How about a Fix-It Night?

Jewelry/Small Metals
#1

The Electronics folks did a Fix-It Night recently, and it got me thinking… It might be fun to do a jewelry fixit night. I know that’s not really anyone’s main priority as a maker, but it might be a fun way to interact with other makers.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

  • Offer a few hours of simple jewelry fixing, like missing jump rings, replacing ear wires, maybe some epoxy work, simple restringing, etc.
  • Each piece would be evaluated individually on what is needed, and some items may not be fixable.
  • Anything requiring soldering would need an experienced person to solder.
  • No money involved for fixes, or a tiny donation for added materials.
  • We’d have to determine whether DMS would allow us to do more complicated work for a fee, or if we should simple take that ouside the DMS environment.

Please discuss pros and cons, DMS restrictions, potential interest.

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#2

Donation for materials, definitely. Even surgical steel and pewter components have a cost. Silver – more so. Maybe just a kitty sitting out during the event.

#3

My concern is the type of “simple” repairs appropriate for this like replacing a jump ring aren’t the kinda thing 90% of makers can’t figure out and they’ll generally do it. The kinda “cool” fixes like resizing a ring, tightening a prong, cleaning etc. that people would come for aren’t really quick fix and there’s some liability there if the fixing results in a damaged ring or stones.

We’d definitely need a waiver and I would probably do it as a limited option with very clear guidelines as to what will and won’t be worked on. For example we can totally resize your plain band but we are not tossing your diamond ring onto a stretcher

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#4

I proposed this general thing after this piece ran last April. I think it fits well with the DMS mission. Look at all the happiness!

If it can’t be fixed, then all one has to say is no, we can’t do that. I don’t know that liability waivers are necessary. Sometimes it can be simple and still be really good.

(Sorry about the advert from YouTube.)

#5

If you’re concerned about the impact of a $10 print imagine what happens when it’s a $1500 piece

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#6

I think my point was that DMS could politely decline to repair a $1500 piece.

(And weren’t there six $10 images at play? Don’t jump on me. You brought it up.)

#7

DMS could decline to pay it but that wouldn’t protect the helper from ending up in small claims court. If we are going to get good people I’d imagine they want that assurance

#8

Ideas of what we could cover…spotting items in need of repair (when should a shank be replaced, what does a loose stone look like, how often these should happen, general care like soaking opals periodically etc.)

Things we could teach and do in reasonable time frame…polishing out scratches, using ultrasonic, resizing for stoneless rings, making extenders for things like bracelet clasps that don’t fit anymore, removing chain links?, up cycling using a broken bits exchange, watch batteries, soldering stackers/wedding bands together

@MossAgate you’re the repair extrodinaire any other ideas on manageable fixes for the event?

#9

A person at DMS could politely decline to attempt the requested repair.

(Am I completely daft here? This is feeling a bit like the Twilight Zone.)

Edit:
I can and will help depending on the date. My calendar simply isn’t under my control, but gosh, would I like to participate. I’d even bring my favorite crimp tool. :wink:

#10

Since we are scratching at the possibility of a member cap I think it would be a good idea to bring this up at the BOD meeting as a replacement for Open House…or maybe even organize a monthly members fix it day. It would certainly be cool to have it be multi area and a way to drum up teachers and volunteers. For example if my toaster is fixed I promise to spend 30 minutes helping the space with little tasks or holding a class as a way of paying it forward.

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#11

Please forgive me, but did you mean for this post to expand like this?

#12

What I meant was the jewelry area probably has a few things we can do but not enough to do a stand alone event. (I don’t think anyway) I bet many areas are like that but if every zone was having a fix it at the same time we would get more people helped and allow for fixing of things that are interdisciplinary. I have a broken laser cutter that could be electronics, could be robotics/laser, probably needs some parts 3d printed and also needs some woodwork done.

#13

It might work internally. We do have 1600ish members.

@designcat, choose a date. Call it a workshop and put it to the calendar. I’m available chunks of October, the first two weeks of November, and the first two weeks of December if you want my help.

I think it’s a grand idea.

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#14

Uhhh, I have to think long and hard about this, but anything that people bring in that would be something that I repair at work, I have no interest in doing or teaching for free, those things need a class set up on their own, if at all.

I can sit there and inspect jewelry and dictate to people that they need to take it to a jeweler for repair, and that doesn’t sound like the kind of thing people want to hear at a “fix it” event.

I say leave the fine jewelry off the table here outside of ultrasonic and buffing a little (No chains on the buffer! can’t repeat that enough, too much liability), stick to basic repairs on jump rings and ear wires etc on fashion jewelry.

This feels like it could get out of hand, I don’t know if I want to touch this.

2 Likes
#15

We have a committee meeting next week. I will inquire to see if our committee members would be interested in doing this and let you all know if we decide to move forward with such an event.

1 Like
#16

Kinda what I was thinking too. I can’t see a demand for fixing costume jewelry so we are on the same page

#17

I certainly appreciate everyone weighing in–that’s what Talk is for. I was originally thinking simple things, like adding some extension chain, fixing jump rings, ear wires, ring sizing, that kind of stuff. There’s always a demand for fixing costume jewelry – it’s cheap and it breaks.

I agree that fine jewelry should be handled by a professional, and we can easily decline to handle those pieces. Having a professional there to evaluate pieces would still be helpful, and members may find value in knowing whether something is an easy or complicated fix.

As long as we put parameters around the event, it could still be fun–fun and good will were the intentions, and maybe generate more interest in the jewelry area.

Thanks, Joseph, I was hoping you would comment on the idea. Please let us all know what the committee decides.

2 Likes
#18

I would say there is great value in knowing what to expect with regard to fine jewelry repairs. Or even if repairs are necessary. Most people have little experience with maintaining fine jewelry, and wouldn’t know if somebody were taking advantage of them. I think knowing if a repair is necessary, if it is very involved, and if it is a repair best suited to a particular kind of specialist would be a big help to many laymen.

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#19

I would be interested in a night of just polishing rings for donations if that is low risk. There are probably a lot of people who have wedding and other rings that need to be polished. Rock/gem identification would be fun if that is possible.

#20

Should be possible. You just need a jeweler’s loupe and an experienced person. I’m good with semi-precious, which doesn’t need any enhancement, but the loupe lets you tell whether you’ve got diamonds or CZ’s, for instance.

1 Like