Whoops, yeah, I have been overpaying for my rings. I just found out that theringlord carries both types of rings for much cheaper than I have been paying. I appologize for the price hike and I was not trying to make such a profit. I was origanally paying about 3 cents per overlapped ring and about three quarters of a cent per punched ring. That makes my costs about five cents a ring for shipping, gas, etc. then about four cents per ring since which is about $10/hour. That is, I believe, a skilled labor wage (and yes, welding, weaving, anything with maille is skilled labor). Theringlord's price per ring is about 0.85 cents per overlapped ring and 0.70 cents per punched ring. this averages out to about 0.78 cents per ring. Round up to the nearest cent (for gas and shipping of rings) and add to about 4 cents per ring for my time makes 5 cents a ring. I am totally sorry about the price hike and now you know how I charge my rings. So here is the math:
Costs: 1 cent/ring
Time per ring: 245 rings/hour
cost hour: $2.45/hour
profit per ring: 4 cents
profit per hour: $9.80/hour
so price is 5 cents per ring + 1 cent/ring for flattened welds.
How much research have you done? How many pieces have you already sold and for how much? Do you make other things from metal as well, like belts or "clothing" for women, or is this the only thing you do?
My intended market is armor since belts and bras (
)don't need to be welded.
I have been making maille as just a hobby and didn't seel it since the market doesn't pay well unless you are specialized. I started making welded maille about a year and a half ago because I ordered riveted rings but got overlapping rings instead. I decided to use our old oxy/acet. torch to try and weld them. I almost gave up before someone told me that you could use a smaller tip (clearly, I wasn't an expert when it came to welding). I, unfortunetley, don't have a portfolio since I am new to adding on to the internet. I am working on one so I might have it soon (I hope).
Again, sorry for the price hike.
Now for the question again: Would you pay about $500 for a sleeved shirt of welded maille?
When tempted to fight fire with fire remember that the fire department uses water.