[Jewelry making - Article 00495] - Re: [Orchid] Costume jewelry repair

[diamondeddy2]

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    Costume jewelry repair can be profitable, but there are a few
    pitfalls  to this area to watch out for. 

    #1- many people think that the cost to repair should be based on
    their cost of purchasing the item 30 years ago. Just because they
    paid $15 for the item 30 years ago doesnt mean it won't take $30 of
    your time to repair it. Stick to your guns on pricing. Also, most
    times, costume repairs are not standard type repair work, and pricing
    is sometimes difficult to estimate simply because you dont know how
    long it will take to do the job. Dont be afraid to go high because
    chances are very good it will take you longer than you had originally
    planned. I calculate odd job work at $1/minute, guesstimate to the
    high side, and usually just come out okay on the odd stuff. I have
    loads of standard gold work and watch work that all pays at least
    that much per hour, so it would be silly for me to price costume at a
    lower rate. In addition, if your work is decent, word will spread
    rapidly, and you will eventually be deluged with costume. In short,
    be picky what you take on, and don't underprice just to be a costume
    jewelry hero. Also, watch out for amatuer antique dealers wanting a
    trade price or discount for quantity, most of them turn out to be a
    waste of your time. Antique dealers will begin to show up with shoe
    boxes full eventually once word gets out that you are doing costume.
    They want to spend vast amounts of time picking your brain for info,
    for free, while they leave a few little paying jobs with you. Make
    sure they are aware that they need to pay for your knowledge/time.
    Remember, they are getting things repaired to make a profit for
    themselves when it sells, and you are just as entitled to a profit as
    they  are. After all, YOU are the professional (arent you?)! 

    #2- A few parts/findings to keep on hand are: an assortment of sizes
    of round clear/white foilback rhinestones. Don't get to involved
    with color or fancy shapes, as you will find that you never have
    quite the right size , shape, or color to match. Use 2 part 5 minute
    epoxy sparingly. Super glue type adhesives are an absolute no-no.
    Casker has a nice refillable asstmt in a handy numbered box. Rio
    Grande and Stuller have selections too. 

    assorted pinstems, hinges, and clasps for pins, in nickel silver,
    and gold plate or filled. Rio has decent selection in this area. Buy
    in larger quantities for price advantage and the stuff will last for
    years worth of repairs 

    nickel plate and brass earring clip findings. Also stainless steel
    posts on pads are handy to keep on hand for converting clips to
    pierced. You'll get alot of this type of job once word spreads.Once
    again, Rio is pretty decent for these items 

    #3- A Wahl brand rechargable soldering iron is handy, very
    controllable, but I mostly use a "Little Torch" with a little flame,
    and kind of glance it off the surface of what I am soldering, rather
    than put a flame directly at the work area. If you have one
    available, a PUK111 pulse arc welder is pretty handy to attach
    posts, etc... then solder to finish up the job. 

    These are just a few things to consider if you are going to take on
    the costume endeavor. 

Good luck! 
Ed in Kokomo

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