metal checkers + board

General Discussion about the game of Checkers.
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Danny_Alvarez
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What do you like about checkers?: I enjoy learning more and more as i go. despite its alleged simplicity the game is incredibly complex and rewarding.
Location: Queensland, AUSTRALIA

metal checkers + board

Post by Danny_Alvarez »

Hi everyone.... i have been very busy studying or trying to study mister Pask's wonderful publication of 21st century checkers (9-13's ) ...

this has made me a bit of a recluse.... in my spare time i have set up a foundry.... yes... crazy i know, and i have been (unsuccesfully so far) trying to make aluminium checkers from melted soda cans.... once i have made 12 that are the same i will attempt to make a board and then i suppose that i will have to research what other (differently coloured metal) metal i can melt for the opposite checkers... so far i am thinking copper (although i dont know what the melting point of copper is... i am sure i can wikipedia it) ....

i hope to complete this in the next few months and i will duly post photos then :)

cheers
Danny Alvarez
Amateur Checkerist, Professional Lover of the Game
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Palomino
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Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:13 pm
Location: Mooresville, Indiana

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by Palomino »

Danny,

Cast 24 Aluninum checkers then paint them red and white and you will have a regulation set.

:) "Pal"
CHECKERS: The Mind Sport of Kings and Ordinary Men.
Bernard Coll
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Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:32 am
Location: Ireland

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by Bernard Coll »

Hi folks, call me a troll if you wish, But if Danny were to paint 12 of his newly forged regulation sized checker pieces white; and the other 12 pieces red; would this not be a recognised regulation set? Palomino,of course I know what you meant by your post, but I feel playing with red AND white pieces would be hard one both player's eyes! I hope the Russian moderator here approves of my humble suggestion.
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Palomino
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Location: Mooresville, Indiana

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by Palomino »

Bernard, your post brings about an interesting question. Official Rules for the ACF and the WCDF call for the colors to be red and white but that is not the case for all associations which causes me to wonder what is or was the official color for the pieces used in Austraia? I guess that might well be the most appropriate color for Danny's use?

"Pal"
CHECKERS: The Mind Sport of Kings and Ordinary Men.
liam stephens
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Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:56 pm
Location: Ireland

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by liam stephens »

For Danny, rows of cast steel maybe ? (or a fair lady - Ged it !!!)

And a musical accompaniment by Alex to keep the foundry in full swing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jmcMyhMRxU
tommyc
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Location: Ireland

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by tommyc »

Another good idea would be to magnetize the metal board and have yourself a set of travelling draughts too,so yur opponent cant hash the position in a fit of defeated rage!!


.Then you can have any color yu want.Micheal Jackson said.................it don matter if its black or white [or white n red]?
Always read "Cannings Compilation 2nd Edition" every day.
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Danny_Alvarez
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Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 7:29 pm
What do you like about checkers?: I enjoy learning more and more as i go. despite its alleged simplicity the game is incredibly complex and rewarding.
Location: Queensland, AUSTRALIA

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by Danny_Alvarez »

i got a small burn on my right index finger .... ( yes, molten aluminium ...around 5 or 6 hundred degrees centigrades will burn your skin :( ) so this is still going on but slower.

i recall sharing an article from DEO talking about coloured boards being garish, which gets me thinking .... surely if DEO was complaining about it, its introduction as we know it today cannot be that old, (anybody here knows???) and the second question is, if the current colours weren't always the official board colours, what were they before????? (any info??)

i cannot make aluminium magnetic, but maybe once i am more proficient at melting stuff other than my fingers maybe i can try that idea :)

cheers
Danny
PS GREAT LINK LIAM :) thanks
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George Hay
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What do you like about checkers?: Checkers is a game of pure logic.
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Re: metal checkers + board

Post by George Hay »

Danny, as you posted before, Anderson Second Edition (1852) had recommended checkerboards.
"Those of real or imitation Rose and Satin, or Ebony and Maple woods, are best and most
generally used." Red and White checkers (twelve red checkers and twelve white checkers) are also recommended by Anderson. Modern green and buff boards (evolving to green and off-white) go back to at least 1928 with Newell Bank's Morris Systems selling them 2 for a dollar! The ACF Store sells one for 16 dollars today!
--George Hay
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2650

P.S. Great link by Liam to Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.
My dad took the family to see Benny Goodman there many years ago.
Benny was a good checker player; link between music and checkers?
But I digress!

P.P.S. Danny, good luck with your new endeavor, and don't forget the ACF Store still needs checkers to sell!
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