Making Key Chains

[Chris "The Wood Artist"]

Ok, I'm sure most know this but, I was asked about this today and thought I would post it in here also in case someone didn't know this.
It's a multiple tip thing dealing with making key chains.
First Tip:
You can use the settings on your printer to make the patterns the size needed to make the key chains. I usally make the patterns in full size 8 1/2" X 11 size so I can get all the detail I want to put in the pattern. Then when I go to print it out to cut it, I print it in the wallet or next size up print setting in the windows previewer which shrinks it down to the size of a key chain.
Second Tip:
I have noticed a lot of the scrolled key chains I'm seeing at shows use the chains as the keyholders. I don't like to do it this way. The reason why is it's too easy to break and loose your keys. I use the smallest eye screws that I can use to fit the size of the actually key ring, meaning the smallest size that will still allow for the ring to move freely. I screw the eyescrew in and then attach the ring to it. This way it's more secure to not break and loose keys.

Third Tip:
This isn't actually much of a tip rather than it's an idea. I have been making a lot of Christmas ornaments lately and was asked to make some for a mini tree (table top type) and realized the normal size ornaments wouldn't look right. So, using the First Tip here I took some of my ornaments that were in normal size and shrunk them using that tip and made them and they came out perfecto. Anyways, I thought why not use this idea on key chains. I have made three so far from some of Steve Goode's Halloween Hangers and they sold as fast as I could make them. Cost $3 each to make and I sold them for $10. I have like 20 orders for them and Christmas ones and some of my religious ornaments made. So I guess this is my new working project.

Hope these ideas will help someone out there or give them some ideas to get them cutting. I would post some pictures of them but my camera is broke and in the shop. If I get it back before I sell all of them I'll post some.

[ncsealeveler]

Thanks for the tips.Tony

[wood-n-things]

I print it in the wallet or next size up print setting in the windows previewer which shrinks it down to the size of a key chain.

I have no idea what you are referring to here. What is windows previewer? Wallet size I've Never seen this as an option.

If you use steve's keychain maker program there is no option to save or save as so what you see is what you get.
Now this is not putting down the program. You just have to play with it to find out what size your end product will be when it prints out. It would be really nice for a landscape mode..

Thanks for the tip about the eye screws..That was my solution for the dog bones..works great

[Chris "The Wood Artist"]

I don't use that program to make my key chains. When you right click on a pattern or picture and then click on the print the window that opens up (window veiwer) you should have the options of sizing your print. If not this way cuz it depends on your printer, but you should still have some sort of way to print in for example 4x7, 5x10, so on all the way down to the wallet sizes.

Also, one tip I forgote to include with this. When printing them I usually either make a bunch of copies or a bunch of different patterns per page, meaning each pattern page is one print but when you print more than one page say 2 or 3 different patterns at once, this way you don't waste a full sheet being once you print for example in wallet size my printer will print 9 different patterns in wallet size. So if I don't have 9 different patterns I usually print 9 copies of the same pattern.

I hope this explains this better

[Chris "The Wood Artist"]

I do use his program for the dog bones though. I actually shrink them down and make actual dog tags with them. I use luan and cut dog names and use the tiny eyescrews and then attach them to dog collars for people. I've made a couple so far, mostly for myself, and my dogs and other family members dogs.
If you remember when I first joined this fourm I gave info on how to convert full size patterns to minitures so, you see how I can make such small things easy, I'm use to using the saw for that. I also am trying to think of things that hasn't been made with the scrollsaw or wood yet and see if I can do it. Something different.
Back to the dog tags, I only put the pets name on it as it's small and can't get to many cuts in it as it's also thin.

[Chris "The Wood Artist"]

Mike,
This is for you. Find one of your patterns that are in jpeg and right click on it and then click on print and you should have options in that window on the right side showing print options (full page, 4x6, and so on, or something to that effect). If you don't and have a photo software you can change settings in that. If you don't have any of these and want a pattern shrunk you can use gimp to scale also. And yes you can use Steve's program for this also, well kinda, you print it out then scan it to your computer and then size it or scale it. If you don't have any idea of what I'm talking about, and have say a christmas ornament you want as a key chain pattern you can send it to my email c.lang@cox.net and I'll do it for you.
Or better yet, I'll walk you through this process if you still need it. I'm hoping this explains it for you and others that were confused. Don't feel bad cuz I found out about this idea by accident. I was printing a bunch of patterns into a catalog form and didn't want to use a bunch of paper so was playing around with these settings to get all patterns but not in full size (thumbnails) and well the wallet size made perfect catalog size. It's funny how you find things out huh?

[wood-n-things]

Well,
I figured it out sort of but it does not give me wallet size.
It gives me
small 640x480
medium 800x600
large 1024x768
handheld 240x320
custom which I can make any size I want

[wood-n-things]

However when I right click and click print it does open a program I never knew I had and it does give me those options..Well I'll be!

Will miracles never cease...Thanks I'll play with this until I run out of ink again...LOL

[Chris "The Wood Artist"]

"Will miracles never cease...Thanks I'll play with this until I run out of ink again...LOL "

You should also be able to view it in that window also and even have the option of printing it framed or not .That's why I gave you the instructional the way I did that's how I found it also. When you right click it to print it, it opens it in the windows program when you just click on it, it opens it in the default program you have set up to open those type of files. For example, me when I click on a picture to open it opens in Elements but, when I right click on it, it gives me the options to pick from ie. print, open with another program, even change my default programs for that particular type of file. If you ever decide to make a catalog the wallet size works great. It also works great to take normal size ornaments and hangers and turn them into miniture ones. If you do print them out this way it will save paper and if you do it in draft form it will also save ink and still be ok. I tried the thumbnail one for the catalog but it was too small. Glad to help out.

[Firedkm]

Chris you gave out a lot of useful tips. Thank you!