frame refinishing

**mountainheart** · 03-10-2010, 12:55 PM

anybody know who does quality frame refinishing? OKOart stopped doing it about 2 years ago.

thanks

**Jacqui** · 03-10-2010, 01:32 PM

What do you need done??

**mountainheart** · 03-10-2010, 05:20 PM

finish is flaking off around eyewire

**Fezz** · 03-10-2010, 05:37 PM

Hilco?

**dwbport** · 03-10-2010, 05:56 PM

Quick Care Frame Repair
Business Information:
Title: makes clips
Office: (718)828-5006
Company: Quick Care Frame Repair
Address:
25 Westchester Sq.
Bronx New York 10461
Phone: (866)711-4400
Fax: (718)597-0986

**mountainheart** · 03-10-2010, 06:25 PM

Thank You!

**edKENdance** · 03-10-2010, 06:55 PM

I've wondered about this myself. Wouldn't any clip-on company that does colour match plating be able to do this? I've never seen them advertise it.

**rbaker** · 03-10-2010, 08:39 PM

Many moons ago I worked with an optician/goldsmith/jeweler who did a large percentage of his business fabricating custom design gold filled frames and mountings. Word of his work spread throughout the optician community and he began to receive requests for new frames and frame repairs from other opticians.

Initially he was happy to comply with these requests but the work soon became quite tedious due to the unreasonable demands of rapid delivery times, constant bickering over prices, and all the other pressures of doing business. He finally stopped taking in outside work and I recall his saying that he should leave that aspect of the business to the professionals who have the appropriate resources to service the customer.

It used to be that you could return product to the manufacturer for rework or repair but in today's supply chain you are screwed. Since you can not return the frame to the third world hell hole where it was manufactured I guess you either send it to Hilco, learn to do these simple things yourself or give the customer the old "tough tuba" and replace the frame with another.

**Jacqui** · 03-10-2010, 09:46 PM

Chip Anderson and I discussed this several times on OB. Most of the custom finishers use powder coating because of the colours available, however it takes special equipment to do. Jerry Huang advocated going to the auto parts store and buying cans of spray paint. Don't know which would be best, but an optician should be able to do it.

**rbaker** · 03-10-2010, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by Jacqui

Chip Anderson and I discussed this several times on OB. Most of the custom finishers use powder coating because of the colours available, however it takes special equipment to do. Jerry Huang advocated going to the auto parts store and buying cans of spray paint. Don't know which would be best, but an optician should be able to do it.

Powder coating is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Unfortunately the process does not economically lend itself to small one off jobs. Just trying to match a specific color could drive you up a wall. However, you can pick up a powder coating rig (minus oven) for under $100.00. If someone had some spare time and a little talent and ambition this could be an additional revenue stream to help feed the bull dog and put shoes on the kinder.

The big question is whether frames are worth repairing/refurbishing in todays market.

**Specs** · 03-13-2010, 01:31 PM

Where would I look to get one of these machines and the education to do it right?

**Jacqui** · 03-13-2010, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Specs

Where would I look to get one of these machines and the education to do it right?

Harbour Freight is the first thing in my head (right after the beer and donutz :) ) I got mine from Columbia Coatings, but I can't find the address right now. It's basically a small air brush. I just started playing with it and taught myself.

**Jacqui** · 03-13-2010, 02:46 PM

UPDATE:

This is the address for Columbia Coatings http://www.columbiacoatings.com/ Hope it works.

The web site is kinda like Chris Ryser's, you need to read everything to find what you want.