New Drueke Boards

Anybody have any experience buying boards from druekechessboard.com? Wondering if the quality keeps up with the originals!

Oops my bad. I meant to link to https://www.druekechessboard.com/

Please ignore original url.

k

I bought one, let's say I expected more QC for the price I paid. I think the good man used the cheapest shipping option as it took one month from his shop to transit to several hubs in USA, before it went in the airplane to Europe. From the moment it went into the airplane across the ocean, it took only a week to arrive. Go figure. Communication was excellent before the transaction, once I received the board and have questions about it, not once he responded back. 

If you're a domestic buyer, I think he will act differently.

I don't know about current quality.  In ye olden days they were great and one of the few high quality things I've ever considered to be inexpensive.  Mine cost about $120 for 2 1/4 inch squares, about 20 years ago.

The one pictured looks about right, but somehow, maybe, not saying for sure, the workmanship looks a little less fine than the older ones.  Of course there's been some inflation since then, but fairly low until lately.  At $360, it's certainly not as cheap as it was when I got mine.

Still, it looks like solid blocks of wood, all the way through, both sides finished, not just cheap inlay, and that's more than you can usually find in the world.

Edit:  Having looked at some extra pictures, I will mostly retract that the quality seems lower (can't tell for sure, but it looks quite good).  The price does seem to have gone up faster than inflation.

Trying to decide between one of these new Drueke boards or somethign from California Wood Worker on Etsy. 

Any other quality makers I should consider that you have experience with?

Post some pics of your boards! Help me spend my money!!

K.

well, here i am posting about drueke boards again.  my personal opinion, not only are they high quality, but i like the style.  there could be another high quality board (though many are not as good), but i like the simple straightforward style and it's hard to beat.

MCH818- I've been looking at the JLP boards and chesshouse is a great retailer. Looks like they're sold out though

k

JLP....solid wood boards....by ChessHouse....excellent quality.....excellent service...

https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/jlp-hardwood-chess-boards

I really liked the idea of the folding tournament sized board from JLP. Might just hold off and see about getting one of those when they're back in stock...

As of today, Dec 10, 2021, 6am EST, the JLP folding board is currently in stock at ChessHouse. 

21" Folding Hardwood Player's Chessboard JLP, USA
IN STOCK – SHIPS NOW
$399.00
Order soon, only 3 left!

Thanks Pwnerai, but I'm looking for the tournament size board with 2.25" squares. On the notify list for when they come back in stock

Gotcha. The "Email Me When Available" button on the ChessHouse product pages really do work. I've used it in the past. 

Now I'm wondering if I should just get a stack... LOL.

It was one of the first boards i "lusted after" when I first started playing chess a few years back. Really love the idea of being able to put the board away without taking up a huge amount of space.

Was also looking at the Tower Series boards from Colorade wood worker but there's always been somethign about these stack boards...

At this rate it will be 2029 before I get board!

My motto is buy now and regret later. Works every time!

I'm trying to be a minimalist!! LOLOL!

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The closest I ever got was "mediumalist". I guess I'll count that as a win!

I just received a new tournament size (2.25” squares) walnut/maple board from Bill Dreuke. For 30 years I’ve owned a smaller (2” squares) Dreuke board, which I’ve grown to treasure for its durability and beauty. The craftsmanship of this new board is comparable to my old Dreuke board. The joinery and wood selection are outstanding (and I’m perfectionistic about these things). The design is identical to the old boards—down to the vintage gold foil Dreuke sticker on the bottom. The cut grooves separating the squares from the border are not as deep as the original, but I actually like them that way.

@TKWKnight The wood selection on your board is incredible. The walnut grain is beautiful. It doesn't get better than that. He used the choice portions of the walnut for your board. Enjoy!