Shop Tours
Come see what we do at Eleek! These select “shop tours” spotlight some of our common processes and materials.
FROM CASTING TO FIXTURE
How we make extraordinary lighting by hand
To create the casting for the Bongo Pendant, we start with a completed hand-built pattern and corebox.
Rough aluminum castings fresh from the foundry shown next to their pattern and core box.
This casting detail shows the flashing and draft left from the casting process which need to be removed.
The first step after casting is to grind away the rough edges and seams left behind by the mold.
A disc sander is used to remove flashing and level off draft.
Casting is smoothed by hand to erase parting lines and other imperfections.
Body castings shown with assembly mocked up before casting is sent to powdercoat.
To fit this fixture with LED lamping, a custom Eleek cast aluminum heat sink is machined.
Finished piece installed in Eleek’s showroom window pendant display.
CUSTOM STREETLIGHT FABRICATION
For this custom project, Eleek was asked to make nine steel streetlights for a waterfront luxury condominium in Knoxville, Tennessee. Each streetlight was fitted with 150 watt Metal Halide lamping, a convenience receptacle, and a decorative LED panel along the backside of the pole.
The main framework of the light post welded together.
Artisan preparing to weld interstructural web.
Artisan welding interstructural web.
Artisan uses I-beam as a heat sink and structural support during welding.
Stitch welding between initial tack welds.
Completing stitch welding with supports in place.
Artisans check dimensional accuracy and straightness.
After powdercoating, fixtures are fitted with electronics.
Eleek’s team wires and installs rear LED panels.
Fixture passes rigorous rain test and earns UL wet label listing.
Upview shows 150 watt Metal Halide light and convenience receptacle.
THE RAMONA SCONCE
The making of a custom lighting fixture
Beginning the pattern layout.
Starting construction of the basic frame.
Adding in details.
Completed pattern with framing around it to make molds for sand casting.
At the foundry, molten bronze is poured into molds formed of compressed sand.
Raw bronze casting right out of the mold.
Four cast panels are welded together to form a box.
Fixture has been ground and sandblasted and is now ready for patina.
Artisan applying oil-rubbed finish by hand.
Finished fixtures featuring art glass from Portland’s Bullseye Glass Co. Dimensions: 15"W 18"D 30"H , Weight: 120lbs
Fixture Illuminated
Finished fixtures installed at Ramona Apartments, on either side of front entry.
