Hello everyone,
I desperately need advice from all of you out there. I am having some customised door knobs made for my house, I have designed them myself and have supplied the foundry specialising in the making of door handles, knobs and cupboard knobs as well and they have come back with a very expensive quote for the service.

I have tried to investigate why the price has become so high, the designs are pretty simple, and the feedback I have received is that it is the manual labour that is driving the price up.

The finish that I am looking for is to cast the knobs in brass and then to have a blackened finish on that.

Would you be able to advice me on where the cost lie in a project like this? What recommendations would you have on making them cheaper, is there any cheaper materials that are nice to use? Would it be better to have the handles not cast through (having them hollow)? Is there any finish that is similar to blackened brass?

A million questions I know but I would really appreciate your advice, especially when I go back and discuss the quote further with the foundry.

many thanks, marina