Where Is The Best Plastic Set?

For virtually all of us chess is a losing proposition when it comes to money or any material gain.

That we enjoy our hobby seems to be sufficient reason to buy the books, invest the time, or fiddle with equipment.

Something heavy for the pieces: I've read of lead shot suspended within glue/epoxy.

They make titanium fishing weights. They are 25% denser than lead if I remember correctly. Fishing weighs come in a variety of sizes (weights) and shapes.

I'd consider using Silly Putty to hold the weight in place...just for the humor.

Exquisite-Fairy...sounds like you are having fun...can't buy that.

Very impressive work!  To weigh the pieces down may I suggest getting some of the larger lead sinkers from a sports department and glue them into the base(s)?  Since they will be on the inside and not soaking in water or solvents, the lead won't be a problem.  Personally I'm attached to my grandfather's wooden chess pieces, since I used to play with my grandfather. I have no idea who made them, other than the "made in France" stamp on the bottom of the wooden box the pieces are stored in.  I know they are older than I am (53), but I don't know how much older.  They look like they were turned on a lathe, with the knights having been hand carved. 

This was my first and i was pleased with ti

Frankly, I don't care the south end of a northbound rat whether or not anyone chooses to accept my definitions for themselves. I certainly acknowledged the existence of differing tastes, and made no statement concerning the relative values of each. "To each his own." To be honest, if this endeavor makes you happy, I think that's fine. Best of luck to you. I don't mind at all. My only objection is to the use of the word "creation" to describe the alteration of an existing object.

I also don't care about what opinion you choose to form regarding me. You don't know me, therefore that opinion is based on your own ignorance. I would not denigrate the artistic efforts of a child. I did not comment at all on your skill. An endeavor such as yours would give me no pleasure whatsoever, especially when my own training, abilities, and interests lie elsewhere, but that's just me. My interests involve taking rough raw materials and making something entirely new out of them. Yes, my wood sets were made by someone else. (Your plastic set was made by someone else [actually, by someone else's machine].) My friends often compliment the chessboards that were made entirely by me. 

I have no interest in continuing an argument. I didn't see the point of the exercise, based on what the end result would be. For my own tastes I still don't, but those are my tastes, to which I am entitled as much as you are to yours. For your own tastes -- great. 

As to the durability of wood, I don't need to do any fact checking. My entire adult life (current age 56) has been spent working with the stuff professionally. I have worked on wooden artifacts 200 to 300 years old, and the wood was in splendid condition. It is an organic material, but once fully and properly dried to the point the cell contents have essentially crystallized it becomes quite stable. If damaged, repairs are often easy to a skilled professional, and many of them would go undetected by all but the best trained eyes. I have seen wooden artifacts thousands of years old which have survived just fine. I have seen many plastics become brittle with age. Damaged, most repairs are unsatisfactory and/or unsightly if they are possible at all. (Of course a fresh coat of opaque paint can hide a multitude of sins.) Granted, there are a large number of materials classified as "plastic," with different chemical compositions and different properties. Some of the newer ones may be more stable and durable. Many still have limited useful lifetimes. I suspect the plastic used for the molded chess sets falls into the latter category. Plastics have not been around long enough to prove their worth over spans of centuries.

From the aesthetic standpoint, there are no plastics I have ever seen that can match the beauty, feel, and overall impression of good wood. As for chess sets, as someone else said, the game is played with the mind. I have found, however, that even in a G90 OTB game, where physical contact with the pieces may amount to only a couple of minutes in a 40-50 move game, the experience has always been more enjoyable with a well turned, nicely weighted and balanced wood set. Perhaps your experience differs.

Good for you Mr. (or Ms.) Fairy.  Your project is very interesting and I salute your passion.  Pay no mind to drauling baffoons who love to hear themselves talk... even in writing... via meaningless debate.  You're right.  He contributes absolutely nothing.  Keep the updates and the photos coming!

Consider me duly chastized. Who knew that all it takes to create great art is a can of paint?

By the way, your unoriginal, formulaic, intended Internet argument stopper was better before the re-edit. Not even your insults are creative. I'm off to clean some outstanding, one-of-a-kind, unique items out of the cat's litter. (Hmm ... maybe with a coat of paint ...!)

You might try a Rock Hard.  It is mixed with water, but it does dry rock hard.

I, too, have found this thread very interesting, and the photos really help me to understand what is being done. 

 I collect chess sets, but at the moment I only have one wood set.  It was hand-craved and painted in Colombia.  It is crude, but neat.  It was a gift to me from one of my daughter-in-laws who is an airline hostess.  She bought it there. I like the feel of wood. I have a wood set on order.

What materials the sets are made of is not that important to me, but I do enjoy sets made of fine quality materials. I have an alabaster set from Italy that was also a gift. It is really beautiful and I like the feel of alabaster.  I have sets from all over the world made of a varity of materials. They came form: England, Egypt, Vietnam, Korea, Italy, Greece, Colombia, Oman, Congo, and of course, China.  I have some theme sets, but not any in which the chessmen are not easily recognized.  Well, yes, I do.  The Shrek and Coke sets.   I have a salt and pepper shakers set, but the shaker sizes make the chessmen easy to recognize and the knight is a most unusual shaker compared to the other shakers. Most of those sets are for skittles; the Staunton sets for serious play. 

 Fairy, clearly you had this complete LOSER read like a tea leaf.  He just had to get the last word and in doing so, his true nature came through.  His valueless noise deteriorated with this crash and burn finish for all to see what a real MORON he is.  This absolute CLOWN should see a therapist, if he can find one that can stand his self serving, verbose droning for 45 minutes at a time.

Keep up the great work and like most others have said here, keep the news coming!!  You are very imaginative and creative, at minimum, in your thinking.  I can't wait to see the finished product.

 Not heavy as lead, but to hold weights of lead in place it is very permanent.

Have you checked out the USCF sales site? I believe they sell affordable plastic House of Staunton pieces, but I got the Zurich series for under $30. Maybe give them a shot. They have other pieces from around $5 and up. Even the sets for under $20 look good. Give them a look- 

http://uscfsales.com/