Chess Storage Box Follow up

Greetings Chess Fans and Friends, 

I'm following  up on the suggestions from @chesslover0003, @Yenster1, and @Wits-end. I've just built a new box - the "Sliding Oak Chess Box" - which incorporates your excellent suggestions. The new box, as you will see, has a sliding top - no hinge - and it's anchored with rare earth magnets. In fact, the lid can be attached via magnets to the back of the box while you remove your chess pieces. It accommodates a King with an 1-5/8" base and up to 4-3/4" tall. It has space for 34 pieces, suitable for double Queens. And, per your suggestions, the box has a sturdy 1/4" inset hardwood panel for the bottom so you  have plenty of support for your prized chess set. Check out Etsy.com/shop/FallingLeafChess for pricing and further details. This storage box is definitely one-of-a-kind and  won't stay in my inventory for long. Thanks for your thoughtful suggestions and input. 

Any type of storage box should be padded or felted so that pieces get cushioned against shock.

You still have to do something about the pawns. Pawns can get damaged also.

@Falkentyne, all the Falling Leaf Chess storage boxes have a felt lining. This box has a dark brown Kunin felt lining.

Sorry, wasn't aware.

Very nice work, excellent craftsmanship! Great upgrades. Each one will have their likes/dislikes and for good reasons. I appreciate your work. Having made only one storage box for myself, i understand the time, energy, and creativity involved. I also know the joy and fulfillment of feeling the wood during the process. Well done my friend.

Nice Box ,  Timo1177

@Wits-end, thanks for the encouragement. Coming from a fellow woodworker and admirer of quality wood, that means a lot! Seeing the project unfold and watching the character of the wood come out is a lot of fun. Kind of like seeing your strategy unfold as you win a challenging game of chess!

@lighthouse, thanks for the thumbs-up!

The comments and suggestions on this Forum, both positive and negative. are enlightening and helpful.

@timo1177 love seeing the modifications. When I'm ready to get a new box I'd definitely like to order one from you.

What are your personal thoughts of the sliding lid vs hinge? Both in terms of manufacturing and the user's experience?

I think I'm warming up to the sliding lid design. Do you think the magnet rally adds to the experience or securing it shut?

The two-tone detail on the corners is really nice.

I agree, lining the box with felt is pretty luxurious but the dividers might make that a little less necessary (even when pawns are in one section. Different colored felt lining could make it more dramatic when opening (particularly if not using the green that everyone expects). But this just adds to cutting and gluing fabric.

Just an observation. The handle on the sliding lid would prevent boxes from being stacked.

Hey @chesslover0003, I'd love to build you a box when you're ready!

The sliding lid was a new challenge for me, all my other boxes have been hinged. I hadn't thought of the lid handle getting in the way of stacking the box. Good observation. I'll have to come up with another approach although I never considered stacking the boxes. If I go that route, I'll build them so they fit snuggly together.

As for preference, sliding versus hinged, I think I lean towards hinged because the box is then a self-contained unit as opposed to having a free-floating lid. I like the magnets on the back of the box for holding the lid while one removes the pieces. Production-wise, the two approaches both have their challenges. Cutting the slot for the sliding lid has to be extremely precise. But then chiseling out the insets for the hinges has to be carefully done as well.

The felt lining is a necessity to me. It provides an attractive aesthetic as well as cushioning the pieces as they are dropped into their slots. I try to use felt that will complement the look of the wood but traditionally speaking, for many, that can only be green!

The suggestions to provide individual slots for the pawns is something I will have to give serious consideration. Typically that's a whole separate divider configuration but I can see how some would feel that's necessary.

Thanks again for your comments. I highly value the feedback.