"Like most guitar players I eventually found myself without a guitar pick. In a pinch, I cut them out of materials I had on hand such as plastic lids and expired credit cards. I remember saying to myself, 'there must be an easier way!' So that's when the Pick Punch was born." Von Luhman, Inventor
The Pick Punch® has been available since 2009 but I saw it for the first time recently, when I worked on a post about re-using old credit cards and gift cards. I thought it looked like a genius product, so I wrote to the inventor/owner (Von Luhman) and asked if I could have one to test, then give away to you lovely doodle folk... he said yes! (FYI: Pick Punch® is a local business for me - I consider Indiana local and I'm thrilled to feature them!)
I learned to play acoustic guitar very young and was taught to pick with my fingers. So I've never used a pick myself. However, I know plenty of people who do, and they lose them all the time. For $24.95 this punch pops out a life-time's supply of 1-3/16″ (30mm) tall by 1-1/16″ (25.5mm) wide picks in the standard tear drop shape (351 or Fender shape). Here's what Von told me about the resulting picks:
We make picks here as good as, if not better than, a factory. And you can also make picks from materials that are not sold by the guitar industry, so it's actually better in many ways. You can put left or right handed bevels on our picks unlike factory picks (they tumble them with even bevels).
The punch is exactly what it looks like - a very strong stapler/paper punch. It arrived with a sanding block, which I wasn't sure I'd use but did. In the picture above, I have the yellow card positioned design-side up for the shot. However, if you flip the card over, you can see exactly where the shape will punch out and position it accordingly. Very handy for aesthetic purposes.
The punch works perfectly - cuts through the card with little effort and the resulting pick has a really clean edge that is quickly beveled/perfected with the sanding block. I popped out picks from two gift cards and a credit card. I was done in minutes and had ready-to-wear jewelry in another hour or so (see the tutorial for the guitar-pick earrings and pendant).
I'm as impressed with the Pick Punch® as I hoped to be and excited to send it to a new home! Giveaway opens 12:01 EST Tues, 7/3 and ends Fri, 7/6 at midnight. WINNER announced Sat 7/7. It's easy to score multiple entries and increase your chances of winning - enter below for details... (Open to US residents 18 and older)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Oh.My.Goodness. I want one of those so badly! I am in love with making pick jewelry and no idea one of those existed! With the ability to choose my own image, the possibilities are endless! And ya can't forget about the gifts of personalized picks for all my guitar playing friends :D
ReplyDeleteI have a very good guitar-playing friend with a birthday coming up. I have been wondering what to get him. (He's a hard-to-shop-for type.) This Pick Punch is soooooooooo more than perfect!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I don't make jewelery but this could get me started - I picture a funky bracelet. I love the idea of turning junk into something beautiful. I also might try wall art, a lampshade or chandelier, and maybe even a decorative pillow. Thanks for hosting, Candice!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I don't play but I love guitar pick jewelry!
ReplyDeleteI think making jewelry would be fun
ReplyDeleteI would use this so many ways, and my hubby and son both play the guitar too so we could all use it.
ReplyDeleteThis. Is. Genius.
ReplyDeleteIf it doesn't exist, invent it-- and he did! I am in awe of this wonderful Pick Punch, but more impressed with the fact that the idea was brought to completion by sheer determination. The fact that the punch is built strongly enough to utilize too-easily-tossed materials like used up gift cards is even better.
I repeat: Genius!!!
I would use it to make guitar pick jewelry :-)
ReplyDeleteI plan on using it for scrapbooking and crafts.
ReplyDeleteI would use it to make jewelry, for scrapbooking and other crafts!! This is awesome!
ReplyDeleteTHis may sound strange, but I'm a guitar player... I'm going to make guitar picks from used iTunes gift cards, then play them until they're worn out or until I lose them!
ReplyDeletemake picks for all my friends!
ReplyDeleteHow cool I never knew this existed till now. I would make a braclet or earrings. Your site rocks.
ReplyDeletei think crafts, scrapbooking, jewelry!
ReplyDeleteReally cool product! Love the idea of designing your own guitar picks, not just for playing (which I do) but for design. The picks are the perfect shape for petals in floral designs, which I would love to use when designing cards to friends, accessorizing coffee mugs/plates, or even for wall-art (my cubicle wall could definitely use a makeover!)
ReplyDeleteI would give this to my brother to make his own picks!
ReplyDeleteOh my. I'm going to make guitar picks for my hubby :)
ReplyDeleteMy wife has a few credit cards that I wouldn't mind turning into picks!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting a pick punch for months! I'm always losing guitar picks and I hate throwing out used gift cards!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I'm definitely one of those people who's always losing picks. & i love the idea of kind of being able to 'design' your own pick.
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to make some jewelry with it.
ReplyDeleteI'd love it so that we could make our own picks! We all play guitars.
ReplyDeletebethelderton59 at gmail dot com
I love the idea of making jewelry and decorative items with it! Seems very neat and cool!
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of crafts with my neices and I could think of lots of awesome things to make with this. Thanks for the cool giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI would donate it to the Art teacher at my kids school...the kids of all ages could use it to make different crafts/projects!
ReplyDeleteto make jewelry
ReplyDeleteJadavis42@students.tntech.edu