Pricing Guide
Each bachi shown above was made at the standard price of $125
This patterned acrylic and padauk bachi was made for $145
This patterned acrylic and ebony bachi was made for $185 (would be $165 with steel weights)
Patterned acrylic bachi with multi-wood (maple/walnut/purpleheart) striped handle and matching earrings at $165.
Material Suppliers
Standard Acrylic
The standard acrylic sheets used to make the bachi come from Tap Plastics, particularly either the Chemcast transparent or opaque sheets at 1/8” (or 3 mm). I have many different colors already cut into bachi blanks, but I can get pretty much anything available on their site at a local outlet in town. So if you see something you like, please let me know!
Patterned Acrylic
There are many different sources for patterned acrylic, but I’ve had good luck getting sheets from the IdealMaterials shop on Etsy. Be aware, patterned acrylic is generally more flexible than the standard acrylic, and while it looks really nice has less of a range of tone options. However, I’ve had good luck with the Gold Shimmer series so far (shown as the yellow/ebony bachi above) which plays with the feel of standard acrylic while also having the nice patterned look.
I have a few options for patterned acrylic in stock, but new acrylic orders take 2-3 weeks for me to receive before I can begin work.
If you have a particular acrylic that you want, let me know. Keep in mind, the acrylic sheet should be 1/8” (or 3 mm), be laser cuttable, and have the pattern go through the material (not a veneer, otherwise I will sand the pattern off when thinning the blade).
Handle Wood
I get my handle wood from the Gilmer Wood Company in Portland, Oregon. They have a nice selection of exotic woods used for musical instrument building, and I can go through and pick out the best patterned woods from their warehouse. If you had a particular wood that you wanted, you might find it on their website, but they also have a large supply of wood not listed. Let me know what you are looking for and I can call and ask about the availability. The final price of the bachi will be based on the price of the wood that I’m able to get.
Note that some wood types are under export restrictions due to scarcity. In general I would like to avoid working with these woods.
Handle Weight Options
Steel Weights
Steel Weights are the most cost effective and easy to use option for adding weight to the handle. In a standard size bachi, I can fit up to 12 7-g weights, for a total of 84 g of additional weight. With the wood and the acrylic, the total weight typically finishes with a maximum between 120-140 g, depending on the final size and type of wood used. I can give a good estimate of the final weight once all the parts are cut. The final weight can be adjusted in 7 g increments. For transparent acrylic, the steel weights can be seen in the handle.
Lead Weights
Lead weights are more difficult to work with, but come in cuttable strips that I can adjust more accurately. I can get nearly the same final weight as steel weights without having to cut through the acrylic. For light colored transparent acrylic, this leaves the handle “see-through”. While the weights are permanently enclosed within the handle, tampering with the handle or attempting to disassemble can risk lead exposure. So if you choose this option, it will come with the following warning:
WARNING: Lead strips are enclosed within the handle for added weight. Exposure to lead can have adverse health effects. To minimize the risk of exposure, do not attempt to disassemble or tamper with the handle. Keep away from pets and children to avoid breakage. For more information: Visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
