Order FAQs

1. What is your average lead time?

Lead times vary depending on the material, manufacturing process, part complexity, order quantity, and whether the item is a new or existing product. Custom extrusions, drawn shapes, castings, forgings, machined parts, and finished components may each follow different production timelines.

For new custom products, lead time may also include engineering review, tooling, first article samples, customer approval, and production scheduling. Existing or repeat parts may have shorter lead times depending on current manufacturing schedules and material availability.

For the most accurate estimate, please contact your DEECO Metals Sales Representative with your drawing, alloy, quantity, required length, finish requirements, and target delivery date.

2. What lengths can I get extrusions in?

DEECO Metals typically prefers extrusion lengths around 12 feet, depending on the profile, alloy, manufacturing process, and shipping requirements. In some cases, lengths up to 16 feet may be possible.

Shorter lengths may also be available depending on the project, but they should be discussed with our sales team. Length options can vary based on the shape, material, production method, packaging needs, and final application.

3. What are your shipping tolerances?

Shipping quantity tolerances may vary by process, material, order size, and production requirements. In many cases, custom metal orders may be subject to an under/over shipment tolerance, such as -5% / +20%, depending on the product and manufacturing process.

Because custom metal manufacturing is often based on production yield, billet size, casting run, drawing process, or mill manufacturing requirements, exact quantities may not always be possible. Your DEECO Metals Sales Representative can confirm the applicable shipping tolerance for your specific order.

4. Can I send a sample part or existing product for review?

Yes, in many cases DEECO Metals can review a sample part, existing product, drawing, print, CAD file, or detailed specifications to evaluate whether a custom metal product may be a good fit. We can engineer the product from any of these options.

If tooling is required, DEECO Metals works with customers to develop the appropriate tooling for the product. Tooling ownership and usage terms are reviewed as part of the quoting process. In general, tooling is retained and managed by DEECO Metals or its manufacturing partners to protect production consistency, quality control, replacement when necessary, and customer-specific requirements.

Please contact our sales team before sending a physical sample so we can determine the best way to evaluate your request.

5. What is the minimum purchase?

Minimum purchase requirements depend on the material, manufacturing process, part size, weight, and order type.

• Brass and bronze architectural extrusions: typically 300 to 500 lbs or more per shape
• Drawn shapes: typically 300 lbs minimum, with 2,000 lbs preferred per shape
• Cold-drawn steel and stainless shapes: typically 1,100 lbs per shape per shape
• Steel and stainless extrusions: typically 4,000 lbs per shape
• Forgings, castings, stampings, and machined parts: minimums vary based on part size and manufacturing process
• Stocked stainless elevator sills: smaller quantities may be available, depending on current inventory

DEECO Metals is best suited for OEMs, manufacturers, contractors, and industrial customers with ongoing or production-level metal component needs. We are generally not a fit for small one-off requests, student projects, individual hobby projects, or early-stage product prototypes.

6. What if the alloy I need is not listed?

If the alloy you need is not listed, please contact DEECO Metals to discuss your requirements. We work with a wide range of metals and alloys, including brass, bronze, copper, nickel silver, stainless steel, steel, and other specialty materials depending on the application.

Availability depends on the alloy, shape, manufacturing process, order quantity, certification requirements, and end-use application. Our sales team can help determine whether your requested material is available or whether an alternate alloy may be suitable and offered.

7. Can you make custom extrusion shapes?

Yes. DEECO Metals specializes in custom metal shapes and components, including custom extrusions. Many of the profiles we supply are made to customer-specific drawings and are proprietary to that customer.

Custom extrusion shapes can be produced in a variety of metals, including brass, bronze, copper, nickel silver, stainless steel, steel, and other alloys depending on the project. Common applications include architectural profiles, guides and wear plates, elevator components, handrail profiles, industrial parts, OEM components, hardware shapes, and specialty metal sections.

To evaluate a custom extrusion request, we typically need a drawing, dimensions, alloy, estimated annual usage, required length, finish requirements, tolerances, and application details.

8. What information should I include when requesting a quote?

To help DEECO Metals review your request efficiently, and quote, please include as much of the following information as possible:

• Drawing, print, CAD file, sample, and photo
• Metal alloy or material requirement
• Dimensions and tolerances
• Estimated order quantity
• Annual usage or forecast, if available
• Required length and tolerances
• Surface finish or surface requirements, such as paint, coating, plating, machined or sanded surface
• Secondary operations, such as cutting, sanding, drilling, countersinking, machining, or plating
• Product application or industry
• Target delivery date
• Shipping location

The more information you provide upfront, the faster our team can determine whether the project is a good fit and provide accurate quote or guidance.

9. Does DEECO Metals work with individuals, startups, or small one-time orders?

DEECO Metals is primarily focused on OEMs, manufacturers, contractors, architects, and industrial customers with production-level or repeat metal component requirements.

Because many of our products require custom tooling, minimum production quantities, and manufacturing setup, we are usually not suitable for small orders from individuals, students, hobbyists, or early-stage product design projects and prototypes.

10. Does DEECO Metals provide product design or prototyping?

DEECO Metals can review customer drawings, prints, and specifications for manufacturability, but we are not a product design or prototype development company.

Our best fit is with customers who already have a defined product, drawing, sample, or production requirement. In some cases, first article samples may be part of the approval process for a custom production order.

11. What industries does DEECO Metals serve?

DEECO Metals supports a wide range of commercial, architectural, industrial, and OEM applications. Common markets include elevator components, architectural metals, handrails, door and window manufacturers, latches and lock hardware, industrial equipment, marine components and fittings, power distribution, electrical components, electrical, gas and coal power plant industry, electrical substation industry, data centers, construction products, and custom manufactured metal parts.

Some industries may require restricted certifications or compliance requirements that DEECO Metals does not support, including certain defense, ITAR, aerospace, aviation, automotive, rail, and medical applications. Please contact our sales team to confirm whether your project requirements are a fit.

12. Where is DEECO Metals located?

DEECO Metals is headquartered in the beautiful town of Travelers Rest, South Carolina. We support customers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, with access to a large group of global manufacturing facilities and custom metal production capabilities.

13. Does DEECO Metals offer stocking or blanket order programs?

Yes. DEECO Metals can support just-in-time stocking and blanket order programs for qualified customers and ongoing product needs.

These programs can help customers reduce cash flow, manage a DEECO inventory, reduce repeated purchasing activity, and support scheduled releases as required. Program details depend on the product, quantity, production process, and release schedule and should be discussed with your sales person.

14. Can DEECO Metals help me choose the right material?

Yes. DEECO Metals can help customers with metal review, and engineering support, based on the application, environment, mechanical strength requirements, appearance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, manufacturability, machining requirement, and cost considerations. Final material selection depends on the customer's specifications and project requirements.

15. What types of custom metal parts does DEECO Metals supply?

DEECO Metals supplies custom metal shapes and components, including extrusions, rolled and drawn shapes, castings, forgings, stampings, machine parts, architectural profiles, elevator components, handrail profiles, and finished metal components.

16. Do you stock elevator sills?

DEECO Metals offers select stocked stainless steel elevator sill options in 8 ft lengths, depending on current inventory. Custom elevator sills in brass, bronze, nickel silver, stainless steel, and other materials may also be available depending on project requirements.

17. Can DEECO Metals provide secondary finishing or value-added services?

Yes. Depending on the product and process, DEECO Metals may support value-added services such as precision cutting, sanding, drilling, sill trash holes, drilled and threaded countersink holes, machining, plating, coating, polishing, and other finishing, including other secondary operations and assembling.

18. What makes DEECO Metals different from a standard metal distributor or supplier?

DEECO Metals is not limited to standard bar stock or off-the-shelf products. We help customers source custom metal shapes, profiles, and production components made to specific drawings, materials, tolerances, finishes, and application requirements.

19. Can DEECO Metals match an existing part?

In many cases, DEECO Metals can review an existing part, sample, drawing, or photo to determine whether it can be manufactured as a custom metal component and supply it. The project must meet appropriate material specs, quantity, manufacturing process, and production requirements.