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Pottery Geocoin - Four Spirit


sssooocool

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Update:

 

The production of first 250 pieces is completely failed. We have made some adjustment both in material and temperature and remake it now with our second lot of 250 pieces, so everyone ordered from the first lot will have it in the same time for sure. Sorry to keep you waiting, but we need 12~14 day more to get it done.

 

As 236 pieces out of the first lot 250 were ordered in set, I decided to make a special box for each set, and the boxes were delivered to me last Friday already. Those boxes come out just beautiful, and I believe every one of you will love it.

 

sssooocool

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Thank you bvnlj!

 

Because this is the first time to make a pottery geocoin,for past four months, I had been discussing with this pottery artist and trying to solve all the following problems and create a set of satisfied four spirit geocoin.

 

1)How to put the individual tracking number on it (Hand engraving the numbers on the edge of coin while the clay is simi-dry is our last decision)

 

2)Must have both bossed English & Chinese coin name (To fit the right size of letters we chose after experiment is the 60mm big coin. Use new mould after every 20 pieces are made to remain the clearance of words)

 

3)One side is 3D and other side have three levels (Minimum 8mm thickness is needed)

 

4)Must be heavier and harder than regular pottery (No problem at all on these subjects)

 

5)Must have color on all over the piece. (We chose the right material and fire the coins at an upright position. It has to be very careful when it is being lining & handling otherwise coins will fall down like domino)

 

6)3D appearance. (This is the most difficult one as we have to find out white kind of and how much of oxide we are going to use and the suitable kiln temperature to get a better color and quality. When the coin is taken out from kiln, it is only one dark (black) color, we then send it to a specialist polishing factory to polish the surface for getting the 3D appearance)

 

7)Since the first lot was reserved mostly in set (sets), and I had also decided to make the second lot, it came to enough quantity to custom made a special box for the set packing.

 

These are the first 3D designs that the artist hand engraved form gypsum boards

4SG-W-GB.jpg

 

4SG-S-GB.jpg

 

4SG-N-GB.jpg

 

All kinds of samples we had made prior to reservation.

Samples%20of%204SG.jpg

 

Clays before kiln fired.

Clay-%20001.jpg

 

Clay-%20002.jpg

 

Clay-%20003.jpg

 

The color on the coins of first lot made is too dark than the samples we made from a smaller kiln. Also, there are some wrinkles on the surface caused from over temperature firing.

First%20lot-%20001.jpg

 

First%20lot-%20002.jpg

 

First%20lot-%20003.jpg

 

I will take some more pictures and post here again later.

 

sssooocool

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Coins arrived yesterday in excellent condition.

 

I will send out all paypal invoices today and start shipping from next Monday June 25. It takes about 10~14 days for international shipment from Taiwan to your country.

 

Thank you all for your patience on this unexpected delay.

 

sssooocool

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Coins arrived yesterday in excellent condition.

 

I will send out all paypal invoices today and start shipping from next Monday June 25. It takes about 10~14 days for international shipment from Taiwan to your country.

 

Thank you all for your patience on this unexpected delay.

 

sssooocool

 

No problem with the delay, I know what its like to produce handmade coins as we've also produced some and I know that you always run into unexpected problems. The thing with handmade coins is that you can't just press on a button and out pops a number of coins, no, if there is something wrong it takes time to make moulds, cast, coulour, edit and fire again.

 

I'm looking forward to the coins.

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Invoice received and paid. Can't wait to see these in person. I'm glad I ordered 2 sets! Thanks so much for the pictures, they are terrific.

 

Oh and thanks for including the box. It is a beautiful presentation for some beautiful coins.

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Following are photos of four spirit geocoin which I organized in order to show you procedures step by step

 

These are the first 3D designs that the artist hand engraved on gypsum board

4SG-N-GB.jpg4SG-S-GB.jpg4SG-W-GB.jpg

 

I missed the chance to take picture of the first handmade samples. We used those samples to make Original molds.

From Original mold, we can cast some clay to see if anywhere needs to be modified. Meantime, we can test and make few samples to see how it looks like.

Samples%20of%204SG.jpg

 

If the sample is OK, then we can make Mother mold. We use this Mother mold to produce Production molds or so called Children molds.

 

Plaster Production molds (4 pieces a set)

Plaster%20mould.jpg

 

Pouring slip into a mold

Pouring%20slip%20into%20molds.jpg

 

Each set of production mold can make one clay a time, and can produce 20 clays maximum.

Each%20set%20of%20mould%20makes%20one%20coin%20a%20time.jpg

 

Taking out the semi-dried clay from mold

Taking%20out%20the%20semi-dried%20clay%20from%20molds.jpg

 

Trimming the clay

Trimming.jpg

 

Sponging the clay

Sponging.jpg

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sssooocool - great photos! Thanks. You might want to edit out the tracking ID off the photo where it is being engraved... or are we free to discover it? :laughing:

 

Are you planning to do another run? I think I will definitely have to get a set! :laughing:

Edited by keewee
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sssooocool - great photos! Thanks. You might want to edit out the tracking ID off the photo where it is being engraved... or are we free to discover it? :laughing:

 

Are you planning to do another run? I think I will definitely have to get a set! :laughing:

 

Thank you Keewee for pointing out my mistack. :laughing: The photo is edited. :laughing:

 

The successful rate of first production is still lower than what we expected. We have modified the mold and hope the second run will be smoother with less loss.

 

As for your order, I will put you in the list of the second production which hopefully will be ready by late next week.

 

sssooocool

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Aloha Folks -

 

I'd totally be up for trading a tikicoin for one of these great coins - if anyone has an extra they would be willing to part with! :laughing:

 

Thank you so much for posting the production photos. An amazing process!

 

Mahalo,

Tiki

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Thank you for your compliments! I am glad that you like the pictures posted, although some of the steps are missing as I did not take them in time in the beginning of the production.

 

We will ship the coin today to those we already paid by paypal, shipment time is around 10-14 days.

 

sssooocool ;):D:D

Edited by sssooocool
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Aloha Folks -

 

I'd totally be up for trading a tikicoin for one of these great coins - if anyone has an extra they would be willing to part with! <_<

 

Thank you so much for posting the production photos. An amazing process!

 

Mahalo,

Tiki

 

Email sent... and fingers crossed!! :o

Edited by keewee
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I am glad to hear from the minter that after several failures and improvements, the successful rate has been improved now. They can only make 5 sets (20 pieces) at a time because there are only 5 sets of production molds for each design. Besides the clay can not be removed from the mold until it is semi-dried and have to wait for the molds to get completely dried before they can proceed to the next 20 pieces production.

 

After the shipments of the first round, we have made 25 sets of second round up to today. Therefore, we are able to re-open and taking order now. For those who missed the chance to reserve for four spirit geocoin, you may order right now. Our shipments dates are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

 

There will be 50 sets for second round and we estimate the completion date will be around July 3.

 

sssooocool :o

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Just wanted to say that I've found the photos and descriptions of the process of making these to be really fascinating! Wish we could have gotten in on the first run, but we had to cut back on our geocoin spending this Spring. Perhaps we'll get in on the second run. An awesome project, one which you seem to be getting a lot of enjoyment out of, based upon your posts. And speaking of that, you mentioned not being a native speaker of English. I'll tell you plainly; you write English a lot better than a huge number of my fellow Americans do!! Just look at some of the horrid grammar and twisted context that pops out of the mouth of President Bush, and then realize that there are millions of people who are just as bad (or worse!) with the language as he is :angry:

 

Anyway, this has been a lot of fun to follow :rolleyes: Please let us know when the second run is ready for ordering.

 

(edited for spelling errors which I should have caught before I submitted it :unsure:)

Edited by chaosmanor
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Just had mine delivered! :laughing:

It’s great to have them in hand – I can’t see how anyone will be game to release these beauties.

This whole exercise has been a great example of communication – the pictures and keeping us up-to-date with production and shipping has been perfect.

Thanks for producing a very special set of coins. :rolleyes:

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Just had mine delivered! :laughing:

It’s great to have them in hand – I can’t see how anyone will be game to release these beauties.

This whole exercise has been a great example of communication – the pictures and keeping us up-to-date with production and shipping has been perfect.

Thanks for producing a very special set of coins. :D

 

LUCKY, Bunya!!!!!

 

I can't wait to see these geocoins. I had no idea how big these were until I saw the pictures Johnny posted. It has been wonderful having the process captured on "film" for everyone to see.

 

Thanks, Johnny. This has been awesome watching this geocoin be made. :(:D

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We have completely sent out all paid orders up to date, and I think you will all receive your coins within this week.

 

For who has posted on this thread before, the shipping date is listed as follows:

Jan. 25 –ZAteam, Danoshimano, Steel City Baby, Degai, Bvnlj, Chief20r2, tom4props, Tokyo Blossom, Fehrgo, Toojin & Bart, Tasaint, Marky, Crowesfeat30, LadeBear68, Mr.Explorer3

Jan. 27 –Keewee01

Jan. 28 –Globalgirl

 

Many thanks again for your order. I do hope you will like the coins when you receive them.

 

sssooocool

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I got my set today and they are beautiful! :unsure: And, as has been stated before, the feel nice when you hold them. :lol: I would have had them on Saturday but I was out caching with Strider at the time the Postman came by all I got was a post card advising me that I was going to have to wait for two more whole days before I could have them in my hands! Thanks, sssooocool for these nice coins. They are sssooo different and sssooo COOL! I'm glad I have a set! ;)

 

CF30

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I got my set today and they are beautiful! :unsure: And, as has been stated before, the feel nice when you hold them. :lol: I would have had them on Saturday but I was out caching with Strider at the time the Postman came by all I got was a post card advising me that I was going to have to wait for two more whole days before I could have them in my hands! Thanks, sssooocool for these nice coins. They are sssooo different and sssooo COOL! I'm sssooo glad I have a set! ;)

 

CF30

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Thanks to all of you who love Four Spirit Geocoin!

 

A friendly reminder to those who haven't received the package:

All of our packages are sent by registered mail. If you failed to receive it, please check if postman left you a note in your mail box for you to collect.

 

sssooocool

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For who has posted on this thread before, the shipping date is listed as follows:

Jan. 25 –ZAteam, Danoshimano, Steel City Baby, Degai, Bvnlj, Chief20r2, tom4props, Tokyo Blossom, Fehrgo, Toojin & Bart, Tasaint, Marky, Crowesfeat30, LadeBear68, Mr.Explorer3

Jan. 27 –Keewee01

Jan. 28 –Globalgirl

 

 

sssooocool - mine arrived today. Many thanks. These are just an absolutely amazing coin - you have thought out side of the box, and come up with an amazing, unique geocoin. You should be very proud of what you have come up with and achieved!! Well done!

 

keewee

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I had been wondering where mine were, but the arrived today. It looks like you gave the customs officers at the Brisbane office something to keep them busy for a while. The coins must have raised some suspicions when they were x-rayed, as they had opened the package and given them a thorough inspection. I bet they thought they had something when 8 circular non-metallic, non-plastic disks showed up in scans.

 

Taipei to Brisbane/Brisbane to Taipei is a common enough smuggling route that I'm not all surprised that the coins were held up. Good to have them in hand now! They look very nice.

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I usually have to work overtime during the week, so my family members reply the e-mails or messages for me occasionally. If you find the writing with fluent English, it might be written by my mother who has to communicate in English when she in her office.

 

By the way, although the second run of pottery coins are manufactured and delivered a bit slow, they are still continuously delivered. Should we keep one set for you?

 

Just wanted to say that I've found the photos and descriptions of the process of making these to be really fascinating! Wish we could have gotten in on the first run, but we had to cut back on our geocoin spending this Spring. Perhaps we'll get in on the second run. An awesome project, one which you seem to be getting a lot of enjoyment out of, based upon your posts. And speaking of that, you mentioned not being a native speaker of English. I'll tell you plainly; you write English a lot better than a huge number of my fellow Americans do!! Just look at some of the horrid grammar and twisted context that pops out of the mouth of President Bush, and then realize that there are millions of people who are just as bad (or worse!) with the language as he is :lol:

 

Anyway, this has been a lot of fun to follow B) Please let us know when the second run is ready for ordering.

 

(edited for spelling errors which I should have caught before I submitted it :rolleyes: )

Edited by sssooocool
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I just worry that the keepers of Four Spirit Geocoin would prefer holding it as collectors’ items rather than taking it to the wild, especially after I made the presentation set boxes. :rolleyes:

 

Just had mine delivered! :lol:

It’s great to have them in hand – I can’t see how anyone will be game to release these beauties.

This whole exercise has been a great example of communication – the pictures and keeping us up-to-date with production and shipping has been perfect.

Thanks for producing a very special set of coins. B)

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