Let's talk about lampwork beads and their cost.
This is a set of spacer beads that I currently have listed in my
Artfire store. I call them
Outrageous Orange Spacers. I priced these spacers at $18.
There are 12 beads in this set. All of these beads are handmade.
Where does the cost come from. What are you buying when you buy this set of beads?
Cost:
1. My first class cost me $110 for two hours. I have since learned that there are better beginner classes for less money.
2. I have taken 2 other classes taught by professional bead makers at $200 and $400 each. I am scheduled to take two more classes in 3 weeks at $285 each.
3. My first torch was a Hot Head, which I loved, but I have since upgraded to a mini cc which had been used in a class. The Hot Head cost me $40 and the mini cost me $225.
In order to run my mini cc, I need, not only propane, but a source for oxygen. When I bought my mini I also bought an oxygen concentrator. I have since added a second one because I mini does work better with 2 oxycons than with one.
I got a good deal on the oxycons. I paid around $280 for each one. That did include the shipping costs.
I also had to buy the hoses and the regulator for my propane and oxygen. That cost was an additional $70.
A small, but good addition, is my holding tank. I paid about $25 for that. I should actually upgrade to a bigger holding tank because of the extra oxycon, but I haven't done that yet.
I also bought a used kiln. That cost me $450. I love my digital kiln, and it's clearly needed, but it's an additional cost.
Whew! All right, what else do you need?
Now, you need mandrels and bead release. I save money on mandrels by purchasing tig rods from the welding store. If I could make my own bead release, I would. I do buy the bead release in bulk, so that saves on expense. Without bead release, a person would never be able to take their beads off of the mandrels.
Lastly, you need tools and glass. Glass can cost as little as $3.75 for a quarter pound to $22 for a quarter pound. Depending on which tools you need, they can range in price from $7 to $80 per tool. And don't forget the electricity you need for the oxycons, the light switch, the kiln, and the IPod. (I do need to listen to music when I work.) There are also books and tutorials that help a beadmaker develop new skills and techniques.
I'm afraid to add all of this up, and, please remember, I didn't buy all of these items all at once. I bought them over time. That helps with the cost. So, when you buy a lampwork bead or a glass sculpture, think of what you are buying. It's a lot more than the cost of the beads.
