@kingsforkcafe I agree about patina... however, I think the set is mostly valued for sentimental reasons. And my tastes are not someone else's. I like watching the resurrection of these pieces.
Project: restoring Grandpa's chess pieces
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Dec 7, 2020
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#43
Removing the paint worked really well.
Some of the white pieces have a few small varnish rests, but that can easily be sanded off.
What's interesting is the black pieces. Before, they were just uniformly black, now they are unevenly dark-brown to black, which I find very attractive. (it's nearly impossible to take accurate photos of the black pieces, though)
I really like the two colors and I'd love to give them some sort of colourless, not too glossy finish.
But they'll stay like this for now until I've seen the matching board to make sure that I don't do anything to the pieces that will make them clash with the board...
Also, I'm ready for my "I Got My First Pieces Off Of Ebay" award :-)
I've seen an amazing mother-of-pearl effect chalk paint, and I'm thinking, maybe pink and teal???
Just kidding, they're in perfect condition, and I won't mess with them 
aren't they adorable?
King looks like two pieces together upper one is upside down...all together they look nice...
yep
danielaKay wrote:
I just love how perplexed the knight looks
That's a genuinely unique set. If I ever see another set like yours in my life, my face will look like the knight's.
lol
Dec 7, 2020
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#49
Pawnerai wrote:
danielaKay wrote:
I just love how perplexed the knight looks
That's a genuinely unique set. If I ever see another set like yours in my life, my face will look like the knight's.
The one with the perplexed knight is my Grandpa's old set, it seems to be a German Staunton clone?
The one at the bottom is a different one I just got off ebay. I've seen a few of those around on European ebay / classifieds. Some of them were called Calvert?
Dec 7, 2020
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#50
@danielkay it looks like the base of the knight is cracked? How easy is it to fill with a wood filler? what if you use a pledge-like fish to keep keep it protected? or perhaps a temporary oil polish finish? Something that will help moisturise the wood and prevent it from drying out and cracking.
Dec 7, 2020
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#51
BrianErdelyi wrote:
@danielkay it looks like the base of the knight is cracked? How easy is it to fill with a wood filler? what if you use a pledge-like fish to keep keep it protected? or perhaps a temporary oil polish finish? Something that will help moisturise the wood and prevent it from drying out and cracking.
Yepp, it's got a crack.
I'll ask around what sort of products my woodworking friends recommend 
danielaKay wrote:
The one with the perplexed knight is my Grandpa's old set, it seems to be a German Staunton clone?
The knight looks more French than German to me. When you have the chance, is it possible to post up photos of the knight, straight-on from the side, front and back?
Dec 7, 2020
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#53
Pawnerai wrote:
danielaKay wrote:
The one with the perplexed knight is my Grandpa's old set, it seems to be a German Staunton clone?
The knight looks more French than German to me. When you have the chance, is it possible to post up photos of the knight, straight-on from the side, front and back?
Sure
The knights are so uniquely charming, they need names. Hah!
Dec 7, 2020
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#55
Pawnerai wrote:
The knights are so uniquely charming, they need names. Hah!
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo? 
Dec 7, 2020
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#56
Pawnerai wrote:
The knights are so uniquely charming, they need names. Hah!
Who, What, When, and Where? ;-) ;-)
danielaKay wrote:
Pawnerai wrote:
The knights are so uniquely charming, they need names. Hah!
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo?
Yeah they look innocent and kinda cute, though I usually experience bad encounters with knight...
Dec 8, 2020
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#58
GrandPatzerDave wrote:
Pawnerai wrote:
The knights are so uniquely charming, they need names. Hah!
Who, What, When, and Where? ;-) ;-)
Well, the one I'm holding is clearly called Why???
I feel that the bare wooden pieces would soil over time. At best our fingers are coated in an oil which taints everything we touch. A wax based furniture polish would be ideal and it’d be easily removed with turpentine. You could keep the finish to a matt finish or else polish the pieces to a nice lustre.
Dec 8, 2020
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#60
theendgame3 wrote:
GrandPatzerDave wrote:
Excellent! Sounds like Sentimental History is in very good hands! Looking forward to progress photos, if you have the time.
WHAT???????
Are you serious, he's gonna end up with a totally different set that will probably look new. He has stripped away all the 'Sentimental History'.
"Look guys, here is my Granpa's 65 year old chess pieces"
"Dude there not 65 years old"
They are = they're. There are arguments to be made for preserving the original patina
But the owner of the set stated that was not an option.
Okay, scrubbing them with soap water didn't do much, so I went for plan B.
First, a pawn sacrifice:
© danielaKayIt paid off:
© danielaKayI don't know yet whether I'll leave them like that, but in my opinion, it's a lot better than the messed-up varnish.
So I went all in
© danielaKayBTW, on the bottom of the box, Grandpa had written his address, and by this address we were able to deduce that the pieces are around 65 years old.
Patina is a valuable thing for antiques. So I would try to recreate that look with new varnish.