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Silicone Chessboard

  • qixel
  • | Jul 14, 2012 at 12:56 PM
  • | Posted in: Amy's Blog
  • | 848 reads
  • | 14 comments

I finished testing my silicone chessboard, and here is my report.

I bought the board from Amazon, and it is the one listed as "WE Games Silicone Tournament Chess Mat", sold by Family Board Games and fulfilled by Amazon.  It cost $15.

The board is very flexible and thin (approximate 1-mm thick).  It has the heft and flexibility of a heavy fabric, but it does not wrinkle or crease.

It does lie perfectly flat when unrolled.  When it was shipped, it was rolled up and folded in half length-wise, but despite the fold it still laid perfectly flat.  I think it would have to suffer extreme abuse for it to lose this characteristic.

I tested the surface for resistance to common stains.  I tested wine, coffee, fountain-pen ink, tomato sauce, mustard, and ballpoint.  All cleaned up perfectly using a paper towel dampened with water.  I did, however, clean the surface immediately; I didn't let the stains set.  The ballpoint did require a little extra rubbing, but that was it.

The surface does attract lint and dust, but not in a major way.  (To me, the propensity of a silicone board to attract dust has been somewhat overstated.  I expected the worst and it did not happen.)  To clean the surface I just used the electronic wipe that I use for my computer screen and keyboard.  It worked great.  If you take this board to a tournament, you might carry some of these wipes with you.

The ink or dye with which the board is printed seems fairly stable.  When I rubbed the green squares with pressure using a damp paper towel, a very very little bit of the dye did transfer to the towel.  This did not happen with the electronic wipe or with light cleaning using a towel.  Light cleaning is really all you need to remove dust.

Pieces essentially will not slide on this board.  I tried many different kinds of pieces, and none would slide. Not even those with heavy felt bottoms.  So if you are an inveterate piece slider this kind of board will not work for you.  You can lift pieces easily though. They do NOT tend to stick.

In general, I thought this was a great board.  To me it is better in every way to the standard vinyl board (except for "piece sliding" as mentioned above.)  I thought it was well worth the extra cost.  The fact that it can be rolled up tightly and folded is a huge feature to me.

I do like the look and feel of my mousepad board better.  But the mousepad board is bulkier and not as convenient for travelling.  Also it is subject to staining and the accumulation of dirt. 

Comments


  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @msjenned

    Yes, it is crazy that the board and chesspiece combination that the USCF sells as its standard tournament set does not meet its own equipment standards.  LOL

  • 10 months ago

    msjenned

    Yes it is funny marriage from HELL heehee :> I also dont understand if they can make the ChessBoard with a Tournament standard setting why cant they make the weighted Heavy Club Chess Piece the same standard?

    I accept if the do this for the Basic Club:

    http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_pieces/plastic_chess_pieces/basic_club_chess_pieces

    • King Height: 3 3/4"
    • King Base: 1 1/2"
    • King Weight: 27g

    I will also understand if they do it for the regular Quality Club:

    http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_pieces/plastic_chess_pieces/quality_club_chess_pieces

    • King Height: 3 3/4"
    • King Base: 1 1/2"
    • King Weight: 28 g



    But they should fix the setting for the Heavy Club.

    http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_pieces/plastic_chess_pieces/heavy_tournament_chess_pieces

    • King Height: 3 3/4"
    • King Base: 1 1/2"
    • King Weight: 52g
  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @msjenned

    Yes, this is what chess clubs need to be within USCF specs, cuz those "club special" chess pieces are everywhere.

    Unfortunately, those 2.25-inch squares seems just as entrenched.  It is a marriage made in hell.  LOL 

  • 10 months ago

    msjenned

    Yes heeheeheee :::> look like so much empty space on the Chess Board with those specifications: Base of 1.5 & Square of 2.25.

    It is the cheapest they can find for the heavy weighted Club Piece and they are all 1.5 square and the Bulk price is what the Clubs go for to make shipping cheaper also.

    Chess House.com has a medium version of the board to fit the Club pieces:

    http://www.chesshouse.com/17_Vinyl_Roll_up_Chess_Board_p/e014.htm

    But this is not the Tournament Standard size.

  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @msjenned

    A king with 1.5-inch base on a 2.25-inch square is an abomination.  But it is ubiquitous in chess clubs across America.  The horror !

  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @digitalknight

    I looked at your collection.

    You're a sicko, man !  LOL  Just kiddin'.  I adored it.  

    Anyone who has a Ganine Gothic set is a friend of mine.  A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

  • 10 months ago

    digitalknight

    I have so many chess sets, it's sick.

    I'm not sure who is sicker. I have a huge chess set collection. I have some photos posted in my profile. I need to take some new photos as I have added several sets. I need to sell off a few too. I do have a beautiful wooden board and set too!

  • 10 months ago

    msjenned

    :::teeheehee :>

    Some people collect stamps and some people collect Chess sets. 

    :".":

  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @msjenned

    I have so many chess sets, it's sick.  You can see some of them around the perimeter of this blog.

    Anyway I try to follow the USCF guidelines for square size:

    Dividing the base diameter of the King by 0.78 will yield the proper square size.  An acceptable square size may be up to 1/8 inch larger than this number, but not smaller.

  • 10 months ago

    msjenned

    How large is your larger Chessmen Amy? I have the Heavy Club

    This is: 

    • King Height: 3 3/4"
    • King Base: 1 1/2"

    Which makes it too small for 2.25 square. Does not look good. I dont like it when you can put 04 pawns in one square.

     

    I have also this:

    This is: http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_pieces/plastic_chess_pieces/premier_chess_pieces_with_4_1_8_king_to_natural

    • King Height: 4 1/8"
    • King Base: 1 7/8"

    This size is too crowded for the 2.25 square.

  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @-waller-

    Big "yes" to wooden boards.  I use only wooden boards at home.

    As for testing...Yes, I took one for the team.  Luckily nothing untoward happened.  LOL

  • 10 months ago

    qixel

    @msjenned

    I have a vinyl board with 2.375 squares and I really like it for my larger chessmen.  I would definitely buy one in silicone if I could find one.  But so far I haven't.

  • 10 months ago

    -waller-

    I don't think I'll ever favour anything but a wooden board if I'm honest! Still, sounds like a good buy - worth the extra money.

    Also, I can't believe you dared to test all those substances on a new board! Surprised 

  • 10 months ago

    msjenned

    I do like your review very much and thank you for posting this. It is very detailed. I have 03 pieces of Quality Vinyl Board from Wholesale (this is different from the regular vinyl). It is 8 years old and very stained. It did last the abuse for that time.

    I had tried Mouse-Pad before and agree with the stains and dirt. Also agree about the lack of convenience when traveling. The other thing it is no 'thud' sound when you play the pieces.

    I will now consider the Silicone Board and hope they will have 2.375 square.

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