subject: Flat Track Hardware - The Woes Of Manufacturing [print this page] Flat track hardware, have you heard of it? Its also commonly known as barn door hardware. It comes in several different shapes, styles and sizes. Its a new craze among homeowners looking to change up their home interiors. Its a movement hardware intended to free interior doors from their typical hinge movements. Instead of the door swinging open and closed, flat track hardware allows for the door to slide back and forth along a rail into the open and closed positions. The main variation in style that one would encounter is in the hanger. The hanger is what connects the door to the rail. Essentially the hanger bolts to either the side or top of the door, and then extends up to where it hangs on the track. The track runs along the outside of the wall adjacent to the doorway. The track length is typically around 6' long, since doors are just about 3' wide and need to slide completely out of the way.
As an entrepreneur, this author has forged his way into several different ventures. However direct manufacturing of a product was a new territory that had yet to be attempted, one that would prove to be quite formidable. The overall design and concept of flat track hardware seemed simple enough. A couple pieces of steel flat bar, some anchors, a few bolts and wheels. How hard could it be to make?
Apparently pretty tough. That is unless you have lots of capitol to throw at such an endeavor. If you are like many aspiring business persons, you're looking to do things as economically as possible, and dropping $1000 on a prototype isn't your idea of a good time.
The first task in manufacturing your own flat track hardware is to find someone locally who is willing to take on such a project. As it turns out, many local machinists have several projects going at once, and yours to them often takes no priority. Additionally, if they have several other things going for them, and what you're proposing poses something of an architectural challenge, they will most likely be unwilling to give it a go. Its not until you start saying things like, "Money isn't an issue," that their ears perk up.
The next obstacle to overcome in building your own flat track hardware is time. Once you find a machinist willing to build you a system, you begin the waiting game. Machine shops are notorious for getting side tracked on several other projects. Don't think yours is the only one they're working on. Even if it is, they will come up with some reason as to why its taking forever. Where you once thought the project could get knocked out in a couple days max, you will now find yourself several weeks into it wondering if they even remember what they were doing. The best thing to do in this situation is stay on top of them. Call them on a weekly basis at least. Follow up and keep hounding them. Remember, ultimately you're paying them for the work they're doing.
Finally when your baby comes home, you have one task left, and that is to paint it. Most people don't just take a raw flat track hardware system and hang a door on it. The systems are usually coated in either a flat black finish, or a clear coat protectant. Other finishes include brushed stainless, weathered rust, and even raw stainless steel.
If you can manage to get through all of these stages, you may just be able to break into the home interior hardware industry. Its a long and bumpy road, not one for the faint of heart. Study out your options, come up with a plan, then make it happen. Are you willing to put up with the cost and hardwork it takes to produce your own product? That's a choice each person will have to decide for themselves.
