Saturday, March 07, 2009

BigShot

Well this project has been a long time in the making. I first thought about making these about two years ago and it has been a very long road indeed. After a lot of pestering of my machine shop buddy and fiddling around I finally managed to get a proto done last year but it turned out to be a dissapointment. The shape wasn't quite right and the piece was incredibly heavy and a little tippy. I also wasn't happy with the way the knurl was going to be done.

So, back to the drawing board I went. After a good bit of deliberation I decided to go with my whistles as the basis for the design and make it a simple cylinder with beautiful knurling. Well this week I spent several days at the shop watching the machine set up and tweaking the final shape and design. The result is super clean and functional and I'm extremely happy with the proto that was finished yesterday.

BigShots are made of solid 2 inch diameter 303 stainless steel bar stock. Absolutely massive yet we also managed to give them a decent sense of balance in the hand. The capacity of the finished cup is 3 fl oz (85ml) (same size as a brewpub sampler glass) and they weigh in at a hefty 7.5 ozs (213g). LOL, this is a drinking cup that will put muscle in your forearm... just big enough for an ice cube or two and a splash of your favorite libation. Use it as a juice glass, an office paperweight or the manliest bathroom cup ever. :p :D

One thing is for sure, I absolutely guarantee that you will never break it and it will indeed last forever. These babies are truly monolithic!

The only version available for now will be the one pictured below. This knurl looks the best of the three available to me. Up the road who knows but this is what we will do for now.

The BigShots are ready to start in production today or Monday. Not sure yet of their schedule at the shop but it looks like I will have finished pieces by the end of this week coming. I will just have to do a name stamp and run them through the dishwasher and they will be ready to go. The price will be $47 each plus shipping and it will be a general release sale, probably a couple of sales and I will have plenty of extras if people email me.

I can always do a second run later but I'd like to try to get the production number close the first time because these are costing me a small fortune to make. So if those of you who are interested would help me out by signing up below I'd really appreciate it and it will give me some idea of what to shoot for. Thanks. :)

BigShot List is Closed. Will be doing a general release once I make it through the current list. Probably will be in late May for a general release sale. Thanks folks!





60 comments:

Neale said...

Wow, fantastic. I'd actually like a set of 2. Homerun.

Unknown said...

This is a neat idea. Especially for a shot glass collector.

Will you have your Atwood Logo engraved/stamped on the glass?

RGM said...

Yowza Peter looks amazing!

Anonymous said...

You should include a qty field on your signup link. Something that beautiful shouldn't be a singleton -- I'll want two!

Looking forward to holding one in my hands.

Peter Atwood said...

Thanks! :)

Yes, my stamp will be on the bottom and I may also hallmark them. I have to make a holder stake for the anvil out of G10 on Monday so I can do the stamp without marking up the cup.

Rick said...

Wow, those came out looking incredible and about $100 less than I was expecting. YES! ;D

Exit14a said...

Rick I was thinking the same thing,
Very much a bargain on these considering the amount of ballbreaking it must take to get a project like this done.
Way to go Peter!

Unknown said...

That's neat just can't think of anything I'd use it for and I'd always be worried it'd rust. Now make it 32oz and out of Ti and i could drink out of it. :^)

I still kind of want one, maybe use it as a pen holder? I don't know.

Peter Atwood said...

Well we're up to about 60 already so I'm highly encouraged. :) I'll be leaving this up for a few days...thanks everyone!

Stewart M Schwartz said...

peter,how about a 16-20 oz.,summer coming, iced tea

Peter Atwood said...

303 stainless steel will never rust. When I say these are built to last forever I do mean FOREVER. I fully expect these to last for thousands of years.

Peter Atwood said...

16 oz? Dude this thing weighs nearly a half a pound already!! :P :D LOL, you could not make a solid metal cup any bigger and still have it comfortable to lift to your mouth, trust me.

Anonymous said...

Peter,

I'm not that familiar with the coin sizes in the US, so could you give me a metric ballpark of the size? Thanks!

Rick said...

I wish I would last a 1000 years. Then I could really enjoy this thing! I hope I last long enough to at least hold this in my hands. :D

Unknown said...

Well if you say it'll last forever I guess I'm in. Maybe between now and the end of time I can find a good use for them. But really want a set of 2

Peter Atwood said...

Sure, a US quarter is 24.mm in diameter.

The BigShot is 63.5mm tall and 50.8mm in diameter. Wall thickness of the cup at the knurl is 2.5 mm. Capacity is 85ml (about three full shots) and weight is 213 grams.

codec said...

These look great!

phoenix stu said...

Fabulous Peter. Those look marvelous. Just signed up.

Can't wait. Just a quick question. I know you say there should be plenty however, will those who signed up are basically get a first dibs on type of thing and the rest sell to everyone else? Or will we still have to beat the clock to get it when you post it? Just curious.

Thanks Peter.

beardy said...

Hi Peter, I just signed up. This is a great product that really rounds out your line up. Now, put a hex bottle opener on it and it will really have the Atwood style! LOL.

Keep up the great work!
~beardy

Peter Atwood said...

Stu, however many are on the list that's what I will make plus an extra 50 or 100. I do think there will be plenty of these to go around. I will release them via a couple of general release sales but if anyone misses a sale just email me and I will be keeping a bunch in reserve. I do this for all regular sales you know guys... ;)

So far we are up to 100 interested folks and several have indicated they want more than 1 and a couple of people want even as many as 6. Folks either signed up twice or put the number next to their name...

One other approach I may do is to try to cross check the list of who actually buys against the list here. Potentially I might try to send out emails to the folks who missed or passed on the sale. We'll see... One way or other I'll do my best to make sure anyone who wants one can get one.

Belush 2 said...

Hello Peter,
Thanks again for all the hard work! You have impressed us all once again. Your fans Love You!...Not to push this stubborn task further but...are you making any with some funky finishes? Any colors (bronze, tropical, ice blue) or any patterns (honeycomb, high voltage, snakeskin)? Or are only Ti pieces anodized?

Peter Atwood said...

Thanks. :)

Right now this is the only variation that will be made. That could change but I think we're sticking with just this one as far as I know.

You cannot anodize steel, only ti. I can't pattern round objects because my patterns that I use will not conform to the shape. Plus, the whole point here is to show off the toolish-machine-part quality of the vessel.

Belush 2 said...

Thanks again for the info!!

You always work hard to give us the best!!

Keep up the Great Work!!

Jerry said...

Well it's a gotta have....looks great. I need a little exercise when imbibing :)

KFE said...

Wow, these look really cool. Not a big drinker, but what the heck...I signed up for one

phoenix stu said...

Thanks for the info Peter.

Looking forward to it. :D You ROCK!!!

Anonymous said...

Oooh the thought of it having a hallmark in addition to your logo sounds awesome...Now the million dollar question is what will the hallmark be? I'll be happy with anything :).

Anonymous said...

Great concept; beautiful work! At that weight I will have to reinforce my pocket ;)

Anonymous said...

I wanted it with the cross-hatch knurling. I never even liked the diagonal knurling on the whistles to begin with.

spiff said...

how about some w/ a screw-on cap?
double as a storage capsule.

Anonymous said...

Atwood FLASK! Please! This is such a great entry level item.

phoenix stu said...

[quote]I wanted it with the cross-hatch knurling. I never even liked the diagonal knurling on the whistles to begin with.[/quote]

Dude, you don't have to buy it. If you don't have something good to say why bother at all.

Peter busts his butt to put out quality tools and such. Don't complain. You aren't the one making it and this isn't burger king. :(

knifenut said...

Well said stu!

Belush 2 said...

OMG!...I thought I was stretching with my question!

Stu, well put & well said!

?Anonymous? no scratching allowed...try tucking in your teeth...especially if you think you can lift a BigShot!

P.S. Get a name..you can still use the letter "A"

Peter Atwood said...

It's OK, this item will not appeal to everyone and everyone can have their own opinion. At the moment this is the only design that is planned but up the road who knows. :)

Unknown said...

Hey,
Great job, it looks fantastic. I would like two also.

phoenix stu said...

Yeah, I know Peter. It just burns me that some people have no appreciation.

jsmitty1967 said...

This looks like a fabulous piece of barware/tool. More than I need to be spending right now, but I have a bottle of 15yr Pappy Van Winkle that would be missing out if I didn't! Peter I applaud your attention to detail and craftsmanship!

DB said...

Can't wait Peter! I have a virgin bottle of Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21yr single malt that's waiting for it's first pour into one of these... :D

...just have to figure out where to put the trit now. :p

Firas said...

Have any plans for an Atwood shot glass or flask? Those would be amazing!

indabayou said...

MR ATWOOD,
ON 3-08-09 I asked if you would put me down for 1 BIGSHOT glass,however after my wife saw one,she wants one too.So if it's not too late please put me down for 2. THANK YOU indabayou

QVolve said...

Looks like I'm gonna have to shelve the Guinness for a bit. I was really looking forward to the matching 10lb pint glass for the manliest Irish Car Bomb ever, but that's probably best left to dreams..

Still, great work and can't wait to be sipping out of one of these!

Unknown said...

who needs ice, just pop it in the freezer.

Ted said...

Hi Peter:

What effect, if any, will 303 stainless have on the liquid? The design is awesome and I would really like to have a pair, but I don't want it to negatively affect the taste of a fine single malt.

Thanks,

Ted

Anonymous said...

Peter - loving the work.

Just a quick question, what would shipping be for 2 bigshots to London, England?
Thanks in advance!

Peter Atwood said...

Ted, it's a metal cup so there is a slight metallic smell especially when new. I have not noticed any effect on taste so far.

Not sure yet what international shipping will run. They should probably go via Express Mail but I have not been able to find out yet how much it will cost especially if it is over a pound in weight. Will find out soon.

yy said...

any future plan for a Ti Bigshot? @@

Aaron said...

I would think that it takes a big piece of metal with a lot of it removed to make one of these. It would probably make the raw material cost extremely expensive to do this in ti. Not that it wouldn't be exceptionally cool.

Peter Atwood said...

You better believe it. I'm sure the ti alone would cost a couple hundred bucks just for one piece and to be honest I'm not sure you can buy 2 inch bar without a license since they use it in nuclear applications.

Retired said...

Can the cup have lines on the inside to show each ounce?

Peter Atwood said...

No, I'm sorry but I can't do line measurements in these.

Dead Elvis Scooter Club said...

Beautiful, simple, everlasting. I shall sip bourbon with friends, remembering days gone by and enjoying those to come.
I shall take two, please.

LB said...

im stoked about this cup, and even my girl is wanting one now. and she was making fun of me for wanting a "special shot glass"

kawasemi said...

Hi Peter,

Sorry to hijack the blog but has anyone noticed 'Shupples' on ebay? He is currently selling three Ringthings on ebay. Does this go against your policy? I would have loved a green one but they were 'sold out' - only to find them being flipped on the bay of evil.

Peter Atwood said...

No, that's OK.

How many times do I have to say it? If someone wants to flip some pieces and they put stuff on Ebay it is absolutely 100% OK with me. If someone buys stuff in every sale I have and each time the following week the item appears on Ebay that is not OK. See the difference?

If Joe Blow sells his Sharktooth he bought last year on Ebay or the forums it's fine by me. But when people show a pattern week after week of buying with the sole intention of flipping on Ebay or the forums that's when I get testy. Is it impossible to enforce? Probably. But it's called scalping when it's an immediate flip like that and if it happens over and over I will contact the person if I can figure out who it is and ask them not to do it. Simple as that.

Peter Atwood said...

One more thing, with the tough economy right now I am especially inclined to give folks the benefit of the doubt. If you are having to sell your stuff because you're hard up for cash I feel for you and I wish the very best...hope your situation gets back on firm footing very soon!

I also want to add that I have plenty of rings in stock if anyone wants one. Just because I take something off the sale doesn't mean I'm out of them necessarily. In the case of rings I have another wave of them to finish eventually and a few left over from that last sale right now.

kawasemi said...

Thanks Peter, sorry I stirred things up again

Peter Atwood said...

Supposedly tomorrow which would make for Friday and Saturday sales. Shot glasses will probably take much longer than I had previously thought because they are quite slow to run. Hopefully by middle or end of next week on those...don't worry though, there is a ton of other stuff just about here.

Unknown said...

If there is a modder out there who would be able to offer me the service of engraving accurate measurement markings on the inside of these, please be in touch on USN or EDCF. :-)

KenMonster said...

Well, I am once again blown away by Peter's ambitious design work. For the guys asking for larger metal cups, Snow Peak makes some very fine Ti single and double wall cups both with and without handles. Nothing this small and industrial looking though. I look forward to procuring one of these eventually