// news & guides
From the workshop floor.
Notes, guides and occasional news from our Andover workshop — practical things worth knowing about steel, finishes and getting custom metalwork made.
Bare steel vs powder-coated: care and longevity
How raw and powder-coated steel age, how long each lasts, and exactly how to look after both.
Read guide →Bespoke vs off-the-shelf metalwork
When a standard product does the job, and when it's worth having metalwork made to measure — cost, fit and lead time compared.
Read guide →Designing gates and railings that last
Posts, gauge, hinges, galvanising and compliance — the decisions that keep a steel gate swinging true for decades.
Read guide →Laser-cut steel signage: what's possible
Minimum detail, fonts and bridges, fixings, standoff and illuminated options — and how to supply artwork that cuts clean.
Read guide →Choosing a powder-coat colour and finish
RAL numbers, matt vs gloss, textures and how to pick a finish that suits where your piece will live.
Read guide →Sheet steel thickness: a practical guide
What each gauge feels like, when it bends, and how thickness changes folding and cost — pick the right one for your part.
Read guide →Which steel lasts outdoors?
Mild steel, weathering steel and stainless compared for garden and outdoor metalwork — and how we protect each one.
Read guide →How custom fabrication works here
From a sketch or CAD file to a finished part — the journey through cutting, folding, welding and finishing in Andover.
Read guide →Got a project in mind?
Whether it's one bracket or a batch of a thousand, we'd love to help you make it.