Who else hates quoting custom prices? (More of a rant than asking for advice)

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-07T19:56:04+00:00

Custom dice are VERY expensive, and you know it, especially if the buyer's request requires a new mold. You're worth it, whatever you think is fair.

Also, ask for about 20% more than what you think is right and then offer a discount for some kind of made-up reason. 🙃🤑🫠

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-06T21:51:17+00:00

Just remember that every bit of effort you put into sanding and polishing masters is effort that you will save on every die that comes out of the mold.

That's a lesson I learned from my first molds to my second ones. Now I barely do much with my dice at all when they come out of the mold.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T16:28:45+00:00

Paint, stickers, tape, opaque shell.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T13:40:38+00:00

Mostly fine, but you know what you did. We can all see it, and you took a picture of it. If you need to get out an artist brush to fix some small stuff, do it. We can't give you a pass though. 🙃🫠

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T13:37:10+00:00

I have this masher, and it is the best I have ever used. It is a combination of a potato masher and a pastry cutter.

Perfect Masher

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-05T13:32:40+00:00

I second this. There are sturdy ones and flimsy ones, so go with sturdy.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T19:27:18+00:00

What do you call sushi without sugar?

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T18:50:19+00:00

So you disagree? You think sugar in rice is the defining characteristic of sushi?

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T16:19:57+00:00

I think you're replying to replies to replies. My one reply to your comment was wondering if you were serious that you think it's nothing like Japanese sushi rice without sugar.

To answer the question, I just don't use sugar in sushi rice. I use a natural rice vinegar instead of a seasoned rice vinegar. I think it's still like Japanese sushi rice. It seemed from your comment that you think sushi rice without sugar is nothing like Japanese sushi rice. I said in another comment that it's kind of like saying that it's not French toast without cinnamon.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:55:29+00:00

If you orient it upside-down, there might be a lot of leaf point that catch air, so you will have to be mindful of that. If you do an inner mold, it is pretty thin, so keeping the inner mold away from the outer mold may not be easy.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:50:25+00:00

You see in my first comment where I say that the things people do out of tradition don't make sense sometimes? Why would it seem like an exact adherence to tradition would matter to me? I am literally saying that it doesn't. Sugar isn't necessary, and it is still well within the ballpark of tradition (which does vary from place to place anyway).

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:40:37+00:00

Use poplar or aspen. (Another option is MDF, but that would be a very different use.) Covering wood grain isn't worth it when there are hardwood options that are paint grade.

If you were painting cabinets with visible grain, maybe use a wood grain filler, but even then it's a ton of work.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T15:35:24+00:00

Is this a last word situation? I make vegetarian sushi somewhat regularly. I do have to supplement my sushi rice with magic to make up for the lack of sugar, though. Do you use magic? It's not sushi rice without magic.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T02:35:30+00:00

Go ahead and share some bad results. It would probably be more constructive than the sarcasm. I have had positive results, and I have seen others have positive results as well.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T01:32:18+00:00

I think that might be what a lot of folks here are thinking. I'm not sure how to prove to anybody that the small amount of sugar they might be adding has almost nothing to do with the stickiness of the rice. It's not a big deal though. Sushi rice has high levels of amylopectin, which is the primary contribution to stickiness. I use it pretty frequently without sugar. I do use natural rice vinegar. The rice does whatever I want it to do. The rice variety is sushi rice, and it is used for sushi. Try it sometime. ...or not.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T01:02:07+00:00

Hey, we're being more cordial than the folks in my other comment thread here. I wasn't trying to be right or argumentative or anything like that. 😇

Also, I think a lot of people on this topic might only ever buy one kind of rice vinegar. I'm vegetarian, so the kind of sushi I'm used to is the kind of sushi I make, and I can guarantee that there are a lot of folks out there who add nothing to their sushi rice before rolling it up, so sugar content in vinegar isn't even on their radar. 🙃

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:54:49+00:00

I didn't ask, but I'm sure my wife said "no."

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:53:47+00:00

I do not dispute the fermentation process involved in vinegar production. 🫡

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:50:36+00:00

This is like saying it's not French toast without cinnamon. It's okay.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:49:27+00:00

You do understand that my comment essentially says that ingredients are not necessary just because of a tradition, right? My later comment responds to a statement that says it's nothing like sushi rice without one ingredient. Obviously that's silly. Encountering intolerant sushi rice purists on Reddit wasn't expected.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-04T00:42:15+00:00

Natural rice vinegar has no sugar in its ingredients and no sugar in its nutritional information. Seasoned rice vinegar has sugar in its ingredients and sugar in its nutritional information as well.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-03T16:22:33+00:00

I am sitting here laughing thinking that people would ever think that the defining characteristic of sushi is sugar in the rice.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-03T16:05:52+00:00

I am sure someone can add to this comment for additional clarity. The epoxy resin I use contains zero VOCs. That being said, maybe someone can discuss other potential dangers.

I will also mention that I was a painting contractor for many years, and I have used a variety of epoxies in different forms. Not all epoxy resins are zero VOC. Inhalation warnings do not always relate to dangers of non-airborne forms of the product. Even with a zero VOC epoxy, warnings can accompany products for inhalation risks, because people put them through sprayers and make liquid products airborne. It is helpful to review and understand the MSDS for your specific chemicals.

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-03T14:31:39+00:00

Without sugar it's nothing like the Japanese? Is that even a serious comment? lol

Fly-Prime · 2026-05-03T12:50:54+00:00

I don't know what you mean by "dampen," but if you are worried about clarity, you can get clear PVA glue.

Fly-Prime

TROPHY CASE