Post by Shorttime on May 22, 2014 16:36:12 GMT -8
So I figured I'd see if I could find all the parts to make a "Custom Zippo", and what they cost.
I used this as a basic template, since I've seen similar ones around.
Now, this one is a true custom, from Fort Henry Customs. The skull is part of the case, rather than an aftermarket add-on.
Brass Zippo. This one has been stonewashed.
$19.99+ S&H, From Smokey Mountain Knife Works
A pack of 24 skull-themed ear studs from Aliexpress
$32.99+ S&H
Bullet Beadz for Zero Tolerance 0300 series knives.
These are the most expensive part, relative to their size, at $17.00 each from Ebay.
JB Weld to hold it all together
$5.68+ S&H, at Lowe's.com. One pack will easily do fifty lighters, so it costs almost nothing.
Finally, Ferric Chloride to give all of it that "worn look".
$12.00 from Amazon, including S&H. I don't know how many lighters you can etch before it uses up your solution. Brass might etch in vinegar, too.
I don't know what effect the etching solution would have on the JB Weld. You might have to etch each piece, prep the surfaces, then epoxy them.
So, $20 for the lighter, $1.40 for each of the skulls, and $17.00 for the lockbar stabilizer (Can you buy lots of old casings?), gives us just under $40.00 give or take a few for shipping and handling charges. I haven't included the cost of the JB Weld or the Ferric Chloride, because if you do five of these, the costs of those two items falls to practically nothing.
Now, I'm not here to tell anybody what to spend their money on (this time). Prices for stuff like this are largely influenced by what people are willing to pay.
I was just wondering what the "real" cost of a pimped Zippo would be, and thought others might be interested.
I used this as a basic template, since I've seen similar ones around.
Now, this one is a true custom, from Fort Henry Customs. The skull is part of the case, rather than an aftermarket add-on.
Brass Zippo. This one has been stonewashed.
$19.99+ S&H, From Smokey Mountain Knife Works
A pack of 24 skull-themed ear studs from Aliexpress
$32.99+ S&H
Bullet Beadz for Zero Tolerance 0300 series knives.
These are the most expensive part, relative to their size, at $17.00 each from Ebay.
JB Weld to hold it all together
$5.68+ S&H, at Lowe's.com. One pack will easily do fifty lighters, so it costs almost nothing.
Finally, Ferric Chloride to give all of it that "worn look".
$12.00 from Amazon, including S&H. I don't know how many lighters you can etch before it uses up your solution. Brass might etch in vinegar, too.
I don't know what effect the etching solution would have on the JB Weld. You might have to etch each piece, prep the surfaces, then epoxy them.
So, $20 for the lighter, $1.40 for each of the skulls, and $17.00 for the lockbar stabilizer (Can you buy lots of old casings?), gives us just under $40.00 give or take a few for shipping and handling charges. I haven't included the cost of the JB Weld or the Ferric Chloride, because if you do five of these, the costs of those two items falls to practically nothing.
Now, I'm not here to tell anybody what to spend their money on (this time). Prices for stuff like this are largely influenced by what people are willing to pay.
I was just wondering what the "real" cost of a pimped Zippo would be, and thought others might be interested.
