06/06/2026
What it takes to make a custom piece.
Yes, the laser part itself is fairly quick. Zoom zoom, spark spark.
But that's just a fraction of the process.
This piece, for example, has taken me countless hours over a couple of months. I come back, change something, change more, show someone, change more. It was quite therapeutic as we've been dealing with Jason's health issues this year.
Then, we debate over color. Look at 50 swatches.
Then we cut a test.
If it didn't cut well, I will go back to the design program. Maybe widen out some spacing, thicken up a tree branch, or tweak some areas to make it easier to remove the delicate branches out of the steel.
Once we're happy with the cut, we pick out all the tiny pieces of metal in the tight spots.
Maybe sand it if there are stabby bits or pieces of molten steel splashed on it.
Finally it's sprayed with a fine dry powder in a high voltage electro-static booth before it's finally baked for the powder to melt and then harden on the metal.
Next week will be the first test cut. With this one, I plan to put a teal backing plate behind the black design. Though this isn't the finalzed design. After we cut it & finish it, I will share photos of that.
99% of what we make is designed in house by us and it is all made this way. Once in a while, we will buy another designer's work to create but mostly it's us. Some simple, but more and more we're working in beautiful creations like this.
Coming soon will be a selection of memorial art stakes and premium address signs. If I get them from computer to machine lol
