Geocaching Wooden Nickles

Ordering custom wooden nickles cost around 50cents each on line, most companies have a minimum amount to order, and they charge a set up fee.  But if you make your own it cost less than 20cents each to make.

All you need is a computer with a photo shop software, or paint, a photo copy from a print shop (like office depot), scissors, NON poly nylon paint brush, Acetone (NOT nail polish remover), glass jar with a lid, wooden disk, and polyurethane and another paint brush, or clear nail polish.

design the picture you want on you coin, making sure it will fit on the coin.  Mirror the image.  Black and White simple clip art works best.   Color does work, but is hard to make it turn out right.  So I always stick with just black and white.  After you get a design you like, I copy it and make as many as I can fit onto one page then print it out.  I can fit 6 across and 8 down.  IF YOU HAVE A LASER PRINTER YOU CAN SKIP THE NEXT STEP.  IF YOU HAVE AN INK JET PRINTER GO TO THE NEXT STEP.

Go to the photo copy store and have them copy it on their printer.  Which is a laser print.  Don't make too many as the older the copies don't work well.  The ink gets too dry and won't transfer.

Cut your pictures out.

Pour some acid tone into the jar.  Dip you brush into the acid tone then put the lid back on the jar.  Then brush some acid tone onto the coin.
(acid tone evaporates faster than rubbing alcohol!) 

Place your cut out onto the coin you just brushed with acid tone, Then brush the back of the paper with the brush, to add acid tone to the back of the paper.

Take the handle of the brush and burnish (rub hard) the paper, making sure not to let the paper slip, until the paper dries.  Takes about a minute, or less.

Peel the paper off right away, or it will become permanently on there.

If you want a 2 sided coin repeat steps 4-8 on the other side, AFTER WAITING ABOUT 2 OR 3 MINUTES FOR THE ACID TONE TO DRY.

This step is optional, but will make your coins last longer, lastly paint a couple coats of polyurethane clear coat or clear nail polish to seal your coin.  I hope you enjoy your new coins, and happy caching!