As quite a few people have asked recently (Tom, I got your voicemail but was out all day yesterday) this is an update on what we plan to try....
The master die and cups for this mold were originally designed to make slightly thicker chips than our others.
A lot of the problems that occurred in the past with the mold were as a result of trying to get the chips down to a regular thickness, even by attempting to use the mold itself to produce the slugs and then using the larger 1 inch inlay.
That method is not a viable option, and neither would be machining the cups in any way. The outer 'ring' in the mold design is engraved particularly deep, and thinning the chips just leads to excessive breakage when trying to remove them from the mold.
So, we are going to attempt to make some chips using the one 7/8 inch slug mold that exists (the one we use for the 44mm scroll) and then press them as normal. This will almost certainly result in chips that are 19-19.5 in a barrel.
If it works then that will be the option - 7/8 inlay only and fractionally thicker chips.
Until we've done this we have no idea of wastage or other complications so can't estimate any prices.
As we can only do this when we are both 'tooled up' for 44mm and are not needing to use the 44mm scroll mold, we plan to try this out immediately after the 44mm scroll is next in use (August/September). If it works then the mold would go into the production cycle based on demand.
On the 44mm scroll mold - as I mention it will be in use in a few months as we have some committed orders. Demand is low though so we'd like a few more orders
Anyone wanting 44mm Rounders we should (within reason) be able to waive the minimum order requirements if you are sticking to the standard colors. Any orders would have to be confirmed and paid by end of May but an early indication would be very helpful.
The master die and cups for this mold were originally designed to make slightly thicker chips than our others.
A lot of the problems that occurred in the past with the mold were as a result of trying to get the chips down to a regular thickness, even by attempting to use the mold itself to produce the slugs and then using the larger 1 inch inlay.
That method is not a viable option, and neither would be machining the cups in any way. The outer 'ring' in the mold design is engraved particularly deep, and thinning the chips just leads to excessive breakage when trying to remove them from the mold.
So, we are going to attempt to make some chips using the one 7/8 inch slug mold that exists (the one we use for the 44mm scroll) and then press them as normal. This will almost certainly result in chips that are 19-19.5 in a barrel.
If it works then that will be the option - 7/8 inlay only and fractionally thicker chips.
Until we've done this we have no idea of wastage or other complications so can't estimate any prices.
As we can only do this when we are both 'tooled up' for 44mm and are not needing to use the 44mm scroll mold, we plan to try this out immediately after the 44mm scroll is next in use (August/September). If it works then the mold would go into the production cycle based on demand.
On the 44mm scroll mold - as I mention it will be in use in a few months as we have some committed orders. Demand is low though so we'd like a few more orders
Anyone wanting 44mm Rounders we should (within reason) be able to waive the minimum order requirements if you are sticking to the standard colors. Any orders would have to be confirmed and paid by end of May but an early indication would be very helpful.
