Does anyone know what tools are necessary to machine your own shells?

Oysters, clams, scallops, and snails all make nice shells.

What kind of shells?

Coin shells

Milling machine would be nice. And probably the easiest way to go. Not that it would be the cheapest though!

FWIW

Cheers!

Where could I find a milling machine?
And what other techniques are there?

A small lathe can do it, but unless you plan on going into business either machine will cost you more than the best quality shell you can buy.

A Sherline lathe ~$500, same for the mill. Not to mention the skill you would need to aquire. Short answer, yes, you can do it, but it will take you a lot of time to learn.

Mark

Can anyone give me a link to such a machine? Does anyone have any experience in this field? and could I ever pick up a used machine?

The Sherline webpage is here:

http://www.sherline.com/

Another cheaper, if lesser quality is:

http://www.taigtools.com/mwlinks.html

As for used machines there are several on eBay right now.

Not only would you need the machine, but you need the appropriate tooling as well, which can run into a lot of money. There are a lot of props you could manufacture with a lathe and mill, but you must have or acquire metal working skills. If it interests you, I think it could be a lot of fun to manufacture custom coins. There are various dvd tutorials available on ebay, and you can find a lot of information in the two commonly available machining magazines (I am not sure of the titles, though the Barnes and Noble here stocks both of them). Good luck -

Bill

If you have a natural mechanical aptitude, made A s in geometry, able to think in thousandth of an inch, can read a micrometer and understand how to apply it, then pick up the newest copy of The Machinist Handbook and read it’s 1500 plus pages, before you buy any kind of a mill or lathe. If you answered no to even one, it would be to your advantage to enroll in a trade school that teaches milling and lathe use.

Also when you get ready to buy a machine, look at online auctions. There are a lot of them that are put up for sale, by people that thought, it would be easy. Only after investing a great deal of money and time did realize it’s much harder and more complicated than they ever imagined and are trying to recoup a small amount of their investment.

The point I was trying to make was that unless you want another hobby you can buy the best coin gimmicks on the market for far less than a basic machine shop setup. Never mind the skill set needed to manufacture the shells.

My opinion, worth what you paid for it.

Mark

Is there a cheaper way to accomplish a shelled coin?

Yes buy one that is all ready on the market.

Yes.

1. You could buy what you want from someone who has invested money in equipment and time in developing the skills necessary. This would be cheaper, easier, and safer for you.

2. If you had any marketable skills, you could work out a swap with someone who was willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make coin shells and had thus acquired the skills/equipment. I currently need a block wall laid and am willing to make shell coins as a swap. This would cost you nothing. That's right - free coin shells!

3. You could inherit the required equipment and join a local machinists' club for instruction on how to use the machinery.

I'm surprised that some fool on The Magic Café has not suggested using a Dremel tool and described to all of us what wonderful coin shells he has made with this tool!

Paying your dues is the best way to get anything you really want.
Jim

I was thinking the exact same thing.

It sounds like I will be unable to accomplish what I was hoping. I think I might have to buy coin shells and the like, not make my own.

Don't try to re-invent the wheel, as the saying goes, unless you are deep serious in making some kind of commitment to this craft. If there is a particular need, the two well known coin gaff experts we all know, do custom work. If there is a particular coin you want to make into a shell, just acquire the coins of your choice and mail them to be done. Add that personal touch...I recently bought some beautiful old coins on ebay and they are at this moment in the hands of one of these two being machined into gaffs.

Might I ask which one?

Todd Lassen or Jamie Schoolcraft.

Cheers!

Yes, I was curious as to which Coin man he was using.
Does anyone have a preference to which coin man they use?