Here is a plan to help you make a chess set whose chessmen are made from used standard parts (nuts and bolts fasteners).

 

Chess set from scrap fasteners
Make
Project difficulty
Simple
Skill level
for beginners
Level of workshop equipment
Home – basic hand toools
Dimensions

254mm (10'') x 254mm (10'')

 

Standard parts are widely used and you can find them easily in the workshop, junkyards or in local hardware store. You can join the parts together with metal glue, or by welding, brazing or soldering. If you do not have any fasteners of the recommended dimensions, adjust the dimensions and design of the pieces to the standard parts at hand.

 

Exploded view and parts list
Chess set from scrap fasteners - Parts list
Assembly drawing
Chess set from scrap fasteners - Assembly drawing

 

You can make chessmen out of metal with different colors, or you can paint half of the chessmen in black, to obtain a difference between “black” and “white” chessmen. The chess board can be made from one or two pieces of sheet metal attached with hinges (in this case, the board can be folded and packed into a box more easily). The fields can simply be drawn and painted or made by cutting small squares of thin copper sheet to be glued to the board. If you are satisfied with the result, we recommend that you make a nice wooden box to complement your chess set.

 

Download project (high resolution images)

Submitted by Ceh Jan