4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 1b2

4.25″ Round Decorative Drain Cover Designs

posted in: Designer 6

Some ideas for a small drain cover that fits a standard PVC fitting, and a design failure that burnt up in the plate laser.

The task was to redesign drain covers so they didn’t look like this:

PVC drain fitting with steel cover
PVC drain fitting with steel cover

I named this one “Safari”, as it looks like “tusks and tiger stripes” to me.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 2a
Safari
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 2b
Safari

Just in case it’s not completely obvious, this one reminds me of nice decking and deck chairs, like on a well-done boardwalk. And that’s a visual that usually brings good memories of various vacations, so why shouldn’t “Deck Chairs” be good branding?

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 3a
Deck Chairs
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 3b
Deck Chairs

“Smiley”? I suppose it also kinda looks like the AT&T logo, but that’s no fun. Not sure if this smiley looking drain cover would look menacing or positively anthropomorphic with some Phillips-head screws for “eyes” through the bolt-holes, but we didn’t end up making it to find out.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 4a
Smiley
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 4b
Smiley

Hey, wanna see what caught my eye when I Googled how to spell “Anthropomorphic”?

Anthropomorphic Building
OMG! Anthropomorphic Building

I didn’t know what to make of this one. This was the first one I drew-up of the series, and I often start the Design Ball rolling by just making geometric patterns (yes, I know they’re all “geometric patterns”, but you know what I mean). So anyway, it looks like a steel wheel; what has steel wheels? Trains.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 6a
Steamer Wheel
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 6b
Steamer Wheel

“B” is significant to the person I designed this for. I downloaded a really excellent font (which is on a different computer far from me at this time so I can’t tell you the name of it) and it has a lot of Olde English calligraphy versions to choose from. I used it as the basis of this design, but then had to add support structure, so I tried to make the structure look like stained-glass leading.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 5a1
Olde B – type 1 – version 1
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 5a2
Olde B – type 1 – version 1

Only difference here is some extra cutouts in the B.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 5b1
Olde B – type 2 – version 1
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 5b2
Olde B – type 2 – version 1

Well, I made the design too thin in several places and the laser burnt it up. I knew I was pushing it, but decided to try it anyway. It’s surprising to me how some designs that you don’t think will work on the plate laser end up cutting just fine, but others don’t. I’m told it has to do with whether or not the cut is a straight line or an arc, arcs not faring as well.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - laser fail
Laser Fail

Here’s a more beefed up version with thicker lines, which I actually like better; so thanks, Laser.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 1a1
Olde B – type 1 – version 2
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 1a2
Olde B – type 1 – version 2
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 1b1
Olde B – type 2 – version 2
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - 1b2
Olde B – type 2 – version 2

These need to be counter-bored around the thru-holes for the fasteners, at least if the same screws that come with the PVC drain fitting they cover are to be used, since they’re pan head screws.

4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design - Counterbore Drawing
4.25in Custom Decorative Drain Cover Design – Counterbore Drawing

6 Responses

  1. Mark
    | Reply

    can you tell me what website this “B” drain cover came from I want to see if a “D” is available

    • Designer_Rants
      | Reply

      I made it. It was a custom piece.

  2. Mrs. B
    | Reply

    I love the design and we’ll B is very significant to me…How can I get one replicated. JOB WELL DONE!

    • Designer_Rants
      | Reply

      Hi, sorry it took so long to reply. It would probably cost you about $200 or so to get one-to-four of these made.

      Edited to add: I’m working on making a design store shopping cart for this site, in which case you could buy one of these designs (CAD files) from $25 to $125 (the really intricate Olde English covers take at least a couple hours to make laserable). Then you could buy the design and have any laser shop cut as many of them as you want, for surprisingly cheap–depending on linear cutting inches and other factors, like finish and added processing like countersink drilling. Comment or email if any questions on this.

  3. Deanna R. Jones
    | Reply

    I really like how these drain covers were designed. This seems like a good way to put steel plates to good use. My favorite drain cover is Olde B-type2-version 2. I like how it incorporates the letter B in it using Gothic lettering.

  4. Patty
    | Reply

    Any other designs

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