Anodized aluminum coin blanks

[Martin Boekers]

I am looking for anodized aluminum coin blanks.

I have an open house at my shop coming up in a few weeks
and thought this would be a nice giveaway that I can demonstrate
the laser for visitors.

I already Checked with Chewbarka and they said they couldn't do it.

It would be nice if they had a thickness of a coin (.125 or so) but in a pinch a
tag type would be good without the punch for a chain.

Haven't had much luck on findings this.

Thanks!

[Steve Clarkson]

Chewbarka's poker chips are really nice and just what you are looking for.......too bad that they can't make them blank on both sides.

[Mike Null]

Marty

Rhodes Wood here in St. Louis may be able to help. They don't have anodized but have some other options. 800.325.0744

[Martin Boekers]

Thanks Mike

[Martin Boekers]

Chewbarka's poker chips are really nice and just what you are looking for.......too bad that they can't make them blank on both sides.

Are they blank on one side?

I have seen references to them on an online search but haven't found them.

I searched Chewbacka web sight and no listing came up?

I called them up and told them what I was looking to do, you think they would
have mentioned these. I tried to get, even the round circles without a hole.
and was told the don't do that?!


Marty

[Gary and Jessica Houghton]

Frank @ Chewbarka.com is so cool! I asked him to make me a poker chip that isn't stamped and he did. They currently have blank coins in black. If you want another color, you have to buy a minimum of 1,000. I don't know who you talked to at Chewbarka, but if you tell them you want the same coins that Jessica form Etched! gets, they will probably know what you are talking about.

[Matt Turner (physics)]

McMaster-Carr has anodized aluminum sheet (http://www.mcmaster.com/#anodized-aluminum/=bd3daa). If you found someone with a turret punch you could just punch out your own discs.

[Matt Turner (physics)]

I just found this: http://shortorderproducts.com/Engraving_Web_Pages/en_ck_Die_Cut_Disks/En_ck_Die_Cut_Disks.htm

[Steve Clarkson]

Are they blank on one side?

I have seen references to them on an online search but haven't found them.

I searched Chewbacka web sight and no listing came up?

I called them up and told them what I was looking to do, you think they would
have mentioned these. I tried to get, even the round circles without a hole.
and was told the don't do that?!


Marty


Sometimes I wonder how Chewbarka stays in business.....they have so much more than what they show on their website. And their shapes don't have names or serial numbers, so sometimes you have to sit there on the phone with them and describe the shape and hope that that is the one they will send you!

They come in different denominations and colors and are blank on one side.....and they sound very cool when you are playing with your stack of chips (sorry, didn't know how else to describe it!) and they have nice weight to them......much heavier than the thinner dog tags.

[Dan Hintz]

Dangit, had a long reply and killed it by clicking on the pic :(

Love those, Steve... any idea how much Frank is charging for a set? Does he have a set number of each denomination, or do you purchase each denomination individually? (I'm at work and don't want to get caught up talking shop with him if I call).

[Robert Walters]

I'd like to see what the $1 and $2 chip looks like lasered.

I called, each denomination comes individually.
$0.75/ea (I think in qty of 100, but could be mistaken)

[Gary and Jessica Houghton]

I'd like to see what the $1 and $2 chip looks like lasered.



The $1 chips will be a little subdued (white etch on silver coin) but the $2 (gold) will surprise you. I love etching on the any of chewbarka's gold tags. There is plenty of contrast and the etch stands out as much as any other color.

[Dan Hintz]

$0.75/ea (I think in qty of 100, but could be mistaken)
Well that's a shame, as the price kind of knocks out full custom sets. Real clay chip sets can be had custom printed for about $1/chip, which makes these non-profitable from a competition standpoint. The price makes sense if you were handing out singles as an award or something similar, though, where you could charge a couple bucks each...

[Martin Boekers]

Sometimes I wonder how Chewbarka stays in business.....they have so much more than what they show on their website. And their shapes don't have names or serial numbers, so sometimes you have to sit there on the phone with them and describe the shape and hope that that is the one they will send you!

They come in different denominations and colors and are blank on one side.....and they sound very cool when you are playing with your stack of chips (sorry, didn't know how else to describe it!) and they have nice weight to them......much heavier than the thinner dog tags.

I wish they just sold these completely blank and in quantities of 100 or so.

That I could use!

You wouldn't think that this would be so difficult to find. More and more
I research these type products, the more I realize I just may have to buck
up and become and ASI Distributor as these type things are much easier to
buy as blanks from ASI Manufacturers.

Marty

[Martin Boekers]

I'm running out of time for the coin idea so I am going with these dogtags from JDS.
they seem nice and engravable on both sides. Plus they fit the budget!

Marty

[Martin Boekers]

Well that's a shame, as the price kind of knocks out full custom sets. Real clay chip sets can be had custom printed for about $1/chip, which makes these non-profitable from a competition standpoint. The price makes sense if you were handing out singles as an award or something similar, though, where you could charge a couple bucks each...

I know what you mean Dan, These should be in the $.15-$.25 range to work.
I sell a 1000 or so chips a year and get a weighted composite for about $.05ea
and print an isert to fit in them. With flatbed printers gearing up you can buy
nice composite chips printed for $.50 Some of the new composites are really nice.

I'm still looking for metal coins (blank with a ridge) I just signed on with NW Mint as they sell singles
a bit higher than I want to pay but we will give them a try.

[Ruben Salcedo]

Marty,

are you sure is blank in both sides?, I was under the impression that they had a design in one side and blank in the other.

Ruben

[Martin Boekers]

Marty,

are you sure is blank in both sides?, I was under the impression that they had a design in one side and blank in the other.

Ruben

yes, they have about 10-12 that have a design on the front, but they do have them blank on both sides.
they are out of stock now but have 10,000 coming to SD tomorrow.

[Ruben Salcedo]

I guess I should of ask... I never order those thinking that they didn't have it with both sides blank...

Thank you.

Ruben

[Dan Hintz]

Same as Ruben, I didn't realize they had double blanks... what's the cost on those?

[Martin Boekers]

About $.60ea depending upon your discount level.

[Robert Walters]

Update...

Chewbarka's poker chips can be $0.50/ea @ 1000 qty - mixed denominations is ok.

Frank said the reason for the higher costs is the anodizing is primarily a manual operation on the poker chips as there is no hole to hang from.

[Martin Boekers]

Update...

Chewbarka's poker chips can be $0.50/ea @ 1000 qty - mixed denominations is ok.

Frank said the reason for the higher costs is the anodizing is primarily a manual operation on the poker chips as there is no hole to hang from.


Thanks, but that is a bit high for what I need in price and quantity, and being that they already marked with denominations won't work for my needs.

Others must have an automated way of doing it as I imaging that millions are made as "dubloons" for Mardis Gras.


Thanks for the update Roger, I'm always looking for coin type items!


Marty

[Martin Boekers]

Dog Tags came in today.

They came out nice, color similar to anodized, light grey engraving.

I put our historic gate on front and will laser what they want on back
to demonstrate the laser at the open house. I think these will be popular
and make a nice giveaway!

Hmmmm may be a nice business card idea.


Marty

[Dee Gallo]

I like those, Martin, they are very cool. Your illustration came out well even on such a small item. I'll have to look through my new JDS catalog that came today, it's still in the plastic wrapper.

cheers, dee

[Martin Boekers]

I like those, Martin, they are very cool. Your illustration came out well even on such a small item. I'll have to look through my new JDS catalog that came today, it's still in the plastic wrapper.

cheers, dee

They are pretty cool!

I did slow the laser down to 50sp 10pwr and hit it at 1200 dpi, didn't play much to
optimize it. I just wanted to set some outside parameters instead of "creeping up" on
it.

They have a two coat paint on it, light grey for the base then a black overcoat.
I didn't try to over power it because like anodized it blew out the detail with too much power..

It did hold up well for such a small item!


Marty

[Jesse Anderson]

I decided to do a price check on having some blank's Die'd out for me. Minimum order is 5,000 pieces. They are going to get back with me later today. They had a Stainless , Copper, Aluminum Option. They are going to get back with me soon i hope. I do not need the aluminum coins to be anodized. This company in china that i am going through looks like they might fit the budget. Getting a nice polished coin that looks like it came straight out of the united states mint would be a goo product to sell... Not sure how Cermark works on Polished Copper, or Aluminum . I suppose the highly polished steel would be a good buy. I doubt i need 5,000 pieces. But if i get a good price i will add them to my website and just mark them up a few cents to sell the blanks only. That way i can cover the cost of the product. So if anyone is interested in a good mint quality coin i might have more info ..... Maybe ???

May i also make a remark. I purchased a bunch of Steel disk like things from a hardware store. Kind of like washers but with no hole in the middle. I had a rock tumbler that i purchased in my early teens and threw them in there. After a few days of polishing i had some highly polished coins like disks that worked pretty nice for engraving..... Right now though i have been using coins from a casino in town. I have been grinding off the faces and then polishing both side's. It takes about 15 min. But the Cermark stick pretty nice to it....If a person could reasonable manufacture coin blanks that would sell for a decent price it would be a good product that would make good money. My dad wont let me use his CnC Plasma cutter.

[Dan Hintz]

Not sure how Cermark works on Polished Copper, or Aluminum

Copper is going to be a tough one, particularly thick copper... there's so much mass there it makes it tough to get enough localized heat to make the Cermark stick.

[Jesse Anderson]

South Dakota ? East or West ? Maybe i can swing over and pick up a few at wholesale price...

[Jesse Anderson]

Obviously copper would be a last resort. I have engraved on copper using cermark in the past. It worked for me... Cermark is great stuff. Its what makes metal engraving possible. Just like the flux capacitor makes time travel possible.

[Martin Boekers]

South Dakota ? East or West ? Maybe i can swing over and pick up a few at wholesale price...

Check the JDS web page for address to the SD warehouse.

[Martin Boekers]

I am still searching for a custom coin company (stateside) to do blanks, I have talked with over 20 of them and they refuse to do blanks ???

One thing with Cermark, make sure the blanks aren't coated as that gives issues. They should send some samples out for you to try first.

Custom poker chips have come down in price, many are doing dye sub on FRP. Conde and JDS sell blanks for about $.40ea. The metal coins I do I get from NWT Mint $5ea, I do a dye sub inset that come out nice. I get $15ea. These are coated so Cermark doesn't work.

I have been trying to get a company like JDS interested in these coins, make them so standard 2" insets fit, time will tell.

More companies are realizing that challenge coins are a good market and coming up with poker chip styles, much cheaper than metal, quicker turns etc. Jesse, are the ones you are thinking of getting have reeded rims or die stamped edges? (search challenge coins for some ideas) If you decide to go ahead I recommend you get blanks that have an inset area of 2" in dia and deep enough to fit mylars that trophy suppliers sell. There are thousands of those out there.

[Jesse Anderson]

I decided to go with steel. With a ridge. Then finished for days in a drum polisher. Kind like they do bullet shells. I asked for a very high polish. Scratch resistant. Getting a few sample's made up.. He said he would ship them out. I should be getting them by the 13-14th of this month. After i get the pieces he is going to give me a price roll up for a few thousand pieces.