Woodturn a Russian Chess Set

I demonstrate how to woodturn a Russian chess set patterned from a Soviet Era Russian design. Woodturning an heirloom chess set is a fun project for a woodturner requiring only modest skills. Because you repetitively use only a few tools, it can be a great skill building project. I used Bradford Pear and Persimmon and dyed the dark set green.
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Here is the link to my complete chess set playlist: • How to Turn a Chess Set
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from my Amazon shop www.amazon.com/shop/mikepeace...
You can download demonstration handouts, downloadable copies of articles I have published, and other useful woodturning information available on my website www.mikepeacewoodturning.com/r... including a Feb 2020 article I published on making a chess set in the American Woodturner.

[@ozziemale202]

Very nice design. I will have a go at it. Also nice video. You evidently spent a lot of time editing, and it shows. Gidi

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Gidi. Yes, I did!

[@stevesebzda570]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Super nice finish of the Green swirling pieces.. Fantastic, actually (Just had ta' say it in here.. lol)

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

@@stevesebzda570 Thank you. I normally do not use lacquer but was pleased with my final finish.

[@stevesebzda570]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning , lmao, I may have to watch it again being it was 7 months ago lol It's gonna be cool You're welcome, I remember it sorta Really neat actually

[@elbay2]

It is RIDICULOUS how adept you are at this... wow!!

[@frankingram3382]

Nice set Mike and I know already that I will watch it several more times taking notes each time. You make great videos, I truly enjoy them. God Bless my friend.

[@johnnicholas6962]

Great job on the design and turning. I enjoyed the dye lesson.

[@PaxtonPrice]

Very nice Mike, impressive work for sure!

[@BrettNiland]

Wow Mike. Stunning work. I'm excited to give this a go. Thanks for the great camera work.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks. I appreciate your comment.

[@lourencosantiago9779]

Hi Mike! Wonderfull! A long time , I think do piece for chass. Tks for teaching a tecnics. I love your videos . Lourenço Minas Gerais Brazil

[@trikermansbike]

Very nice will have to have a go.

[@alinthekeys]

Nice work! I sure your granddaughters will cherish them for life. Thanks for sharing.

[@55dougie]

another beautiful chess set..... very good instructional video..... thanks Mike.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Doug

[@nicholasgranat2999]

Nice job!

[@albertdawson6814]

Some really great ideas Mike 💡. Diffenitly a project coming up in a week or so. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, you too!

[@olusabaolukayode9191]

Great work from a great man. Thank you for your painstaking work more grease to your elbow.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thank you kindly.

[@sultanofsawdust7045]

Awesome! I'm very new to turning but now have an additional item on my bucket list of what to make. Thanks!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Good luck with your turning. Glad I could provide some inspiration.

[@morrishightower3495]

Sultan of Sawdust got

[@kouroscologne1622]

Excellent!! Thank you for the video

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You are welcome!

[@plamb5243]

Mike, another excellent video.I am very sure you have two very happy granddaughters. May they both become chess masters and woodturners!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Peter. Either would be great but I am happy with them just being very happy!

[@elbay2]

Very pretty!

[@nickzammeti]

Wow these are amazing !! Wish I could do this . So cool . Very talented sir

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks Nick. I am sure you could turn a chess set.

[@rabikiran4868]

oh ...love from heart...beautiful chess pieces

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Rabi!

[@pamcarr4003]

Great video, thanks for sharing! I will be watching your chess playlist. Thanks again, Pam

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Fun project. I submitted an article on chess sets in the American Woodturner. Not sure when it will be published.

[@pamcarr4003]

That's cool Mike! I bet your grandchildren love their sets. It'll be a great hand me down! Again, thanks for sharing, Pam

[@tonyennis3008]

Your set is gorgeous and that style (Staunton) is the only style serious players consider real. It reminds me of the Zagreb '59 set from House of Staunton.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for that comment.

[@PiezasdeAjedrez]

It's always great to see some chess wood turning.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks!. I am currently writing an article for American Woodturner on turning chessmen.

[@johnfritz3792]

You do great work!!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks!

[@jimrobb6325]

A braw chess set Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Jim. I appreciate your support.

[@axiomist1076]

I feel useless watching you do this. You make it look so easy. The mark of a true pro. Love the set. Green is a nice color for the little girl and she'll love the "horse" wih his funny eye. Looks cute. Great work: made me wanna play !

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks so much for your comment!

[@mikeallison4816]

beautiful set. nicely done!

[@user-distantstar]

Handmade ? Wow, thts crazy ) how to make all figures precisely the same size ? Must be really hard work

[@Bk99JzM]

Witam i pozdrawiam!!Bardzo pomysłowo zrobione szachy w rosyjskim stylu!!Ciekawa kolorystyka figur i fantazyjne wykonanie,wysoki kunszt!!Prima!Dobry materiał filmowy!!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Dziękuję Ci!

[@hraun2berg]

They look great. Rg. Júlíus

[@MauricioGoncalves.]

Nice!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks!

[@james5426]

Do you cut the " ball" at the end of the key for your supernova chuck off? Loved the pennies in the base idea. Thanks, James

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I did. Great improvement.

[@spuddowling3972]

Mate you are truly an inspirational man I hope to have a go at this , where can I get a story board same dimensions as yours?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

If you go to my blog mikepeacewoodturning.blogspot.com/ and Resources you can find a scale drawign for another set. Otherwise use Google or Pinterest to find a design you like. Download the picture and scale it to the size you like.

[@RJBWoodTurner]

Mike, Is there a plan that I can purchase for this style chess piece set?Regards,Bob

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sorry, I somehow missed your question. No plans on this one but there are scale drawings on my blog for my first set.

[@ebikebatteryrepair]

very nice work man but not sure with green color

[@kevinyoungblut]

Those look really nice. How long does it take you to turn a complete set?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I did it over a period of 3 weeks. After I did the storyboards, probably 32 hours for all blank prep, turning and finishing. Once I got a blank mounted it probably did not take more than 1 minutes to turn a pawn.

[@ioannismaximovitch7196]

👍👍💙 Remarquable artisan !

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thank you! Safe turning.

[@pikagelaum]

Gorgeous chess set. Love soviet design

[@geraldopaivasoares6835]

Very very good. Congratulations. Geraldo Paiva - Pindamonhanfaba - SP - Brasil.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, Geraldo.

[@johnnicholas6962]

What is the slow speed click? I didn't notice it at high speed. My PM has a bearing going out?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

That is a bit of a mystery to me. Bearings would be the last thing I would check on a PM. Possible problem but remote, in my opinion.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I finally discovered it is coming from my chuck. The pintles in each side, where you turn your chuck key, rattle at slow speed.

[@veshtitsacraftsandtunes4693]

my favorite chess design

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks, mine too. I have an article coming out in the Feb issue of the American Woodturner on turning chessmen. You will be able to download a copy from my website.

[@floridian2023]

W.O.W.

[@daddyleon]

0:54 pennies or lead??? Why not a small magnet and put a plate just underneath the checkered board?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I used pennies for this set. You approach seems far more complicated and expensive in my opinion tryng to get the right magnet strength. That would be a big plate of steel and take strong magnets to pull thru 1/4 plywood not to mention heavy. Try and let me know how it works for you. More than one way can work.

[@daddyleon]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Yes, probably both. I would like to see/try it. If only I had access to a woodshop :) btw 1/4 plywood is 1/4 inch plywood (a bit more than half a cm)?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

about 6mm

[@The_Joker_]

When the spanner grabs 😧

[@DKomnicide]

Those knights scare me

[@leksey7870]

Great chess happened. Why Russian chess first appeared in the East.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Looks like your channel is off to a good start. Safe turning.

[@leksey7870]

Not very accurate translation. I'm sorry if that is not so.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

No problem. Thanks for watching and commenting.