I am new to this site but not new to cigars. While chatting with a friend about cigars and the prices of ashtrays, he decided to make his own ashtray. After seeing it posted on Facebook and in person, I had a light-bulb turn on. I am just wondering if anyone in the cigar community has any interest in this idea. If you would like to know more about it please feel free to get in touch with me. I have attached a photo of a very basic raw version. If enough people show interest it will be cleaned up and finalized.
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10 bucks at my friendly local tommy bahama store got me a much prettier single ash tray, but cool idea. just a heads up, you may want to go over too the new inmates section and introduce yourself before you start trying to (i assume sell?) these

stearns
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I see what you did there, couple pieces of metal mig welded together. Most people here just use stinkys they are very practical and work in all applications. Only downside is if it is very windy the cigar will fall off the small leaves of the Stinky.

You probably wouldn't have that issue with an ashtray like that. Although you would be cleaning that out every day or two due to the small size.
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Well its a nice idea.

Knip.
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Stearns~introduction is posted, and thanks for the input. I am just looking for feedback on this idea for now. Of course final version will be a lot cleaner and "prettier" looking.

Bill86~ Thanks for the input. I have seen stinky ashrays before and I agree that cigars can fall off of them easily. This is actually a proto-type for holding one cigar. I was thinking it would be good for outside. I am planing on making ones that can hold up to four cigars too.

My goal is to see if there is any interested in an ashtray like this. I am still working on some things with it, such as cleaning it up some and adding color. I will post a finished product when I get it completed.

Again, any interest or comments are welcomed as long as they are in the form of constructive criticism. Thanks for the input.
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You may want to consider making the portion that cradles the cigar a bit smaller so it can be easily picked up and the ash portion a bit bigger to hold more dead soldiers.
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You can't have too many ashtrays. You friends ashtray looks a lot like this one --

Image
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What is the anticipated price point? That would be a major factor in my interest, or lack of it.
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:-)


Different styles of ashtrays appeal to different personalities and situations and the combinations are limtless. I would say go forward with the design, do what you need to with it, clean it up, modify it a bit, make it more aesthetically appealing or whatever you need to do and throw a few out there. They might appeal to someone here, or someone elsewhere. You have nothing to lose but a little bit of time and some metal.:-)

PS: If you're stuck with them, you could always just add some weights to them and use them as bacon presses.
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Icehog~ the anticipated price is around $20 for a single like that to $50 for one that holds four and is gold colored. It just depends on what the costumer would want.

Zappafreak~I was thinking the same thing about making that part a little smaller. Again this is just a rough proto-type of what it could look like.

T.G.~ Bacon press??? Why would someone need to press bacon?:-)
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Single cigar ashtrays can be found for closer to $8 and I am not sure how much 'prettier' you can make welded metal pieces. Good luck with your sale :-)
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You'll probably have to get a good cleaned up version produced before most people can judge if they would buy one. If you're sticking with that size of metal too a 4 leaf one might be a problem to ship for a reasonable cost. You might want to consider weight as well when producing a final product.
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How about as a trowel then?
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For perspective, wanted to show you these two single cigar ashtrays at a price point well below $20. Might make your friend reconsider whether his project would be viable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Single-Cigar-Ash...item564118cdcf

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ashtray-Stainles...item1e5b282ca9
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Thanks for all the input. You all have given me some things to think about with this.
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T.G. - I'm with you on the bacon press. Used to work at a Waffle House. Great dual purpose idea bacon press and ash tray for the 'Mel's Diner' set.
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:-)
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I think it's cool.
If the piece of pipe that holds the cigar was cut in 1/8's so it'd be easier to fish out the cigar, I think that'd help. I don't think I could dig my cigar out of that trough with it being so deep.
I'm assuming they're stainless? It'd look cool once it's all buffed out. :-)
It'd probably look more sleek if you backwelded the inside of the piece of pipe looking up, and cut the plate the same width as the diameter of the pipe. Then you could grind off the points of the plate the same radius of the pipe on all four corners. That'd look really sweet.
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Scott~ thanks for the input. Making the corners the same radius as the pipe would be a great way to make the edges a little softer. Also the piece you are refering to is actually welded on both sides. That being said a lot of the welds just need a good filing to smooth them out a half rounded and round file will clean up those welds nicely.

Don't forget this was done in about 20 minutes by a friend who works at a muffler shop. All I am doing is working with him to get a finished product and pricing done for now. I will keep this updated with pics as I can. When I get a finished product for sale, I will post on here for more input. Thanks for all the input so far. It's been helpful.
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Since it's a circle you won't be able to weld it in a single click, I would just take a small disc grinder and clean it up. If you use a file it could take you quite a while. Just try to keep the bead uniform and a grinder will make quick work of it. Or you could just spot weld it all the way around and it would look MUCH nicer.
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