wanted: plastic sets and rigid plastic boards

You know the type - does anyone know of a reliable, cheap source of plastic sets and the rigid boards?

I have looked at importing from India/China and can source the chess sets but not the boards. If anyone knows a good chess supplier who can supply these items and other chess equipment cheaply, please could you send me an email at: timlawson@chess.com 

Thanks,

Tim

ttp://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=CajunChess&product_name=2.25-inch+Masonite+Single+Fold+Chessboard+(with+A/N+Markings)&cart_id=16964.34199&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

Are these the sort of boards you are talking about? They are rigid folding boards - vs the usual floppy roll-up board.  I've bought from wholesalechess a few times - they're great.

I have a green/off-white folding vinyl and I think it's great. So long as you find it convenient to pack and carry I wholeheartedly recommend it.

One proviso: The link above is for one with 2-1/16" squares. More cramped than the standard 2-1/4" tournament standard. I have a 2-1/8" vinyl rollup and using the USCF Club Special solid plastic 3-3/4" tall king and 1-1/2" base is about as cramped as I want to go. My folding vinyl is 2-1/4" and fits the Club Special perfectly.

To a degree it's a matter of personal preference but one also has to consider what's good for the opponent. Going full standard is always a good target (at least for one set).

Thanks! Though the sort I am talking about here actually fall somewhere between the (in my opinion!) pretty rubbish roll up boards and the generally more expensive folding boards.

However, the boards on the site you  mention from wholesale chess do appear to be reasonably priced (I haven't checked out the shipping costs yet and am in the UK so this could mean the prices become more prohibitive!).

The boards I am talking about do not fold but will simply pack flat. They are better than the roll up boards because they have a solid plastic finish and the pieces will slide over the squares more easily, unlike the roll ups and of course they are a bit more robust. The upside to these is that they are generally (or should be!) cheaper than folding boards but the downside is transportation. However, at our junior club, we have 30 of these boards and they do pack flat quite nicely!

Thanks for the reply though, very helpful!

Tim

Thanks for the reply - not quite what I am looking for and possibly a bit pricier than wholesale chess. But many thanks for responding!

Tim

Thanks for the reply.

Invariably these websites do produce different sizes and that's an important factor to remember when considering which size pieces to purchase. I have a good idea of what I need on all this but at the moment, sourcing the one piece (non folding) boards is the problem! Buying from a chess supplier here, I am paying a large mark up as they are obviously getting them wholesale or importing them. I don't mind going to a supplier for a one off board for myself for example but this will be a bulk purchase so price is imperative (whilst keeping quality!).

I am not a fan at all of the roll up boards - pieces tend to stick to the vinyl, edges curl up and to be honest, they're generally (this side of the pond at least!) pretty cheap and nasty.

Thanks though for all the responses so far, much appreciated!

Tim

1. Buy paper chess boards.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/248229880/four_fold_paper_chess_board.html

2. Laminate paper chess boards.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7692490_make-laminated-chess-board.html

Not quite what I had in mind, but thanks anyway!