16 1" long carriage bolts (threaded) 16 hex nuts 16 flat washers All parts should be ¼" diameter[2] X Research source
4 1½" machine bolts 4 castle nuts 4 flat washers The threading for these bolts should only extend halfway up the bolt. Some stores may refer to these bolts as “hex-head cap screws. ”[4] X Research source
4 1½" long machine bolts (threaded) 4 hex nuts 4 wing nuts 4 flat washers[6] X Research source
4 2" long machine bolts (threaded) 4 hex nuts 4 cap nuts 8 flat washers A cap nut is a hex nut, except the head of the nut is rounded. Sometimes it is called an acorn nut. [8] X Research source
2 2½" long machine bolts (threaded) 2 cap nuts 4 hex nuts 4 flat washers 2 fender washers A fender washer is an oversized flat washer. [9] X Research source
2 2½" long machine bolts (threaded) 2 castle nuts 2 hex nuts 2 fender washers 2 flat washers[10] X Research source
Chess pawns are usually the smallest pieces on the board, with a wide base, a slim middle, and a round head.
You may have to hold the bolt head and washer together for a few minutes while the glue sets, otherwise the parts may come loose. Rooks are sturdy pieces in a normal chess set, with a wide base and a shape that resembles a tower or castle turret.
Dab a little glue to the threading just below the wing nut, and then screw your hex nut back toward the end of the bolt until it is even with the wing nut. Then, glue your washers to the head of the bolt to make the base. Knights traditionally look like a horse’s head and neck with a wide base. [13] X Research source
Apply glue to the threading below the washers and screw your hex nuts so they’re even against the washer. Complete the piece by gluing washers to the bolt head for the base. When gluing, you may need to allow some time for the glue to set. Typical chess sets have bishops with a wide base, a slim center, and oblong head with a slash through it. Your bishop will end up looking similar to your pawn, but a little bigger and with a few more parts. [14] X Research source
Attach a cap nut to each bolt end, glue the threading below the cap nuts, and twist the closest hex nut/washer so it’s flat against the cap nut. Apply glue to the threading below the glued hex nut/washer, then screw the free hex nut/washer so it’s flat against the first. Finally, glue the fender washer to the bolt head to complete the base. In store bought chess sets, the queen is one of the tallest pieces. She has a wide base, a long, slim center, and a crown on top. [15] X Research source
Use some more glue to attach one washer to each castle nut, but be careful to keep the threading unobstructed so you can attach the nut. Screw on one castle nut/washer onto each bolt so the end of the bolt is even with the nut. Then glue a fender washer to each bolt head to finish the base. The king is usually similar to the queen in height, but with a thicker middle and a larger crown. [16] X Research source
Once the pieces are divided, check each individual piece for tightness. If a piece seems loose, you can add some more glue to secure it.
You may find it easiest to leave your white pieces unpainted, painting only your black pieces. Spray paint works well for painting your chess set. For best results, you may want to choose a spray paint intended for metal. If you want to make a chess set that is less traditional, choose two different contrasting colors. [17] X Research source
Next to the rooks will be the knights. Next to the knights go the bishops. Next to the bishops are your king and queen, with the queen on the same color square as her color (white queen, white square; black queen, black square). Your pawns from a single row in front of your rooks, knights, bishops, king, and queen. White’s leftmost rook (from white’s perspective), should be a black square. On labeled boards, this will be square A1. [18] X Research source
