Wood Chess Sets A Touch of Class

Hobbies Articles | January 24, 2008

Wood chess sets are classic in the chess playingworld because of their association with the Staunton style of design. But wood chess setshave also pushed and continue to push the boundaries of their visualstereotype.

Early chess master Siegbert Tarrasch once said, �Chess, likelove, like music, has the power to make men happy�. Why not add to yourgame-playing enjoyment by incorporating the natural beauty of a wood chess set.

Wood chess sets are classic in the chess playing worldbecause of their association with the Stauntonstyle of design. But wood chess sets have also pushed and continue to push theboundaries of their visual stereotype due to avid and inventive chess artisanswith advancing CNC technology, also known as robotic manufacturing methods.

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Before you go out and purchase a wood chess set, understandthat a wood chess set�s style isn�t the only feature worth considering in yourpurchase. Natural wood materials lend an innate touch of class to wood chesssets and can really emphasize chess set design. So the inquiring buyer shouldbe aware of what materials are available in the manufacture of wood chess sets.This wide variety of timber contains species such as:

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Mahogany � Particular strains of mahogany such as Khayagrandifoliola are popular choices in constructing wood chess sets. Thisparticular wood chess set-friendly variety grows mostly on the West Coast ofAfrica. The color of mahogany�s heartwood can range from a pink to a dark cocoabrown.

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Maple � Sugar Maple is a popular material used tomanufacture wood chess sets. Wood chess sets using this species of maple have afaint red coloration that can also be interpreted as pink. Sugar Maple isreadily accessible in North America as its found in New England, southeastern Manitoba, Nova Scotia, North Carolina and eastern Kansas.

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Walnut � European Walnut, also known as Juglans regia, cameto Western Europe via the Romans and Asia Minor.European walnut is a market rarity as it is not in high supply and can only befound in the processed form of veneer. Wood chess sets made with EuropeanWalnut tend to have a grayish-brown hue with a darker irregular grain. Europeanwalnut is durable and polishes well. Walnut, great for staining and enduring UVexposure makes a logical choice for use in the manufacture of wood chess sets.

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Sheesham (Indian Rosewood) � Otherwise known as Palisander.Dalbergia latifolia grows in such places as the Indian peninsula. Sheesham canalso be found near the Himalayan Mountains in Orissa, Sikkim, Biharand Oudah. Chess sets usually incorporate Indian Rosewood as a veneer as itisn�t shaped easily by hand. Sheesham comes in hues from rose to dark brown.

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Erable � Also called European Field Maple, this timber callsEurope home. Erable can be found in Europe�sold growth forests, but it is more commonly harvested from human-regulatedforests in places like Spain.Erable carves easily and wood chess sets made with erable have a soft goldencoloring and strong inset grain that comes to life with a lacquered finish.

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Aspen � Aspenis a popular material used in North American wood chess sets. The Populustremula strain of aspen or Trembling Aspen is found in an area that includes Virginia, Newfoundlandand Alaska.Trembling Aspen is also found in the RockyMountains, southern Arizona and northern New Mexico. Aspen is colored from alight white to soft beige and adds a beautiful accent to wood chess sets.

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Many of the aforementioned materials can be found in woodchess sets sold by online distributors. Many online retailers have a wideselection to choose from. Find one that provides a trusted and reliable onlineservice with numerous quality materials and design choices.