101.61 Mend stained glass

[bugshaw]

As with the viola-fixing, once I started to look for people who could mend stained glass I found one 10 minutes walk away.

The history is that my father had a piece of stained glass commissioned, a nice riverside scene with dragonflies and bulrushes and a somewhat rude whimsy. I've moved house several times since he died, with the glass, and unfortunately a couple of the pieces have got cracked. I'd like to get it fixed and cleaned and mounted, so I can hang it in the house.

A chap from CSG came round, and gave me good and bad news. I can get it fixed! This involves dismantling it and reassembling with new lead (it's copper foil at the moment), one of the glass types is no longer made but he can find a good match in colour though not texture. Framing comes free! He could probably recut the whimsy if he would be prepared to admit that he can see it. But he quoted a high three figure sum, the same cost as getting a similar sized piece designed and built from scratch.

So then I find myself thinking "Maybe I could get a new piece, something that I like (they do lovely, lovely stuff), half the size, for half the cost, and leave Dad's propping up the hall cupboard for years to come. I, er, guess I've found the price point between "I'm very fond of it" and "I like it"... But it is nice, and I wish it could be repaired for less :-(

Comments

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

When you say CSG, do you mean Steve Lesic? If not, get in touch and I'll give you his phone number. He did a lovely job on our front door a while back and comes highly recommended. Sadly, his prices have gone up since he turned pro, so maybe he is the guy you're talking about.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

It was a Steve, probably the same one. Dismantling and reconstruction does seem to cost the same as making new from scratch. I was hoping there would be some cunning technique with a laser or sonic screwdriver or something which could heal the break in situ :-) Alas, no.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Go for a new piece - after all, that's what your dad did.

And you'll think of him when you look at the new one.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

That is an excellent suggestion, thank you :-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

To be honest, I'm not surprised it's pricey. This is intricate and complicated work.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

And lengthy, and messy...

[desperance.livejournal.com]

I have a stained-glass-working friend, whom I could query if you wanted, to see if he would fix your father's piece cheaper. Though he is in Newcastle, so there would also be transporting costs and so forth. I have no idea whether that would be worth it...?

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

It's always worth getting a second quote!

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Okey-doke. I shall track him down. D'you want to e-mail me details about the size of the thing and what needs doing, 'zackly? Chaz at chazbrenchley dot co dot uk will find me in...

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

Could you still get it mounted without it getting fixed properly? It'd still be a nice reminder of your dad.