I have searched through numerous catalogs (Lee Valley Hardware, WWS,
Rockler, Van Dyke's, Horton Brass) and have come up empty for the kind of
hardware that I envision will work best on the Captain's bed I am making.
The choices available are either too modern, too ornate, or don't tie in
with the overall piece. I have an idea for what I want and was wondering
if anyone has done business with anyone who would do custom casting or
milling of brass hardware. I tried a Google search and got the obligatory
65000+ hits, some of which may have some promise. But first, I'd like to
hear from others who may have done something similar and who might have
either specific recommendations of vendors to do business with or to avoid.
Several other questions:
1. What kind of costs would be involved in such an undertaking? I'm
looking at 6 sets of small hardware (Roughly 3" wide by 1 7/8" tall with
bail pulls) and 16 sets of larger hardware (Roughly 4" wide by 2 1/2" tall
with bail pulls). I recognize that this I am asking for custom work and
certainly expect this to come at a premium, but I also need to find out if
that premium breaks the bank.
2. How is the design handled? Does the custom house expect rights to the
design, or could the rights be traded for a lesser cost for the custom job?
3. What level of detail is needed by someone for this effort? I have an
initial basic design concept and can turn that into something from as
simple as an overall sketch and preliminary embellishment idea to a
full-fledged CAD drawing.

Any experience opinions or experiences with this would be greatly
appreciated.


+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

I think there is a place in Dallas that will readily make custom
designed pieces. I'll double check on that. I doubt any company will
barter the matter.

Maybe this site might have something for you:
http://store.oldegoodthings.com/pages-404/index.html

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:32:48 -0700, Mark & Juanita
wrote:


What kind of costs would be involved in such an undertaking? I'm
looking at 6 sets of small hardware (Roughly 3" wide by 1 7/8" tall with
bail pulls) and 16 sets of larger hardware (Roughly 4" wide by 2 1/2" tall
with bail pulls). I recognize that this I am asking for custom work and
certainly expect this to come at a premium, but I also need to find out if
that premium breaks the bank.

Some 25 years ago I went to a printshop to get a color blowup of a
wood drawing I wanted as a poster. The first one would cost me 1400$
and all the other 1500 copies would be 1.70$ each. Call around to
foundries and see how far off things are today.

2. How is the design handled? Does the custom house expect rights to the
design, or could the rights be traded for a lesser cost for the custom job?

For casting, you supply a drawing, they make a pattern. They own the
pattern. You carve up the pattern, you own the pattern, and you
better get right because if they pour your pattern and you goofed you
still pay for pouring.

For CNC work a CAD program on disc and a hard copy of the prototype.
Ask about CAD compatabilities to theirs.

3. What level of detail is needed by someone for this effort? I have an
initial basic design concept and can turn that into something from as
simple as an overall sketch and preliminary embellishment idea to a
full-fledged CAD drawing.

A nicely done up drawing by hand - to scale- is more than enuff. Be
sure to draw it from the top, sides and back and show where the
mounting holes/studs are. Better yet, ask if they will work off of
your carved prototype (all edges are sloped inward for casting)


Pete

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:32:48 -0700, Mark & Juanita
wrote:


I have searched through numerous catalogs (Lee Valley Hardware, WWS,
Rockler, Van Dyke's, Horton Brass) and have come up empty for the kind of
hardware that I envision will work best on the Captain's bed I am making.

snip

http://www.ballandball-us.com/

Give them a call. Good people. Been doing it a long time. Ain't
cheap.





Tom Watson - WoodDorker

tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)

http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/