"How to have a custom project
estimated, planned and built"
First comes the idea...
Now, the idea can come from any variety of sources but do
remember that I need to know some very vital things before I can estimate
any project. This critical information is of course your finger size,
metal preference, and a good idea of the design and what you want...
This can be a url or a picture that you scanned, or something I have made
in the past too, so do remember to send the url or the address so I can
easily see what you would like me to consider building for you...
The better formed your idea the more likely you will get a bid back almost
instantly... If you have not heard from me after sending a email about your
project please review your request to see if the information needed to process
it is there, and if it is not please resend with all information again for
my review... I will seek to provide you with a working estimate as soon
as I can, once I have what I need to do so. I love client drawings that
turn into world class designs, so send me that idea now, as a jpg or gif
or bmp... At this time I will bid a project initally, and set a wax charge,
or art fee for the patterned custom bands... If you want to move a project
forward pay down this next step at once via the secure server for fastest
service...
When you Email remember these things
please!
Email with the finger size, metal preference, and
a very good example of the idea...
Email with picture or drawing of your idea, with
all the above info...
Email with picture or drawing of your idea, with
all the above info...
Email a URL when refering to something on the web
please, the location of that is critical..
If the information is not there to bid the job,
I won't...
PS, if you send me something like "Go to the web site, click here and scroll
down" I will not... Just cut and paste a url or the exact address of what
you want me to see, I do not have the time to scroll endlessly a web site
looking for something I do not know, so for your estimate give me what I
need, then I can give you what you want... It's your job to identify that
dream, mine is to make it, and that dream come true...
Important note:
*If the idea is still moving around and there are questions and considerations
only a general estimate can be given, and if I do not have all I need to
estimate a project you might not hear from me... I will always try to focus
on those projects that I feel are defined and that I feel I can help with
most effectively, so please know that scattered information over a dozen
emails is not either condusive to prompt accurate estimates or in stimulating
a reply from me, so if you have not heard from me for a bit resend, and
check yer request for completeness... If you have not made a deposit yet
do so now, waxes and masters are made after the deposit, via the secure order server...
BallPark Estimate
for a good "working range"
Find your closest FEDEX Office?
Once that idea is formed and all the details are in I can make what I like
to call a "Ballpark Working Estimate" which is basically my best guess at
the time, knowing by experience about where the project will end up costing...
Now do remember that at this stage I cannot know the exact weight of a wax,
and there by cannot know the exact cost of the metal for a project... I
like to be clear and try to get as close to a final estimate as I can of
course, but we all have to understand that the solid numbers are going to
come when the wax is cut, the parts are gathered together and we're ready
to punch forward... I will give a working estimate and strive to stick to
that, but at the time of moving from the wax stage to casting, or indeed
where the project varies I will itemize and explain any deviation from that
working estimate, and explain... My intention is not to make an elastic
bid, just the best possible product and result possible, and as affordably
as possible...
Next comes the wax, or the master to mold, or
fabricated item!
Now, depending on the project the next step would be where we start to create
the project. At this time we would have given an initial estimate for carving
the wax, if that was the appropriate path, or in the case of a celtic wedding
band or celtic cathedral we would make the art and master from which we
would make the ring... This phase is often the most thrilling I think, for
one can see the idea in metal (or wax) and the project starts to become
visible... At this phase of course the objective has been well defined and
we are questing towards a fixed objective... I might do a complementary
initial drawing but to cut the wax, make the master or fabricate the item
a deposit would have been made...
Logically by the time we start any project we have broken it down into at
least two segments... For wax work style projects we will price the wax,
and ballpark it past that... Once the wax is cut we can weigh it and determine
much closer the cost and price, but we can forecast for you...
Next comes the manufacturing!
When we arrive at the manufacturing stage we have a singularity of vision
and objective, with the specifications set and evolved, and we are now ready
to make the ring. We require the final payment as we journey into the shop
services which will render that idea into substance, with weight and mass.
At this time we have taken a deposit for the wax or art rendering and now
is the time we seek to make the distance between the idea in tangable form
and the finished item with as few hitches and hang ups. Once we go into
the shop side of manufacturing the usual steps are compressed into an unbroken
to finished step... In essence, the next time you hear from me will generally
be to annouonce pictures and give ya a tracking number...
Why I do it this way???
When you look at the client work which has been done you
sense of course this is not your avarage jewelry store. Forged by thirty
five years of experience, and the fire fueled by the wonderfully creative
ideas from you, the real people, undimmed by braindead commission sales
people and clerks... I
do not know many things in the world, but I do know this... There is not
shortage of inspired visions and ideas by you, the public, and my vision
is to be here to translate those ideas and dreams into the world, with
experience and technical skill, to assure that you remember and respect
Tradeshop and me, for what we do, not how I spell... {grin}... In the
end, when the words fall away, it is all about your dreams and visions
here, and so it should always be... Enjoy the production, enjoy the differences
and please when asking for estimates cut and paste file names or urls
so I can see exactly what you liked...
To take a project forward starts with a complete understanding of what
the objective is, next comes the wax or art stage, where the item is worked
up, and last comes building, setting and or engraving. I try to help
with celtic projects and patterned bands to set the stage, but to make
the master and move past the initial workup I might do as a courtesy be
sure to fill out the secure server and get the payment info in place to
continue the process... When we begin your project we want to make sure
that it is exactly what you desire, so we take it thru a series of steps
designed to clarify first, then construct that vision your way. The more
information the better is the rule here, and I invite you to enjoy the
examples I show, and to consider Tradeshop for your next family heirloom
project..
. Ray Elsey, Founder, Webmaster, Craftsman and more...
Client
Previews 
Now, the idea can come from any variety of sources but do
remember that I need to know some very vital things before I can estimate
any project. This critical information is of course your finger size,
metal preference, and a good idea of the design and what you want...
This can be a url or a picture that you scanned, or something I have made
in the past too, so do remember to send the url or the address so I can
easily see what you would like me to consider building for you... 
The better formed your idea the more likely you will get a bid back almost
instantly... If you have not heard from me after sending a email about your
project please review your request to see if the information needed to process
it is there, and if it is not please resend with all information again for
my review... I will seek to provide you with a working estimate as soon
as I can, once I have what I need to do so. I love client drawings that
turn into world class designs, so send me that idea now, as a jpg or gif
or bmp... At this time I will bid a project initally, and set a wax charge,
or art fee for the patterned custom bands... If you want to move a project
forward pay down this next step at once via the secure server for fastest
service...
Once that idea is formed and all the details are in I can make what I like
to call a "Ballpark Working Estimate" which is basically my best guess at
the time, knowing by experience about where the project will end up costing...
Now do remember that at this stage I cannot know the exact weight of a wax,
and there by cannot know the exact cost of the metal for a project... I
like to be clear and try to get as close to a final estimate as I can of
course, but we all have to understand that the solid numbers are going to
come when the wax is cut, the parts are gathered together and we're ready
to punch forward... I will give a working estimate and strive to stick to
that, but at the time of moving from the wax stage to casting, or indeed
where the project varies I will itemize and explain any deviation from that
working estimate, and explain... My intention is not to make an elastic
bid, just the best possible product and result possible, and as affordably
as possible... 
Now, depending on the project the next step would be where we start to create
the project. At this time we would have given an initial estimate for carving
the wax, if that was the appropriate path, or in the case of a celtic wedding
band or celtic cathedral we would make the art and master from which we
would make the ring... This phase is often the most thrilling I think, for
one can see the idea in metal (or wax) and the project starts to become
visible... At this phase of course the objective has been well defined and
we are questing towards a fixed objective... I might do a complementary
initial drawing but to cut the wax, make the master or fabricate the item
a deposit would have been made... 
When we arrive at the manufacturing stage we have a singularity of vision
and objective, with the specifications set and evolved, and we are now ready
to make the ring. We require the final payment as we journey into the shop
services which will render that idea into substance, with weight and mass.
At this time we have taken a deposit for the wax or art rendering and now
is the time we seek to make the distance between the idea in tangable form
and the finished item with as few hitches and hang ups. Once we go into
the shop side of manufacturing the usual steps are compressed into an unbroken
to finished step... In essence, the next time you hear from me will generally
be to annouonce pictures and give ya a tracking number... 
I
do not know many things in the world, but I do know this... There is not
shortage of inspired visions and ideas by you, the public, and my vision
is to be here to translate those ideas and dreams into the world, with
experience and technical skill, to assure that you remember and respect
Tradeshop and me, for what we do, not how I spell... {grin}... In the
end, when the words fall away, it is all about your dreams and visions
here, and so it should always be... Enjoy the production, enjoy the differences
and please when asking for estimates cut and paste file names or urls
so I can see exactly what you liked... 
