+darus67 Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I would like to make my own wooden nickels as sig items but I don't have funds in the budget to have a few hundred of them professionally printed. I found blanks available locally at Michael's crafts, but I'm not sure how to put my artwork on them. I want to do something more than drawing them by hand with a sharpie. I'm imagining some kind of transfer I could print out with my computer and then apply to the blank coin. I wonder if the T-shirt transfer material would work on wood. (Do they even work on T-shirts?) Suggestions? Anyone? Bueller? Quote Link to comment
+KC0GRN Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 One thought might be to pay to have 2 rubber stamps made, one for each side of the coin. Then just stamp the coins with ink, like the pros do it. If someone was very handy, they could probably make an automated press to make the production easier. I can imagine the cost of having a stamp made is significantly less than the price of the production.... Quote Link to comment
+Lizooki Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I was thinking something along the lines of reverse engraving. A raised image...then heat it to burn the image in to the wood coin. hmmmmmmmmmmm.... Matt Quote Link to comment
+AtlantaGal Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Clear avery labels work. Stamping is also a great idea. Only problem with both of these methods is if the coins get wet. So be sure to have them in coin-size ziplocks. Quote Link to comment
+darus67 Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 I can imagine the cost of having a stamp made is significantly less than the price of the production.... Not by a lot, unfortunately. I looked into custom stamps a little and they seem to run about $25 each in the size appropriate for a wooden nickel. Burning the imprint in is a neat idea. Certainly waterproof. I wouldn't have a clue where to go looking for a custom woodburning brand. I imagine the price would make custom stamps look positively frugal, too. Clear labels sounds nice. No significant investment in tooling. I already have a color printer. I can change my design at will. I would think that a coat of clear sealer sprayed on after the labels are applied would help with water resistance too. More ideas? Keep 'em coming! Quote Link to comment
+Spencersb Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 (edited) I can imagine the cost of having a stamp made is significantly less than the price of the production.... Not by a lot, unfortunately. I looked into custom stamps a little and they seem to run about $25 each in the size appropriate for a wooden nickel. $25? CR (of Sissy-n-CR) made by stamp for $3-4. Unfortunately, he isn't doing them anymore. I bought 4 lbs (about 650) half blanks (one side blank, one side printed with a "Support our Troops" logo) for about $80 from www.wooden-nickel.com, and stamped the other side myself one night while watchin' TV. Alternatively, you could find a couple of stock stamps at Michael's and handwrite your caching name on them. The sealer is a good idea, though. Even if the ink is waterproof, the wood will warp if it gets wet. Edit: I forgot to note, when I bought my little round stamp, I bought it unmounted and glued it to the lid of a small medicine bottle. Works beautifully. A lot of the cost of a custom stamp is the big ole handle they attach it to. Edited October 11, 2005 by Spencersb Quote Link to comment
+darus67 Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 Alternatively, you could find a couple of stock stamps at Michael's and handwrite your caching name on them. Thats a possibility. My wife is into rubber stamping. We've got a few gazillion stamps. Her: How much did that GPS cost? Me: about 3 stamp sets She gets to spend money on her hobbies, I get to spend on mine. (: Edit: I forgot to note, when I bought my little round stamp, I bought it unmounted and glued it to the lid of a small medicine bottle. Works beautifully. A lot of the cost of a custom stamp is the big ole handle they attach it to. Ah. The $25 I mentioned was for a pre-mounted, self-inking, 1.5" dia, round, stamp with custom graphics. Quote Link to comment
+WrightStuff Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I use the label method with a coat of polyurethane sealant and I have been pleased with the results so far. Here is a picture of my nickel: Quote Link to comment
+M&M Hunter Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 For those of you who do not want to mess with making your own, here is an option for you.Geonickels.com Quote Link to comment
+GatoRx Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I went with the rubber stamp method for mine a while back. Two stamps shipped to me was about $14, and I just stamp them onto the wooden nickel blanks. When my wife and I each take a stamp, we have a ziploc full of them ready to go into caches in just a few minutes. Quote Link to comment
+CacheHunters42 Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I use the label method with a coat of polyurethane sealant and I have been pleased with the results so far. Here is a picture of my nickel: Where can I get the labels? Quote Link to comment
+WrightStuff Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 I use Avery labels #8293 (1.5" diameter) that I bought from Staples, but I'm sure all of the big office supply stores should carry them. Quote Link to comment
+1markymark1 Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 WrightStuff did a first class job on his. One of the best I have seen, Good quality.... 1markymark1 Quote Link to comment
+Spencersb Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Her: How much did that GPS cost?Me: about 3 stamp sets She gets to spend money on her hobbies, I get to spend on mine. (: Quote Link to comment
+SeventhSon Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 I recently started making my own sig nickels. I create the artwork and print a front and back design on a 2" x 4" clear label, stick it to the nickel, and with a rotary tool, etch the design into the nickel. A lot of time is involved because no two nickels are the same. The front and back change with each nickel, and the back picture every 25 coins with each series change. They're pretty rough looking and don't look near as good as a professional job, but they're sure fun to make Quote Link to comment
+Ladycacher Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 For those of you who do not want to mess with making your own, here is an option for you.Geonickels.com My nickels are made by M&M. I recommend him highly! He was fast to answer emails, fast to help with design, fast shipping, GREAT GUY! I even made one of my coins from his design on one of my nickels. Quote Link to comment
+KevinG68 Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 (edited) oops I posted in the wrong forum. On this note, I may have to try printing the labels and attaching them to the nickel. Edited October 12, 2005 by KevinG68 Quote Link to comment
+darus67 Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 I went with the rubber stamp method for mine a while back. Two stamps shipped to me was about $14 Where did you get your stamps? Did you use any custom graphics, or just stock text? Quote Link to comment
+darus67 Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 For those of you who do not want to mess with making your own, here is an option for you.Geonickels.com You do nice looking work, M&M Hunter. I will definately keep you at the top of my list, if I nail down a design I like enough to have a bunch made. If its not a trade secret, would you mind sharing how you print them? Quote Link to comment
+darus67 Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 I recently started making my own sig nickels. Very cool work, SeventhSon. The fact that no two are alike makes them eminently collectable. That sure looks a lot like work, tho. Quote Link to comment
+WrightStuff Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 SeventhSon Your nickels look great. If you are a collector interested in trading nickels, send me an email. Quote Link to comment
+Team Mollymommy & ToyBoy Posted May 9, 2006 Share Posted May 9, 2006 For those of you who do not want to mess with making your own, here is an option for you.Geonickels.com HI, I found one of these wooden coins in a cache. Now what? I take it I can either keep it and collect more, or just release it back to another cache. Is that the idea? Thanks Molly Quote Link to comment
57chevy Posted May 9, 2006 Share Posted May 9, 2006 Wooden nickels are to keep as far as I can tell, There are several traders out there that will rid you of any extras you may have. Myself for one! Check this forum out! Wooden nickel trading Quote Link to comment
+indgeodog Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 Where are the makers gettingth clear labels similar to the Avery 8293? Quote Link to comment
+evelbug Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 Where are the makers gettingth clear labels similar to the Avery 8293? I got labels for my poker chips from here. http://www.onlinelabels.com/ I tried a couple diferent types of labels from them, (you can get sample sheets of the labels) and the ones that worked best for the chips are the weatherproof vinyl. Quote Link to comment
+~tasia~ Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 I'm having custom stamps made from www.stamp-connection.com. They make acrylic stamps which makes stamp placement easier. I posted on the trading forum a bit ago, but will post again when I get some made up when I get the stamps in. I have 500 1.5" and 500 1" blanks. The 1" i will just use some of the rubber stamps I have around here. Quote Link to comment
ParentsofSAM Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 Has anyone seen one of these Path Tags?? They look somewhat like geocoin and wooden nickel hybrids. They are trackable and pretty afforable. But I have yet to see one. Quote Link to comment
+Shootie Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 I had my first 250 wooden nickels done by wooden-nickel.com. They made me two nice rubber stamps as well for a total of $125, and they were very nicely done. Then I had some blanks and I thought I would try to stamp them. I had trouble getting the ink to dry, and finally sprayed them with an acrylic to keep them from smearing. I decided my time was worth more than that, especially after I gave in and re-ordered. Because I was a repeat customer and they already had my graphics, it cost me the same amount as the first order to get one thousand of them done. I just can't make them for that, and they turn out much nicer than anything I could do. Time IS money. Quote Link to comment
+fox-and-the-hound Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 ATMouse uses a combination of Woodburning and permanent marker I believe. Very, very inexpensive and really high quality, too. One of the nicest wooden nickels we've ever traded for. Quote Link to comment
Not So Lost Puppies Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Has anyone seen one of these Path Tags?? They look somewhat like geocoin and wooden nickel hybrids. They are trackable and pretty afforable. But I have yet to see one. I just saw them... I don't think they are trackable in the sense of our our tracking. I looks like the tracking is just a number assigned to all your tags, so people can track that they've met you. You couldn't follow a tag through caches as you can with gc tracking (or travellertags tracking) as all your tags have the same number. looks like a "metal nickel" system. I'll stick with our shrinkydinks, geocoins, and maybe some wooden nickels with labels. Can do alot of all of those for the $99. Quote Link to comment
+cachegame Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 If anyone would like to know more about pathtags I have detailed my experience in my new blog: cachebug.com Quote Link to comment
ATMouse Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 (edited) ATMouse uses a combination of Woodburning and permanent marker I believe. Very, very inexpensive and really high quality, too. One of the nicest wooden nickels we've ever traded for. Thanks - and they are inexpensive, just some labor and ordinary craft-type stuff you can pick up just about anywhere. The big investment is the blanks. And a UV pen is fun: Edited September 26, 2006 by ATMouse Quote Link to comment
57chevy Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 (edited) Here's an idea, I got a wooden nickel in trade not too long ago from a guy that just took a limb off of a tree about the right size and apparently had a bandsaw and cut his own nickel blanks, the design was hand drawn on the blank and it still had the bark off of the limb still on it. Very awesome. I believe that's the route I'm gonna try next. Oh yeah if you get a chance to trade for one of AT's "Nickels" definitely do, they are HUGE, and Very well designed. They have to be one of my favorites, if not The favorite. Edited September 26, 2006 by 57chevy Quote Link to comment
+unafraid leroy Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 for all of you out there interested in these kinds of coins i have been collecting them for the short year i've been geocaching and just put all 80 of them into a cache; "The Homemade Geocoin Museum" (GC215ZC). it's basically a 3 ring binder with coin sleeves in it. i love the collection and wanted to be able to share it with everyone - a lot of talent and effort out there. i have included wooden nickels as well as several other styles; quite a few people take poker chips and put stickers on their middles, some people alter money (pennies and nickels) either with cutouts or by pressing them (one side custom), some have made individual ones out of femo clay, some are unique acrylic shapes with marker, i have a few pieces of plastic with names embossed or engraved, etc. the list is long and pretty neat, so if you're in town, some check it out - it's a real easy multi-cache (too sentimental to not be under lock and key, and the key is 1/2 block away). also, i made a "traveling exhibit" from The Homemade Geocoin Museum if you can't get down here and would like to see some examples in your neck of the woods. it's travel bug TB2HVTY. all that inspiration has me thinking i need to get my own coin going......... unafraid leroy Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.