FAQ
Why shop SMALL?
Benefits of choosing a small, local business:
higher quality goods than anything mass-produced
better for the environment (no shipping emissions)
enriches people, not corporations. you're supporting your local economy, not jeff bezos.
easier to ensure ethical production
What does skoria mean?
“Skoria” comes from the Ancient Greek spelling of “scoria”, meaning slag or the impurities formed and separated out when molten metal is smelted from ore.
So Skoria means “rusty trash”, essentially. Not only a way of alluding to Skoria’s humble beginnings, but to an ongoing dedication to sustainable practices. It's sort of a major concept in my art and business as a whole.
What's the collaborative fabrication process look like?
Each project is unique, but most follow this rough flow (with an emphasis on communication throughout):
Connect - Tell me your idea. I tell you if I can do it and provide ballpark costs.
Planning - We exchange messages, pictures, maybe a pin board and hash out what this creation looks like and logistics.
Consultation - Includes site visit where I take measurements. Then I provide an official estimate and you provide a deposit.
Fabrication - We finalize the design. I'll send either sketches or CAD depending on the project and progress pics throughout the build.
Install - There might be a dry-fit. I might need to demo an old railing or drill into your concrete walls or patio. There will be dust. There will be loud noise. But it'll be worth it.
Finish up - I clean my mess and take some photos. You pay the remaining balance and maybe leave me a nice review. This helps me to eat and buy more tools to do more work.
if you use scrap, why am I being charged for materials??
It takes time to find, select, and organize scrap metal. Even more time to dismantle, clean, and polish to prepare it for a new life. It's significantly more labor-intensive and hazardous than sourcing new material.
I do sometimes have to purchase "new" materials, but they're usually factory seconds (discards from a large metal supplier). It's cheaper than new, but still costs money and I need to physically select, cut, load, haul, and store it.
Clients are more than welcome to compare my material costs with any other metal supplier or to source their own material.
I love your mission, how do I help?!
Hire me
Alternatively, word of mouth and power of suggestion goes a long way. Have a friend or family member who's thinking about having a mass produced desk shipped to them from a big box store known for exploiting cheap labor overseas?
Maybe let them know that there are other options.
donate materials
I have limited storage space so I have to be selective in what scrap metal I can accept, but if it's useful and not too far of a drive then I'm happy to scoop up some excess steel or copper from your remodel or that demo that you don't want to deal with.
Fabricating handrails on the shop floor before getting a donation to buy the steel to build a larger welding table.
donate $$
I'll be honest. I'm one person, for now. And I started this venture with barely any money. Still, Skoria is growing rapidly and I'm looking into funding options to get better equipment to provide more services, do larger jobs, and make a greater impact, but I could use some help. Most grants are only for non-profits (which Skoria is not, technically, despite functioning as one) and I'm hitting paywall after paywall. Every little bit donated helps get Skoria closer and closer to much more than just a full service fabrication shop. I'd love to bring other creative professionals on board to start working on innovative large scale projects that focus on sustainability and conservation while utilizing circular economic principles and providing a safe and inclusive environment to nontraditional blue collar workers and tradespeople. Unfortunately, that takes a lot more money than I can, legally and ethically, acquire. If you have enough to spare, please consider donating. These early years are crucial for development.