Me Chess

Project Overview

I crafted a custom end-grain chessboard paired with personalized 3D-printed resin chess pieces. To create the chessboard, I started by preparing purpleheart and maple wood using a jointer, planer, and table saw to ensure all pieces were square. I then cut the wood into long strips on the table saw and glued them together. After the initial glue-up, I flattened both sides using a drum sander. Following additional cuts on the table saw, I completed the final glue-up and sent the board through the drum sander once more. Finally, I used a hand orbital sander to refine both sides before applying a mineral oil finish for protection and aesthetics. For the chess pieces, I captured a 3D, 360-degree scan of my face and used Blender to integrate the scan with the tops of traditional chess piece designs. I prepared the models as STL files and sliced them using PreForm slicing software. The pieces were printed in resin using Formlabs 3D printers, resulting in a truly unique chess set.