CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) The Glass Traveler Geocoin Here is a new project we have been working on for some time, I wanted to post a few pictures of some of prototypes we made along the way. This project was made possible by a really cool glass artist Sharon in Colorado Springs, CO. Here is a picture of the first version of the coin that was made, we wanted to get the geocaching logo on there and were happy at first but the colors just did not work for us. Back to the drawing board! Sharon said we can add color its more of a process but will look better so after a few more test coins we were able to get it right! This time with four colors fused onto a base piece of glass. Now we were happy! Here is a little info on how these beautiful glass geocoins are made; The glass traveler, brought to you buy CoinSwag! These highly durable, highly collectible geocoins are made in the USA by a glass artist in Colorado Springs, CO. Each piece is unique in that they are hand made, several steps are included in making a coin as special as this. It order to create a piece of fused glass, you must be sure that the glass you choose is a compatible COE so that the glass will expand and contract at the same rate during the heating and annealing process and will produce a strong finished piece. Glass is selected, cleaned, and cut into the shape needed for the finished piece. A special glue is used to hold the colored squares onto the base glass. The glass "sandwich" is placed in the kiln and the kiln is warmed slowly to prevent any cracking of the glass. After approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, the kiln is at 1500 degrees. After checking the kiln visually for "doneness", the kiln is turned off and allowed to cool over several hours. Cooling the glass slowly makes for a very hard, durable finished product. This process is then repeated 3 more times fusing each different colored piece of glass to create a glass geocoin with a total of 5 different colored pieces of glass. This long process also ensures that the glass coin is durable. Once the pieces are cool (about 6 to 8 hours) They are washed and the edges shaped and polished on a grinder, then washed again. Once they are clean, the design is hand-painted on the front of the piece with special fusible glass paint which is made of finely ground glass in a suspension base. The design is allowed to dry, then the words on the back are hand lettered with the same paint. Once the paint is completely dry, the pieces go back into the kiln for another firing and cooling cycle. The final phase with this glass coin is to hand etch the trademark symbol on the lower right hand corner of the design, clean the pieces and pack them for shipping. The total time involved in producing one coin from start to finish is about 17 hours! Comments welcome! I think my favorite thing about these geocoins is they are made in the US and we get to support an artist in the process! Stay tuned for more. I will post pics and more details once pre sales start (here in a few days) -Jake Edited March 9, 2009 by CoinSwag Quote
+DJ.J.ROCK Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Does she own a shop,, if so ,,whats the name of it? Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) Here are the stats on the coin; Dimensions: 1 5/8" (42mm) 2D/3D: 1D front/back Thickness: 5.5 mm Finish: Glass! Enameling: Hand painted colored glass Trackable: Yes, on Geocaching.com Possible Icon: There will also be an option for personalization up to 10 characters including spaces with no minimum order quantity. Edited March 10, 2009 by CoinSwag Quote
+LadeBear68 Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Is coinswag a new company? I don't believe I am comfortable giving money to someone who has six posts and according to their profile was formed in 2006. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 Is coinswag a new company? I don't believe I am comfortable giving money to someone who has six posts and according to their profile was formed in 2006. No, lol. We have been making geocoins since 2006. www.coinswag.com we used to post under our caching name Team JSAM but now just use this account to help separate business and the fun of caching. Jake Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) Hiccup DP. Edited March 9, 2009 by CoinSwag Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 Looks great! Any info on pricing? They will be 14.95 for reg and 15.95 for personalization. Subcribers to our newsletter will get a coupon code for a pre sale discount. More info can be found here; http://www.coinswag.com/glasstraveler.html Quote
+fairyhoney Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 During the process, could a hole maybe be put in? Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 During the process, could a hole maybe be put in? Hmmm good question. I'll ask Sharon and get back to you. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 During the process, could a hole maybe be put in? What would be the purpose of the hole, if you intent is to make it wearable that is something we can do for sure. Send me an email and we can talk more about it. contact [at] coinswag dot com Jake Quote
+Toojin Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 One of the things that is easily done during the fusing process is adding a metal loop. Esthetics might be an issue, depending on how it is done... Quote
+Eartha Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Has this design been approved by Groundspeak? I ask because I don't see one on the sample, or on the webpage, and Groundspeak requires the registered trademark ® when their logo is used and this could be difficult on glass. The logo usage guidelines are here. I'm wondering if they gave the OK without it, because it's so tiny, how could you do it on glass, unless it was printed on afterwards? Quote
+Eartha Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) Oh, wait, I saw the very faint ® on the website photo, but it looked like part of the photo, and not part of the glass, until I scrolled down to the larger images. Looks like it is scribed into the glass. Edited March 9, 2009 by Eartha Quote
+PaRacers Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 Subcribers to our newsletter will get a coupon code for a pre sale discount. More info can be found here; http://www.coinswag.com/glasstraveler.html I'm all signed up and ready to order, how do I get the pre sale discount coupon? Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 Has this design been approved by Groundspeak? I ask because I don't see one on the sample, or on the webpage, and Groundspeak requires the registered trademark ® when their logo is used and this could be difficult on glass. The logo usage guidelines are here. I'm wondering if they gave the OK without it, because it's so tiny, how could you do it on glass, unless it was printed on afterwards? Yes Bryan has approved the design. The ® is actually etched in after the whole process. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 Subcribers to our newsletter will get a coupon code for a pre sale discount. More info can be found here; http://www.coinswag.com/glasstraveler.html I'm all signed up and ready to order, how do I get the pre sale discount coupon? Email sent. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) Samples have arrived and pre sales have begun. If you are a member of our newsletter be sure to check your in box for a coupon code. Otherwise you can purchase a coin here: http://www.coinswag.com/glasstraveler.html Here are some photos of the final product. Edited March 10, 2009 by CoinSwag Quote
+PaRacers Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) My order is sent. Thank you very much. Edited March 10, 2009 by PaRacers Quote
+forthferalz Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 ooh glass! You can make the hole by rolling a bit of kiln paper up and inserting it during firing but I don't like that look - a glued on silver bail is easiest, there is a glue on glass bail available but it costs. jbweld or e600 i think is often used http://cgi.ebay.com/E600-Industrial-Streng...3QQcmdZViewItem Bent silver wire or copper fused in is nicest i think. Quote
+AtlantaGal Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 They're cool. I just wish they were $10. I'm still debating on whether I want one or not. Quote
+Team JSAM Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) wrong acct. Edited March 10, 2009 by Team JSAM Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 They're cool. I just wish they were $10. I'm still debating on whether I want one or not. Yea I know me to, lol, these cost about 2.5 times more than an average coin made overseas. I will have some in stock but if you want in on the personalized one we will only have that in pre sale, just an fyi. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 During the process, could a hole maybe be put in? Just confirmed with Sharon and she will be able to make yours wearable and it should look really cool. If anybody else wants a wearable one please email me. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 11, 2009 Author Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) The first batch is in production now and should start shipping on or around the 31st of this month. Also there will be a work in progress pics on flickr for those who want to see the whole process. Edited March 11, 2009 by CoinSwag Quote
+Runaway46 Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Do you ship to Canada eh? We have mail delivery here - lol. Quote
+BVnLJ Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Hi there, had to get a couple of these but am wondering about how the text and tracking information is put on. Is that magic marker ?? Simply curious is all. thanks LJ Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 12, 2009 Author Posted March 12, 2009 Do you ship to Canada eh? We have mail delivery here - lol. Yep we sure do, we ship worldwide. In fact just shipped some packages to Germany, Canada and Australia today. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 12, 2009 Author Posted March 12, 2009 (edited) Hi there, had to get a couple of these but am wondering about how the text and tracking information is put on. Is that magic marker ?? Simply curious is all. thanks LJ Once they are clean, the design is hand-painted on the front of the piece with special fusible glass paint which is made of finely ground glass in a suspension base. The design is allowed to dry, then the words on the back are hand lettered with the same paint. Once the paint is completely dry, the pieces go back into the kiln for another firing and cooling cycle. Here is our write up on the process for any one interested; It order to create a piece of fused glass, you must be sure that the glass you choose is a compatible COE so that the glass will expand and contract at the same rate during the heating and annealing process and will produce a strong finished piece. Glass is selected, cleaned, and cut into the shape needed for the finished piece. A special glue is used to hold the colored squares onto the base glass. The glass "sandwich" is placed in the kiln and the kiln is warmed slowly to prevent any cracking of the glass. After approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, the kiln is at 1500 degrees. After checking the kiln visually for "doneness", the kiln is turned off and allowed to cool over several hours. Cooling the glass slowly makes for a very hard, durable finished product. This process is then repeated 3 more times fusing each different colored piece of glass to create a glass geocoin with a total of 5 different colored pieces of glass. This long process also ensures that the glass coin is durable. Once the pieces are cool (about 6 to 8 hours) They are washed and the edges shaped and polished on a grinder, then washed again. Once they are clean, the design is hand-painted on the front of the piece with special fusible glass paint which is made of finely ground glass in a suspension base. The design is allowed to dry, then the words on the back are hand lettered with the same paint. Once the paint is completely dry, the pieces go back into the kiln for another firing and cooling cycle. The final phase with this glass coin is to hand etch the trademark symbol on the lower right hand corner of the design, clean the pieces and pack them for shipping. The total time involved in producing one coin from start to finish is about 17 hours! Edited March 12, 2009 by CoinSwag Quote
+fairyhoney Posted March 13, 2009 Posted March 13, 2009 During the process, could a hole maybe be put in? Just confirmed with Sharon and she will be able to make yours wearable and it should look really cool. If anybody else wants a wearable one please email me. Thank you for going beyond Quote
+Colorado Cacher Posted March 15, 2009 Posted March 15, 2009 Just a friendly FYI. I live where she is at (same town) if you need any assistance with anything. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 17, 2009 Author Posted March 17, 2009 Does she own a shop,, if so ,,whats the name of it? Yes she does it's called Glass Garden Creations. Thank you for going beyond You are very welcome. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 17, 2009 Author Posted March 17, 2009 Just a friendly FYI. I live where she is at (same town) if you need any assistance with anything. Very cool, thanks! Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 23, 2009 Author Posted March 23, 2009 Update: The glass traveler geocoins are coming along very nicely! Here are a few photos Sharron took during the process. I will have some more photos to post tomorrow. Cant wait till you guys/gals get to see these in person very very cool!! Jake Quote
+Bambography Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 I guess its too late to order one...?!? Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 23, 2009 Author Posted March 23, 2009 No but the pre sales are closed for now. We will have a few in stock around the end of the month and we will have another personalized version in pre sale next month for anybody who missed out. Join our newsletter to be notified when they are for sale again. Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 24, 2009 Author Posted March 24, 2009 Quick update: Just got word that the coins will be done on Thursday and should be in Idaho by Monday, shipping will begin then. Jake Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 27, 2009 Author Posted March 27, 2009 The coins are due to arrive today, if you missed out we have a few left here. Thanks, Jake Quote
CoinSwag.com Posted March 27, 2009 Author Posted March 27, 2009 Coins have arrived and are now shipping. Quote
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