Subtletanks91 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 So I've been toying around with the idea of making a line of tools. We all know the stainless steel tools are on the market, and that even some of the higher end brands rust out claiming to be stainless steel. (My ebi kin stainless steel spring scissors rusted at the scissor part after first use) So I was thinking, why not make tools out of another material, it will be kind of tough because I don't have a shop, all I have are some power tools (I.e. Drill skill saw grinder air compressor and attachments) and a crap load of hand tools. Why not try to make tools out of wood, glass, or acrylic? We all know they would never rust, retain sharpness, and be cheaper to make than steel products. With the wood it would need to be water proofed I was thinking with a thin layer of epoxy coating that way the endge wouldn't dull out or get dented, even though in aquatic applications that shouldn't happen. Glass, now that's a tough one, you can only cut glass with a glass cutter, you can't blow or melt glass very easily, and you can't really gain an edge on it for scissors. It may be too brittle to use as well. But acrylic, sturdy, won't loose its edge, won't break from drops, doesn't need an epoxy coating. Easy to cut and sand compared to glass, but is cheap to get bulk amount of material, I.e. One square foot should make about 5-10 pairs of scissors. What do you guys think? I offer bamboo tweezers in sale thread now and that's what kinda got me on this mind boggle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
featherblue Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Do you have access to a laser engraver/cutting unit? Ive been using my dads to make wood hat pins n other novelties. ...and the model does acrylic up to 1/2" as well. If you can create the design in cad, the burner will cut scissors or a tong out. A little time with the sanding belt and they could be nice sharp scissors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtletanks91 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 How much did that cost? I don't have access to one. But would love to get one. Or does yours cut acrylics as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 you could also make a protoype and then have a large order made up I would think 1 idea with the acrylic would be to have replaceable blades, something like two plain razor blades that screw into the acrylic handles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Check this out: http://www.shapeways.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtletanks91 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I don't understand the website? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
featherblue Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 The laser burners aren't cheap, I think it was $3500.....but this one does thin acrylic (up to 3/8" I think). We've made a few wood working jigs out of 1/4" acrylic for ring boxes and chess pieces. Might be able to try a set of scissors next time im fighting with cad I think that shapeways website is for a company offering either 3d printing or another manufacturing tech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 yeah, it offers 3-d printing out of a variety of materials. You design it and send them the file to print. Everything from plastic to aluminum.to ceramic is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtletanks91 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Any idea of how much cost wise it is for the 3d printing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtletanks91 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Yeah I red through the materials and they don't have solid acrylic, it's an acrylic based material. I wish I had access to a laser cutting machine or burner of some sort. Or even to make something like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wicca32 Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 i got surgical tweesers lol they dont rust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtletanks91 Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 They say they don't rust but at one point in there life they will most likely rust. I was super surprised when my ebi ken spring scissors had rusted after only one use. It's not bad, but it still rusted non the less, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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