After being inspired by this set, I wanted to get a set for a wedding gift. After a little research, the only set that I was able to find for purchase were available for $15/piece, so I set out to make my own. The pieces are constructed from 1" x 10" strips of hobby brass found at my local Ace Hardware. I drew up the designs for the pieces in Adobe Illustrator, and then bent the pieces accordingly. To get the proper curves, I used cylindrical objects such as a screwdriver, pvc pipe and a broom handle. The ends overlapped to allow for a secure solder joint. The overlap was then scuffed up with sandpaper, and flux was added before soldering the joint together. And because these would be in contact with food for a brief period of time, lead free solder was used. :)
To complete the set, I built a small box to house all the cutters to prevent them from being banged around in a kitchen drawer. The box itself is made of finish pine with a few coats of tung oil. Floral foam was used to prevent the cutters from moving around within the box.
Pictures of the inaugural game can be found here.
Completion Time: 3 hours.
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0517.jpg)
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0518.jpg)
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0511.jpg)
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0513.jpg)
![pawn](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0515.jpg)
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-benandkate3.jpg)
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-benandkate1.jpg)
![completed gift](/images/cutters/thumb-benandkate2.jpg)
Pawn
![pawn](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0529.jpg)
![pawn](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0527.jpg)
![pawn](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0528.jpg)
Rook
![rook](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0535.jpg)
![rook](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0533.jpg)
![rook](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0534.jpg)
Knight
![knight](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0521.jpg)
![knight](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0520.jpg)
![knight](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0522.jpg)
Bishop
![bishop](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0537.jpg)
![bishop](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0536.jpg)
![bishop](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0538.jpg)
Queen
![queen](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0531.jpg)
![queen](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0530.jpg)
![queen](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0532.jpg)
King
![king](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0525.jpg)
![king](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0524.jpg)
![king](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0526.jpg)
Board Cutter
![board square](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0541.jpg)
![board square](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0539.jpg)
![board square](/images/cutters/thumb-img_0540.jpg)