Contributing Member JLSleather Posted August 20, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 20, 2016 Too bad there isn't a pattern somewhere, like we could all see it, and then some of these die guys could give us a ball-park idea of the money we'd spend having that made. I mean, say like somebody put up a pattern where we could all look at it, and agreed to the free and fair use of it by anyone, then a die guy could - theoretically - say 'that pattern right there could be done for $Xx in Yy weeks in 11pt steel at x/32" precision. Maybe if somebody had a pattern that came without guarantee, then somebody could produce a 'mock-quote" that came with no guarantee. You know, all ballparky like. Oh, hey... there's that loud bald guy... always givin' away free patterns for somethin'. Maybe we could use ona them. Like..." this design right here would be $49.95 .... " Nah... never happen, right? I'm just dreaming here. Not entirely my fault. I have dies that aren't quite what I drew. I have dies which are very much exactly what I drew, but came dull as a butter knife. They seem to ALL come with a wonderful flowery story Maybe this post will be the last in the thread for a long time (?). Call this an invitation to add something relevant and useful to the discussion. If you have a quote (one not set in stone) then post away. If not, then I guess no answer sometimes is an answer? Personally, I've contacted enough people by now that I simply cannot be bothered with another "contact us for a quote" line. In the time I spent on the phone, I could have cut out 1000 parts with an x-acto ... No, hey,... I 'get' it. Nobody wants to be compared any more. Everybody looks good when they're not standing next to someone else, right? "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
bikermutt07 Posted August 20, 2016 Report Posted August 20, 2016 I don't sell steel rule dies and have no intention of doing so. That said: I decided about a year ago I would like to learn how to make steel rule dies, not the heavy clicker dies. I found a company with a lady that knows her business that helped me along the path of equipment and dies to use in making same. I bought a manual die making machine on e-bay for $300 and have accumulated a few dies. A very high learning curve on what dies you need and what type/hardness of rule you need. After making several I am learning a small bit about making them. Made parts for a purse I made my wife with some I made. Yes, you need a welder but it can be a small unit that runs on 120v. 20Amp ckt. (I use a 30 amp circuit) with a 10 gauge cable I made up. I can do Flux Core wire or gas with solid wire. Beautiful little machine. You need to understand I am supposed to be retired so am also supposed to have more free time and fun. I do have fun but have little to no free time. LOL Ferg I love it when I see a guy with a problem, and he just says I'll make it myself. That's American Greatness right there, folks. I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with. Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day. From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted August 20, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 20, 2016 IN that neck of the woods, " a lady that knows her business " about has to be Sandy. But I don't wanna make dies... did that for enough years (though back then it was tool steel, mills, and surface grinders). I don't ask die makers to make me a belt and holster, and they don't ask me to make the cookie cutters "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Contributing Member Ferg Posted August 20, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 20, 2016 You must have a bad day about every other at least. LOL Not Sandy! I have done/made thousands of things while I was a building contractor for so many years and then as a manufacturer of wood products. Half the equipment in our commercial shop was either made by myself or modified by me. I have an insane desire to learn how to do everything there is to know about everything. No exceptions. I don't worry about what someone happens to make for a living if I can learn to do it I will learn a better way, that is just the way it is. Ferg
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted August 20, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 20, 2016 And yet, still no actual numbers. But then, it is Saturday, after all. "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members whitakermk Posted August 23, 2016 Members Report Posted August 23, 2016 I called Texas Custom Die - and talked to Rachel - she had me email my pencil/pen rough drawing and she emailed me back by the end of the day with pricing for a couple of die ideas I had in mind. A small belt slide holster - with two slots. Real easy stuff. She emailed me back with a price for one die with slots build in and one with out the slots. About 180 for the added slots - essentially a 3 piece die needing a bridge to make everything stay in place. And the one with out slots was about $60 bucks. Shipping was about $10 dollars. She said she could have the die made by one of her artists doing the final art/line art work. Or, I could do it - by bold black line, or via computer. Since I needed exact matching edges on both sides I went for me laying the die line art out on the computer. I emailed them in, she said perfect, I approved them, paid, they showed up at my door in about two weeks or less. Amazing service, very up front pricing, have used the die hundreds of times so far over a couple of months. Hope this info helps. The pricing noted was my exact pricing to the best of my memory - This order was placed late 2015 heading into 2016. Husband, Father, Cookbook author, Culinary Writer, Grilling Guru, Racing Reporter, tech - graphics - custom leather.
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted August 25, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 25, 2016 Actually, I was thinking about numbers from the people who make them. I've talked with that girl, and I'm sure the steep increase in cost is due to "critical" features. Simple enough to make slot punches, but takes a bit more time to ensure they are matched, sized, placed, and parallel. I'm quite picky - I admit it. I expect to pay for what I get. But when I pay, I expect what I asked for. A "bargain" is no bargain if it isn't what I needed, and on the other hand, I'm not paying $75 and up for a circle I could have any first year machinist student make in 15 minutes. Course, it's a little tougher to BS me about some things. I made dies (not clicker dies, but stamping, blanking, forming, drawing dies) before some of these folks wore big boy pants Perhaps you could show us your sketch? Actual size or dimensions not necessary, maybe just a sketch with an overall size -- so we know what cost $60 (ish). As for TxCD, they seem friendly enough, and I DO have and use some of their products. "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted August 25, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 25, 2016 IN fact, I just used a full-size pattern as an example in another thread. Maybe some of these foiks could tell us a ballpark number on this one? http://www.jlsleather.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Gk43_P1.pdf "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members whitakermk Posted August 26, 2016 Members Report Posted August 26, 2016 Can't find the sketch - but I have a picture of one of the finished belt slides. This is the $180 with the slots. Imagine the same thing with no slots for the cheaper version. Basically a rounded rectangle with slots. I went with my own die because I wanted a slightly larger size and shape - was thinking about attached lasers pointers on 380's etc. Husband, Father, Cookbook author, Culinary Writer, Grilling Guru, Racing Reporter, tech - graphics - custom leather.
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted August 26, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted August 26, 2016 Just off the phone with Heather (Tx Cus D) who answered about every question a guy could possibly ever have. And then some. They're making me one, and likely replacing one and repairing one. But I can say that they made dies for me for two sizes of mag pouch -- I think 3 or was it 4 variations? - which all work quite well. ONE of those questions... yes, they DO make dies which cut on both edges (top / bottom). There is a bit of an increased cost, but for items which use a matched left and right (or front and back) this is money well spent. Beyond that, give 'em a call and they can tell you what you need. "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
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