Wooden dice sets?

[Gnome]

I've always wanted to have a full set of dice made of varnished wood, but I've never seen one before. Do these exist anywhere? I've seen wooden d6's, but that's about it.

 

[Zander]

I have a wooden d4, d6, d8, d10 (0 to 9) and d10 (00 to 90). I had a carpenter/joiner make them for me.

I also have a mass produced wooden d8 but it's pretty old, perhaps from the 1950s.

I'm not aware of anyone who mass produces wooden dice nowadays apart from d6s of course.

 

[sjmiller]

There's a guy here who answers any and all dice questions, he's a collector. I can't remember his name, however. Do a Google search for Dice Collector and you should find him, he has the largest collection in the world.

 

[Jdvn1]

Zander knows a lot about dice (and is probably the guy to ask on the subject, ever), as I realized the last time I read a dice thread...

 

[Uder]

I've contacted so many dice companies about wooden polyhedra I've lost track. They just aren't made as far as I can see, and nobody wants to try.

Too bad, because I have a set of pine d6's (non-varnished) that are the lightest, bounciest, luckiest dice I've ever rolled.

Even the guy with the Guiness record on dice only has one wooden polyhedra from the looks of it (a d12):
http://www.dicecollector.com/

Seriously, if anyone has any leads on pro-made (balanced) wooden poly dice, please please please pm me, bump this thread and shout my name from the rooftops. I NEED them.

 

[Woas]

I got 4 wooden d6s. Two are painted red and are from that old Heroe's Quest board game. Too bad the other dice that came with that game are strange battle dice. The other two wooden dice I don't know where they came from, just found them in an old desk draw I think.

I agree Uder, those wooden dice are may favorite and most lucky dice too. Any other die that I lost, I wouldn't mind much... but one of those wooden ones, I'd go nuts if I ever lost one of them!

 

[Zander]

Zander knows a lot about dice...

That's true! In fact, I'm the only person in the world recognised by Guinness to officiate over dice collection record attempts. (That's not on my resume. ) Also, the only book in English about dice per se (not dice games) is dedicated to me. (That's not on my resume either. )

If neither Kevin Cook (the record holder referred/linked to by sjmiller and Uder) nor myself knows where you can get pro-made wooden dice, it's most unlikely they're out there.

If I ever find out about any (and I sometimes get wind of dice before they hit the market), I'll post on these boards to let everyone know.

 

[Jdvn1]

On Kevin Cook's site...
http://www.dicecollector.com/diceinfo_magazine_large_wooden.png

 

[Uder]

I agree Uder, those wooden dice are may favorite and most lucky dice too.

Mine are unvarnished, so I like to think I've got bit of my palm-sweat in each one. Sort of gross I know, but it also keeps the squirrels away.

 

[Dragon-Slayer]

I would think, as an amateur dice maker, but with a lot of experience with carving wood and restoring antique furniture, that briar wood, used in making pipes, wood be an excellent wood to use. Most any hardwood, cherry, maple, English walnut, would make excellent dice. Briar pipe kits come with a good sized block of wood that could possibly make four to six dice. You would have the challenge of finding a pleasing pattern to the wood while keeping good balance. A jigsaw or scrollsaw can be set up easily to make the precise and even cuts for each side of a given die. Definitely something to look into, but the cost to churn out a good set of dice might keep all but the most hardcore collectors away. The cuts can be made accurately, but it would be tedious handmaking d20s.