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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Hi all.
I am looking for someone who can build two custom hip flasks for me, ideally in pewter: A Lota one and the other a Lota and Foo can. I know there is already a lota hip flask on the market, but I found the quality really poor and it is small for my needs. Anyone interested in helping me build these or know of someone who builds these kinds of props? Thanks in advance.
Yours,
Ivan |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
There is only 2 people that might be able to do what you desire. John Gagnon and Nick Wenger, that is if they would accept the challenge at all. It will of course be very costly for these gentlemen to take on a project like this, and it will of course take a long tome to develop and create. Concerning our idea of using pewter, that may not be possible as that requires melting and pouring into molds. That would make them very heavy as well. Pewter is not a sheet metal. I don't know if you know what you are asking, as you cannot combine a Lota and foo can in the same container. Well, maybe you could, but it would not work as well for you. This is only my opinion, as I have no idea what you expect.
So contact either of those gentlemen and see what they say, be prepared to have several thousand dollars to invest. |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Thanks a lot Bill for the input. I am totally at a loss when it comes to construction and I wasn't aware how pewter is worked. Although I had a foo can made by a pewter company and although it works 100% I wasn't totally happy with the final outcome as it didn't completely meet my needs. But they could always be made of stainless steel.
Thanks again Bill. Much appreciated. I will continue my search and perhaps try and find alternatives too.
Yours,
Ivan |
Pedro Nieves New user Chicago, IL 52 Posts |
Hello Niva,
It may be easier to find a local craftsman or artisan that already makes hip flasks and present them with the challenge of what you are trying to have made, instead of getting a magical builder to make it. At least with a local craftsman you can visit the workshop, discuss your ideas and learn a little about the process before you have a piece commissioned. This will show you any limitations of the media which you may be unaware off. Another source I've used in the past are local universities with (in your case) a metals department. You can post ads on their local bulletin boards and see if anyone may jump at the opportunity. Very often the older students are looking for ideas for projects to fulfill their requirements and they may welcome the challenge. If you do have this made, I'd love to see pictures! |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Niva, if you had a project previously, then that is the place to go back to, to discuss your project with them. You should take samples of the magic props you are talking about so they know the process and working you are seeking.
What comes to mind for me 1st, is that many metals have been found out that they release toxin's into water and food, that make toxic to humans. So do some research on food metals that may be toxic. You don't wan to poison yourself or others. Very good idea to use stainless steel, but it is one of the most difficult metals to work with. The next difficult thing I see is that you want a very small hip flask, that will be very difficult to work with. Pedro is correct is looking for local craftsman, possibly a tool and dye maker may be able to convert an existing product. The tooling and dyes are the costly factors in your idea, if they have to make a flask from the beginning. So, I think your 1st project is research metals, then get samples of the classic magic props, with this in your hands, start looking up metal machine shops, and try to get an appointment to discuss your ideas. During this, you may be referred to a craftsman that works for one of the shops, or is a retired home metal craftsman. I have not done it, but I know two magicians that this happened to them, one was a neighbor that made custom changes to his metal props, and the other talked to a Trade Show company that make all kinds of custom products for industrial companies. One employee offered his services and made a custom prop for him on a regular basis to sell to the magic community. You just have find the right person that will feel challenged at such an project. Good luck. |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Here is a high caliber craftsman that offers special projects manufacturing.
http://www.magic-wagon.com/Manufacturing.asp |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
My first magician, in 1938, Stanley Susan, used a foo can AS a lota, and it was practical and effective.
I can't imagine, how you would make a hip flask that could "do" two separate "things" (lota and foo can). I think that Bill Hegbli our (resident technician", and Pedro Nieves have given you the best possible responses.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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thomhaha Regular user northfield IL 162 Posts |
Must it be pewter (or other metal) or look like pewter (etc)? If the latter, then perhaps could be designed to produce on a 3-d printer, then painted as metal. Benn thinking of designing my own lota in plastic to be painted like pottery.
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cafecheckers Regular user 126 Posts |
Nick agreed to create two unique props for me. We spoke at length. He seemed to know exactly what I wanted. I paid him $250 and have not heard from him since, despite many attempts. I was concerned something happened to him so I called the police. They informed me that they spoke to Nick’s neighbor (as he did not answer the door and may not have been home) and he said he saw Nick out doing yard work the day before. So sad that these things happen. Not only a loss of money, but it really set me back from being ready to serve my customers as I had anticipated.
Any advice on who else builds custom props would be welcome. |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 29, 2018, thomhaha wrote: Plastic wouldn't work as I need to place alcohol inside.
Yours,
Ivan |
thomhaha Regular user northfield IL 162 Posts |
Quote:
On May 12, 2018, niva wrote: I'm curious why you think using alcohol would precludes using plastic. Found these plans for foo can on Instructables. While it is providing details for plastic printer, the diagrams could be useful to take to your metal worker. https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Magic-Bottle/ |
niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Not sure, but taste might be an issue when storing alcohol inside a plastic container.
Yours,
Ivan |
Wravyn Inner circle 3480 Posts |
What kind of alcohol are you going to be using? Many types of alcohol are sold in plastic bottles now. It is more cost effective than glass and there isn’t any taste issues. Most metal flasks are stainless steel and pewter is only used as decoration on the outside since pewter has a high lead content.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
I will be using Vodka mainly.
I highly doubt plastic used in 3D printing is safe when used to hold alcohol. I may be wrong though, as I am no expert on the matter. Regarding to stainless steel, it leaves a metallic taste in the alcohol. And I meant leadless pewter which is used frequently for Hipflasks and it's the best to hold alcohol for a long time. I researched about this online.
Yours,
Ivan |
imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1336 Posts |
Why not use water? Looks like vodka.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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