I agree most are very helpful. But this wasn't. I searched and sent a few
sources directly to the fellow who asked in the first place. I looked for
about 30 minutes and found several examples. I hope the ones I chose to send
were helpful to him. He can choose whether he likes them or not. Or he can
modify what he sees and create something new. That was what he was after, I
believe. Chess sets, for me are pieces of art. Some I like and some I don't.
But I know for every one I don't appreciate there are many people that ooh
and aah for them. I personally am not enamored with the Shopsmith pieces but
it is probably a good starting place if there is nothing else to turn. I
gave up playing chess 30 years ago but I taught my children to appreciate
the game and the art. Now when they travel around the world they either
bring back a particular set or a picture or a description of what they saw.
They have become collectors as well as players. We tend to go through life
with our glasses half full. But we too sometimes find ourselves being
critical. However the real harm of criticism is to ourselves because the
criticism eats into our well-being and we become bitter people. This person
was unsuccessful in finding examples of turned chess sets for what ever
reason so he turned to the group for help. He got some. I hope he comes back
with more questions when he gets stumped again. And I hope there are people
that can answer his question when he does. There will be people that will
find a way to make comments outside of his question then, too, because that
is there "right."

Bob Darrah
West Linn, Oregon

"Ali T. Borahan" wrote in message
news:sQh7b.144589$xf.136981@lakeread04...
Yuh, and it's such a pity we live in a country where one can state one's
opinions and advice without worries of recrimination or attacks for
stating
those opinions. Also a pity that we live in a world where some people are
just too darn busy to use search engines...

I think that the reason some of us mentioned the Staunton set is because
it's the standard in chess. If you want something out of the ordinary, why
not create your own set? If you're not interested in the standard, then
there's not much that anybody can do to provide you with plans. Maybe *I*
should have mentioned that I've done weeks of search engine research, only
to find that I couldn't find a set of plans for STANDARD chess sets. So I
just picked up a standard, cheap, plastic set of Staunton's and am
creating
a set using that as the standard. I happen to be doing everything by eye,
no
duplicators here, so there's bound to be some variation. Again, if you
don't
like a standard set, I suggest you use your imagination and creativity and
come up with something unique. That, in my humble opinion, is the true
mark
of an artist.

And next time you decide to mistake others' opinions as attacks of
criticism, think twice. And don't be so defensive. I've found most of the
people on RCW to be nothing less than exceptionally helpful. When they
state
opinions without providing the help that you so desperately seek, it's
generally because they simply can't provide it.

'Nuff said.

-ali
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Bob Darrah" wrote in message
...
And I wasted my time clicking on this thread thinking I would find
someone
that knew where we could find plans for turning chess pieces. I guess in
this day and age of ugly politics and ridiculous lawsuits I should be
slapped silly to think I would find an educated reply to a simple
question
rather than a critical statement of someone else's attempt at
craftsmanship.

Bob Darrah
West Linn, Oregon

"Doug Miller" wrote in message
y.com...
In article nNk6b.125038$xf.21582@lakeread04, "Ali T. Borahan"
wrote:
Agreed Doug. I'm certainly not a carver, but when I finish the set
I'm
turning, the knight will have at least a semblence of a horse's head.
I
think most chess players would agree that Staunton is the most
commonly
used
and recognizable set. I'm not an expert at chess either, but I do
like
the
familiarity of the pieces to be there when playing.

Moreover, if you're playing in a USCF-sanctioned tournament, you have
the
right to refuse to play with a non-Staunton set, and insist on a
Staunton.
I
certainly would never agree to play with that set, in any game that
meant
anything -- the knight looks *way* too much like a bishop.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)