Router To Make Rolodex Cards

You might try sandwiching the cards tightly between two pieces of wood
and then using a drill press.
Andy

alan wrote:
> I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, eight on a page. I want to
> print on them or just plain card stock, laminate them with a gbc hot
> gbk laminator but then I need to cut out the rolodex holes.

How about a hole punch?

Chris

Fri, Jan 13, 2006, 5:28pm [email protected] (alan) doth want to know:
I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, <snip> I'd rather do it
myself so that I have some flexabilty and can easily make changes.

You want to get a drill press, only for drilling holes in these
thingies? It'd be cheaper to get a punch you could whack with a hammer,
and punch your holes.
Probably easier, and faster, too.

You want to laminate these things. Then figure you can make
change? How? By re-laminating them after?

Why even bother in the first place? I've never seen one worn out
from handling them, yet.

Never mind. I don't really care.



JOAT
You'll never get anywhere if you believe what you "hear".
What do you "know"?
- Granny Weatherwax

On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 14:34:25 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:

What about a template over it? I would print them as 4 rows & 2
across so each set (leading edge) would have 4 holes, two for each
card on the leading edge, then I'd cut the row and have another
leading edge.

If the template can work, I can clamp the template over the cards but
then, what kind of router bit or even what kind of router could work
best. Plus, i need a bit that would cut through about 25 laminated
cards. laminated with a hot GBC machine. However, the laminate is
thin but I wonder if it acumulates and gets in the way after it is
cut. Also, with using a template make a clean edge?

So, you see some ot the probems. I am beginning to think a punch would
be a good thing but it cannot spin, as it isn't a circle, as you
indicated also. So what would put that constant pressure on that
would create a clean cut. Would a dremmel router be better?



>
>"Michael Beacom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> You might want to take a short piece of metal tube, cut it square, and
>> sharpen the end. (put the bevel on the inside) Put a bit of doweling in
>> the other end, so the drill press chuck doesn't crush the tube. Add a
>> clamp to hold the stock in place, and this pretty much duplicates the
>> heavy duty hole punch in the print shop at work.
>
>That would work if he wanted round holes Rolodex has a slot and rectangular
>hole, more like a keyhole shape. It may work as well being round, but you
>still need a slot. Maybe a round hole and a couple of scroll saw cuts to
>make the slot..
>

Dremel tool with a carbide cutter bit

John

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:52:40 -0600, Chris Friesen
<[email protected]> wrote:

>alan wrote:
>> I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, eight on a page. I want to
>> print on them or just plain card stock, laminate them with a gbc hot
>> gbk laminator but then I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>
>How about a hole punch?
>
>Chris

Hey Wilson, thanks for looking but I've seen that one thousands of
times. That's a little hand punch to punch the rolodex slots in
business cards, not anything laminated and it certainly couldn't do
more than one at a time.

I was quoted prices up to $1,000.00 for 1,000 cards but I found a
site today www.koolprint.com where they do 4 color custom cards for
$239 with no shipping in the US and they seem to be really nice.

I was really conceerned about doing this myself and when I thought of
the laminate shards, if you will, getting in the way of whatever
cutting method I chose, I was glad I found a reasonably priced way to
do it.

Thank you all for your help!!

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 15:24:32 GMT, "Wilson" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I WIN!!
>http://www.cleansweepsupply.com/pages/skugroup1518.html
>Wilson
>
>
>"Wilson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I'd bet 25 cents there is apunch for this.
>> Wilson
>> "Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:28:26 -0500, alan <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>>>>
>>>>Any easy ideas.
>>>
>>> I did this once (not Rolodex, but close) and used a powered scroll saw.
>>> The trick its to clamp the stack together _very_ tightly first - this
>>> avoids edges fraying. I used two bits of thin plywood with bolts
>>> through from top to bottom (countersunk heads on the bottom). This
>>> plywood had a small cut-out in it around the slot, about 1/8" away from
>>> the cut line. I also had two or three scrap cards placed on top and
>>> bottom of the stack, under the ply (the top card was also my cut-line
>>> template).
>>
>>
>

Hi Ed,

Your name looks so familiar. Have you been on this newsgroup for a
long time? The first time I came on was in the mid 90s.

Anyway, you are correct, the shape is a problem, that's why I thought
of the router.

I ended up ordering the cards but I still needed some until they
came. So I laminated 10 sets of eight. Cutting one at a time was
pretty easy with the paper cutter and got faster each time.

I bought the business card punch like someone suggested on here but
that is really for business cards which are shorter than Rolodex cards
so the punch doesn't go as high to keep the business card at the same
level as the Rolodex cards. You could move the card lower but that
was nearly impossible as there were no guides to keep the slippery
laminated card in place. If in fact it was designed for unpunched
Rolodex cards, it would have worked fine. I tried a scissor,
utility knife and an Exacto knife in a scoring movement. Staying
straight was impossible.

Finally I decided to try to force the Exacto down into the laminated
card and that actually worked pretty well and fast and you could
control the length of the cut by how for the hypotenuse (I never
thought I'd ever use that world again) sunk into the card. It even
worked for the angle coming up from the slot. I would never do a
thousand like that but 80 wasn't bad. What a perfect time to do
something like that in between plays for the two conference
championship football games this weekend.

However, I still think there must be a better answer. I have a
feeling that the slots could be cut by a scroll saw or that Rotozip or
Dremel that some one suggested. I saw a Straight Cut Router Bit on
the Rotozip website but I have no idea what that is other than a bit
that makes clean cuts. Maybe a very thin drill bit for the corners
and then the Roto-zip. It's a shame Rolodex doesn't make a punch for
their cards, the same way they make one for the business cards. With
a punch like that I could probably do 500 during a football game if
the guides were substantial and allowed you to mindlessly put the
unpunched card into the punch.

Maybe someone from Rolodex will see this and make a punch like that. I
will try to send this discussion to the CEO of whatever company owns
Rolodex now.

Thanks,

Alan


On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 14:34:25 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Michael Beacom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> You might want to take a short piece of metal tube, cut it square, and
>> sharpen the end. (put the bevel on the inside) Put a bit of doweling in
>> the other end, so the drill press chuck doesn't crush the tube. Add a
>> clamp to hold the stock in place, and this pretty much duplicates the
>> heavy duty hole punch in the print shop at work.
>
>That would work if he wanted round holes Rolodex has a slot and rectangular
>hole, more like a keyhole shape. It may work as well being round, but you
>still need a slot. Maybe a round hole and a couple of scroll saw cuts to
>make the slot..
>

I'd bet 25 cents there is apunch for this.
Wilson
"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:28:26 -0500, alan <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>>
>>Any easy ideas.
>
> I did this once (not Rolodex, but close) and used a powered scroll saw.
> The trick its to clamp the stack together _very_ tightly first - this
> avoids edges fraying. I used two bits of thin plywood with bolts
> through from top to bottom (countersunk heads on the bottom). This
> plywood had a small cut-out in it around the slot, about 1/8" away from
> the cut line. I also had two or three scrap cards placed on top and
> bottom of the stack, under the ply (the top card was also my cut-line
> template).

I WIN!!
http://www.cleansweepsupply.com/pages/skugroup1518.html
Wilson


"Wilson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd bet 25 cents there is apunch for this.
> Wilson
> "Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:28:26 -0500, alan <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>>>
>>>Any easy ideas.
>>
>> I did this once (not Rolodex, but close) and used a powered scroll saw.
>> The trick its to clamp the stack together _very_ tightly first - this
>> avoids edges fraying. I used two bits of thin plywood with bolts
>> through from top to bottom (countersunk heads on the bottom). This
>> plywood had a small cut-out in it around the slot, about 1/8" away from
>> the cut line. I also had two or three scrap cards placed on top and
>> bottom of the stack, under the ply (the top card was also my cut-line
>> template).
>
>

"Michael Beacom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> You might want to take a short piece of metal tube, cut it square, and
> sharpen the end. (put the bevel on the inside) Put a bit of doweling in
> the other end, so the drill press chuck doesn't crush the tube. Add a
> clamp to hold the stock in place, and this pretty much duplicates the
> heavy duty hole punch in the print shop at work.

That would work if he wanted round holes Rolodex has a slot and rectangular
hole, more like a keyhole shape. It may work as well being round, but you
still need a slot. Maybe a round hole and a couple of scroll saw cuts to
make the slot..

alan wrote:
> I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, eight on a page. I want to
> print on them or just plain card stock, laminate them with a gbc hot
> gbk laminator but then I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>
> Any easy ideas. I have a router I never used but I guess it should be
> able to cut through a few sheets of laminated card stock.
>
> I guess I could get a drill press too. For the money that these cards
> cost to do and the time you have to wait, I'd rather do it myself so
> that I have some flexabilty and can easily make changes.
>
> Alan

What about using a "RotoZip" tool?

http://www.rotozip.com/

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
(Remove -SPAM- to send email)

Chris,

I have to do a lot of them, They will be laminated. The small rolodex
punch you can buy does one plain business card at a time and I doubt
that you can do it through the laminate. I have looked for a powered
one but can't find it. I'm sure the have large ones for thousands of
dollars but I only need a thousand cards for now but more later.

Alan

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:52:40 -0600, Chris Friesen
<[email protected]> wrote:

>alan wrote:
>> I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, eight on a page. I want to
>> print on them or just plain card stock, laminate them with a gbc hot
>> gbk laminator but then I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>
>How about a hole punch?
>
>Chris

With any kind of routing operation the laminate will melt and you will have
a big blob. Go see a tool and die maker. For about $2000.00 to 3000.00, he
should be able to come up with something that will let you go into
production.

"Alan Calan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 14:34:25 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> What about a template over it? I would print them as 4 rows & 2
> across so each set (leading edge) would have 4 holes, two for each
> card on the leading edge, then I'd cut the row and have another
> leading edge.
>
> If the template can work, I can clamp the template over the cards but
> then, what kind of router bit or even what kind of router could work
> best. Plus, i need a bit that would cut through about 25 laminated
> cards. laminated with a hot GBC machine. However, the laminate is
> thin but I wonder if it acumulates and gets in the way after it is
> cut. Also, with using a template make a clean edge?
>
> So, you see some ot the probems. I am beginning to think a punch would
> be a good thing but it cannot spin, as it isn't a circle, as you
> indicated also. So what would put that constant pressure on that
> would create a clean cut. Would a dremmel router be better?
>
>
>
> >
> >"Michael Beacom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >>
> >> You might want to take a short piece of metal tube, cut it square, and
> >> sharpen the end. (put the bevel on the inside) Put a bit of doweling in
> >> the other end, so the drill press chuck doesn't crush the tube. Add a
> >> clamp to hold the stock in place, and this pretty much duplicates the
> >> heavy duty hole punch in the print shop at work.
> >
> >That would work if he wanted round holes Rolodex has a slot and
rectangular
> >hole, more like a keyhole shape. It may work as well being round, but
you
> >still need a slot. Maybe a round hole and a couple of scroll saw cuts
to
> >make the slot..
> >

In article <[email protected]>,
alan <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, eight on a page. I want to
> print on them or just plain card stock, laminate them with a gbc hot
> gbk laminator but then I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>
> Any easy ideas. I have a router I never used but I guess it should be
> able to cut through a few sheets of laminated card stock.
>
> I guess I could get a drill press too. For the money that these cards
> cost to do and the time you have to wait, I'd rather do it myself so
> that I have some flexabilty and can easily make changes.
>
> Alan


You might want to take a short piece of metal tube, cut it square, and
sharpen the end. (put the bevel on the inside) Put a bit of doweling in
the other end, so the drill press chuck doesn't crush the tube. Add a
clamp to hold the stock in place, and this pretty much duplicates the
heavy duty hole punch in the print shop at work.

Cheers
Mike

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:28:26 -0500, alan <[email protected]> wrote:

>I need to cut out the rolodex holes.
>
>Any easy ideas.

I did this once (not Rolodex, but close) and used a powered scroll saw.
The trick its to clamp the stack together _very_ tightly first - this
avoids edges fraying. I used two bits of thin plywood with bolts
through from top to bottom (countersunk heads on the bottom). This
plywood had a small cut-out in it around the slot, about 1/8" away from
the cut line. I also had two or three scrap cards placed on top and
bottom of the stack, under the ply (the top card was also my cut-line
template).

Jako,

I don't want to do 1000 at a time. I can do 200 then if in the next
200 I need to make a change, it's easy.

The punch sounds like a great idea. Will that give a precise cut?
Where do you get a punch in the shape of the rolodex hole that looks
like this below:

______
| |
| |
\ /
\ /
| |
| |

Alan


On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 03:16:22 -0500, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:

>Fri, Jan 13, 2006, 5:28pm [email protected] (alan) doth want to know:
>I have pre perforated rolodex card blanks, <snip> I'd rather do it
>myself so that I have some flexabilty and can easily make changes.
>
> You want to get a drill press, only for drilling holes in these
>thingies? It'd be cheaper to get a punch you could whack with a hammer,
>and punch your holes.
>Probably easier, and faster, too.
>
> You want to laminate these things. Then figure you can make
>change? How? By re-laminating them after?
>
> Why even bother in the first place? I've never seen one worn out
>from handling them, yet.
>
> Never mind. I don't really care.
>
>
>
>JOAT
>You'll never get anywhere if you believe what you "hear".
>What do you "know"?
>- Granny Weatherwax