sound67 wrote:
Why do many people choose ebonized wood for black? Simple: They can't afford genuine ebony.
I would pick ebonized boxwood over ebony even if the price was the same for both. I don't trust ebony to not develop cracks.
Good but reasonably priced wooden chess set with detailed pieces?
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CatoWeeksbooth wrote:
sound67 wrote:
Why do many people choose ebonized wood for black? Simple: They can't afford genuine ebony.
I would pick ebonized boxwood over ebony even if the price was the same for both. I don't trust ebony to not develop cracks.
Yes. Ebony is more prone to cracking.
There is heaps of ancient ebonizing techniques that make wood last a super long time, one I have experimented with is made simply with Iron and Vinegar, such a powerful acid is created that it killed our small xmas tree lol just with the fumes.
But I found heaps of ancient weatherboard wood on the farm that seemed to have been treated with the same technique, and it is very impervious to decay, even when outside on grass for decades and decades.
You may have seen an ebonizing technique similar on Amazing Homes show.
sound67 wrote:
Ebony is *not* more prone to cracking. I sell string instruments for a living, which are made of various woods (spruce, maple), inlcuding ebony (fingerboards, parts). I have yet to see any of it crack. The seasoning of the wood is vital here.
On a relative basis (compared to boxwood), there are many accounts of ebony chess pieces developing cracks in these forums. In comparison, very rarely will you come across accounts of boxwood (ebonized or not) developing cracks. Perhaps, as been suggested, the problem is that the wood has been not properly "seasoned" (whatever that means*). Or perhaps, as these pieces are made in tropical/sub-tropical climates, the raw wood or the finished pieces themselves may be stored for extended periods (prior to sale) in very hot and/or humid conditions with little to no environmental (temperature/humidity) controls, and the cracking (even on a microscopic level) begins during the storage period. Any wood, when subjected to extremes of temperature and humidity will shrink and swell, and especially when subjected to very low humidity for extended periods, can readily develop cracks. And yes, some woods are more susceptible to this than others.
*Perhaps by "seasoned" the poster is referring to the fact that the wood for musical instruments is stored, prior to manufacture, in very controlled conditions of temperature and humidity and is dried in a controlled manner, including kiln drying in the final stages before manufacture. I'm doubtful that the chess pieces industry in the second and third world countries where these pieces are produced take these precautions to the same extent as is done in the musical instrument industry.
I am aware of these issues as I am a guitar player with an extensive guitar collection, which I keep stored in a temperature/humidity controlled room, for all these very reasons.
Read the sidebar "Cracking Up!" in the first article here...
https://www.handmadechess.co.uk/constructing_pieces.html
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/ebony-pieces-cracking
Other reasons for chess pieces cracking....inserted metal weight in the base of the piece restricting the ability of the wood to expand and contract (i.e., move) which contributes to increasing stress that the wood is subjected to...
http://www.ukchessblogger.com/2008/11/why-do-chess-pieces-crack/
In the following forum thread (by @IpswichMatt), note specifically the photo in post #2 showing the broken pawn with the metal weight exposed. In particular see that there is no space (laterally, to the sides) between the weight and the wood, so that the wood is restricted from moving in the lateral direction. In the process of expansion the wood eventually cracks as the forces build to a sufficient level. The solution in this case (as pointed out in the previous article) is to allow for expansion of the wood in all directions by not inserting hard metal in such a configuration that it restricts the wood's ability to move/expand.
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/chess-set-restoration-repairing-cracks-in-ebony
But the question remains - why would ebony be more susceptible to the forces causing cracking than other woods. The answer must lie in the fact that, being a denser (harder) wood than for example boxwood, the ebony wood will not as readily "move" (back and forth as it were) when subjected to the forces that cause it to expand and contract, but instead just separates (cracks) once the forces become great enough to make it "move". That is, it is characteristic of this type of hardwood.
sound67 wrote:
"Seasoned" means dried, whether in a "kiln" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiln) or, ideally, especially for instruments, naturally air-dried for a number of years. Chesspiece makers AFAIK use the kiln, which force-dries the wood over a few weeks (as opposed to 3 years or more of air-drying), but of course there's no question of sound involved.
I have read the linked entries, but keep in mind these offer only a tiny, narrow perspective of individuals. It's the old "it-happened-to-me-it-happens-to-everyone" frog eye perspective. My perspective comes from 16 years of selling violins, violas and cellos. Of course, I take extra care that the wood is naturally dried, cannot claim the same about ANY maker of chess pieces/boards, of course.
You have just supported the fact that the musical instrument industry (located primarily in Western countries) takes proper and technologically sophisticated precautions in manufacture. This is not the case to anywhere close to the same degree with the chess piece manufacturing industry located in the Asian countries where the pieces are produced.
sound67 wrote:
I deal with Asian manufacturers of instruments exclsuively, and they have all adopted the traditional method of air-drying long ago (many were trained in Italy in Germany). And since the HoS pieces and others ALL originate from India anyway, I assume they take the proper precautions, too.
You are talking about the musical instrument industry, which has long established superior quality control procedures and standards. I am describing the issues associated with the chess piece industry.
The most reputable chess dealers in the West (clients of the Asian chess piece industry) such as House of Staunton (HOS), will insist, as a requirement for doing business, that their Asian manufacturers/suppliers employ proper manufacturing methods and quality control, but this is not the case for all chess piece producers, especially those who are not being forced by the reputable Western dealer/retailer clients to adhere to the highest production and quality control standards.
sound67 wrote:
They are the very same makers, who supply the very same pieces - whether you order from the directly or through HoS and such.
Chessbazaar.com problems....here just a few of the forum threads on Chess.com about them.....all of these threads are consistent about the inconsistent quality of products (and service) from ChessBazaar, one of the most popular chess set retailers out of India. The problems mostly relate to cracking of the chess pieces. If all of the sellers use the same makers the issues described are also not likely to be exclusive to ChessBazaar...
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/my-experience-with-chess-bazaar
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/poor-service-and-quality-from-chessbazaar-round-two
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/poor-quality-and-service-from-chess-bazaar
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/chessbazaar-boards-which-are-cracking
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/chess-bazaar-backorder
As an example of the contrast concept, here is one of my sets, the solid wood board (custom crafted by ColoradoWoodWorker on ETSY.com) is made of maple and cherry squares, with walnut apron, and pieces of boxwood and ebonized boxwood.....I think everything contrasts very well......(no camouflaging!)....
That's a nice set!
Thank you. The pieces are the ebonized boxwood, "GM Blitz" set from ChessBazaar. So named because the Knights are carved from a single piece of wood, so that they can withstand blitz play without coming apart, which might happen to a 2-piece Knight.