HELP, please!

[Elizabeth]

Here's me looking for a little help from my friends again!
First off - I don't do lampshades!  I made a couple when I did my original classes,  but soon realized that my interest lay, as usual with small/3-d things.   However - I have a very constant customer who owns one of every big whirl I have ever made and much, much more!   When I refused to make her lampshades,  she want to a lady who was in town for a short while flaunting 'certificates' and talking about only doing big items like church windows etc etc.  It has now fallen me to repair these shades.
The first one is about 10" across, and although it seems fairly stable,  the individual pieces seem to be 'loose' within the foil channels.   Is this 'normal'?  I have extended the foil channel with a bit of wire in one place where the edge of the glass was showing on the front of the shade.    Apparently there is a matching shade still to come on which the flower motifs are coming apart!   Although this edge seems stable,  it has no wire re-enforcing:,  should I add to this one?  - and if so,  should it be a single piece all around the edge,  or should it done in sections with the ends 'inserted' up into the body of the shade?
I hope this is all clear!
The second shade is 18", and has been knocked over.   As you can see,  the damage is quite extensive.   I know this is a very frequently discussed topic,  - and as our currency's are so different, no actual pricing advice will help me, - I just wondered how 'those who know' go about calculating cost on such an item?   For me, time will be a HUGE factor, and although I will definably charge,  I cannot expect anyone to pay for my ineptitude (even when she has actually trapped me into doing this!   That's my problem for being a fool!)   I think I have all the glass in stock, - it's all pretty run of the mill,  my biggest problem will be to try and keep the shape of the shade,  as I do not have a mould........    So,  basically - do I just look at the finished item and do a thumb suck??
Any advice will be appreciated!

[Kev]

I wish I could be of assistance, but I have never made a lamp so I'll leave the advice for the experts.

Good Luck, I hope it goes better then your thinking it will at this point.

[Anne]

Beth, I feel for you. I hate repairs like this but we know Rebecca will be along soon and she'll know I'm sure.  Good luck with it.

[Rebecca]

Did someone call?  They look like nicely made lamps.  If the matching lamp is pulling apart and you don't want to see this one again, I would put wire around the bottom edge.  Make one piece of wire go all the way around the bottom edge.  To further strengthen it, you can run three wires from the bottom edge to the cap.

The second one is a MESS!  I would charge about as much as she paid for it when she bought it.  Take one piece of glass out and replace it at a time and you won't need a mold.  If you take too many pieces out, it will lose its shape and then you have a problem!  It is a weaker design than the smaller one, so if it doesn't have wire around the bottom, you might want to add it.  And put MORE wire running from the top to bottom on it than you put on the other.  It is larger, heavier, and "weaker" design.  Does it have 16 sides?  Maybe four or five wires would be nice.

Rebecca

[Elizabeth]

Thanks, Rebecca!  I was hoping you'd come to the party!
The shape of the lamps is nice, though the soldering is what my teacher used to call 'arthritic'.   The big one seems to me could have had a slightly broader foil used for such a big shade with fairly large pieces......I have already warned my client that it will take a long time!!   Thanks for the advice....had a feeling you were going to say I had to reinforce even the smaller one!   Damn!   
Kev,  I doubt it will get any better!!  If it was any other client I would kind of hang onto that big one hoping she'd forget about it!   But I know she won't....very persistent lady!

[Rebecca]

Just if you don't want to see it again - once you repair it, you "own" it.  She will bring it back to you every time something happens to it.  So it is better to do everything you can to keep it from coming back!

Rebecca

[gws732]

The first one is about 10" across, and although it seems fairly stable,  the individual pieces seem to be 'loose' within the foil channels.

Looking close at the first one it seems to be lead came and NOT copper foil method.

I can't be of much help but I did notice that if someone in the know will look at that.

[Glassic]

I wondered that too, reminded me of those 'way back when' kit lamps. but the floral skirt looks to be foil. Either way, Rebeccas' advice stands.
I would like to take the worry of a mould away, as they were both tier built.
Good luck Elizabet I don't envy your task when it comes to the second one.
Guess Graham went sailing....

[Kev]

That 2nd one is going to be a real bugger to repair. I would imagine the time it takes to repair it would be as expensive as buying a new one again.

[Rebecca]

It doesn't look like came to me, but that would explain why the glass would be loose.

Rebecca

[Graham]

Guess Graham went sailing....

Yes, I did. T'was a lovely afternoon.
Anyway the Queen of the Ugly Lamps has, as always, good advice for repairers.

[Elizabeth]

Just if you don't want to see it again - once you repair it, you "own" it.  She will bring it back to you every time something happens to it.  So it is better to do everything you can to keep it from coming back!

Rebecca

Unfortunately, Martha will keep coming back to me - whatever!   The only other person in town lives 'too far' for her - and I'm the fool that delivers and collects......:-)

[Stephen Richard]

The question on charging does not seem to have been answered.  I charge half my hourly rate for each broken piece.  this usually keeps people away. 

But do think how long it will take to remove and replace each piece.  If you think you are "amateurish" at this just at the moment, reduce your hourly rate to something that seems relevant for your level of experience.

[Elizabeth]

'Amateurish' does'nt even begin to describe how I feel about this challenge!   If I do screw up enough courage to tackle it - I certainly won't be able to charge for my time.   I will have to chalk it up to experience and ask a thumb-suck amount.   
Thanks again for all the input.
I have decided to reinforce the lower edge and up tint the design on the smaller shade and just leave it to rattle gently in the breeze.  It seems as though the adhesive backing on the foil has 'let go' either from too much heat in soldering or weather conditions.   However, aside from feeling a little odd to the touch,  everything seems to be pretty secure.

[Rebecca]

I have decided to reinforce the lower edge and up tint the design on the smaller shade and just leave it to rattle gently in the breeze.  It seems as though the adhesive backing on the foil has 'let go' either from too much heat in soldering or weather conditions.   However, aside from feeling a little odd to the touch,  everything seems to be pretty secure.

Sounds like a professional plan to me!

Rebecca

[Elizabeth]

I SALUTE ALL OF YOU who repair lampshades on a regular basis!  I have done the best I can on the small one with wires going every which way inside it.    Its bad enough having to rectify your own,  but I really hate having to try and work on someone else's  mistakes.   Because the edge soldering was a bit lumpy,  I had trouble removing all the old patina - which meant that it was difficult to get the solder to flow....Grrrrrr!   Whatever!   One down!

Rebecca:  re the big one - yes it has 16 panels, and of those 9 of the skirt panels are broken,  as well as at least 4 of the opal 'body' pieces!   Definitely going to sit on the back burner untill I have got some Christmas stock made!

[Rebecca]

I SALUTE ALL OF YOU who repair lampshades on a regular basis!  I have done the best I can on the small one with wires going every which way inside it.    Its bad enough having to rectify your own,  but I really hate having to try and work on someone else's  mistakes.   Because the edge soldering was a bit lumpy,  I had trouble removing all the old patina - which meant that it was difficult to get the solder to flow....Grrrrrr!   Whatever!   One down!

Rebecca:  re the big one - yes it has 16 panels, and of those 9 of the skirt panels are broken,  as well as at least 4 of the opal 'body' pieces!   Definitely going to sit on the back burner untill I have got some Christmas stock made!

It sounds like you did a great job!  Pat yourself on the back.  The good thing about repairing someone else's is that you can't be blamed for any less than perfect work.  You can say to yourself, "I would NEVER do something like this."  And feel all superior.  If I repair my own work, I think, "I should have done a better job on this the first time."  And feel all crummy.

Yep, get your Christmas stuff done first.  Then tackle the big one.  It sounds like an all day job!  (Or more.)

Rebecca 

[Graham]

When you're repairing some crappy work, you have to be careful what you say about it. The customer might have made it. And you don't want do a repair that is so neat, that it makes the rest look even worse. A fine line to march along.

[Elizabeth]

I hear you, Rebecca & Graham!   An all day job? - more like an all week job, for me!!!!
In this case, I know the customer well,  and know who made the shades.   She has since left town as East London was not big enough to support her art.(?)
Yet again,  thanks for the advice and confidence boosters!