[Geert van der Veen]

Hi,
Apologies if this is not the right forum for this question.

Does anyone know how to print one's own designs onto plastic guitar picks?

Is there any kind of process to do this which is relatively cheap, safe, and durable?

I can do the designs in a vector or raster-based programme/app, but then I am stuck about how I would go about transferring the designs to the picks, and what hardware, chemicals and so on I might need.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Budda]

People just pay companies to print their logo etc.

 

[Guest]

Use decal transfer paper and clear coat it on?

 

[Mooh]

I failed utterly and completely when I tried this, but discovered EGOpicks and they've done my business and promotional picks for years (though I mostly use Bluechips myself).

Custom Guitar Picks, Drum Sticks, Hand Stamped, Digitally Printed

Awesome service and product, fast and friendly.

 

[knight_yyz]

Buy one of these, make your own plastic

 

[Geert van der Veen]

I failed utterly and completely when I tried this, but discovered EGOpicks and they've done my business and promotional picks for years (though I mostly use Bluechips myself).

Custom Guitar Picks, Drum Sticks, Hand Stamped, Digitally Printed

Awesome service and product, fast and friendly.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the replies, and Mooh - many thanks to you in particular for the link and letting me know about EGO Picks, and for mentioning that they are reliable and friendly and provide fast service.

 

[DaddyDog]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the replies, and Mooh - many thanks to you in particular for the link and letting me know about EGO Picks, and for mentioning that they are reliable and friendly and provide fast service.

I've also used EGO Picks more than once. Terrific source, out of Winnipeg.

 

[DaddyDog]

Buy one of these, make your own plastic

A buddy got one of those, and the picks from it scratched the hell out of my pick guard. I'll never use one again.

 

[CathodeRay]

Use decal transfer paper and clear coat it on?

[Off topic, not about picks but transfer paper - apologies.]
@laristotle I gotta know what if any blank transfer paper you have experience with; I've tried out "waterslide" types for my custom pedal artwork, and it's messy.
Got any suggestions?

 

[knight_yyz]

@Ray Cathode . print on normal paper and use a medium on your pedal. Liquitex Gel, Gesso, Acrylic poly etc. Press the paper to the medium and let it dry. use a wet rag to gently rub the paper away after the medium is fully dry. The ink is left on the metal. Tons of youtube videos out there

 

[Guest]

I've tried out "waterslide" types for my custom pedal artwork, and it's messy.
Got any suggestions?

Waterslide is what I've used.
By messy, do you mean the ink runs? If so, you have to clear coat that prior to dipping the decal into the water.

 

[Geert van der Veen]

I've also used EGO Picks more than once. Terrific source, out of Winnipeg.

Thanks, DaddyDog,
Good to have another satisfied customer adding to how good EGO Picks are.

Nice, also, to know that they are Canadian.

 

[troyhead]

Buy one of these, make your own plastic

A buddy got one of those, and the picks from it scratched the hell out of my pick guard. I'll never use one again.

This isn’t what the OP was recalling looking for, but I do have one of these and they are kind of fun. You have to file down the edges of the picks to make them smooth, otherwise they aren’t even comfortable to hold.

For the record, I found that most credit cards and gift cards make terrible picks. The only ones I liked were the glossy gift cards from Starbucks, which makes a decent “medium” pick (the matte cards didn’t feel right to me).

 

[Milkman]

About every couple of years (used to be more frequent when I was gigging) I buy a gross of picks with my name imprinted on them.

I think they’re around .88 (pretty stiff).

It’s nice to always have the right pick at hand.

And, you know you’re nobody when people find them lying around and give them back to you, LOL.

 

[Geert van der Veen]

Hey troyhead and Milkman,
Thanks for the replies.

troyhead, like you, I do not like picks made from old credit cards. I made several as an experiment a couple of months ago, and did not like them, but I can imagine that the Starbucks gift cards you mentioned would be better for this.

 

[CathodeRay]

@Ray Cathode . print on normal paper and use a medium on your pedal. Liquitex Gel, Gesso, Acrylic poly etc. Press the paper to the medium and let it dry. use a wet rag to gently rub the paper away after the medium is fully dry. The ink is left on the metal. Tons of youtube videos out there

I'll give it a try. Thanks.

 

[troyhead]

@Geert van der Veen The Starbucks cards thing was kind of fun, but they are a lot of work and I’ve been trying stiffer picks recently. I might actually go for some of those Ego picks, just for fun!

 

[CathodeRay]

Waterslide is what I've used.
By messy, do you mean the ink runs? If so, you have to clear coat that prior to dipping the decal into the water.

No ink runs, but messy getting it to stick consistently, and reticulation on clear coating.
I used this.

 

[Guest]

It may be the paper?
I used Testors.

 

[Hammerhands]

Do you need 800 picks?

Custom Picks