Looks good so far.
Just a partial run on a piece of oak. I think the concept will work. Will have to locate s
ome beech for production, though poplar might work. Right now just for gifts. Project gifts. Recipient can split, paint, finish.
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I’m going to do a cherry test run later in the week. Also a nice, tight grain.
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Are you going to epoxy fill the pips?
A friend of mine went to Texas A&M and graduated in 1965. In those days TAMU was all men and everyone was in the core of cadets. Bryan/College Station were very small towns then and his classmates only amusement was playing 42. He was tried to get people to play but just cannot drum up enough interest to keep it going. There are many people that love to play dominoes but my friend just cannot find them. Good luck making dominoes.
My family does Mexican Train. Popular in this area.
The plan is to drill the pips last, after covering the inset with a piece of painter’s tape. Then the owner can paint the per taste.
I don’t this this is a marketable item. Not at this point. But it’s a really good item for skill development. I’m figuring out tolerances for best results with different woods…
From experience trying to market woodworking is not easy. With the proliferation of cheap junk at Walmart people do not see the value in handmade stuff. There are niche markets but by in large selling woodworking is not easy. I prefer to make things I want to make and if some of them sell ok but if they dont ok. I think you are right about dominoes not being very marketable when you can buy dominoes on Amazon for $10.00-$50.00. If your time is worth anything just sitting down and designing you have more than $50.00 invested in time. Some people find markets but my advise is to make what you want and enjoy it.
Agreed. A better gift item.
Well…as a guy who makes his (albeit retired) living building furniture and custom woodwork…I want to disagree a bit. If you think your competition is IKEA or Walmart, of even Wayfair, then yes, you will struggle. But if you’re making unique, custom pieces that people see as “art with function”, bespoke pieces that fit a specific need (size, function, aesthetic, etc.), you can find plenty of folks who will pay for something “different”, custom-fit, and not “store-bought”.
If you made your dominos a bit more colorful (why I asked about epoxy pips), or artistically beautiful, or playing to a particular interest (pips that are racecars, or puppies, or bowties) - your competition will not be the black and white Puremco tiles (which can go for as much as $65 a set). Could you invest $7 in a set of 200 tiny magnets that you could embed in the back of the tiles to make 10 sets in a travel edition?
The time invested to design and work out the kinks, is a one-time investment that you will effectively amortize across every set you sell… So, base the “cost of startup” on your anticipated sales volume and figure out if it’s worth it to you.
- Gary
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Interesting.
I had in mind maybe doing a custom logo on the back for businesses (or high-end consumers). Custom orders. Again appealing to the custom market.
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There is a couple of groups that play here just over the Texas line. They have tournaments and 42 night every week in the school months. They have asked me to play but not sure I will. Might be fun however. I have been thinking of making some out of aluminum but have not had the time yet.
I agree with you Gary. I make wooden children’s toys and other items that I sell. I also do custom work as contracted. I’m also retired and I don’t need a support income. I make enough off my sales to buy more wood and woodworking equipment. Putting a smile on a child’s face is enough reward for me.
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I turned professional (some 28 years ago) because I needed to support my equipment-habit. I fully get that business driver! 
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