Steel/iron discs, diameters up to 20mm, thickness say 4mm?

Might not be quite what you're looking for, but google for "rare earth magnets" (neodymium) - they come in the sort of dimensions you're looking for, such as shown here:

John Nagelson wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@r60g2000hsc.googlegroups.co m:

A local engineering firm may make some up for you from steel bar for beer/tobacco money. If you don't know of one, ask at a small independent garage - they will know who undertakes small jobs.

Having said that, someone will come along in a few minutes and tell us they're a common item :)

Hope this helps

Well, I can get hold of plated steel discs, 20.3mm diameter, about 1mm thick, for about 1p each. From the bank :-)

cheers, clive

There is a better way. Turn the pieces upside down and fill partially with epoxy (boating or autobody-shop, used for repairing fiberglass -- a pint or so should be plenty) and let set. Then make a layer of lead birdshot (available at any gun shop; lots of shooters reload shotgun shells) and pour more epoxy on top to hold the shot together. Finish off with felt.

You want some "penny washers" which look like

(the above is an example; it doesn't state the outside diameter). Presumably the hole in the middle is of no concern, and you'd have to glue several together as they'd only be about 1.5mm thick.

B&Q etc would probably have them; failing that asn engineering supplies type place.

David

================================== I don't think you would need 'penny washers' to get a 20mm diameter. An ordinary M8 (possibly M10) heavy washer is about 20mm diameter. Screwfix do them:

Cic.

The knock out tab of electrical back boxes, steel, definitely 20mm and about 1mm thick.

outer diameter (ie closer to the solid disc which the OP seeks), so seemed more appropriate here.

David

loudspeakers at your local tip.

neodymium mgantes are available all over the place.

Scrap floppy disk and CDROM drives will net you small ring ferrite magnets and dish shape magnetic iron type parts.

================================== Well, the OP didn't actually specify *solid* disks so plain washers would seem to be a simple solution. The OP also asked for disks in *varying sizes up to 20mm diameter* so presumably he wants smaller sizes as well. The smallest penny washers I have (M5 - smallest size offered by Screwfix) are about 25mm diameter so they might be too big for the OP's requirements.

Cic.

The weights that my wife uses for curtains fit the description in most respects, except they are lead, not steel. Commonly available from fabric shops at reasonable prices.

Rather than using various disks of matching diameters, you might want to consider drilling a short distance into the base of each piece, inserting lead weights, sealing them in with glue or wood putty, and then covering the base with felt, cut to fit the diameter. Unlike the disks, these weights would be invisible, and the felt will protect your board, whereas the disks might scratch it.

First of all I'd use brass or bronze rather than steel. They both have a slightly higher density than steel and are a nicer material for such a use. They won't rust for starters. Lead of course has an even higher density but not by that much. Any sheet metal shop will stamp you out whatever you need or part it off from bar stock. Or you could use coins which are basically bronze, or brass washers which are available for pennies. You could fill the holes in the middle with lead shot and glue a felt base over them.

For copper coins; only if you use ones that are dated 1992 or earlier. After that, they are plated steel.

Colin Bignell

Not in the U.S. The outer metal is Cu-Ni alloy other than pennies (Cu- Zn) and the dollar coins (a type of manganese brass):

As the two first groups in the list are UK based, I presume the OP is interested in what is available in the UK :-)

Colin Bignell

Right, but not everyone viewing is British. One source for lead washers in the UK:

nightjar >Not in the U.S. The outer metal is Cu-Ni alloy other than pennies (Cu-

But you can buy two American pennies for one British penny at the moment :-)

Owain

1. IMHO steel is not dense enough for chess piece weights. Lead is far better & easily obtainable from builders & plumbers & roofers using lead sheet to waterproof roofs. It is easily cut (for a one-off on small pieces use a wood chisel or a stanley knife) & can be hammer pounded into lumps to suit whatever size you want. As another poster suggested rebate the base of the piece & use araldite to fix then cover with breen baize (felt as in billiard tables).
2. Am intrigued as to where you managed to purchase a Thai chess set (assuming it was in the UK). I have only read about Thai chess in books.

HTH