever time I do a video!

[@soulofash2112]

As a musician, the reason the piece are so fitted is to prevent damage. It's not because they expect you'll be flipping the case upside down or what have you, it's literally to prevent any kind of damage in the event something were to jostle the case, like you talking about if you were to accidentally hit the case on something or whatever. The closer the fit, the safer the piece.

[@AlSuChess]

Fully agree with you! I like when chess pieces lay in a box on top of each other when you don't have to transport that box around!

[@soulofash2112]

@@AlSuChess depends on my set, if they're hand turned, I'm keeping each piece separate from each other because I know the lathework that goes into making each piece (being somewhat of an amateur woodworker myself). If it's a lower quality/mass produced set, I don't mind if they're laying against each other as much. Hel's Bells, I've still got a wooden set I picked up in Sudan that I've pretty much carried around in a drawstring bag since I got it, that's been half a lifetime ago (it's my go to travel set), still in pretty good condition considering its age.

[@j.e.hernandez9721]

Some extra info on the slide top: The felt at the bottom of the slide top is removable, and you can place it on top of your pieces. This should also allow the library sized pieces to stand up straight. What I will say though, and this is becoming increasingly evident about HOS, is that the box is /not/ the wood (mahogany) they advertise (not sure if they do anymore) it to be. The slide top is definitely particle board, and my friends and I have a suspicion that the box itself is particle board. Therefore, the box is not worth the $69 price tag.

[@AlSuChess]

Oh really, that's very interesting observation, and I think you are right, solid wood for a slide top box might not be something they were aiming to do in the first place, I could see a more expensive coffer use more solid wood, and even then, not very cost effective. More furniture is also, nowadays made with cheaper wood that's not meant to last. The age we live in.

[@denisdooley1540]

It may be Mahogany veneer on MDF. But, no, I would not expect it to be solid mahogany.

[@antiares1684]

Very informative video! Still I think I would make my own storage box with individual compartments for each piece. All those boxes are beautifull especially the suitcase box, but I think that they are over priced. I am not willing to pay simular price to that of my chess pieces, for the container only. That being said thanks for the video!

[@outdoorswithunclesergey6293]

👍

[@renannascimento2423]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@renannascimento2423]

👍👍👍👍

[@ragnorak56]

I've never seen the briefcase storage box reviewed. Looks like a very interesting and promising option for transporting nice sets. I keep my boxes on a shelf and so it's not as practical for regular use for me though. I own a "New" House of Staunton Chess Coffer and its beautiful but much bigger than what I expected. I don't think HoS actually has the dimensions on it's page but here are the dimensions of mine. 16 3/8 inches Wide x 7 inches Tall x 10 5/8 inches Depth. I also own a couple of their regular boxes in 2 different woods but I really really like the look of the brown leather one you have. Its also cheaper than the wood ones which is a bonus. A friend of mine uses a cheap gun cases he bought on Amazon to transport his nice wood sets to tournaments. Not as even fractionally as nice as the briefcase but they go back in their regular boxes when he gets home. Keep up the great work on the videos.

[@AlSuChess]

That's a really large coffer! I am sure it weighs quite a bit as well. That's almost the width of a chess board. I wonder if a coffer like that is easy to transfer around. A gun case sounds like a good idea too, as long as people do think you are transporting a gun to a tournament, lol. You should get a leather box for your next set if you like it, mine came out to be an additional 79 dollars when purchased together with a set so that's not terrible. I find the briefcase to actually be pretty easy to transport around, and the handle is leather and soft to feel so I would much rather transport that instead of other boxes. Biggest dilemma for me though is that I transport that large 2.5 inch board too and its hard to carry and I am afraid I will drop it or hit the corners of it as I transport it. I know they have special cases for boards, so I might look into that at some point. Thanks for watching.

[@ragnorak56]

@@AlSuChessI haven't weighted it but the coffer is quite heavy even empty. As far as the gun case goes, its a relatively cheap $13-$30 rectangular case with the briefcase type handle that has a smaller footprint than your briefcase so fits inside a bookbag. At that price point it's usually just a hard outer plastic shell with foam triangles teeth on both sides of the inside. The pieces don't have nice dedicated slots like your case. It secures the set by putting enough pressure when closed so that the pieces are pressed slightly between the foam teeth. Pieces are around the thickness of many guns so its not to tight or lose and so the pieces won't move around. Again this is just for transport to tournaments, our chess club or friends houses. Again your HoS is the much nicer piece transport option. As far as transporting equipment I would hate to lug around a full sized board. Perhaps a stack board from Chesshouse, or Tower series from Colorado woodworker would be more practical. For that matter even the beautiful 2.25" folding board by chesshouse would be much easier to carry and its amazing looking.

[@AlSuChess]

@@ragnorak56 thanks for that info! I will look into the case because it might actually seem like a decent option for transportation. I have seen some decent folding boards too, I'll look for some options as I do want to find good options for people out there!

[@denisdooley1540]

It wouldn't be hard to add a brass latch to keep the slider lid from sliding off by accident.

[@kevinmaestroful]

The cheaper box comes with an extra layer of spongy felt that you can use to separate the pawns from the pieces does it not ? So you're meant to lie then down anyway in the cheaper one

[@AlSuChess]

Yes I had someone else tell me that little detail, the slide top box does come with an extra layer of spongy material that you can cover your pieces with before closing the box.

[@barnic45]

Are you able to put all the pieces for a 3.75 set upright in the premium box all at once? or do you need to have some of them layed down?

[@AlSuChess]

I think it hasn't much to do with height, but rather the base diameter in a lot of cases. Some 3.75 inch sets have larger diameter bases than others, so it's definitely good to know beforehand. Personally I found that the slide top box isn't tall enough to house 3.75 inch kings, but the premium boxes then to be more roomy. When I buy a box I usually try to contact the seller and ask directly.

[@barnic45]

@@AlSuChess thanks for the fast answer. If you know the dimensions from the inside compartment of the premium box that would be very helpful. thanks again

[@demolicionesdemexico]

If you ever runout of space to keep all that chess stuff just tell me! 😆

[@AlSuChess]

Lol, I sure will!