Care, install and info
All of our hardware is sand cast then hand and machine finished using the utmost of care. While bronze does not corrode or degrade, there are steps you can take to ensure the enduring appeal of the hardware.
Most of our products are lacquered and will not darken, deepen in colour over time. The natural patina process is sometimes desired as any darkening of the 'living finish' can easily be polished away to reveal the original bronze finish and promote a lustre. Please let us know if you want your items to be left un-lacquered.
Care
After some time, and with normal wear and tear, you may want to give the hardware a bit of a cleaning. You can use a mild soap in water to wash the pieces and remove any food stuffs or debris. DO NOT use any harsh chemicals, sprays, furniture cleaners, or otherwise caustic solutions on or near the hardware. As well, it is best to avoid allowing things like nail polish or toothpaste from sitting too long on the hardware as they may affect the natural patina on the surface.
If you want to remove any natural deepening or patina on any un-lacquered wares, you can use a top quality metal polish to reveal the original lustre of the hardware. We like AUTOSOL Metal Polish for this purpose. But any good quality product would suffice. Do not use anything other than mild soap and water on the ‘BLACKENED’ pieces though, as it may affect the lacquer and then the patina on the bronze.
Installation
SFH is like any other hardware in that it’s best if an experienced person does the installing. Our hardware pieces have deep threads drilled into them so that they can accommodate various lengths of bolts for varying thickness of cabinetry and furniture. We will send along standard #8-32 cabinet bolts that are 1” long with every purchase.
If you still have questions about the care and installation of our products, please email us and we will do our very best to help you.
What is the hardware made out of?
We us two types of bronze, silicon and manganese. Both these metal alloys are mainly made of copper, but they have different additives to give them different attributes. The main difference in these two alloys is that one (silicon) has a warmer, darker colour and the other has a lighter and brighter look.
What is a living finish?
Products that have not been lacquered or coated, have what is called a 'living finish'. Very slowly over time the bronze will oxidize and change in colour, darken. For some this natural patina is an attractive, desired result of oxidation that enhances the earthiness of hand finished bronze. For others its not as appealing. You can use any good quality metal polish from time to time to clean and brighten your hardware if the pieces are looking too dull. Its a personal preference thing and the hardware looks great polished, or left untouched.
How do I care for my hardware?
A simple dry or almost dry cloth can be used to wipe down hardware that have food stuffs on it. You can dust as you would anything else in your home. Chemicals and solvents may react to the finish of the metal. Polish the hardware with a good quality metal cleaner if losing the patina and a real deep cleaning is desired. The pieces can buff up quite nicely if you give it just a little elbow grease.
How do I install the hardware?
Our hardware is installed just like any other hardware. Standard bolts and installation instructions are included with your purchase and should work for most applications. We include bolts that are #8-32 and are 1" long.
What is the return policy?
We want our customers to be happy and promise to work closely with you until you are satisfied. We have worked hard to make sure our hardware is free from defects or poor workmanship and stand by what we are selling. If for some reason there is a defect in a piece, we will gladly accept a return of unused items and send you a replacement.
Why do the pieces have subtle differences?
We cast our pieces, the same way they have been doing it for thousands of years. After casting, each piece is hand finished. Every step of the way we do our best to control quality but there will end up being some subtle differences from piece to piece. We think this adds to the charm and the appeal of the hardware and highlights the nature of the designs and the production process.
Do you offer trade pricing or take wholesale orders?
We would love to work with you! You can apply to our trade program here or feel free to reach out to info@shaynefoxhardware.com and we can discuss possibilities.
Is it true that bronze is anti-microbrial?
Yes, thats what they say. Studies reveal that alloys with large amounts of copper (bronze and brass) are in fact anti-microbial and have an inherent ability to kill a wide range of harmful microbes within hours. Bonus!
What does my hardware order come with?
We will send you what you have ordered, and all the necessary bolts needed for common installations. If you are ordering knobs and want to use them as hooks, we sell the hanger bolts separately. Find them here.