Feasibility estimate
Get a feasibility estimate
Send the idea and the size. A description, a photograph, a sketch or a 3D file all work. We reply with whether the piece is castable, in which metal, what would have to change, and roughly what range it sits in, quoted Ex Works. There is no charge for the estimate and it does not commit you to anything.
01 · What to send
What to send
The two things that actually determine the answer are the idea and the size. Everything else is helpful but optional.
Send at least one of these:
- a description of what you want made
- a reference photograph or image
- a sketch or drawing
- a 3D file
And tell us:
- roughly how tall or how large the finished piece should be
- how many you want, whether it is one piece or an edition
- whether you already have a preference between silicon bronze and brass, and if you do not, we will advise
- when you need it, if there is a fixed date
- where the finished piece has to end up, because prices are quoted Ex Works and transport is quoted separately
Rough is fine. "About a metre and a half, one piece, standing figure" is enough to work with. Precision arrives during the master pattern stage, which is exactly where it should arrive.
02 · What comes back
What comes back
A short written answer covering four things:
- Whether it can be cast, and whether it can be cast in one piece or would be divided, cast in sections and welded back
- Which metal we would recommend, and why
- What would have to change, if anything, to make the form castable
- Roughly what range the project sits in, quoted Ex Works
On that last point: Ex Works means the price covers the finished piece at our gate in Nakhon Pathom. Transport, insurance and duty sit outside it and are quoted separately, so you see both numbers at the same time instead of one of them three months later.
Ex Works is about the price, not about what we will do for you. If the piece is going abroad, we crate it, fumigate and stamp the timber here at the foundry so it is certified for international shipping, and handle the export documentation with an export partner. Tell us the destination and all of that is quoted alongside the casting. You can also hand collection to your own freight agent instead, and the casting price does not change. Full detail on services.
If we think the project is not a fit for this workshop, we will say so plainly and quickly. That is a better outcome for you than a slow, polite quotation designed to be declined.
03 · What it is not
What it is not
It is not a fixed quotation. A fixed quotation needs the final form, because we price by the difficulty of moulding, casting and chasing rather than by weight, and difficulty is not knowable from a description alone. See services for how the quotation and payment stages work.
It is also not a commitment. Most enquiries end here, and that is fine.
04 · Send it
Send it
- decofoundry@gmail.com
- Phone
- 089-984-7055
- Language
- Thai or English
The button opens a new email to us with the questions above already listed, so you only have to fill in the answers and attach any images. Nothing is sent until you press send in your own email program, and nothing is stored on this website.
05 · Before you write
Before you write
Two pages answer most of what people ask in a first email, and reading either one first usually makes the estimate faster and more useful:
06 · Common questions
Common questions
What is a feasibility estimate?
A short written answer telling you whether your piece can be cast, in which metal, what would have to change to make it castable, and roughly what range the project sits in. It is free and it does not commit you to anything.
What do I need to send to get one?
The idea and the size. A description, a reference photograph, a sketch or a 3D file are all enough. Height and rough proportions matter more than exact dimensions at this stage, and it helps to say how many pieces you want.
Will you give me an exact price?
Not from an estimate. An exact price needs the final form, because price is set by the difficulty of moulding, casting and chasing rather than by weight. The estimate gives you a range that is honest enough to decide whether to continue.
How long does an estimate take?
We aim to reply within a few working days. If the piece is complex enough that we need to ask questions before answering, we will ask rather than guess.
Does the estimate include shipping?
It is quoted separately. Casting prices are quoted Ex Works, which means they cover the finished piece at our gate in Nakhon Pathom. Tell us the delivery address and we will quote the transport alongside the casting so you see both figures together.
I am commissioning from outside Thailand. What do I have to organise myself?
Less than you probably expect. We crate larger pieces, fumigate the timber at the foundry, and handle the export documentation with an export partner. Prices are quoted Ex Works, so freight is a separate line rather than a hidden one, but arranging it is something we can do for you.
Is there a limit on how large a piece you will estimate?
No. The largest work to leave the foundry stands seven metres, cast in sections and assembled. For anything at that scale the question we answer first is whether the form can be divided and welded back invisibly, and that answer comes out of the estimate.
Is there any obligation?
None. Most enquiries end at the estimate, and that is a reasonable outcome for both sides.
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