How to Make Your Own Chess Game

Wood or marble are common chess materials but you can create a set from whatever you like.

The beauty of any handcrafted project is the way it expresses the maker's personality. Instead of buying a chess set, consider how it would reflect your favorite materials. For example, if you have at least 32 shot glasses but don't have a place to display them, consider putting them into use as your chess pieces. If they are souvenirs from trips or favorite nights out, you can relive the memories. If one breaks during play, you have a good reason to go out and make a new memory.

Things You'll Need

• 32 shot glasses
• Glass paints
• Small paint brushes
• Wood
• Stain
• Polyurethane

Instructions

1. Arrange the shot glasses into two "teams." If they are souvenir glasses, you can use the decorations already on the glasses to group them.

2. Use eight glasses of the same size and style for the pawns on each side.

3. Choose unique designs in the glass to identify the two rooks or castles, the two knights, two bishops and the king and queen. For example, fluting on the bottom of a shot glass can resemble a crown; you can play with the glasses rim side down if you prefer.

4. Color the inside of one team's glasses with glass paint. If you want the other team to be clear, don't add paint to these.

5. Chose a piece of wood as your board. Make sure it is large enough to hold eight of your chess pieces across each side.

6. Score the wood with an artist's knife and straight edge such as a thick ruler to map out the 64 squares in eight rows and eight columns.

7. Apply stain to every other square; the scoring will act as a barrier, providing a clean line between the dark and light squares.

Tips & Warnings

• Some chess sets have the king as the tallest piece on the board, others the queen. You're creating this set so you get to decide how you want to make it your own.

• Instead of shot glasses, rummage around your house or your local thrift store for other inexpensive items. Salt and peppershakers come in many different styles, including short versions meant for individual place settings at a formal dinner. These would make good pawns while taller shakers would be knights, kings and queens. Fill one set of 16 pieces with salt and the other set with pepper.

References

• Boy's Life: Make a Tool Chess Set
• "American Woodworker"; Turning a Chess Set; Sally Shenk Ullman, September-October 1990

Resources

• "Popular Mechanics"; Make this Handsome Chess Set"; Bill Fifer and Walter Lange; November 1969