BL Workshop

Make a tool chess set

Submitted by Kathleen Gleaves
Photographs by John R. Fulton Jr.
From the March 2003 Boys' Life magazine

Making your own chess set can be as easy as digging around in your dad’s spare parts drawer.

Wing nuts, anchor caps, bolts, washers and a few other odd pieces of specialty hardware are all you need to make your own version of the “tool chess” set.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED AND HOW YOU’LL DO IT

Total cost: an hour’s time and less than $10. And if you ever lose a piece, you can make another for next to nothing!

Remember: You need a total of 16 pawns, four rooks (also called castles), four knights, four bishops, two kings and two all-powerful queens. And you’ll need to paint one set a different color.

Follow the instructions below, or spend some time browsing at the hardware store for pieces to customize your set.

You’ll also need to get some white glue, spray paint, pliers and a screwdriver.

PAWNS

For each pawn (16):

• 5/16 by 3/4-inch hexagonal (six-sided or regular) cap bolts
• 5/16-inch hexagonal nuts

Thread nut onto bolt until 1/4 inch of bolt rises above the nut. Glue in place.

ROOKS OR CASTLES

For each rook (4):

• 5/16 by 1 1/2-inch hexagonal nut sleeve anchors

Use sleeve anchor as is.

KNIGHTS

For each knight (4):

• 1/4 by 2-inch eye bolts with nuts

Thread nut onto eye bolt until edge of bolt is even with nut. Glue in place by applying glue to the threads of the bolt, twisting on the nut, then wiping off the excess.

BISHOPS

For each bishop (4):

• 5/16 by 1 1/2-inch hexagonal cap bolts
• 5/16-inch wing nuts
• 5/16-inch locking nuts with nylon inserts

Thread wing nut onto bolt. Thread insert lock onto bolt, and tighten. Secure wing nut against insert lock.

KINGS

For each king (2):

• 3/16-inch hollow wall anchors (long)
• No. 14 finishing washers
• 1/4-inch flat washers
• 1/4-inch wing nuts
• 1/4-inch anchor caps

Grip end of hollow wall anchor with pliers, tighten screw with screwdriver until metal strips flair out. Remove center screw, add finish washer, replace screw into wall anchor. Add flat washer. Thread wing nut onto screw end, then tighten anchor cap to end of screw.

QUEENS

For each queen (2):

• 3/16-inch hollow wall anchors (short)
• No. 14 finish washers
• 1/4-inch wing nuts
• 5/16-inch external toothed washers
• 1/4-inch nylon insert locks

Tighten screw of hollow wall anchor as for kings. Remove center screw, add finish washer, replace screw into wall anchor. Thread wing nut onto screw end upside down. Then add toothed washed and tighten locking nut to end of screw.

FINAL TOUCHES

Spray paint one team. While it dries, practice saying “Checkmate!” You’re ready to play.

Read 54 comments about “Make a tool chess set”

Comment page:   « 6 [5] 4 3 2 1 »

1. 44 - camdog says:
   September 6th, 2008 at 9:13 am

   hey…this is awesome…i totally am going to make it…thanx for the idea!!!!

2. 43 - shunaynay says:
   June 26th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

   i love chess and i think it is awesome

3. 42 - BadgerCam says:
   June 6th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

   Who care if chess is cool or not, its fun! I am a nerd and think these set is sweet! The only thing I would add is how to make a board out of some kind of like metal.

4. 41 - kathilee says:
   May 11th, 2008 at 10:25 am

   Is the spray paint part a mess to do?

5. 40 - Zachattack says:
   March 25th, 2008 at 8:05 am

   For the king and queen pieces, the instructions call for a 3/16 wall anchor and 1/4 inch wing nuts. These are supposed to be the same or else they won’t fit. Otherwise, this is really cool!

6. 39 - bealtles luver132 says:
   March 24th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

   hey cool chess set maby i will do the same thing only cange it a bit

7. 38 - Doogielas` says:
   March 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm

   It is a very intriguiging to me. That means it is wicked cool.

8. 37 - reflection says:
   March 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

   I made a chess board I made out of tile that i have been planning to use this set with

9. 36 - DP says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm

   I really want to make this! Great job!
   I LOVE chess! And don’t worry, it still isn’t cool (wait, why shouldn’t you worry?). But I don’t care. Chess is chess! Checkmate on!

10. 35 - The Author says:
    December 1st, 2007 at 11:48 pm

    I’m so happy to read that so many people think my chess set idea is cool. I loved making it up. I made a bunch of pieces that didn’t work, some kept falling over, others just didn’t look right. It took a while to get just the right nuts and bolts together. Have fun making it and keep writing so I can read how your projects are going. I loved paying chess in school, and it wasn’t cool then either… especially for a girl! Who cares, it’s a great game.
    kg

Comment page:   « 6 [5] 4 3 2 1 »

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