Want your mineral, fossil, meteorite or other object of beauty mounted in the most flattering position and held there safely without damaging adhesives? Let us make a base with a surface that is precisely hand-carved to fit the shape of your piece and supports (if necessary) that are carefully designed to add extra security precisely where it is needed, but without interfering with the aesthetics of the piece. Our milled bases display your treasured objects as elegantly and securely as possible. If you have previously had bases made or purchased a specimen that came with a custom base made by another manufacturer, you will need to raise your expectations. Stone Throne bases are made for an extremely close fit and an unrivaled attention to detail that is befitting for the fine treasures they are designed to hold. These are the ultimate thrones for any stone.

Logistics

To make a milled base for an object, we do need to have possession of the object throughout the process of making the base. Most customers ship their items to us, but there are many other ways - you dropping off or us picking up at: a mineral show, your location, or ours - or even having us bring our mobile workshop right to you to make bases on site! We are happy to discuss the options with you to find the best solution. We also have a guide to shipping mineral mineral specimens safely. No matter how they get to us, you can rest assured they will be handled and stored with great care. 

If shipping your specimens, you can either email us a photo showing the specimen in the display position you'd like it to be mounted in, or we can discuss your ideas and offer suggestions, or you can leave the positioning completely to us.

The time to complete and return your base(s) can vary from just a few days to several months depending on the number of pieces you have, your urgency, the time of year, and our current workload. Demand is very high, so check with us to find out what the current wait time is. It's never too early to reach out and begin planning, especially if you have a deadline to meet.

Cost

While we are proud to provide not only the best quality milled bases you'll find anywhere, and at fair prices, there is no denying that milled bases are costly compared to our unmilled bases. Other companies may rely on the quick but inferior results from simply 3D scanning and CNC machining a rough cavity with an often loose fit and sloppy appearance, but at Stone Throne we mill our bases by hand with great care in order to truly get the best aesthetics and most secure fit in the industry. A single Stone Throne milled base typically averages 2-6 hours of actual hands-on work to complete to our high standards. The time varies so greatly because every piece is unique, with numerous factors to consider such as the object's size, shape, weight distribution, density, milling depth, surface texture, and more. For this reason, our rates are not fixed, but can vary depending on the amount of man-hours the base needs to complete as well as material costs. We find this to be the most fair for everyone.

To give you an idea of our pricing, typical prices for our standard sizes are shown below for minerals and fossils. Very simple jobs may cost a bit less and more complex mounts may cost a bit more than these prices, but 19 out of 20 bases end up priced as listed below, and the remainder are usually close to these figures. We are always happy to provide estimates based on videos of your specimen(s). The minimum price for any milled base is $250.

 TABLE: Average Prices for Milled Bases of Stock Sizes in 1" Thick Acrylic  

Except for shipping (if applicable), everything is included in the price: a 1" thick (or 3/4", if preferred), top-beveled, clear or black acrylic base that is custom carved to fit the specimen, plus any necessary supports (acrylic pegs or blocks, wire armatures), and laser engraved text with your choice of color fill. 

Again, the price tables above cover most cases for minerals and fossils. Adding integrated lighting (see video below), special cases, thicker acrylic stock (1.25", 1.5", 2" etc.), non-standard base dimensions, hardwood bases, different display objects (art, other collectibles, models, awards, prototypes, etc.), and special requests are quoted on an individual basis and may be higher or lower than the prices shown above depending on any differences in labor and/or materials. We love unique projects, so don't hesitate to pitch us your vision. Discounted pricing may be available for very large orders, educational groups, and non-profits. Schedule permitting, expedited (urgent) orders, as well as making bases on site with our mobile workshop at your chosen location anywhere in North America or at Mineral City during the Tucson show is also available at different rates.

An estimate can be provided once we are able to see the piece(s) and know the position you would like it displayed in or know the details of your non-mineral project. We believe strongly in honest, fair pricing and the idea that happy, loyal clients who come back and send their friends too is the best way to run a successful business. 

Interested?

If you would like to get started with an order and/or if you have any questions for us about custom bases, please don't hesitate to reach out using the "Request A Quote" button below or email us at sales@stonethr.one. We'll review the information you provide and get back to you as soon as possible. There is never any cost or pressure to follow through on a quote, so don't be shy. We look forward to hearing from you!