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General Category => Ask Steve a question. => Topic started by: mgoodell1976 on June 02, 2014, 02:31:25 pm
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I'm gonna start making key chains for sale. What thickness wood you guys suggest? And where can I get chain loops to hang them on? Thanks.
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I use 1\2 in. wood, and I have a good supply of rings and chains at Michaels.
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OK cool. Was thick 1/4 or 1/2. How much you sell them for at craft shows? Using the pattern from Steve donation ware? I was planning on $3 each or 2 for $5. Too low or too high? This is assuming hardwood walnut, cherry, or oak. No plywood crap.
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I think the $3 is cheap but will have to depend on your market and how fast you can do them. FYI: I did 50 for all the teachers in a school at Christmas and most of the name were 6 and 7 characters. Longest was 9 - Annabelle.
I do mine with what ever scrap I have around. Usually a little less than 1/2 inch hardwood. Cherry or Maple and sometimes Oak,
For key chains I give a split ring. I have done quite a few to be used on backpack and sports bags and those I use a ball chain.
I got my last order from Artbeads as their shipping and handling is quite cheap to Canada.
http://www.artbeads.com/ (http://www.artbeads.com/)
Don
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Excellent. Yea I'm rethinking of a price around $4 and $6 on ebay.
Tyvm! :)
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JUST A WORD OF WARNING GUYS.
Several years ago I did the same thing. I cut a few key chains for display...."BOB. JIM,SUE, NANCY" etc. and took them to a Flea Market. Intending to sell them for $3.00 each and take special orders for more to be mailed to the customer for $4.00 each. :)
I made a sale! A lady wanted to buy eight key chains and have them mailed to her in another town. "COOL!" I thought "Just write a list of the names you want on this paper with your mailing address" I told her. 8)
When I looked at her list, I just about fainted. She had written THE FIRST AND LAST NAMES of eight people with the longest names I have ever heard! :o The shortest name was 13 letters long and the longest was closer to 25 letters!! :o :P
I tried to talk her into just using first names but, she insisted on both names. I tried to explain that the key chains would be 6" to 9" long and not be very easy to use as intended to no avail. :( :'(
Yes, I cut the key chains and mailed them. Twelve hours of work, and postage for a (larger than expected) box not to mention the cost of wood all for $30.00 (she had talked me down for quantity before I saw the list)
The real kicker was that she wrote back that she had MISS SPELLED two of the names and could I re cut them? >:(
Needless to say, after that, my key chains were priced at $1.00 per letter. ;D
Rog
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Lol wow!