Steel Curling Rocks - Idea to Production

I received a call in mid-August from a gentleman with a great idea…he wanted to create steel curling rocks that could be available at a fraction of the cost of “real” curling rocks so that anyone can play the sport, and have a great deal of fun while doing it…often with a craft beer in hand, since craft breweries have been some of the most avid buyers!

How it started…

My first prototype of the steel curling rocks were very crude - the handles were horribly crooked, the welds were iffy and the finish on them was unrefined, but when my client and I tested them out on the hockey rink, my goodness they were fun…we knew it was time to press on with the prototype and refine the design.

Prototype version two…

We opted for powdercoat and a shorter handle on the top of the curling rocks. I made welding and grinding jigs to ensure consistency. There was just a couple of issues with this particular design - the powdercoat didn’t like to slide on ice as nicely as a painted or raw steel bottom, and if the powdercoat ever chipped, it would be very difficult for the end user to resurface the rocks.

The final version…

My client and I ultimately settled on painted and epoxy coated curling rocks with a polished and clear coat painted base, so that the end user can easily touch up any chips and keep the rocks running for many years. To date, I’ve made more than 300 of these curling rocks, and I am looking forward to making more in coming winter seasons! These are great fun, and if you’d like a set of rocks for yourself, reach out!