A vintage film camera, fully disassembled and suspended on brass rods exactly where each part sat inside the body

Turning your ideas into reality

The Idea

Not a shop. A partner for your idea.

Most people with a great idea for an old engine, an heirloom, or a box of memorabilia never build it — not because the idea is bad, but because they don't have the skills, the tools, or the time. That gap is the whole business.

You bring
  • The object — an engine, a camera, a machine, a memento
  • The story behind it, if there is one
  • An idea, fully formed or just a feeling
You don't need
  • Any fabrication or restoration skill
  • A shop, tools, or the time to learn either
  • A finished concept — that can come later
I bring
  • 20 years as a mechanical engineer
  • A fully equipped shop and steady hands
  • The patience to get it right, and the eye to make it beautiful
Process

From object to finished piece

Five steps, whether you arrive with a fully sketched idea or just a box you can't bring yourself to throw out.

01

Send me the object

Photos, dimensions, or bring it by. Tell me the story if there is one — it usually shapes the piece.

02

Bring an idea, or don't

Know exactly what you want, or just know you don't want to lose it. I'll propose directions if you need them.

03

We shape the concept together

A short conversation, sometimes a few sketches, until we land on something you're genuinely excited about.

04

Proposal & timeline

A firm quote, an expected build timeline, and a deposit to get started.

05

Build & delivery

Progress updates as it comes together, then delivery or pickup around DFW.

Good Fits

If any of this sounds familiar

In a box, somewhere

A relative's tools, camera, or instrument that's been sitting untouched for years.

In the garage

An engine, or engine parts, from a car that mattered to someone.

In a career

Decades of memorabilia — a retirement, a promotion, thirty years at one company.

Headed for the trash

Something broken or obsolete that deserves better than the landfill.

Something else entirely

If it's mechanical and it means something to you, ask. That's most of what comes through the door.

Who's Building It

An engineer who never stopped taking things apart

I'm Pierre — and like a lot of people, I like working with my hands. I'm an engineer by trade, and I've spent several decades turning ideas into real, physical objects. As a kid, I loved Legos. As an adult, I want the challenge of finding how to make it happen — to create the solution to something you can't buy in a store.

What I've built so far was inspired by other people's ideas, visions, and creations. Every piece is unique. I hope I can turn your vision into a conversation piece you'll cherish for years.

20 yrs
Mechanical engineer
1-of-1
Every piece built to one client's object and idea
DFW
Based in Colleyville, serving the metroplex by appointment
FAQ

Questions people usually have

How much does a custom piece cost?

It varies by object and scope — a small teardown frame costs less than a full engine-block coffee table. Every project gets a firm, written quote after we talk through what you want, before any deposit or work begins.

How long does a commission take to build?

Timeline depends on the object and the complexity of the design. You'll get an expected build timeline as part of the proposal, along with the quote, so there are no surprises.

Do you ship finished pieces, or is this local pickup only?

Special Projects Co. is based in Colleyville, TX and serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex by appointment, with delivery or pickup arranged locally.

What kinds of objects can you work with?

Cameras, engines and engine blocks, sewing machines, hand tools, phones, anatomical or scientific models, and other mechanical or heirloom objects. If it's mechanical and it means something to you, it's worth asking about.

Does my object need to be in working condition?

No. Broken, retired, or incomplete objects are common starting points — many pieces begin as things that were headed for the trash.

Do I need a fully formed idea before reaching out?

No. Some clients arrive with an exact vision, others just know they don't want to lose the object. Concepts are shaped together in conversation before any proposal is written.

Get Started

Tell me what you have

Email a few photos and whatever you know about the object.

No form to fill out — just send what you have. I'll follow up to talk through what's possible, no obligation.

  • What the object is (or a photo, if it's easier)
  • Its story, if it has one
  • What you're imagining — or that you're not sure yet
  • Rough budget and timeline, if you have one in mind
Email your project to info@specialprojects.shop →
Find the shop
Location

Colleyville, TX — serving Dallas–Fort Worth by appointment.