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Would like to see your comments on the following article regarding the
materials used for quality wooden chess sets. What is your opinion about this
posting and be sure to check out some of the other articles when you are
done.

Early chess master Siegbert Tarrasch once said, “Chess, like love, like
music, has the power to make men happy”. Why not add
to your game-playing enjoyment by incorporating the natural beauty of a wood
chess set.
Wood chess sets are classic in the chess playing world because
of their association with the Staunton style of design. But wood chess sets have
also pushed and continue to push the boundaries of their visual stereotype due
to avid and inventive chess artisans with advancing CNC technology, also known
as robotic manufacturing methods.
Before you go out and purchase a wood
chess set, understand that a wood chess set’s style isn’t the only feature worth
considering in your purchase. Natural wood materials lend an innate touch of
class to wood chess sets and can really emphasize chess set design. So the
inquiring buyer should be aware of what materials are available in the
manufacture of wood chess sets. This wide variety of timber contains species
such as:
Mahogany – Particular strains of mahogany such as Khaya
grandifoliola are popular choices in constructing wood chess sets. This
particular wood chess set-friendly variety grows mostly on the West Coast of
Africa. The color of mahogany’s heartwood can range from a pink to a dark cocoa
brown.
Maple – Sugar Maple is a popular material used to manufacture wood
chess sets. Wood chess sets using this species of maple have a faint red
coloration that can also be interpreted as pink. Sugar Maple is readily
accessible in North
America as its found in New England, southeastern Manitoba, Nova Scotia,
North Carolina and eastern Kansas.
Walnut – European Walnut, also known as
Juglans regia, came to Western Europe via the Romans and Asia Minor. European
walnut is a market rarity as it is not in high supply and can only be found in
the processed form of veneer. Wood chess sets made with European Walnut tend to
have a grayish-brown hue with a darker irregular grain. European walnut is
durable and polishes well. Walnut, great for staining and enduring UV exposure
makes a logical choice for use in the manufacture of wood chess sets.

Sheesham (Indian Rosewood) – Otherwise known as Palisander. Dalbergia
latifolia grows in such places as the Indian peninsula. Sheesham can also be
found near the Himalayan Mountains in Orissa, Sikkim, Bihar and Oudah. Chess
sets usually incorporate Indian Rosewood as a veneer as it isn’t shaped easily
by hand. Sheesham comes in hues from rose to dark brown.
Erable – Also
called European Field Maple, this timber calls Europe home. Erable can be found
in Europe’s old growth forests, but it is more commonly harvested from
human-regulated forests in places like Spain. Erable carves easily
and wood chess sets made with erable have a soft golden coloring and strong
inset grain that comes to life with a lacquered finish.
Aspen – Aspen is a
popular material used in North American wood chess sets. The Populus tremula
strain of aspen or Trembling Aspen is found in an area that includes Virginia,
Newfoundland and Alaska. Trembling Aspen is also found in the Rocky Mountains,
southern Arizona and northern New Mexico. Aspen is colored from a light white to
soft beige and adds a beautiful accent to wood chess sets.
Many of the
aforementioned materials can be found in wood chess sets sold by online
distributors. Many online retailers have a wide selection to choose from. Find
one that provides a trusted and reliable online service with numerous quality
materials and design choices.

About the Author:

John Sokol is the creator of Quality Chess. Quality Chess is a provider of a
large selection of unique and classical chess boards including http://www.quality-chess.net/wood-chess-sets.html “>wood
chess sets of maple, rosewood, hazelnut, mahogany, walnut and
ash.

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