tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82875200293548198862024-03-06T11:59:00.058-08:00Material & ServicesI am a Custom Steel Furniture Designer and MAKER. In that role I am always uncovering hidden gems- from a "Store" that sells only Metric Fasteners to a Lampshade Manufacturer that creates Custom Lampshades. If it's a Cool Material or an amazing Resource-it's likely to be "found" - here!Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-14655132441800016082020-05-28T13:30:00.002-07:002020-05-28T13:31:14.127-07:00How-I Do-A-Wire-Brush-Polish-Finish<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How-I Do-A-Wire-Brush-Polish-Finish</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the course of time I've been creating High-End-Custom Steel Furniture - it's amazing how many people (Designers, Customers and End-Users) </span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bucktown-loft-living-room-pj-vj~201516">LOVE</a></b></u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bucktown-loft-living-room-pj-vj~201516"> the "look-of-Steel"</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A softer, more <i>pewter-like</i>-<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kramerdesignstudio/8129170049/in/album-72157631925701137/">silvery-gray-color </a>is one that I like too, but- is <u><b>not</b>-so-easy-to-create.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The process I use, after all my fabrication is complete (weld-splatter's removed + welds are smoothed) is to have the object Sandblasted-<u>1st.</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, using a <b>Cup-Shaped-Knotted + Twisted Wire Brush</b> (attached to my variable-speed right-angle-Milwaukee grinder) I go over the sandblasted surface and create a cloud-like-atmospheric effect on the Steel Parts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After wiping the dirt off the the Steel using Mineral Spirits (or Xylol) I then either wet spray the piece- or lately have been coating with a Matt Clear Powder Coat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today- I noticed my trusty Steel Wire Cup Brush (I use a separate one for <u>Type 304 Stainless</u> and <b><u>NEVER</u></b> cross-contaminate them) was wearing down and I should get a new one. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part Number 12306 Weiler Knotted + Twisted Wire Brush Cup Brush @4" diameter</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That led to a very frustrating round of Phone Calls- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st to my local Welding Supply House- </span>WISCO<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who did not have the brand, or the size of Cup that I wanted-. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next - I went to The Manufacturer's <a href="https://www.weilerabrasives.com/catalog/products/power-brushes/power-cup-brushes/4-single-row-knot-wire-cup-brush-014-steel-fill-5-8-11-unc-nut-12306">WEILER's</a> website, <b><u>BAMMM!</u></b> and found what I was looking for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now....where to buy it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On <b>WEILER'</b>s website is a page that directs you to retail sellers of their Industrial Product </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I do not "get" that segregation of Industrial v.Retail Customers personally- but that's for another Blog Post!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So- I type in my ZIPCODE to that box on that page - <i>and</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lo-&-behold-are familiar (Grainger, FastenAll, etc.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">names, <u>that I don't usually buy from</u> (poor Customer Service being the main reason)- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so I hold my nose😬- and call.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Call.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And call some-more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Either they have me on hold, can't find there part number I give them from Weiler's website, or- they have none in their Inventory.😫</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>I know </u></b>- look at <b>Amazon😎. </b><i>Not available to ship until 2 weeks from today.</i>😡</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4" Single-Row-Knotted-Wire-Cup-Brush</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 💡<span style="text-align: center;">So..........I go back to The Manufacturer, and call Customer Service. I explain to The WFH-staffer in Customer Service my woes. He listens. And- he </span>provides me with a phone number to The Regional Sales Rep. <b>David Blaine</b>. David answers - listens to my dilemma and time spent trying to buy a part, from a Company that he Reps, that no one wants to </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or is able to sell to me - and does something that is quite amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He (David) offers to send me one- FREE-Of-Charge, for my being a tenacious Customer.</span></div>
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<b><u>That</u></b>- Ladies and Gentleman- is great Customer Service. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, a- Thursday afternoon bit of "drama"- that a <u>"Normal-Customer"</u>- <i>normally-</i> would have navigated another route, found a comparable item, or- just made do with the short-haired-Wire-Brush-they already owned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are ever in the need to POLISH Steel- in a non-linear-fashion, and to get that effect need to buy a <b><a href="https://www.weilerabrasives.com/">WEILER </a></b>brand Cup brush........think of how grateful you are, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in now knowing- <b>How-A-Pro-Does-it! 😉</b></span><br />
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Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-38076189705651690432020-04-25T13:46:00.002-07:002020-04-25T13:46:33.950-07:00Marble & Stone Fabricator (and Installation ) Stone Edge Marble & Granite LLC<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I needed to source some <u>White Marble</u> for a series of Dessert Carts I was fabricating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Vendor I'd <i>planned to</i> use - f#cked-me-over in mis-Quoting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the 8 (eight) Ovals I needed Water-Jet cut; leaving me with no one to cut my parts (at the price I'd put-into-my-Price-Estimate) ....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">until I met <b>Derek </b>(for those who speak Polish- <b><u>Dariusz</u> <u>)</u>.😇</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuYXLk-ByA42qCL3kpDc0CK563303XrHzaVN4pLScff_E7Q4pR0GuvMHpCIxbTzZZOpCNVdgnPioyJxQwyD-Xl2PB7jvix5I80oQ4UW6y3TYX9NvluW8M8jOfC2QPyySVoM6Xrne21whM/s1600/IMG_3729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuYXLk-ByA42qCL3kpDc0CK563303XrHzaVN4pLScff_E7Q4pR0GuvMHpCIxbTzZZOpCNVdgnPioyJxQwyD-Xl2PB7jvix5I80oQ4UW6y3TYX9NvluW8M8jOfC2QPyySVoM6Xrne21whM/s400/IMG_3729.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Composite showing The Development of The Custom Carts we created</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There's a variety of White Marble types available in Chicago - from Calcutta to Carrera;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">but for this project- the idea of "too much" veining would only </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">detract from </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the sheer beauty of what was to be displayed on these shelves; beautiful-executed,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and luxuriously decadent Desserts from the Head-Pastry Chef of <b>RPM Restaurants</b>- a part of <b>Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises</b> in Chicago.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAGfaobVIvhFJxlOHGypl_X7q8kkuKk2KBBYp2zOCLsVZeI99CqJsMRq77SimvEMtIjZc6ThVCSRl9FMMdFkV7Gu7Eqxb2F4H5hoVGT6bDdP_vGY4q8xszmZ6qg2KADoke_GzxmLhBrtA/s1600/RPM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAGfaobVIvhFJxlOHGypl_X7q8kkuKk2KBBYp2zOCLsVZeI99CqJsMRq77SimvEMtIjZc6ThVCSRl9FMMdFkV7Gu7Eqxb2F4H5hoVGT6bDdP_vGY4q8xszmZ6qg2KADoke_GzxmLhBrtA/s320/RPM.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">RPM's Pastry Chef arranging her rolling display of Pastries and Sweets</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4JtprCqALZYzyawb9kpTXQqhYiaCjj1-5_depJ_SxhdMfHBTCu_BPq08DAa8hXAC8N3BpGMFBEQIjgfz7W2D1OuNK5xFWYJiOC_SYpFGUVBsnh2vEsfFIlxPOYg7RP70e1rld1ziWwP_/s1600/IMG_3472.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4JtprCqALZYzyawb9kpTXQqhYiaCjj1-5_depJ_SxhdMfHBTCu_BPq08DAa8hXAC8N3BpGMFBEQIjgfz7W2D1OuNK5xFWYJiOC_SYpFGUVBsnh2vEsfFIlxPOYg7RP70e1rld1ziWwP_/s320/IMG_3472.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jose- adjusting the Marble's shape to fit The Stainless Steel Frame</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Working closely with Derek @ Stone Edge to ensure the CNC-cut parts <b>fit</b>- <i>perfectly</i> was a key part of this project. If there were gaps- between the Stainless Steel frame and the stone shelf- it's likely food crumbs would accumulate there and that wouldn't be good now- would it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In making these it appears that due to the heat generated by polishing the Stainless Steel to a Mirror Finish- there was some <i>shifting </i>of the frames shape- meaning the marble would slide in place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That meant I had to have the Marble slightly sanded to conform-to the Stainless Frame. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG42kS1nZMBWhuknqTBSvW_0k_6cK1OdFsk8r0VwYZnbKEyLy8TO90w7OTbn6sIDkpXYRmmq6JRuqgRQy8Sild6DUBTaHoiWEn8_Ance0i-UderYAhw3WkMVDwRhUHZpEKqCsjKXwrLwB8/s1600/Beautiful_WHITE_Marble.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG42kS1nZMBWhuknqTBSvW_0k_6cK1OdFsk8r0VwYZnbKEyLy8TO90w7OTbn6sIDkpXYRmmq6JRuqgRQy8Sild6DUBTaHoiWEn8_Ance0i-UderYAhw3WkMVDwRhUHZpEKqCsjKXwrLwB8/s320/Beautiful_WHITE_Marble.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beautiful White Carrera Marble Shelf</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Derek and Jose were quite professional and great to collaborate with to allow me to achieve a perfect product.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnd3aCKsI1cu4DvSdCy_oR-i8VdrojnwEBkLnAwcqUrxqO0BE2g3baUjsuyLqUzHMKTlwA2PF1ekAPkOGTbErLu0vqr9NTCRJ_hsAk6A_62tGu-4XOHzM7lyPaHRq4RmS1nNQL-EKqRo8/s1600/IMG_3797+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="1600" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnd3aCKsI1cu4DvSdCy_oR-i8VdrojnwEBkLnAwcqUrxqO0BE2g3baUjsuyLqUzHMKTlwA2PF1ekAPkOGTbErLu0vqr9NTCRJ_hsAk6A_62tGu-4XOHzM7lyPaHRq4RmS1nNQL-EKqRo8/s400/IMG_3797+2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a few of the elegant Desserts that are offered from my Dessert Carts</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the other parts of making these was coordinating with Ben-The-Wood-Guru so that the wooden elements of our design would fit nicely together.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1kkD61bdbzOva6QmWPLtLOrJrL1HJOvvCyAu2K9feiLzuzY1-py5KGXT5zq0Fv_gwo3b7-JajwxSydOzor2aVWkB8uSZnnQLugnxfBBhkchRUD2T9e4nYCizs_mQBu3vKUsN0UzC0BST/s1600/Wood_4_Carts_test_fitJPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1kkD61bdbzOva6QmWPLtLOrJrL1HJOvvCyAu2K9feiLzuzY1-py5KGXT5zq0Fv_gwo3b7-JajwxSydOzor2aVWkB8uSZnnQLugnxfBBhkchRUD2T9e4nYCizs_mQBu3vKUsN0UzC0BST/s320/Wood_4_Carts_test_fitJPG.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wood Shelves prior to Staining to test Attachment of Stainless Parts</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If and when- you need Marble for High-End Custom Furniture- <u>call Derek.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When and if you need to recommend a guy for Showers, Vanities or kitchen Counters- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>call Derek.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When and if you need to ask for any-thing- related to Synthetic Stone- like "Corian" or "Silestone"- </span><u style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">call Derek</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-DB3JZRl9jhgOiUIjZ6YyF7Q5wQhoBIiEN9LlvhMj2VeHZmDYHphSZn-YLgwZNLOh2VJWAcXafKHT26sy55ANXRaMjJqG7l5G1u-g5nRVQH7pk9OZcT4DGBC52Uq_Ja1Hyv1MzSlXJgx/s1600/Carts+parts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-DB3JZRl9jhgOiUIjZ6YyF7Q5wQhoBIiEN9LlvhMj2VeHZmDYHphSZn-YLgwZNLOh2VJWAcXafKHT26sy55ANXRaMjJqG7l5G1u-g5nRVQH7pk9OZcT4DGBC52Uq_Ja1Hyv1MzSlXJgx/s400/Carts+parts.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are the Carts before they left the shop- all assemble and ready to roll. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stone Edge Marble and Granite LLC</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2020 W. Hubbard</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chicago, IL. 60612</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>312.243.4143</b> office</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>773.492.9103</b> m.</span></div>
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Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-22010192901211751062017-10-07T14:43:00.000-07:002017-10-07T14:43:43.312-07:00Great Furniture Delivery Service- "J.C. Professional Delivery"<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After spending <i>many</i> untold hours hand-crafting <u>and</u> carefully finishing each piece </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of my Custom-Designed-Furniture, the last thing I want, is a knucklehead-Gorilla....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Man-Handling</i> my work, and not treating it with all the care, respect and LOVE 😍- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that I put into each and every piece I make.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Often, if it's able to fit easily into a ZipVan - I can and will deliver things on my own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But- when there's multiple items, to be picked up from a variety of WorkRooms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- or the Client's footing the Delivery Bill, I look to Professional White-Glove-Furniture Delivery Services.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Chicago, and in Urban Areas with High-End-Interior Designers & Architects, there's a wide ranging selection that work in this realm.......from Nationwide Companies, like <b>PLYCON</b> (<u><i>expensive</i></u>- and I'm not so impressed when I've used them before...) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to a well-known Chicago based company- called- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"<b>Affordable Moving</b>"- that, well....<i>ain't so affordable</i>, + they've broken my </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">items before-on Multiple occasions😡! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to a Retired-Fireman + his Son + a truck </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and...well...you get the picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This past week, I used a Company I now <b>LOVE</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friend Andrew Mugnaini reccd these guys- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he uses them a lot for Gary Lee's Furniture (which Andrew (ADM) Hand-Crafts expertly).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not only were they in communication about their being late, </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB3WiNwwyuctK1zb-8rygMLBrRLwefv3U9yUQJxGEW9m6OUNYjvwGkiaG_Potv41o2XKsJvnVpIrKQSZkXUCNvco4M1FP1_yDY5sDL2SHDGcSNQL0T0MxU_HwNd47JfnE9eifvP9MgBW8/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1b61.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1275" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB3WiNwwyuctK1zb-8rygMLBrRLwefv3U9yUQJxGEW9m6OUNYjvwGkiaG_Potv41o2XKsJvnVpIrKQSZkXUCNvco4M1FP1_yDY5sDL2SHDGcSNQL0T0MxU_HwNd47JfnE9eifvP9MgBW8/s400/fullsizeoutput_1b61.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Island Table-Base-in Steel-with brass finish</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">not only did they load my very<b> large Steel Island Table Base </b>and </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP_9morr61pTdqbLrM7k-C5JtaF07pEdHtB0PnQIpjZ_zFTqcEAgxjpKt6lPqdLevI4dtaGBc4a5oRoadULUekXqsRoQrmGp66VPzw0WSHGp5vPflAn2GWeUr1CgFjKjfUXCY7gfRFL7h/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP_9morr61pTdqbLrM7k-C5JtaF07pEdHtB0PnQIpjZ_zFTqcEAgxjpKt6lPqdLevI4dtaGBc4a5oRoadULUekXqsRoQrmGp66VPzw0WSHGp5vPflAn2GWeUr1CgFjKjfUXCY7gfRFL7h/s400/IMG_1596.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>52" x 16" x 20" h. Steel+ Leather Bench(es) I expertly <i>Hand-Crafted</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>(two) Leather + Steel benches </b>so quickly, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I couldn't believe it, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">they turned out to be the best pair of eyes at the next stop- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a Quartz Stone Fabricator, who'd fabricated a 320-lb. black w/Gold-ish flecks </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wislonart Table top- <u>96" x 42"</u> with <u>a 2" Edge.</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'd never seen the final product- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">as it was always upside down in the Stone Fabricators workroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">😖</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBjtcOCjqIAoc_mSBo_O92p8M9QSVNNV9SP2e7Eg2R-tcgREmKeqW5nPuID3WpCI6QvNeyztimgbxcMNOSF_jiF-RFqgriSpa-ikesyMU9vMj9ua2g5g04epZKqT5A74Zpote4mqqR2nE/s1600/JC_Professioanl_Delivery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBjtcOCjqIAoc_mSBo_O92p8M9QSVNNV9SP2e7Eg2R-tcgREmKeqW5nPuID3WpCI6QvNeyztimgbxcMNOSF_jiF-RFqgriSpa-ikesyMU9vMj9ua2g5g04epZKqT5A74Zpote4mqqR2nE/s400/JC_Professioanl_Delivery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kris-"Marble Design"-owner, making adjustments to Quartz Top</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's the TableTop Fabricator- Kris- fixing small imperfections that the main Delivery man spotted.<br />
There was also a sort of haze- originally I thought it was dust- on the tables surface...as well as places that squeezed out epoxy used to glue the mitred edges- had not been scraped off carefully.<br />
I'm not impressed by Marble Design's lack of attention to these details, and given it was my first time using his services-well.....we'll see, if there's a next time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkBLdpDZ4xSCJBwYN4C3cpN8Lx-XR0CvVUR8DupCDpXqs1G0wtXrCBXBIa0kiiob8Dm3NGhihhxboL44fl1KcTmiszZ9JEAD7wp5bAOY0uJSdb7S-sjH3fDZIlsEkcqziyLDgXkWLu3ZM/s1600/J.C.Professional_DELIVERY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkBLdpDZ4xSCJBwYN4C3cpN8Lx-XR0CvVUR8DupCDpXqs1G0wtXrCBXBIa0kiiob8Dm3NGhihhxboL44fl1KcTmiszZ9JEAD7wp5bAOY0uJSdb7S-sjH3fDZIlsEkcqziyLDgXkWLu3ZM/s400/J.C.Professional_DELIVERY.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wilsonart-Xcaret Q4006-Quartz-Table-Top - after a wax-on-and-a-buff-off.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's the Table Top, after a cleaning- a wax- and a buff-out.<br />
<b><u>Much</u></b>-<i><u>Better.</u></i><br />
Rather than standing around while Kris took care of making my expensive table Top- right-<br />
they took off to Andrew-The-Woodworkers-Workroom, to pickup a several hundred pound Console table.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKQNJsypR0y2jW2YbyxBZTki4-k6Q18vOHvxBf_c1TCOhjE_934gw9lLNDPt393PWuLyorXMRAg9kk_0SwpBCB9jY7izDNV2gvwVFGJVeg7CQhr6OcKbxs4w-eaoWD5fxxJpHojdEglTM/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKQNJsypR0y2jW2YbyxBZTki4-k6Q18vOHvxBf_c1TCOhjE_934gw9lLNDPt393PWuLyorXMRAg9kk_0SwpBCB9jY7izDNV2gvwVFGJVeg7CQhr6OcKbxs4w-eaoWD5fxxJpHojdEglTM/s400/IMG_2403.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Awesome 12-ft.long-Wood-Console + Steel Modesty Panel</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The 12-long Console Table was crafted to allow my expertly dimensioned 133.875" wide panel,<br />
to PRECISELY inset-with <b>no gaps</b>, & <b>no spaces</b>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRWph9_32eGav-SBXVBlF7RCoy_tjj7sz9XdJCrtOU4Bh-MtxJ622aA1sXTiq5F5kEuyLVQNLt4E7znp1PZ0qOBZ60qu7AQ1byp31p2L8RuP8vttfnLuiiYxS89g7NNJWjIRPxPJUvCnh/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1f0c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRWph9_32eGav-SBXVBlF7RCoy_tjj7sz9XdJCrtOU4Bh-MtxJ622aA1sXTiq5F5kEuyLVQNLt4E7znp1PZ0qOBZ60qu7AQ1byp31p2L8RuP8vttfnLuiiYxS89g7NNJWjIRPxPJUvCnh/s400/fullsizeoutput_1f0c.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>138.125" by 33" Hot-Rolled Modesty Panel w/Bronze patina</b>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The laser-cut Hot-Rolled Steel panel I created (and finished) has a patinated bronze appearance.<br />
really, looks RICH (if I don't say so myself!)<br />
Off it all went- to a warehouse in Roselle,IL. for storage, until the Contractors are done building-out the Sales Office in The Vault of The Old Post Office that spans the Eisenhower Expwy.(I-290) coming into Chicago. Then my work will be on hand- for all who want to look into getting office space there....(unless- AMAZON moves in of course)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9buaLb1Id90G5ZvvunP5hnsqxZ1bCKAPq-QWtOyI2wj1-aSbgc8lfQYkQaok76ccgi9qCKjegjOB6t8F7ibEOc3znPJXd8gMKtwnkHWp2NYOcKf1Je_xZr6H7Ky5Tno0qRDx_RWMc3lD/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9buaLb1Id90G5ZvvunP5hnsqxZ1bCKAPq-QWtOyI2wj1-aSbgc8lfQYkQaok76ccgi9qCKjegjOB6t8F7ibEOc3znPJXd8gMKtwnkHWp2NYOcKf1Je_xZr6H7Ky5Tno0qRDx_RWMc3lD/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>J.C.Professional Delivery @773.812.3186</b></td></tr>
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So- for all of your Furniture Moving (they do Residential Moving too!) call John- at 773.812.3186-<br />
and tell him Randall sent ya!<br />
<br />
They are really- THAT GOOD!<br />
<br />Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-86798052886650380992017-02-22T12:56:00.003-08:002017-02-22T13:01:29.117-08:00McNichols : How-I-Was-Made-(W)HOLE) > a Revised OpinionIn my efforts to steer, influence and provide Intelligent, "fully vetted" Resources to my readers,<br />
I've set up this blog to identify excellent Resources for those in the fields related to Design & Architecture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYogaohTQ_o4m6o4cXlbXA_zSr8KXTZjre7xVgSq0mfv5Q3xeVKwWpcJ7nZWvtnIJDZfHYLJCUnUNl-kCpANUwFx_ZTPIQdnN34NptTEamc5AFCyW9oJftVsjwc_jhEXTCzh1Wuvl44lgT/s1600/IMG_3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYogaohTQ_o4m6o4cXlbXA_zSr8KXTZjre7xVgSq0mfv5Q3xeVKwWpcJ7nZWvtnIJDZfHYLJCUnUNl-kCpANUwFx_ZTPIQdnN34NptTEamc5AFCyW9oJftVsjwc_jhEXTCzh1Wuvl44lgT/s320/IMG_3511.JPG" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'd posted in <a href="http://materialsandservices.blogspot.com/2017/01/mcnichols-truly-hole-story.html" target="_blank">January 2017</a>, about a truly unsettling Customer Service experience in dealing with an Industrial Supplier, that I've purchased from for many years.<br />
<br />
In the course of a very short period of time, after my encounter with <a href="http://www.mcnichols.com/">McNichols</a>- I was pleasantly <u>shocked and amazed </u>to receive an email, and a follow-up phone call from<br />
someone with the same last name-<b><a href="http://www.mcnichols.com/">McNichols</a></b>-<br />
as the Company that I'd had the Customer Service issue (or failure thereof) with.<br />
The dialog that followed, provided me an insight, into how the <u>3rd generation</u> President-<br />
<b>Scott McNichols</b>, truly cares, about each and every Customer's experience.<br />
<br />
To start, I have to say- I've met & talked to <i>many</i> CEO's and President's of Corporations,<br />
both big and small, in my lifetime- yet- my conversations with Scott McNichols truly created<br />
a whole-'nother-level-of-respect for him as an Owner, and the Company he leads.<br />
<br />
It's not often that when someone- <i><b>anyone</b></i>-<br />
is wrong- that they'll listen - not argue, & they'll acknowledge the concerns<br />
that made <u>you feel</u> aggrieved enough to contact a Customer Service Sales Manager,<br />
and later create a blog post ,<br />
without ever defending their Company (or making any excuses).<br />
Wow!<br />
With Scott McNichols - the Buck-Does-Stop - There.<br />
He "owned" the issues that screwed up my order-<br />
and went above and beyond to rectify the situation.<br />
<br />
I could go on to describe in full detail, all the things that Scott said (and did) to fix the problem-<br />
( I won't bore you with the details....)<br />
and<br />
to make me a HAPPY CUSTOMER-<br />
who will forever speak about McNichols- as a Company that<br />
truly- "gets it".<br />
<br />
BTW- any doubts, about my encounter with Scott McNichols.... just read the comment he left on my blog-<br />
<br />
<dt class="comment-author " id="c2630899528665629222" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/06648415534376650078" rel="nofollow" style="color: #aa77aa; text-decoration: none;">Holenole</a> said...</dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-2630899528665629222" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em;">
Mr. Kramer,<br />
<br />
I am truly sorry for your experience and sincerely apologize that we did not meet your service expectations. We certainly do strive to serve each customer with everything we have and that clearly did not happen according to your personal testimony. We are celebrating our 65th anniversary this year and are much better than you have truthfully described.<br />
<br />
I will be sure to mark your account so that you do not receive the Scripture messages on your paperwork should you choose to give us another chance to serve you.<br />
<br />
I want to thank you for your honesty. We will use it to improve because that is what all of our customers deserve.<br />
<br />
Once again, I am truly sorry for the unfortunate experience you had with McNichols.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Scott McNichols<br />
813.205.1222<br />
scott.mcnichols@mcnichols.com</div>
</dd><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.mcnichols.com/">McNichols</a></b>- a class act!<br />
<br />Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-71055992490107696872017-01-19T09:52:00.002-08:002017-01-19T09:52:30.681-08:00McNichols -Truly The "Hole" Story......<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm working on a new project- a really unique Custom Fireplace Screen for a home next to The Drake Hotel in Chicago's Gold Coast. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Architect (& his client) like the minimalism of <a href="http://www.pietmondrian.com/">Piet <b>Mondrian's </b></a>paintings- so the design of the Fireplace Screen's predicated on Mondrian's geometry.(see below)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0q8-mD04Ph_Guf-3kCuNmKOyvNqOFiaTPDn5Ke9JAKBIO7ADUKX89bUFKNJzXhw0W4F6AuRFhxlCpf0ozNwgBkI8fHLE63IPcXEio7ZtmA3WAFeqUbs-_YkmrpNR8JTVg8G2htkV4Ja5/s1600/ZOLIK_Mondrain-esqe%253Erevised.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0q8-mD04Ph_Guf-3kCuNmKOyvNqOFiaTPDn5Ke9JAKBIO7ADUKX89bUFKNJzXhw0W4F6AuRFhxlCpf0ozNwgBkI8fHLE63IPcXEio7ZtmA3WAFeqUbs-_YkmrpNR8JTVg8G2htkV4Ja5/s400/ZOLIK_Mondrain-esqe%253Erevised.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mondrian-esque Fireplace Screen Design</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course- a Fireplace Screen- isn't a Fireplace Screen unless there's some "screen" involved...which in The Steel Industry is called-"Wire Cloth". <u>Note</u>, this please....for if you ever need to purchase any "<i>mesh</i>" or "<i>screen</i>"- you will not get what you want as easily if you specifically search for <b><u>WIRECLOTH</u></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK- Lesson in specifying is complete for today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There used to be a plethora ($10.00-word meaning a whole bunch of sumpin') of WireCloth Distributors in and around Chicago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, one of my all-time favorite places to visit- <u><b>F.P. Smith WireCloth </b></u>is no more- they closed about 8 years ago- absorbed by a place I used to buy from called McNichols. Attentive readers will note I say- "used to buy from"- and if you know me, at all there's a reason for that....either poor customer-service, or a basic lack of respect from the Vendor, for accepting my hard earned dough in exchange for what they sell.....or smoother reason- in this case it was all of the above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now- I like Religion. I mean- as a inner-spiritual belief system, I'm all for any human "believing" in something- be it G_d, Budda, or Jesus or Mohammed or whatever- just like your snot and spit- keep it to yourself. So, when McNichols would send invoices with Scripture (from The New Testament- a knock-off of The Torah) and have a variety of Religious messages on their statements- I got annoyed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mentioning it to them, seemed to get me no-where.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add in being treated as if my "small orders" didn't matter- making me wait- when I was told my materials would be cut wrapped and ready- left me feeling not so warm-and-fuzzy about these guys as a Vendor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which brings me to this past Tuesday in January.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd begun, by getting pricing via <b><a href="http://www.mcnichols.com/">their website</a>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seems easy enough- fill out the specifications > Wires per inch + wire diameter + material (Steel, Stainless, Copper, etc) and Square footage or size of the cut piece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK....waiting for a reply meant, that The Weekend + The Martin Luther King Holiday may delay my getting a Price Quote. Fair nuff. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I call on Monday, anyway- and, they say "they have my Quote"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's nice that YOU DO- but how come I don't? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, after getting a Price-I chose to pass on the $ 28.00 Shipping charge- and asked to pick up my order from their suburban Chicago location.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK- is the response- wait till tomorrow- after noon-and- your order will be ready for PICK-UP!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great........ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So- I drive the next day to their warehouse in the Chicago suburb of DesPlaines, on a road that's tough to get to- since they closed off the way own- from Route 83.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pull up- where Id gone in the past to pick-up wire cloth for other Fireplace Screens, and, strangely- its dead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No Trucks. No workers cars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looks like they closed up?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So- I call their 800# only to discover that they MOVED over the Thanksgiving weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Funny- I never got that Memo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nor- did the order taker in Atlanta, GA.- think that I may need that information. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, now burnin'-up with the wasted time- </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I drove the 6 miles to their new spot in Elk Grove Village.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went to Customer Service, and was told she couldn't find my order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of waiting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally- "Anna" comes out to tell me- Yes, they "have"my order- but- it's in PHOENIX ARIZONA- and in the Chicago location- they don't have what I want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And- to make matters worse- don't offer me a viable substitute.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grrrrrrrrrr</span></b></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>McNichols "new" warehouse in suburban Elk Grove Village,IL</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, my question is this- How Can a Vendor screw up any worse that these THREE errors in handling an order.......I'll tell ya- when I call top complain to a very nice Customer Service Manager @ McNichols- he agrees to supply my material for no charge- great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, another person calls me- after I see that they've already "Charged" my Visa for the wire cloth- I didn't get to pick up......to say- <u><b>that the REFUND will take up to 14 Days!</b></u></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OMG! </span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So- if you are looking for a WireCloth Vendor- be sure- to do your best- NOT to use McNichols.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over & Out.</span></div>
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Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-69441572249147475262015-08-09T16:04:00.001-07:002015-08-09T16:04:19.506-07:00ReBuilding Exchange : a sustainable & educational Resource<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chicago</b> has long been a great source for finding discarded building parts, given </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it's rich and varied Architectural heritage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly- in today's <i><b>Home Depot</b> </i>world, many of the great sources for rehabbers and remodelers have disappeared.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to find amazing Architectural Artifacts (Fireplace Mantels, Old TIles, Grates and Grills, etc. for sale at the "<u>original</u>" <b>Maxwell Street </b>Flea Market (the "new one" sucks for finding any such objects ) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">;(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A store that <i><u>was</u></i> (I say "was" in the past tense - because IMHO - the store has sadly lost it's way...) <b><a href="http://salvageone.com/">Salvage One</a></b> - used to carry many rebuilding finds and treasures - patiently waiting to be rePurposed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">;(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 3600 block of N. Southport, in Chicago, a small neighborhood storefront sold great -mostly wood Salvaged Parts for rehabbers. It's now a multi-unit Condo Building.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">;(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://jansantiques.net/"><b>Jan's Antiques</b></a>- a great resource that I've bought lots of <a href="http://www.kramerdesignstudio.com/project_pages/repurposed_06.htm">Salvaged Painted Wood for Mirror Frames</a> over the years ( in several locations) is now been relocated to <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140303/west-loop/jans-antiques-says-goodbye-west-loop-space-after-22-years">a smaller space in Evanston.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An impromptu street spot on the 300 S. Sacramento Boulevard once randomly displayed "picks" that scrappers and salvage dogs had literally torn out of abandoned buildings on Chicago's Rough-and-Tough West Side- no longer around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it was with great pleasure that I stopped into the<b> <a href="http://rebuildingexchange.org/">Rebuilding Exchange </a></b>today </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wanted to share what I discovered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see there are many "<i>possibilities" </i>here.....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXzMsk4hDFsz9_dl17Ky78qS5IMhke7jfr8XAqvibp7A2JDWBEwQkoDy7096_fQvLA8dKBEkmhMQgoqLL2SCOUO_ZM5n13GBmv3eo8dgcrzlYAfzMdi2aW-7M67vosuhhGQ2qc2eKh_cV/s1600/ReBuildingExchange2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXzMsk4hDFsz9_dl17Ky78qS5IMhke7jfr8XAqvibp7A2JDWBEwQkoDy7096_fQvLA8dKBEkmhMQgoqLL2SCOUO_ZM5n13GBmv3eo8dgcrzlYAfzMdi2aW-7M67vosuhhGQ2qc2eKh_cV/s640/ReBuildingExchange2.jpg" width="480" /></span></a><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXzMsk4hDFsz9_dl17Ky78qS5IMhke7jfr8XAqvibp7A2JDWBEwQkoDy7096_fQvLA8dKBEkmhMQgoqLL2SCOUO_ZM5n13GBmv3eo8dgcrzlYAfzMdi2aW-7M67vosuhhGQ2qc2eKh_cV/s1600/ReBuildingExchange2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXzMsk4hDFsz9_dl17Ky78qS5IMhke7jfr8XAqvibp7A2JDWBEwQkoDy7096_fQvLA8dKBEkmhMQgoqLL2SCOUO_ZM5n13GBmv3eo8dgcrzlYAfzMdi2aW-7M67vosuhhGQ2qc2eKh_cV/s1600/ReBuildingExchange2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">some of the "raw materials" are fairly priced-</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yet- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found other things, for example the Vintage Steel Storage Organizer(s) like the small dark gray one here- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">selling for prices equal to what</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> you'd find at </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Artifacts </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">& <b>Urban Remains-</b> places that are known to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Designers + Decorators + Architects for their </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UNcompetitively </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">priced "treasures"-they buy for pennies-on-the-dollar.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cart-full of Amazing BURLAP COFFEE BEAN SACKS- waiting to be rePurposed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMo-vNw8syZ_8Uao1W02prmXvCL8wOcwGu-doya3cV6OqdxShQiX9xcjJp9QnG9Bvkqg2cjD5UZIZ8SrNYx5Eqx7Vr8_FanJ9WU9k9arlVBS-8v0v49PYwZL4len_CmYr6zsScaD-SDeuw/s1600/Rebuilding+EXCHANGE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMo-vNw8syZ_8Uao1W02prmXvCL8wOcwGu-doya3cV6OqdxShQiX9xcjJp9QnG9Bvkqg2cjD5UZIZ8SrNYx5Eqx7Vr8_FanJ9WU9k9arlVBS-8v0v49PYwZL4len_CmYr6zsScaD-SDeuw/s400/Rebuilding+EXCHANGE3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newel Posts? you're looking for Newel Posts are ya....?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvpYpESVV5t25YzVHcxybYlhCX3P7_cie4UjAr3KQpfX7GiNCIF-aPS91CinsZ2l7-D06xEWhJklY4W1svYF__yW1uajRehdE9d8-rxXAGfM7LR3TpNYNY2p5PjSKiwi0iF3cs3Y3qnul/s1600/Rebuilding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvpYpESVV5t25YzVHcxybYlhCX3P7_cie4UjAr3KQpfX7GiNCIF-aPS91CinsZ2l7-D06xEWhJklY4W1svYF__yW1uajRehdE9d8-rxXAGfM7LR3TpNYNY2p5PjSKiwi0iF3cs3Y3qnul/s640/Rebuilding.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workshop that supports classes at The Rebuilding EXCHANGE<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">As you enter their extensive and multi-roomed warehouse</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;"> you will discover a Rebuilding Workshop-available for woodworking classes or other creative ways</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;"> to incorporate salvaged materials into your next home improvement project.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1VmvC9vW53ciYaCrLnVDZtwU7DkJ1c-ktzodnc2dCMYVUtMhsOW6hMEzfz7bqmVLxCPoHskK2GIq9QcLibOyPJr0R98rmbVE3ZDlBxrVK2G7DDdM1s1Lmz6KglZnB5PTGemwwLVnvPTv/s1600/RebuildingEXchange5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1VmvC9vW53ciYaCrLnVDZtwU7DkJ1c-ktzodnc2dCMYVUtMhsOW6hMEzfz7bqmVLxCPoHskK2GIq9QcLibOyPJr0R98rmbVE3ZDlBxrVK2G7DDdM1s1Lmz6KglZnB5PTGemwwLVnvPTv/s640/RebuildingEXchange5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please visit this unique Chicago non-profit business and support their mission- to reuse and recycle-thereby creating not only a robust Green Economic business, but also creating jobs and keeping this material out of our already overcrowded landfills.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp6s3OWw6VfrWzYyX4lsjlQMROgIdF8nSljF3eyZRcwQed57I_Mg37tYgdJ_pIlsFI9CS3_QyODqC7EFGOEUE4KFkbtn1GZHwBTGbAvnb2CgzwFzenRvldxF-tfTfS8VNLSwxlSs6o5eQ/s1600/Rebuidling+Exchange7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp6s3OWw6VfrWzYyX4lsjlQMROgIdF8nSljF3eyZRcwQed57I_Mg37tYgdJ_pIlsFI9CS3_QyODqC7EFGOEUE4KFkbtn1GZHwBTGbAvnb2CgzwFzenRvldxF-tfTfS8VNLSwxlSs6o5eQ/s640/Rebuidling+Exchange7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://rebuildingexchange.org/">Rebuilding Exchange</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1740 W. Webster Ave.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chicago,IL. 60614</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>773. 252. 2234</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hours = Tues - Sunday @10-6pm</b></span>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-15185250269549329652014-08-25T12:08:00.000-07:002014-08-25T12:19:11.141-07:00"Art Bars" © A Unique Method to Display Fine-Art + Photographs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCXhHkywT6cehdxsks-QbIg6m4neIKNmVGnSo6BHalafLM9t5x-RBu5B4F_E0lpH4w6slH54P-8yd_iZMHdoIepef0imD-47Smo34P4T89twTKxHYpwSBLqxutqwKNg_4cACffFHc3xQN/s1600/ARTBARS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCXhHkywT6cehdxsks-QbIg6m4neIKNmVGnSo6BHalafLM9t5x-RBu5B4F_E0lpH4w6slH54P-8yd_iZMHdoIepef0imD-47Smo34P4T89twTKxHYpwSBLqxutqwKNg_4cACffFHc3xQN/s1600/ARTBARS.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Randall KRAMER © 2014 Kramer Design Studio</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgDRCqimhEiVqjGeVFOT-XDFFpxTV73CSOQp0mOG77Mh1FvTjdBFbowAlMFNqkHIE7UQ5pYFiIWMhAhV4JCUi_Iw810oLVIVpazo0To-rQ5waY60tGskRV8YZJ4w_fE0ynP45HoIP5eej/s1600/ART_bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgDRCqimhEiVqjGeVFOT-XDFFpxTV73CSOQp0mOG77Mh1FvTjdBFbowAlMFNqkHIE7UQ5pYFiIWMhAhV4JCUi_Iw810oLVIVpazo0To-rQ5waY60tGskRV8YZJ4w_fE0ynP45HoIP5eej/s1600/ART_bars.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hand-forged Cold-Rolled Steel Bars + Brackets & Straps combined to create a MODERN method of displaying ART!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rAs691zeOEGowSxU8jN4Jh7t5CFeI_58NRNt8nopOLE03IdFz0of62Oa6r_rLuHoIex6iPE6JUoC_qztJo7drz0WFsmABdMmuClBDn6MH7e5hVVPghjNQBCjr2bBSF9RUHmqTXILyZn2/s1600/P1040585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rAs691zeOEGowSxU8jN4Jh7t5CFeI_58NRNt8nopOLE03IdFz0of62Oa6r_rLuHoIex6iPE6JUoC_qztJo7drz0WFsmABdMmuClBDn6MH7e5hVVPghjNQBCjr2bBSF9RUHmqTXILyZn2/s1600/P1040585.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.icontact-archive.com/PZ_Es_uxaiw5pdqXy6uGpRjQwlA3qwrR?w=3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Against a Wenge-Wood clad wall(s) - these <b>ART BARS </b>really look <i>elegant </i>!</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjMg40VdPUUFr7l0Qquh7b_scepy-EhR-_3Y-fHXRS9pAM6Su8rqk3ju8C5185zIYxw-L1yZItAYiLeZsp8T0lSzYYyrvpBgqrHizyDW-PQXUBxy6qk_67sqy7Lw3DddwSeW9u5UO8fe1/s1600/P1040582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjMg40VdPUUFr7l0Qquh7b_scepy-EhR-_3Y-fHXRS9pAM6Su8rqk3ju8C5185zIYxw-L1yZItAYiLeZsp8T0lSzYYyrvpBgqrHizyDW-PQXUBxy6qk_67sqy7Lw3DddwSeW9u5UO8fe1/s1600/P1040582.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.icontact-archive.com/PZ_Es_uxaiw5pdqXy6uGpRjQwlA3qwrR?w=3">Randall KRAMER ©2014 Art Bars- Stacked atop each other</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyePxddyiFqq2bNjV2FLoW0T54dpq2QR04QKOjRXrg4sMUudYC_tdphRSYYWc0bM0T4-sWcmKdhrBGxCxqe0ZOc8YVe6oDtcisHp5xodAYxwoQ_-FpNuzoKgVsZB4zCwZXn34odXykUGtn/s1600/P1040688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyePxddyiFqq2bNjV2FLoW0T54dpq2QR04QKOjRXrg4sMUudYC_tdphRSYYWc0bM0T4-sWcmKdhrBGxCxqe0ZOc8YVe6oDtcisHp5xodAYxwoQ_-FpNuzoKgVsZB4zCwZXn34odXykUGtn/s1600/P1040688.JPG" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', arial, sans; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">Order some today- from <b>KRAMER DESIGN STUDIO</b>- Chicago </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', arial, sans; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">contact @ kramerdesignstudio.com</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', arial, sans; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-69471817411854430452014-08-25T11:38:00.000-07:002014-08-25T11:38:03.707-07:00Knocked-Off! (and pissed-off as well!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's clear to me- that there are many, many folks - </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">especially <b>Interior Designers & Decorators- </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that <u>do not</u> respect <b>Intellectual Property Rights</b>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why is that? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If as Designers- we are required to solve problems, and are paid for our creative problem- solving skills (and their <i>execution</i>- for an "<u>idea</u>" is meaningless- unless it's implemented, <b>right</b>?) do other Designers feel it's acceptable to STEAL someone else's ideas?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheating- yes....but more akin to STEALING, I'd say!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvHyTBbanUoSbMJcelcBX2dZ0cZh2fD78gh5ts1yw6-EZGrpkSErHl5mhMJcZBALscD1-ZG0pzsB-mi5_Rnb8qRlYAoIFpTF8kMAPm0I1YK5ShuJAUpl7RjlFZlNotj-IAAhWQHe0-tnP/s1600/KNOCK-offed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvHyTBbanUoSbMJcelcBX2dZ0cZh2fD78gh5ts1yw6-EZGrpkSErHl5mhMJcZBALscD1-ZG0pzsB-mi5_Rnb8qRlYAoIFpTF8kMAPm0I1YK5ShuJAUpl7RjlFZlNotj-IAAhWQHe0-tnP/s1600/KNOCK-offed.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Knock-Offs </b>- whether they are a Hermes Handbag- a Prada Purse or a <a href="http://kramerdesignstudio.com/images/furnishings/fullsize/image_fngs023_full.jpg">Randall Kramer </a>designed Interior Element- are amongst <u>the lowest form of THEFT</u>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right- theft.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Know what they do in some countries when you are caught "<i><b>thieving</b></i>" ?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They'll chop off your hand.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK- I'm not callin' for Sharia Law- in fact- I personally<b> abhor</b> that system of "Justice",</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and find it Medieval and archaic at best.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But - I do know- that I am hired to create and execute ideas- and when someone else-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">helps them-self- to MY ideas-and calls them his/her own- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that's no different, than</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Reaching-into-my-pocket-&-stealing-my-stash-o'-CA$H !!</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOkD3SE1PMujbhtoE9hQhLsS9_LdOtJEDmY5b3jnFhHLyBWU-zlyCw3YzpFo9zOJJTDIubz3uRfZKnsCPUO09gCMh2GudO1g1ws7XnqgZFEY6_LFjug1eZaIijIfnm3D2B2epjpCWeCTu/s1600/KNOCK-offed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOkD3SE1PMujbhtoE9hQhLsS9_LdOtJEDmY5b3jnFhHLyBWU-zlyCw3YzpFo9zOJJTDIubz3uRfZKnsCPUO09gCMh2GudO1g1ws7XnqgZFEY6_LFjug1eZaIijIfnm3D2B2epjpCWeCTu/s1600/KNOCK-offed.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was commissioned by <b><a href="http://www.hickmaninteriors.com/">Tracy Hickman </a></b>to design these shelving brackets- all I was told was that I should make em out of Steel- and they should look "like-this" (holding her fingers apart to show the steel bars width) and I designed and drew several unique solutions- all of them different and striking- yet- this is the design that Tracy and her client selected for this home in Hinsdale.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are ALWAYS- lots of design-solutions.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And- that is why I am always bothered- that a "designer" can be so unoriginal- that they COPY another persons Design(s)- and think- that it's OK?! Don't even call yourself a "designer" then- if that's the case- just call yourself an "assimilator" or a "idea-stealer-like-Pinterest", rather than a Professional Designer (or Decorator).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please don't steal. It's unethical- UnProfessional - and if caught doing it in ISIS-controlled Syria / Iraq - you may find your "reach"...........shortened slightly !</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-54467881327977082282014-02-19T14:43:00.002-08:002014-02-19T14:43:57.403-08:00Finding a BRASS PLATER in The Greater Chicagoland area<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>112 inches long by 22" wide by 33" tall</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is how big of a part <a href="http://www.implating.com/">Imperial Plating Company</a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of Chicago can accept </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to be Brass Plated.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61simHnifcLxqKgP_dvEkiuue1dOZQTUPVbJSsjnSp1-iJ_P33k_fFV5s8PHk3-2o5evn05b3YzojIuwr87RyXtmgDnCDoNshFt_0QWl7_uVo6UEmeFIHOUno4ZoaNnX5bdg1hxcEj4PW/s1600/P1030592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61simHnifcLxqKgP_dvEkiuue1dOZQTUPVbJSsjnSp1-iJ_P33k_fFV5s8PHk3-2o5evn05b3YzojIuwr87RyXtmgDnCDoNshFt_0QWl7_uVo6UEmeFIHOUno4ZoaNnX5bdg1hxcEj4PW/s1600/P1030592.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mid-Century-Modern Brass Plated Fireplace Screen <b>© KRAMER DESIGN STUDIO 2014</b></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are fewer and fewer Metal Platers left in Chicago these days.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago, at one time ("back-in-the-day") had so many Metal Finishing and Metal Fabrication Companies that it rivaled (and surpassed) Detroit and Los Angeles.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of the business has gone to Asia and Mexico.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The remaining companies that do Brass Plating are so overwrought w/ Regulations- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mainly from The EPA- that they can no longer afford to stay in business.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the more toxic chemicals known to man- Cyanide- is used in Brass Plating, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so it is important that it be used and stored and disposed of properly.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore- the larger the "part" that needs to be plated- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">naturally, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the larger the amount of liquid being held in a plating tank- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the larger the tank - </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the larger the Environmental "risk" incurred.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've used<b> Imperial Plating</b> <a href="http://kramerdesignstudio.com/images/furnishings/fullsize/image_20_full.jpg">twice now- for Decorative Fireplace Screens</a>, and both times the results have been superb. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only the final product- but dealing with people as kind and thoughtful as </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>John Griffin</b>- the Sales Manager @ Imperial Plating Company.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John made sure to cover all his bases- understanding that the Fireplace Screen I was to have plated was NOT just some part- and truly "got" how much of my heart and soul went into the fabrication of this Fireplace Screen.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86eGrkp7MSeeROyfvzJ7_GpjyCiDoGh3fAh-IXBt_VB2r0nG0436MMG5jOViTevkzqr-mHKcxr5Km8Vcz3Fr7z2n83i2nFDH2BIt7ppZXVPXYIXNTRqfLZ-JBZ4VVZiVCEP6qeWS_nfb1/s1600/detail_Plating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86eGrkp7MSeeROyfvzJ7_GpjyCiDoGh3fAh-IXBt_VB2r0nG0436MMG5jOViTevkzqr-mHKcxr5Km8Vcz3Fr7z2n83i2nFDH2BIt7ppZXVPXYIXNTRqfLZ-JBZ4VVZiVCEP6qeWS_nfb1/s1600/detail_Plating.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brass Plated Fireplace Screen with demountable Screen + carved foot detail <b>© Kramer Design Studio-2014</b></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John and I discussed details as minute as the the direction of polishing after the part was plated, and how my client requested NO LACQUER to be sprayed after polishing- something they automatically do to a Brass-Plated part. We also discussed the risk of the plating filling in the holes in the the 10mesh screen I used- so I had to "engineer" a </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"demountable-screen-system" to make this work. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">None of these details seemed to ruffle John's feathers at all- </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a consummate Professional Businessman.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVla_W-Hd_3IHdyBEixfcMGx7DpBKbSqM0F0Ar8xgp-KFsIZRnGQNhXjBhhjVpgCVRrLPAVQ4doP-IzbA02RrFyg7dyf2UVRCpiw7uFWYZkgkCPPZqYvSL-BPKaH5d7JR19oLcGMu1VsE3/s1600/Brass+Plate+FireplaceSCREEN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVla_W-Hd_3IHdyBEixfcMGx7DpBKbSqM0F0Ar8xgp-KFsIZRnGQNhXjBhhjVpgCVRrLPAVQ4doP-IzbA02RrFyg7dyf2UVRCpiw7uFWYZkgkCPPZqYvSL-BPKaH5d7JR19oLcGMu1VsE3/s1600/Brass+Plate+FireplaceSCREEN.JPG" height="305" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brass Plated Fireplace Screen with demountable Screen <b>© Kramer Design Studio-2014</b></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, <i>remember these dimensions</i> the next time you need to get sumpin' expertly </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BRASS PLATED</b> in-and-around-Chicago- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>112 inches long by 22" wide by 33" tall,</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if it's smaller than that- they can take care of you !</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feel free to tell 'em "The Man of Steel" sent ya!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.implating.com/">Imperial Plating Company</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7030 West 60th Street</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago,IL.60639</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>773.586.3500</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wkuziel@iplating.com </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-77327173295619747832014-01-07T14:12:00.000-08:002014-01-08T07:10:28.854-08:00Black Oxide Finish on Cold Rolled Steel = H O T ! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <b>GREAT</b> look for finished Steel Furniture and Interior Elements </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that's been around for Nuts & Bolts,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guns and other tools forever, is one that I recently explored for </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Fine </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Custom Furniture,Interior Elements and Lighting that I Design and Fabricate.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Oxide- Cold Dipped- by<b> Expert Metal Finishing</b>, River Forest,IL.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqTv32LxBEt9s-HPZY0FkuUzFM6kAAamPJ1R5qrrCykpohV4Ly3u1QWhlFft-3xu932PK_cNqSM0mvb56jjkXG7mY40JordGxk3agKps0YmYbAPWffJvQwIfGj3qwsPkHrIh4MyzgWFAW/s1600/P1020578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqTv32LxBEt9s-HPZY0FkuUzFM6kAAamPJ1R5qrrCykpohV4Ly3u1QWhlFft-3xu932PK_cNqSM0mvb56jjkXG7mY40JordGxk3agKps0YmYbAPWffJvQwIfGj3qwsPkHrIh4MyzgWFAW/s1600/P1020578.jpg" height="400" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finish almost looks like an Oxidized Bronze !<br />
<br /></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-VWverMF7qLj75HI2dWRGeOTc3B804mRpfVUVb0gbcldsN20_L5mSBDsP7WusDakLrAZK4xaO0eZMFwFakb0CvJt1ev9Dzmu7hRT0cTIOUYoIRrVe5KhFa6UZkQ4BwIgs26pbmAtxIEp/s1600/P1020579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-VWverMF7qLj75HI2dWRGeOTc3B804mRpfVUVb0gbcldsN20_L5mSBDsP7WusDakLrAZK4xaO0eZMFwFakb0CvJt1ev9Dzmu7hRT0cTIOUYoIRrVe5KhFa6UZkQ4BwIgs26pbmAtxIEp/s1600/P1020579.jpg" height="400" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding a "grain" or texture w/ a Heavy Duty ScotchBrite made all the difference!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYlW6jCRUcqeVTyzzH1pyo_HVvnt-CGrV6hhqv8d2K7T6m-NgjDpSzZmg_y-Qfkf2ZtnC5rSel9wtbyiwBSsTMCjtskN4cnjkKzz90vCWaBpogUhaMqyQnETmf0qBThhbn4lsrZxVQyEE/s1600/P1020580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYlW6jCRUcqeVTyzzH1pyo_HVvnt-CGrV6hhqv8d2K7T6m-NgjDpSzZmg_y-Qfkf2ZtnC5rSel9wtbyiwBSsTMCjtskN4cnjkKzz90vCWaBpogUhaMqyQnETmf0qBThhbn4lsrZxVQyEE/s1600/P1020580.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich warm yummy dark brown/black color- enhanced by graining w/ a ScotchBright</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Company that I resourced is in an area of the Western Suburbs of Chicago- just off of North Avenue- between 1st Ave. and 15th Ave.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Industrial Park area is "technically" River Forest- but has about as much in common w/ River Forest as Cicero does w/Chicago.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expert Metal Finishing is run by Gus Garza and his Partner from Poland-Jerzy Kozik.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They do have a "lot" charge- which is more than I'd like it to be- but- comparing the time and labor and chemical requirements to do the job in-house, it certainly is a worthwhile Finishing Option for Steel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only downside is that they "automatically" want to oil the part you bring- after being oxidized- so it won't rust. I had wanted to either clear coat w/ a Matt Clear PowderCoat-</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or use a Hot Wax hand rubbed finish- which must be maintained over time. Getting them- to "understand" this- and to execute- was 50/50.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the challenges I face in interfacing w/ Industrial Materials and Processes is that often- They will want to do something a certain way- because - "<i>thats-the-way-we-allways-do-it"</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which I find- not always what I want.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And- since I'm paying for the work to be done- shouldn't I be able to get my metal left WITHOUT OIL?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think so.........</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway- if you are looking to get a warm rich finish on Steel- try:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Expert Metal Finishing</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="kno-f" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2120 N. West Street</b></span></div>
<div class="kno-f" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>River Grove, IL 60171</b></span></div>
<div class="kno-f" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>708.583.2550</b></span></div>
<div class="kno-f" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 7px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-78288715014987005362014-01-07T11:20:00.003-08:002014-01-07T11:24:50.165-08:00Need Steel? Osorio's Iron and Metal,Chicago,IL.= Service with a Smile!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc1xzx-PHUkBrtySHtp_cBVcBLsNN9_43GW0BzW_V4YeqdzsrP0fRNP_OlgRYsfWG2b_s_ihaC-OVRvt0tFU8BRy4X9MMe0jc9CVLQG1YU5euByNCuPy9oPa1Q42NuUdrhSgFtg2WbsIH/s1600/P1030287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc1xzx-PHUkBrtySHtp_cBVcBLsNN9_43GW0BzW_V4YeqdzsrP0fRNP_OlgRYsfWG2b_s_ihaC-OVRvt0tFU8BRy4X9MMe0jc9CVLQG1YU5euByNCuPy9oPa1Q42NuUdrhSgFtg2WbsIH/s1600/P1030287.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square Steel Tubing @ 1.5" Square @ OSORIO'S IRON WORKS,CHICAGO,IL.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shopping for Steel can sometimes be a Pain-In-The-Ass.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's certainly a "Commodity" item. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not that Brand "A" is any better or worse than Brand "B".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steel is Steel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet- if a small fabricator or individual's looking to buy- one length of this, and another length of that- cut in half please (to fit in my Van) - the "rolled eyes" look is certain to appear from the often crabby Steel Man.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Au Contraire- Mon Fraire</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">......certainly<b><u> NOT</u></b> the case @ <b><a href="http://www.osorioironworksinc.com/">Osorio's Iron and Metal</a></b> in Chicago.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you walk in the door - you are greeted w/a friendly "<i><b>Hola</b></i>" by either Jazmina, Angelica,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or Oscar. If they don't have what you are looking for- they will gladly help to source if for you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example- Cold Rolled Steel- also called 1018- isn't an off-the-shelf item.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>No Problemo</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jazmina will make a call to her supplier- and be able to provide the material for you w/in a day or so. Same thing for Stainless Steel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They primarily support the Ornamental Fence Industry- all the small shops in town that make gates,railings and other "wrought iron" that you commonly see- but never pay attention to.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT- they are also "used to" Artists, Furniture Designers, and others who aren't pulling up in a PickUp Truck ready to load a 20 foot long piece of Steel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Osorio's is a recommended Vendor- as well as someone I "<b>like</b>" to do business with (&you will 2 !)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO_d6GoAc1hcr919e_4RGPI1-wFutLhrIzfZFMYvHHx6xHQAt1jsXyQe7P6Z74mUAIg2lSXpVHNUUF5sBvcVvZAiMQTgiWbST1HI4m7liqBOscXJuhYuv-GpbvkFpqcVU66YcIk25ihoU/s1600/P1030286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO_d6GoAc1hcr919e_4RGPI1-wFutLhrIzfZFMYvHHx6xHQAt1jsXyQe7P6Z74mUAIg2lSXpVHNUUF5sBvcVvZAiMQTgiWbST1HI4m7liqBOscXJuhYuv-GpbvkFpqcVU66YcIk25ihoU/s1600/P1030286.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bandsaw they use to cut 20 foot lengths to fit in your Vehicle @ OSORIO's </td></tr>
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<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Osorio Iron & Metal</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4515 W. Thomas</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chicago,IL. 60651</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>773.772.4060</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hard to "find"- Easy to work with!</b></span>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-89871384063446847402012-10-06T11:16:00.002-07:002012-10-06T11:16:26.308-07:00Custom Wire Bending in ChicagoChicago is a great town in <b>SO</b> many ways & one of them is the network of <b>Sources and Resources </b>that exist here. One of those Sources is a company that is instrumental to the Display + Visual Merchandising Industry, a company that bends wire in very imaginative ways. Recently I was assigned to source out a company that can do wire-bending on a Production level, as well as assist to develop "sample(s)" or prototypes. <br />
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<b>Chicago Wire Design </b>did not disappoint.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwef1PNcaYbShmkrpHO0_M_2LlLvFaVtMYAMQYOAC1OoKrUhD6Tgezt1OQIOLKk_4C0Iz-_-VimTsnxniBaUhiMcYq0H_aKAz4F74SJn1tad_B5ZPpENLVYybOfbDWdOyBms51JSxBOvol/s1600/P1000780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwef1PNcaYbShmkrpHO0_M_2LlLvFaVtMYAMQYOAC1OoKrUhD6Tgezt1OQIOLKk_4C0Iz-_-VimTsnxniBaUhiMcYq0H_aKAz4F74SJn1tad_B5ZPpENLVYybOfbDWdOyBms51JSxBOvol/s640/P1000780.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worktable where all the "magic" occurs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO2i1f-PSO9Ffs10p2CD9nFcLCEoQQsZOtVoJXbf-tKcMDWIGokY2wCYsEAw9O8dbUKag80lbidvPBjtHOH9tRTGrGLzWrCK6RcErkIXn1z4rWZwVAWC3KaPByb97Vg7eMrv-ScMlSehg/s1600/P1000774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKO2i1f-PSO9Ffs10p2CD9nFcLCEoQQsZOtVoJXbf-tKcMDWIGokY2wCYsEAw9O8dbUKag80lbidvPBjtHOH9tRTGrGLzWrCK6RcErkIXn1z4rWZwVAWC3KaPByb97Vg7eMrv-ScMlSehg/s400/P1000774.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview of Main Workroom with print of project in foreground</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7SKBQNypd-23R-xZU1s4417yxZlPNOuyA4dP7vUHBWNiW_GJeWdGNKjcOmlAJJs2u6tMxriycPPahjy49uMx561wPHNAv5gadrtkzPL-wpA1TldhIAVyTIUJT70dhUjMFvz8Wrd3QTHl/s1600/P1000772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7SKBQNypd-23R-xZU1s4417yxZlPNOuyA4dP7vUHBWNiW_GJeWdGNKjcOmlAJJs2u6tMxriycPPahjy49uMx561wPHNAv5gadrtkzPL-wpA1TldhIAVyTIUJT70dhUjMFvz8Wrd3QTHl/s320/P1000772.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bending a bracket that The Shop Foreman designed "on-the-fly"</td></tr>
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Roberto has been working for many years at Chicago Wire and now runs the Company. He deals with all sorts of creative types- from designers to engineers.They can and do produce display racks, floral display armatures, lampshades, and a huge variety of wire bent items.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.chicagowiredesign.com/">Chicago Wire Design</a></b><br />
1750 N. Kimball Avenue<br />
Chicago,IL.60647<br />
773.342.4220Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-37603625000756420932012-03-18T16:11:00.005-07:002012-03-18T16:17:45.731-07:00Steel & Wood : : WOOD + Steel<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Often, "Studio Furniture" is produced in either <b>Wood</b>, <br />
or in <b>Steel</b>.<b></b> </div>
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By <b>Wood</b><i>workers</i>...or <b>Metal</b><i>workers</i>.</div>
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Rarely do Makers have the ability or skill(s) to effectively combine both of these materials in one elegantly integrated design.<br />
I believe that I have achieved this and wish to promote, that aspect of what I do.</div>
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Which led to the layout of<b> </b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kramerdesignstudio/6828174324/" target="_blank"><b>these 2 </b>postcard designs</a>- not fully detailed- but effectively layed out to incorporate some of the image that I shot (and a few that <a href="http://www.ditzlerphoto.com/" target="_blank">David Ditzler</a> shot for me!- Thanks DAVID!) </div>
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Often, when designing a piece like this- it's best to consider the "Less-Is-More" philosophy. </div>
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On the other hand, leaving out other examples of my being capable of integrating Wood & Steel in my Stair Railing Designs and in my Custom Lighting Design as well as other home furnishing would take away from knowing about the full-range of what I can offer to an Interior Designer, Architect or Home Owner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7vMPwiF_DYklqxCcdF6v6QvJ28co-MU4gv8Qq7HrowH0ztr2NP0HuS6w0ctPVceGpzR-ulIsbtvUk5tHBcAQ-_zPQ44DRu_I9pcXA6EnId-_4jCFO958t_GHO_DjQMNbrkkJNhTOKdyR/s1600/New+Postcard_2012.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7vMPwiF_DYklqxCcdF6v6QvJ28co-MU4gv8Qq7HrowH0ztr2NP0HuS6w0ctPVceGpzR-ulIsbtvUk5tHBcAQ-_zPQ44DRu_I9pcXA6EnId-_4jCFO958t_GHO_DjQMNbrkkJNhTOKdyR/s400/New+Postcard_2012.tiff" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, having comped this card up- I feel that by showing my 2 new pieces
(top and bottom of the card) and by inserting smaller shots of my
Lighting and Furniture, I have been able to display the range of skills
and services I can <i>bring to the "table"</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGBZSqrlvzhnhH0Da0mkLgwKlhF4qIgY76_2gBWo5DsMFYw-Fd8_jx-1MADnOAte5x379kDE8sDPvPlgxIkWcMT1ha-WaYlEtA90Ftnj9cxtaFNdkK8sSMbZ7Rvl5xywol4bwvTduLWCi/s1600/NewPOSTCARD_2012.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGBZSqrlvzhnhH0Da0mkLgwKlhF4qIgY76_2gBWo5DsMFYw-Fd8_jx-1MADnOAte5x379kDE8sDPvPlgxIkWcMT1ha-WaYlEtA90Ftnj9cxtaFNdkK8sSMbZ7Rvl5xywol4bwvTduLWCi/s400/NewPOSTCARD_2012.tiff" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, having comped this card up- I feel that by showing my <b>2 new pieces</b>
(top and bottom of the card) , I have been able to display the integration of different skills
and services I can <i>bring to the "table".</i><br />
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</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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Designing an effective Mailer has to meet one main requirement : using a phrase that my friend Tom Job once coined...... <b>"<u>Cubicle Worthy</u>"</b>! </div>
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That is, is the design and visual impact of the piece strong enough to not only be posted on the walls of a persons cubicle - but is that card also going to create a buzz, cause attention to be be drawn to it by various co-workers and colleagues stopping by the "intended target audiences" cubicle?</div>
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So, I ask <u>you</u> my lovely readers of this blog- which of these two different 5" by 7" postcard Mailers do you feel is "<u><b>Cubicle Worthy</b></u>" in their intended representation of my Wood and Steel abilities?</div>
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<br />Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-76456364773460185752012-03-17T11:23:00.016-07:002012-03-17T12:40:11.045-07:00Polisher's in & around Chicago<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXLFxJYA1GMUS4N62_Q6KPO3_KozRtbzmsnakVLtKM7E-tlhblIZXAc0kdopF7McHHN_TPyHSI9XU2fkp-0n6K7nIfo1CZJQ20sJThOatd03EPV8cvFLAXskyDyQrfZjPd2eU4QLlg_T8/s1600/P1020420.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXLFxJYA1GMUS4N62_Q6KPO3_KozRtbzmsnakVLtKM7E-tlhblIZXAc0kdopF7McHHN_TPyHSI9XU2fkp-0n6K7nIfo1CZJQ20sJThOatd03EPV8cvFLAXskyDyQrfZjPd2eU4QLlg_T8/s200/P1020420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720945936372114066" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Polishing Steel is a lost art.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Many, many moons ago-</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > Chicago</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> once had more Metal Fabrication</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">business' than any other US city.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">(This statistic came from my former Abrasive Salesman, so he may have been slightly biased....)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Much of the Metal Fabricated was at one time </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >polished</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> - either prior to plating or as a stand alone final finish.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Metal Polishing is a skill, that sadly has been "lost", being replaced by other cheaper, faster means of making a piece looks attractive. (Unless you're Apple, and can hire forced, cheap Chines</span><span style="font-family:arial;">e labor to polish those <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">iPad</span>/iPhone cases for pennies!!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the course of Fine <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Furniture</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Design & Fabrication (which is what I do) it's often necessary to polish the metal.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">AND- certain metals like </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Stainle</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ss</span> Steel</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> are "begging" to be polished-</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />that's how they are engineered.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Finding Custom Polishers has been a challenge for me.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />All of them <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">eith</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">er want to charge an "<span style="font-style: italic;">Arm-&-a-Leg</span>" to do what they do....</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />or "only" do production runs of 100's of parts at </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">at a time..</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />or - have</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"> simply moved, died off (not a good job for respiratory health, and all polishers seem to smoke as well ??)</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">-<br />or gotten away w/ poor customer (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Joe</span> @ A & B Polishing??!) service/ bad</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Attitudes (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tony</span> @ Millennium </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Polishing - you know what I'm talking about???!) for too long....and I refuse to support/ do business w/them.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Until-I-met-Henry!!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">What-a-breath-of-fresh-air, this guy is.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Nice to do business with. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Takes great pride in his work. Fairly priced. Delivers on Time.<br />No attitude. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hablemos</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Espanol</span>. Excellent work. Knows Metal. Knows Polishing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A True Professional (Polisher).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fC4btVpajKCrYJrhEMAandAKhGh8jWSzdckN51OP6qHjvzKO1N2uWZrUJuz4j4DWSTifornnzHMzaXmyTRnkHIiexevI2NjLkCbaPI0CppkWVOV7ycRBCnJrZOO41abCSmKXo8t1wYBe/s1600/P1020206.jpg"><br /></a></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LFxGVW6ZatProuw6W4y_QCiuMJuhgWqZn8VMiaSqlhlqytzOJmVOLuxIfxQ2ImaXpQq2LvZo0DT0-kURCc1_0gwEqW72aKLdD_ad9Y_zc1692HFJF7JMeGEW4lSNNRxefiAHoTCg9OR2/s1600/Bench_4027_flat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LFxGVW6ZatProuw6W4y_QCiuMJuhgWqZn8VMiaSqlhlqytzOJmVOLuxIfxQ2ImaXpQq2LvZo0DT0-kURCc1_0gwEqW72aKLdD_ad9Y_zc1692HFJF7JMeGEW4lSNNRxefiAHoTCg9OR2/s200/Bench_4027_flat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720946613706109538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">When I brought Henry the base to this Stainless and Live Edge Wood Table- he needed to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">rePolish</span> the Stainless that had been carefully <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pre</span>-polished by another Chicago Resource/gem-</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Tom @ Griffin Plating.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">No questions.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">He totally "got" what needed to be done.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">And- when I returned to pick up my parts- my jaw dropped.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fC4btVpajKCrYJrhEMAandAKhGh8jWSzdckN51OP6qHjvzKO1N2uWZrUJuz4j4DWSTifornnzHMzaXmyTRnkHIiexevI2NjLkCbaPI0CppkWVOV7ycRBCnJrZOO41abCSmKXo8t1wYBe/s1600/P1020206.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fC4btVpajKCrYJrhEMAandAKhGh8jWSzdckN51OP6qHjvzKO1N2uWZrUJuz4j4DWSTifornnzHMzaXmyTRnkHIiexevI2NjLkCbaPI0CppkWVOV7ycRBCnJrZOO41abCSmKXo8t1wYBe/s200/P1020206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720949521311498914" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Premier Metal Finishing</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />6115 W. Belmont Avenue</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Chicago,Ill 60641</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />773.427.6650</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPTczZZH65QRhGSX9XMpUnFacSjj61yeGQxOsRq4mV5zyEv5cCLKI0ivJIPyZsKNRNcKm2FtsQLkRvojV8MsMi765XwVY1c0NC9G3UtK1X2GadfFORITexjgRP_qyu3gXpCWLOBkCy3G1/s1600/P1020501.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPTczZZH65QRhGSX9XMpUnFacSjj61yeGQxOsRq4mV5zyEv5cCLKI0ivJIPyZsKNRNcKm2FtsQLkRvojV8MsMi765XwVY1c0NC9G3UtK1X2GadfFORITexjgRP_qyu3gXpCWLOBkCy3G1/s200/P1020501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720952366789290786" border="0" /></a>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-47083059785074177992010-11-28T12:33:00.000-08:002010-11-28T15:59:01.413-08:00NEW Postcard for Kramer Design Studio > Best of 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9FoMH3O-blqp43WHrlVlRKrlKZ1WCO5rNSlercb9OuJxq6sjHw2D43EQpI8YmRGNsQ__44girMa84mKALXSVF4BQd-lgDGkK0BmlIY9iiTPNlbFRdT22e9hIDOn4WgV2q4-11a44uG5q/s1600/Postcard+2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9FoMH3O-blqp43WHrlVlRKrlKZ1WCO5rNSlercb9OuJxq6sjHw2D43EQpI8YmRGNsQ__44girMa84mKALXSVF4BQd-lgDGkK0BmlIY9iiTPNlbFRdT22e9hIDOn4WgV2q4-11a44uG5q/s320/Postcard+2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544704583236613602" /></a><br />Designing<i> anything</i> for one's self is always a challenge.<div><br /><div><b>WHY ?</b></div><div>Any idea, how "<i>easy</i>" it is to "please yourself" ? -</div><div>Noooo......?!?!</div><div>Not <i><b>that </b>way</i>...... I mean to actually create a thing that you'll </div><div>be <b>certain</b> will satisfy all of your conditions/constraints!</div><div><br /></div><div>Designing a <a href="http://flic.kr/p/8WmdMi">new Postcard</a>- for use in Promoting & Marketing my services is an excellent way to summarize the year - in the same fashion that magazines and other media will cull a listing </div><div>of the "Best Of_____". </div><div><br /></div><div>So after a review of all of the items that I produced this past year (and documented properly!) </div><div>I came up with these 5 items (actually, 5 images, with <b>2 photos</b> showing a Light AND a piece of Furniture, so actually 7 items! ).</div><div><br /></div><div>Do the images properly reflect my full range of skills /abilities? </div><div>Do the images impart as much attention to detail as I give to my work? </div><div>To me, there's nothing worse, than an artist/designer presenting themselves to the world in an unprofessional manner.</div><div>I mean- what good is showing a dark photo, or an image of ones installation that was taken with a camera phone? What's the point?</div><div>So, what I'm trying to say- is that after <b>many</b> layouts and iterations of this card were created I settled on this layout. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that it proves to be an effective NEW tool in my Marketing Arsenal.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-75888670686755065772009-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:002009-10-26T15:24:40.263-07:00"1000 Ideas For Creative Reuse"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXaG0AIDuSbyn9tZXk3k9UcHrlKJQCEHFEeDUw5wHgc5qJ_UvQbhq-g5iCb2ploYzOjxQx1DHmRSBLDiDK5iy9TxQ9gBSU144PugDx_kSoPaMl4zwmShRNw5gquH-16rAJ7XBtamWGZBy/s1600-h/IMG.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXaG0AIDuSbyn9tZXk3k9UcHrlKJQCEHFEeDUw5wHgc5qJ_UvQbhq-g5iCb2ploYzOjxQx1DHmRSBLDiDK5iy9TxQ9gBSU144PugDx_kSoPaMl4zwmShRNw5gquH-16rAJ7XBtamWGZBy/s320/IMG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397004675598835250" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div><br /></div>Quarry Books recently published a softcover book on rePurposed Furniture and Furnishings called- "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/1000-Ideas-Creative-Reuse-Restyle/dp/1592535402/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt">1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse</a>"- featuring my work (5 images) and the work of my brother</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">(6 images).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">This book is written by an artist from Eureka ,California named Garth (<i>can't help but think of Waynes World when I hear that name- sorry dude!</i>) Johnson who found my work thru flickr (ahhh- the wonders of Social Networking/ aka Web 2.0 !) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Garth chose to break his book into chapters that group the work into what I feel are slightly confusing categories.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">For example, his first chapter is titled "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Paper,Collage, + Assemblage</span>"- which implies a <b>material</b> based taxonomy - but then other chapters are arranged by <b>function</b> (for example the chapter titled "Housewares + Furnishings" ),</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">but, then there's a chaptered titled "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Geek Craft + Man Craft</span>" (which sounds waaaaay to much like a term HGTV uses called a <b>Man Cave</b>- which I cant stand!) -</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">so - I'm a little confused by his method of taxonomy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Also - for visual purposes - they chose to display the books photographs with out any text to explain/support what the image is.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">The only text is a credit for who made the piece and who photographed the object.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">All of the explanation of materials used- what the object was reclaimed, upcycled from, exists as an "Image Directory", which I found very clunky to use when reading this book.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">What I'm pleased about is how <b>diverse</b> the range of creativity <b>is</b> that Garth has assembled in this book- it's truly wonderful to see how vastly skilled and talented artist and designers can be.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">And- it's the very first book that has published my work- and the work of my brother <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronkramer/">Aaron Kramer</a>. (.......who's counting, that there's 6 images of his work- and only 5 images of my work- really- who's counting!?!?)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">This book has spawned some ideas for me personally, to publish a book- that showed more examples of this vernacular- </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">but shown in situ.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">How many times do most folks need to <b>see</b> how a piece of Furniture or a Lamp will "look" in their home- or a home "like" their home......so simply showing an object without seeing it in it's context...anyway- I don't want to give away too many ideas for <b>my </b>book.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">Here's the ISBN to order the book:: 978-1-59253-540-8</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-40825093877957740352008-12-03T12:51:00.000-08:002008-12-03T19:20:52.759-08:00Knock-OffsIf there's one thing that really gets me going -<br />It's the subject of <span style="font-weight:bold;">KNOCK-OFFS.</span><br /><br />Why?<br />Because to me- it's the<span style="font-style:italic;"> lowest</span> form of "flattery".<br />It becomes an excuse for lack of Creativity.<br />There's thousands of brilliant ideas floating around in our brains- <div>waiting to be developed- so why <span style="font-weight:bold;">steal</span> someone elses?<br /><br />Plus- I've been knocked-off- by none other than Crate & Barrel- who had not only signed a Non-Disclosure form ( me and a Senior Buyer) but then, chose to do a poor job in executing my design- and lowering its originality.<br /><br />But today - I was shocked and amazed to discover- an email inquiry- </div><div>asking ME, to Knock-off - </div><div>............ME!!!<br /><br />Apparently an <a href="http://www.cjmw.net/">Architectural Firm</a> in Winston-Salem North Carolina, that dates back to 1906 (according to their website) is designing a new Hotel called the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Hotel Indigo</span> (do ya think its BLUE?) in Ashville NC.. In the hotels interior lobby is a staircase that was designed by <span style="font-style:italic;">someone</span> from this Architectural Firm- who instead of creating an original design-<br />& had called out a spec - of- get this-a StairRailing like <a href="http://www.kramerdesignstudio.com/images/stair_railings/fullsize/image_02_full.jpg">mine.</a><br />Meaning- they wanted a copy made of my design.<br />So- the Metal/Steel Subcontractor emailed me- and later spoke to with me- asking ME- to quote on a Railing Design- that was mine- to Copy That- for his company to quote to the Architect.<br /><br />First off- anyone who has ever done a Railing before knows- they are VERY site specific.<br />Meaning that a Fabricator in Chicago- can't very accurately- or easily, make- and expect an exact fit- of a thing made in one Geographic Location- and have it install properly elsewhere.<br />Just not doable- especially with a Complex Curved Staircase.<br />The fella at the <a href="http://steelfab-inc.com/Portfolio.html">Steel Fabricator</a>- who asked to me Quote on Knocking MySelf Off- made it sound like it was an off the shelf product- like- here's how many feet we'll need- and then- you can quote it. Plus- he voted for McCain (OK- I'm an Obama supporter!).<br /><br />What's really amazing- is when he sent me a PDF to review to submit a Quote- The name of The Architects Firm was quite legible- so I called and chatted with them- telling them- I was <span style="font-weight:bold;">flattered</span> that they liked MY design enough to use for their new Hotel Project- AND- I would really appreciate them NOT <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">using Google as a design tool</span>.<br />That's the worst part of having a <a href="http://kramerdesignstudio.com/">Website</a>- especially one that consistently ranks high in Searches for key-phrases like <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=designs+of+stair+railings&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">Stair Railings</a><br /><br />Well- the young designer at The Architecture firm <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">now</span> has a better understanding of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Knock-Offs.</span><br />I may not have a job in Ashville NC- nor a job with the Winston Salem Architecture firm- but I do have a great story to tell about KNOCK -OFFS</div>Randall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287520029354819886.post-60604941531063628412007-07-08T16:15:00.000-07:002007-07-08T14:11:38.469-07:00Recycled WoodDid you ever notice the trees blown down from one of those violents,sudden microbursts- and wonder- gosh, wouldn't THAT make a wonderful something?<br /><br />Well, so did Bruce Horigan, owner of <b>Urban Forest Products, Inc.</b><br />They take the Chicago areas urban trees to their highest re-use possible,using this sustainable resource to create hardwood lumber for Furniture and Flooring.<br />Pretty cool, huh?<br />They carry all types of wood<br />from Ash,Adler, and Birch<br />all the way thru the alphabet to <br />Sycamore and Walnut.<br />Bruce is a certified Arborist- and is really passionate about wood.<br /><br />Plus- he delivers (in the Chicagoland area)<br />So next time your neighbor decides its time to "whack" that gorgeous old tree in their backyard- call Bruce- 847.729.1023- and he'll make sure, either YOU or someone else will make something pretty out of it.<br />(Other than woodchips!)<br /><br /><br />OH YEAH- if you want to have a piece made using this wood, and don't have the resources to Build your own furniture- Bruce is happy to provide the contact info for woodworkers,cabinetmakers or Furniture Designers that support his business.<br /><br />Horigan UFP,Inc.<br />36 Park Drive<br />Glenview,IL.60025<br />847.729.1023<br />bahorigan@sbcglobal (dot) net<br /><br />http://www.horiganufp.comRandall Kramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12809944232191218626noreply@blogger.com1