Making a rook

[Band Saw Box]

Hello
My daughter was given a chess set, it miss one rook and she want me to make one for her. I don't have a lathe so thats out. I'm wondering if it could be done using a compound pattern and then sanded to the shape. I'm not sure were to start. The rook stands 3 1/2" high and 1 1/4" in dia. I'm hoping someone can help me come up with a pattern or a way to use the one I have to make a pattern. Here is a picture of the one I have,

[daveW]

You might try to find a dowel of that diamiter and go from there..i know the larger sizes are avilable.....use a razor (hobby ) knife to make the circular cuts and lotsa sandpaper....once you get the hang of it i will be a fun project...could also use the scrolsaw to make all nessacery cuts and grooves and go from there.....sounds like a rather easy project.....try to find the type of wood used on the original and it will be easier to match color, stain and finish......

[wood-n-things]

I'd suggest some calipers to keep you on target, a rotary tool would come in handy. Is that the rook or a pawn. Most rooks look like a castle. I think if you get a piece of over sized doweling and you scribe on the different elevations you can do it with a rotary tool and a sharp x-acto and calipers. Keep us posted on how it goes.

[nayo]

A friend of mine asked me to do a little piece like that, but for a teacup holder, i don't have a lathe either so i compound cut the rough shape in the scrollsaw leaving a 3~4 in shat at the base, this i rounded a bit with a knife and then put it on my drill press to do the sanding. afterwards i cut that shaft from the base. it wasn't perfect but my friend really like

[Wood Dog]

Depending on how thick it is you can make it on the scroll saw, compound cut. I would lay it on your paper, and trace around it, make a copy, now you have 2 pieces of paper with the exact tracing, just stick the paper on your wood using whatever method you use, and do the same for the next side of the blank. Just make sure they are even on both sides. This should be a piece of cake for you Dan.

[Birchbark]

I think if i was trying to do it, i would get a dowel rod and clamp my drill down to the bench and chuck up the dowel rod. Use a chisel rested on a block of wood the correct height to put the chisel near the middle of the spinning dowel. You will be able to sand it while it spins as well. the shorter the rod the steadier it will be of course.

Or if you want to cut it out, take another picture of the piece, only this time make sure you are absoultely straight on, then someone can make an outline of the piece to let you cut it in more of a compound style, this picture is from the top looking down so cant really get a good pattern from it.
Good luck however you decide to go about it. I'd like to see a picture of the finished piece as well.

[Geoff3]

Hi Dan,
Pawn or Rook, what I often do if no dowel handy,
Cut the end of the wifes sweeping brush.
when she complains I say Ok I will use it in the shed
I now have 3or 4 short handled brushes......geoff3

[Band Saw Box]

Ok it's a pawn, I'm not sure why I said rook. Thank for the ideas. I tried using a picture to make a patten, I'm not sure how it going to work, it going to have to be enlarged to use it for a compound pattern I'm just not sure how much. I'll have to play around with it. I'm still hoping someone and help me some more.

[Oges]

As its a one off thing, if you have a drill press, you could always turn it into a temporary lathe
Drill Press Lathe