If the interior design trends are any indication, those who would like to get serious about their metal crafts might as well start this year. From bathroom and kitchen designs to lighting fixtures, brass is once again proving to be one of the most preferred materials.
If you are one of those craftsy entrepreneurs, you better ride on this wave of opportunity in the metal crafts industry this year. Leveling up from doing crafts as a mere hobby to actual business, however, entails some serious upgrades not only in your workflow but also in the materials you use.
From Hobby to Business
If you have just been engraving brass to make gifts for your close friends, get ready to do a lot more once you start engraving commercially.
Brass is versatile and comes in various forms, from metal sheets to brass tubing, so you can incorporate different shapes and sizes in your creations.
Whether you decide to venture into the bespoke lighting design business or other home accents and designs, what’s certain is that you’ll need a good amount of metal supplies. It would be worthwhile to find a reliable supplier of the materials you most need.
Metal Care
Because you’ll be showcasing your crafts and wares, you need to ensure that they will look their best at all times. Fortunately, taking care of brass products is relatively easy. Applying a high quality finish is recommended both to protect your products as well as to add different color tones. For example, if your products are going to be jewelleries or home accents, then it’s important to protect it from heat and corrosion to maintain its quality.
As a general rule, you should be careful not to get the brass item anywhere near salt water or acid. These can easily erode the protective coating and affect the metal directly. As a result, discoloration may occur. While there are some items that may look better with a patina as it can give a more natural look, a greenish tinge isn’t attractive on decorative pieces as they’ll just end up looking dirty.
If you are taking your craft from a mere hobby to a commercial venture, you may need to study advanced techniques to improve your efficiency.
Sources:
Care Tips for Crafts Made of Copper and Brass. Solaris.
First Tip of Stamping on Metal: Do It the Hard Way, Plus More Metal Stamping Jewelry Tips. Interweave.
