I woke up this morning with the urge to make a chess board using trees for the players. I’ve spent the morning thinking about how to make them, as they would have to be able to be made, look like trees, and endure being knocked over (and possibly off the table). I’ve thought about getting tree clippings and putting them in a resin, then turning the resin round (kind of like a snow globe). I’ve also thought about just painting the trees onto a block of wood (boring!), turning them, or best idea yet – scroll sawing them. Thoughts please!
I’m thinking of using different shapes/heights of trees for the different players. Perhaps an oak for the rooks, Christmas-tree-type pine for the pawns, redwood for the king, etc. Any other thoughts on trees/players would be appreciated too.
Maybe I can make the squares from end-grain slices of something.
Replies
tree chess
I'd lean toward scroll-sawn pieces, with at least two half-lapped together to give dimension, as is done with wooden snow flakes and such. You could add little blocks around the joint to add strength, and maybe a little brass round at the top as the "handle".
I like the idea of pine pawns, and oaks for the rooks. I'd do redwoods for the queens, and Sequoias for the king. Maybe trimmed Junipers for the bishops, and Mesquite for the knights?
Spiralling out of control.
I've been expanding my idea non-stop since before 10am this morning, and am still going! Hey - new, better idea! I could do trees vs. saws & axes!
idea expansion
Don't forget, you'll need a sloping-hillside chessboard, and Velcro bits on the bottoms of the tree-pieces to keep them on the hillside. ;-)
I can do better
Rare earth magnets. Just make sure they're oriented the right way.
Chirs.. You must be Oriental! Nothing wrong with that from my point of view.. My babies from China ask these sort of questions all the time...
They are so smart and still a little child every day..
Hmmm. Interesting.
Well, Will, my last name is Wong...
Sorry.. I tend to type and
Sir, I am very sorry.. I tend to type and not think first.
No hate here at all. I typed what I did without finishing my thoughts. I 'think' and then put a foot in my mouth all the time... I recall that I was typing and probably NOT thinking... As I usually do...
I wanted to say about Oriental thoughts...
Because of what my 8 year old grandaughter asked me to make for her about one week before your post. Our family had her eight birthday party and she asked me to make her little wooden trees for in front of the doll house that I made for her and her younger sister... She asked for a forest of different trees? LOL.... I have no idea on how I will be able to do it for her!
Both girls are adopted from China and they are VERY SPECIAL little ladies to me. They are so smart and ask me all sorts of strange questions. Just as my four daughters did all the time. I love the thoughts of little girls...
I only connected your comment about 'Trees for chess pieces' to her request for 'Forest of little trees in front of her doll house'...
No offence taken
No worries, Will. It takes a lot to offend me, and you certainly did not offend me.
Hopelessly Irish`
So Chris, what part of Ireland did the Wongs come from?
Bret
Hopelessly confused
Bret,
Was your question in response to my comment about not being easily offended?
just poking fun at myself
The risk one takes in trying to be humorous is that no one will find it so.
Bret
Answer to your question:
Bret,
The outside.
Thanks.. I may be white by my birth records but I doubt it... We are ALL a mix of colors and races. I love my mix of whatever I may be!
I found one link that my help if you want to look at..
http://www.google.com/images?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7ADRA_en&q=free+clip+art+trees&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=WSDNS9uWDYXCNcDVlNgP&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDgQsAQwAw
The current plan
Thanks Will. I think that I will start cutting out the tree from two sides with a scroll saw, then carve it from there.
Chris,
Palm Trees for the Bishop
A silvery tree for the Knights. Which could be a Silver Leaf Eucalyptus, but somehow a Silver Blue Spruce seems better.
Oaks for the Rooks
A nice round tree for the Queen, made from the waterfall bubinga. it of course has marverlous curves...
Sequoia and Redwood, being common names for the same tree, either works fine.
I do Like your Axes, saws, chainsaws for the oposite team. Big hammers for the Rooks, Mortise chisel for the knight, Single ax for the pawns, Big Bunyon type double ax for the King. Fret saw for the queen? or perhaps a sickle for the wicked queen in black?
Interesting set indeed.
Lots of sawing!
Good ideas
Wow! I've got so many ideas I may have to make a few different sets!
Your mention of bubinga for the queen gave me another idea - just make the different players different sizes and go with two colours - one for each team. http://www.crystalchess.com/cc_collect.asp
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