having plastics made (1 Viewer)

[Jeremy Illingworth]

I was wondering if it is expensive to have small plastic items made in non industrial quantities. I was thinking about something like buttons in quantities with two zeros. Is that possible? Where do I look in the yellow pages?
jeremy

 

[CRyan]

They will ALWAYS have a minimum order (usually a 1000pcs or more). If it is a non-standard item that they have to create a mold for, don't expect it cheap either. They generally will not want to create a mold for something they will only be able to sell to you once.
Search the net. You will be sure to find several places that will do this kind of work. It may be difficult to find such a thing in the yellow pages.
You may be suprised to find the item you are looking for already made and readily available in quantity.
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http://www.elitestoragedesigns.com/RyanOAR.bmp

 

[Eric Scott]

Are you talking about a button with holes to be sewn onto a garment or plastic (coin type) item?

 

[Jeremy Illingworth]

I mean the kind of button that is in the shape of a bowling pin that can sewn onto a (or in this case many) bowling shirt(s).
jeremy

 

[CRyan]

Here is a link for a shirt that has the type of buttons you are looking for. So they make them. No need in paying someone the cash to design and produce such an item. Now to find a place to sell them. You could call of the local fabric stores in town to see if they have any.
http://www.510vintage.com/men's_vintage/men's_pics/loveland_bowling.jpg

 

[CRyan]

Here is one place for wood ones.
http://www.woodbuttons.com/p13.htm

 

[Eric Scott]

This is a link to companies who can produce this item.
Link Removed
You can do additional searches under: Advertising Specialties, Promotional Products, Incentives, plastic novelties. You can look under bowling novelties.
Good Luck
[Edited last by Eric Scott on October 06, 2001 at 11:54 PM]

 

[Neil Joseph]

To answer original question in one word... YES!!!
I was looking at doing the same thing, to get about 100 units but unless you mass produce the items from that mould it is not cost effective.
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[Jeremy Illingworth]

Thanks for the links.
That shirt is an Air Flo with its signature pin buttons. They went out of business in 1969.
The wood ones aren't exactly what I'm looking for (I pretty much want them to look exactly like the Air Flo one) but its the best I've got right now. Thanks.
jeremy

 

[Scott Dill]

This would require a "tool" to be made. Assuming that you have designed the part so that it can be made with a straight pull tool - i.e. no undercuts once the parting line is established. You could have a "soft tool" (capable of making about 100k parts) for about $10,000.
Probably more than you are willing to spend.

 

[Ryan Wright]

You could buy your own mill. This bad boy will cut any shape you want out of plastic. Model it in CAD and "print" as many copies as you want.
Last I checked the equipment was between $800 and $1000.
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-Ryan (http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.