A few months ago our local Windsor Plywood did a custom job out of two inch aromatic cedar. The scraps ended up in the bargain bin for $3.00/lb, too good a deal to pass up. Played chess when I was younger and had always liked the pattern for chess pieces that Sue Mey has. So decided to give it a whirl. Got some cut and showed them to a friend and he ordered a set out of walnut and aspen. Finished his and then did my light players out of some more of my scrap material (really nice grain soft wood). The first pic is of Kings and Queens of each kind of wood. Walnut on the left, then aspen, aromatic red cedar and then the mystery wood. The second pic is of my friend's set with a display case I threw together for his birthday this month. Third pic is of some the cedar pieces to show the colouring I love.
Jeff