Wooden Chess Set: Basic Maintenance

Wood is a material that craftsmen have used to create chess sets since the game’s inception. For many, wooden chessmen and boards provide the feel, sound, and appearance that give chess its unique quality. Caring for a wooden chess set through basic maintenance, whether it’s simple and well-worn or a piece of well-preserved artistry, is one of the ways players and enthusiasts show their appreciation for the game. 

In this article, we will examine the fundamentals of maintaining your chess set to ensure it remains in optimal condition.

Wooden Chess Sets: The Basics

There is a great variety of wood chess sets, from bona fide antiques to simple tournament sets. Before learning to care for your chess set, it helps to gain an understanding of the basic materials and coatings that make up your board and pieces. 

Types of Wood 

One of the key determiners of a chess set's price point is the type of wood used to make it. Woods vary in hardness, grain, longevity, appearance, and rarity. All of these factors will contribute to how expensive a chess set is and how you should maintain it. 

Overall, chessboards are typically made from hard, durable woods. This allows them to last for a very long time if properly taken care of. 

Typically, craftsmen use at least two types of wood for a chess set: one for the light pieces and squares, and one for the dark pieces and squares. Sometimes, they will use a third type of wood for the frame and base.

Light Woods

Choices for the lighter woods include:

• Boxwood: This wood is dense and ages well. Its pale color and great variety in grade make it a popular choice for simple and luxury chess sets.
• Maple. It has a fine grain, a pleasant creamy colour, and is extremely durable. The Birdseye variety, with its distinctive swirling pattern, is a popular choice for luxury boards. 
• Olivewood. Naturally dense and with a richer tone, this is often coupled with darker woods to maintain contrast. It is a rarer choice, but it has a beautiful grain and unique appearance. 

Dark Woods 

Commonly used dark woods:

• Walnut: One of the most popular choices for borders, dark squares, and pieces, walnut is durable and has an attractive reddish-brown color. 
• Rosewood: This is another common choice. The wood is reasonably priced, can be carved beautifully, and, when polished, it has a beautiful finish.
• Ebony: This quality wood is famous for its rich, dark colour. Its rarity and cost mean it is usually only a feature of more expensive chess sets. For a more affordable choice, other woods (like boxwood) are ebonized. This means treating the wood to give it the appearance of ebony.

Burl Woods 

Burl is not a specific kind of tree, but refers to when wood becomes twisted or knotted. It is common in many types of trees, including Redwood, Maple, and Walnut. The swirling, unpredictable grain of the wood gives it its unique appearance, but makes it challenging to work with. Nevertheless, it creates beautiful chessboards, often at a higher price point.  

Finishes

The final touches on chess sets are often what give them their unique appearance. For example, some pieces are burnt and carved to create a naturally beautiful two-tone effect. Various finishes are used to create the final look of the board and pieces. 

Laquered chess sets are treated to be hard, durable, and with an attractive finish that may be matte, satiny, or glossy. When cleaning and storing, consider the outer layer of lacquer. Other finishing methods may avoid coating the wood and simply bring it a fine polish instead.

Basic Maintenance for Your Wood Chess Set

Chess sets vary significantly in terms of quality, material, and finish. Some are designed for regular use at a local chess club. Others are valuable design pieces with historical significance. It can be challenging to know how to look after one, especially if it is your first.

Nevertheless, the basic practices for keeping your chess set in good condition remain the same. Here are some basics to help you care for your chess pieces and board.

Storage 

Most importantly, chess sets should be stored out of direct sunlight and away from damp. The effects of humidity and heat are among the most significant risks to the wood, as they can cause warping. Wood shrinkage and expansion are two of the primary factors to consider when storing your set. Direct exposure to sunlight can also cause fading and changes to the color of the wood. 

Accumulation of dust can also eventually damage the wood's finish and cause discoloration. If you want to display your board, keeping an eye on dust build-up, humidity, and heat will keep your set in good condition. 

For luxury chess sets, some people opt for a display case. This controls the humidity and limits exposure to dust and dirt, while still allowing your chessmen and board to be a design feature of your home.

Alternatively, if you want to store your chessboard out of sight, be wary of putting it under heavy objects, as this can gradually warp the wood. Additionally, consider storing it in a protective case or bag to minimize scratching. 

Regular Maintenance 

Chess sets on display gradually gather dust and dirt. Occasionally, dusting them with a non-abrasive microfibre or linen cloth will help to maintain the finish. For intricately carved pieces, use a soft-bristled brush, such as a paintbrush, to gently remove dirt from the fine details.

For any marks or stains, use a damp cloth and a very mild detergent. Regular exposure to water or harsh chemicals can damage polished, lacquered, and veneered pieces and boards, so regular washing is not advisable. After washing, ensure that you quickly and thoroughly dry the pieces and the board. 

To repair minor damage to the wood, some scratch-removal furniture products can be effective. However, be careful not to use strong chemicals as they can damage the wood or coating.

Maintaining A Chess Set’s Finish

Quality wooden chess sets are finished beautifully with different types of coatings. Maintaining the finish correctly will help you protect the wood and keep your chess set looking brand new. 

Chess sets are often lacquered. This means coating them to protect the wood and give them a dazzling final appearance. Today, lacquers are typically made from nitrocellulose and acrylic, but older chess sets sometimes used oil-based substances. 

Alternatively, some chess sets are simply finely polished wood, which is usually maintained using wax and additional polishing.

Lacquers

There are various methods for treating wood to achieve its finished appearance. These require slightly different basic maintenance. It is best not to refinish with polish, wax, or oil more frequently than twice yearly.

Gloss finishes are a popular choice for their attractive shine and the emphasis they provide on fine wood carving. To maintain a glossy lacquer, use a polish specially designed for this surface. Apply the polish gently with a soft cloth and remove any excess, as it could leave stains of a darker colour. 

Satin finishes are sleek and smooth without being as shiny or reflective as gloss. Polishing them can make them appear glossy, losing their distinctive satiny quality. If the wood becomes dull, you can use a small amount of wax-based polish applied gently.

Matte finishes are darker and less reflective than satin. Avoid polishing or waxing matte chess sets. Instead, opt for specific products designed to clean or maintain matte finishes. 

With polished wood, you have more options for maintaining the finish. Different types of quality waxes and polishes can yield a slightly different finish. Mild waxes, like beeswax, are usually best to avoid damaging the wood. 

Repairs 

Damaged chess pieces can often be repaired and replaced by the seller or a craftsman. While you may be able to mask small chips and scratches, it is advisable to consult an expert for more serious damage. Antique chess sets can be highly valuable, and amateur repairs risk damaging the board further or altering it to the point where it loses value. This is especially true as the patina that develops on the wood is often responsible for the charm of these older sets.

Final Maintenance Tips

Wood is a living material that reacts to its environment. While chess sets are easy to care for, taking basic consideration of how they are stored is a key way to keep them in excellent condition for a long time.  

It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the unique specifications of your board and pieces: What wood is it made of? How is it finished? What maintenance does the seller recommend?

Taking a moment to consider these requirements, especially for a luxury chess set, will ensure that you can maintain its unique and attractive appearance.