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FaucetCraft faucets start with
carefully selected and certified raw brass stock.
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Then this bar stock is auto fed into
multi-spindle machines that produce finished machine parts at incredible speeds.
Click Here to see a higher-quality photo of the rotary stem machine. (59k)
Click Here to view a QuickTime video of the stem machining
process. (392k)
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For our kitchen faucet
bodies larger diameter bar stock is used after precutting them into billets. They are then loaded into rotary machining centers. Even though these barrel bodies require over 32 machining operations including turning, milling and drilling, the rotary machines turn out a completed Model 140 barrel every 14 seconds.
Click Here to view a QuickTime video of the faucet bodies being machined. (202k)
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Next, the huge casting inventory is carefully sorted and organized.
Click Here for QuickTime video of the inventory area. (178k)
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Then off the castings go to be machined.
Click Here to view a QuickTime video of our heavy cast spouts for our kitchen faucets being machined.(210k)
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After the machining is
done, the individual components go off to part-dependent surface treatment. The components that come into contact with water go off to a proprietary surface treatment process where the microscopic remaining lead molecules on the surface of the premium low lead brass are leached out.
Then our
components go to the plating wing of the factory. This process is fully automated and computer controlled for consistent, durable, beautiful plating designed to last.
Click Here for a QuickTime video of the plating process. (294k)
After plating, components are carefully stored in staging
bins where they go off to be assembled.
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The initial assembly of kitchen faucets begins with the unique
spout wiper
seals on our Model 140 pullout spray kitchen faucet being installed after they have been prelubricated with food grade silicone grease. Most manufacturers don't lubricate their o-rings because it might take them out of NSF 61 compliance. Not at Faucetcraft! Even though it's a tedious process, lubricating them makes them last and ensures smooth pivoting of the spout. When you see how fast and easy it is to silicone lubricate them, you'll be shocked most don't do it.
Click Here to see a QuickTime video of how fast we install the silicone lubricated seals.(218k)
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After initial assembly, the sub-components go to staging
areas for final assembly.
Final assembly takes place on rotary assembly machines where
each process is
carefully controlled. As an example, the top brass nuts that hold the cartridge in place is tightened with a pneumatic gun with a release clutch preset to the correct Newton increments of torque.
Click Here for a QuickTime video of the rotary assembly machine. (202k)
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After final assembly, each faucet is air pressure tested with
air.
Click Here for a QuickTime video of the pressure testing process. (179k)
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