Welcome to the Beer-Claw Kickstarter Project!  

Don't forget to Like the Beer-Claw on Facebook!  

Media Reviews

Frachelli, "The Beer Claw is an ergonomic yet sturdy beer bottle opener."

Early Coffee Tech Reviews, "One of the great things about The Beer Claw is that you have different choices in size and design."

Cool Quirks, "After you serve your guests with drinks, you will not get tired of talking about the tool that got you there!"

Wine, Liquor, Beers, "The new Beer Claw beer bottle opener is a beefy bear claw-like opener."

Uncrate.com, "Go animal-style on your next bottle of fine lager with the Beer Claw."

Coolmaterial.com, "So, when purchasing a new bottle cracker, we like to make the primary factor how eye-catching it is. The Beer-Claw Elite passes this test with flying colors."

Clotheshorse.org, "I just ordered one. It’s rustic and manly and perfect for popping a few bottles next time you’re at home, grilling, or even camping."

Joesdaily.com, "have you ever had the pleasure of opening one with something so ergonomic?"

NextLuxury.com, "The (Beer) Claw bottle opener is a product of strength and style coming together as one.

Lumberjocks.com, "Love the shape and design!"

It all began when.......

As I mentioned, I created the Beer-Claw because I couldn't find a bottle opener that combined strength and elegance in one package.  With the skills acquired as a professional metal parts fabricator, John Deere Mechanic, CNC DIYer (see link and video), semi-professional woodworker and product designer, I knew I could create a product that fulfilled my idea of the perfect bottle opener.  

The design for the Beer-Claw began with some primitive sketches that incorporated simple principles of leverage for efficient opening and flowing contours for maximum comfort.  After my stream of consciousness was practically overflowing from my sketchbook, the word that figuratively jumped out from the pages was, "claw."  And with that, the Beer-Claw was born.  

So here's what I'm offering:

Three Beer-Claw Products (plus a bonus!), offered in various sizes, finishes and quantities to suit a plethora of personal and professional needs.  

• The Beer Claw mini
• The Beer Claw 
• The Beer Claw Elite
• The Beer Claw Elite Kickstarter Edition

- The Beer-Claw mini, $7 Early-Bird, $10 Regular

A no-brainer option if you want a permanent replacement for that golf tournament giveaway.  Also a great way to support the project, and have something to show for it.

• Aircraft-grade 6061 T-6 Aluminum frame
• Durable gunmetal (shown) or natural finish
• Key ring accommodation
• Custom engraving available for large quantities (see below)

 

- The Beer-Claw mini Party-Pack, $80, with custom engraving, $120

A pack of 10 Beer-Claw mini key chain bottle openers, your choice of finish.  Perfect for a big game party giveaway, stocking stuffer, or on the small chance you have 10 golf bags....

For an extra $40, add a custom engraving with up to 15 characters or a similarly-sized logo.  This option is great for a special office giveaway, handing out to clients or prospective customers, or for arming your bar staff with matching bottle openers, advertising the establishment with every beer sold. 

 

- The Beer-Claw Party Pack, $160, with custom engraving $200

A pack of 10 standard Beer-Claw Bottle Openers, your choice of finish.  Perfect for, uh, a big game party giveaway, or a stocking stuffer, or even on the small chance you have, uh, 10 hands. 

For an extra $40, add a custom engraving with up to 15 characters or a similarly-sized logo.  This option is perfect for, you guessed it, a special office giveaway, handing out to clients or prospective customers, or for arming your bar staff with matching bottle openers, advertising the establishment with every beer sold. 

 

Detailed Technical Information

Beer-Claw/Beer-Claw Elite/Mini Dimensions:

Length - 5.25"/5.25"/3.00"

Width - 1.18"/1.18"/1.00"

Thickness - 0.25"/0.65"/0.25"

Weight - 1.375oz/2oz/0.625oz

Production Process

Each and every Beer-Claw prototype is cut out of aluminum flat stock and engraved by my home-built CNC machine.  Once I manually de-burr each piece with a rotary tool, they go into my hobby-sized vibratory tumbler for complete de-burring and polishing.  The wooden grips on the Beer-Claw Elite are also cut out on the CNC machine, then sanded and finished by hand.  I personally assemble and inspect all Beer-Claws before they leave my shop.  All fabrication occurs in my home-workshop in Virginia. 

 

But Why Kickstarter?

As I mentioned in the video, I make every Beer Claw myself in my one-man workshop.  More specifically, I use a home-built CNC router to cut out the aluminum pieces.  While this does cut pieces accurately and with a decent surface finish, my particular machine was intended for woodworking purposes and not so much for metal.  This makes cutting out the Beer-Claws very time consuming.  Additionally, I currently purchase aluminum stock in small quantities, which comes with a high cost penalty.  

In determining the goal-size I have set for the Kickstarter Project, I have calculated the minimum amount of materials needed for a volume discount, which will allow me to sell them to you at the reasonable prices listed in the rewards section.  Your funds will go towards the purchase of a more robust CNC machine, capable of cutting the Beer-Claw better and faster, and a high-capacity metal finishing tumbler for finishing the parts in larger quantities.  All of this will allow me to deliver a better Beer-Claw and in a timely manor, reflected in the rewards estimated delivery section. 

Bottom line: Without reaching the funding goal, I simply cannot afford to sell the Beer-Claw in volume at competitive prices.  

 When Will I get my Beer-Claw?

Once the funding goal for the project is met (probably sooner actually) I will begin fabricating your Beer-Claw rewards.  After funds are collected, I will purchase a new CNC-machine (perhaps from one of the successful Kickstarter CNC machine projects), and the industrial metal finishing machine.  

All Early-Bird orders will be fulfilled first, which I expect to occur less than a month after the Project end date (September 2012).  All individual Beer-Claw purchases at regular price will be filled next and should be sent out less than 2 months after the Project end date (October 2012).  Party Pack orders will be completed last, and if custom engravings are included will be shipped within 3 months of the Project end date (November 2012).  

Thank you for checking out my project, and please feel free to ask questions in the Q and A, or submit suggestions or comments directly to the Project site.  Go Kickstarter!

-MC