Woodturning a Chess Set - Beginner Lathe Project

A couple months ago I purchase a secondhand lathe, and after turning (and occasionally failing at turning) some practice bowls and other pieces, I wanted a new challenge. My brother and one of his roommates have picked up chess during quarantine, so I thought turning a set of proper chess pieces would be a great place to start! My technique and skills definitely leave something to be desired, but as a novice I was very happy with how this came out.
Special thanks to Chris and Arthur for filming the action-clip at the end, as well as the excellent photography used in this video's thumbnail.
Thanks also to the many new subscribers from the past few weeks! Welcome, and please let me know if there are any projects you'd like to see me attempt.

[@reecenaidu6020]

Love the sound of the pieces of the board. Weighting the pieces and glueing felt at the bottom to protect everything has its perks, but that sharp wood clang is so satisfying

[@HaylonWoodworking]

I tend to agree! Thanks for watching :)

[@Woodside235]

Oddly charming to see a set so inconsistent. Makes it feel a lot more personal.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

The inconsistencies are what makes it (and us) human :)

[@GraffWoodshop]

Love it! This is going to be my first project when I get a lathe.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Glad you like it! It was definitely a fun learning experience. I won't lie, had a crick in my neck for days after :)

[@tharemyhopkins5873]

Nice set; thank you for sharing.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Thanks for watching!

[@kellyklaask7su990]

Nice job! Very little is more satisfying that playing a game of chess with a chess set you made yourself!

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Now, just to get better at chess :)

[@kellyklaask7su990]

@@HaylonWoodworking Funny that you say that. After making my own chess set not long ago I decided that I am better at making the pieces than I am at playing them!

[@HaylonWoodworking]

@@kellyklaask7su990 And I'm happy that way! :)

[@greatgrandpaswoodworking]

Great job.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@JayReidy]

That rook is killing it!

[@PCruz-md1jb]

I really like the set except for the Kings. If you all the pieces can be easily and intuitively identified except for the Kings. The mini dome is actually quite common for Queens. Many of the old Soviet sets have very simple King finials. With your high skill level you could easily make a similar finials for your Kings. Overall a very nice set I would be very comfortable and happy to play with. Something about those pawns that I really like.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Thanks very much for the feedback! I'm not much of a chess player myself, so I didn't actually know that domes were more common on queens. I'll have to keep that in mind for next time :)

[@jamesrobbins26]

I likecwhat you did here. It looks good.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Thanks, James!

[@TheSGBrown]

Beginner lathe project? Naw, making chess pieces can become an art. In fact, India has a growing cottage industry around creating chess pieces for the 20+ million chess players and collectors around the globe. 'Grats on your enthusiasm; your deft, growing skills, and your thoughtful expression of goodwill towards your brother! -Yeah, now maybe your brother will mow your lawn into the next forever! /grins

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Well, I'm a beginner on the lathe and it was a project :) Thank you for your kind words!

[@joefitzy]

Knight to E2? Thanks for the video... I expected to see some sanding while on the lathe - did you sand the pieces at all? I'm not a fan of the brass tacks.

[@HaylonWoodworking]

I did sand--the dust it was throwing off made for poor footage. I've gotten mixed reviews on the brass, it seems.

[@ChessTurner]

Great job, very fast

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Thanks!

[@TheSGBrown]

Fwiw, it's TWO queens of each color for unhindered, proper play. (pawn promotion.) -Ask your brother and his friends. :)

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Noted!

[@bfg216]

Out of curiosity, how long did the peices take you? Im working on 1 and trying to figure out how much time i need to set aside for it

[@HaylonWoodworking]

This video was from a few years ago so I don't remember specifics, but once I got in the groove the pawns didn't take too long each. The more complex pieces, particularly the knights, take probably the better part of an hour. If I were to do this again, I would spend more time jigging things up so it would all be more repeatable.

[@alejandrocarrillo832]

No sabes tornear principiante

[@HaylonWoodworking]

Si no vas a decir nada bueno, mejor no digas nada.