Loose finial

Do any of you have recommendations for what to do about a loose finial? I don't want to use glue, because I'd like to be able to remove them later if I choose to do so.

(The impetus for my question is a HOS Dubrovnik Ebonized that I have. I swapped the finials on the Kings and Queens so that they have opposing color finials like the Bishops do. When I did so a couple of them don't fit in very tight. My idea was to create a sort of Frankenstein Eastern European set that combines a lot of my favorite features - I like a lot of the Russian sets that are black and have opposing finials on K Q and B, and I love the shape of a lot of the Dubrovnik pieces, especially the K and N pieces. I know all of this is blasphemy, but I have a Golden Rosewood one that I'll keep "stock"...)

I can't remember who it was, but someone suggested using teflon tape that's used for plumber's piping threads. It will hold, but it won't adhere to the wood.

I have used a tiny piece of paper (i.e., just large enough to wrap around the shaft of the finial) with success.

Yeah, that's what I did, but it was before I heard the teflon tape idea. Next time, I'm trying the teflon.

Teflon tape works great. I discovered this years ago thinking what would attach a finial firmly without gluing it. Also it had to come out with a good tug without breaking the finial. This means it can not dry out or adhere to the wood. Teflon tape thought came up, the perfect match.  You can also change finials on some sets as long as the seller did not glue them on. As I understand most finials come from the manufacturer in the off position, it is the seller that glues them on in some cases, not all.

Thanks so much for the Teflon tape suggestion. I finally got a chance to get a roll and give it a try. It was a little bit fiddly on a few of them to get the tape to all go in the hole and not have a little piece sticking out of the top (which obviously doesn't look too good), but a little bit of patience and they're all set. Completely non permanent, so just what I was looking for.

Good job, the teflon tape stretches so you can actually thin it out when wrapping.  

Companies used ti send the Kings without the finials attached which I liked. Now they all attach them before shipping, I guess customers wondered why the finial was not attached.  Problem is they glue them and if it breaks I guess you would have to use a little dremel drill or similar and drill it out without making it wider. To me that would be a hard thing to do as steady hands and good eyes I do not have. I mush rather the chess companies ship without the finials on and I attach them in a minute. 

Glad it worked out.

Yeah, I'm with you on all of this. Most of my HoS sets have had the finials sent attached, but unglued. Most of them fit tight enough you wouldn't need to ever fasten them in any way, but you can switch them out, or replace if they break as you said. The Zagreb set even came with two sets of finials for the kings - crosses and spikes - so you can choose which to use. I'm really liking my black Dubrovnik with all contrasting finials. It pretty much combines all of my favorite elements from different sets.

My new Zagreb from HOS has a black king who’s finial drops out and a white king that hold his tight. I’ll try Teflon plumbers tape on the black kings finial. Thanks y’all. 

Teflon tape should be good. I like my chess sets to come with the finials off not glued and use this little trick. Always remains flexible and holds it tight to boot. That way if the finial ever breaks you can replace it easily without drilling it out.