Fix and Fit
Soldering...finishing the job
By Alex Yoho, ABOM

In two previous Fix & Fit columns, we figured out the pros and cons of repairing frames and completing soldering and buffing work. But before the repaired frames are ready to go back to your client, they should be finished beyond basic buffing and plating.

To deliver truly repaired eyewear, prepare to explore the world of colored finishes. Some of these paint jobs are highly specialized coatings that require sophisticated equipment beyond the typical scope. But with some adaptations, paint jobs can be touched up with relatively conventional means to blend with the existing finish.

The most difficult task is finding paints or inks that are truly durable. Often people will turn to model paints, which for the most part are unsatisfactory unless allowed to dry for days.

There are a number of alternatives to the usual model paint that are very quick to dry once applied. They range from water-based airbrush paints to permanent paint or ink markers. Once they are dry, you can put a clear coat over them for added protection.

Mix colors and start with a solid or splotchy yellow base, adding dots or lines to match the finish

PRACTICAL ARTS

Mixing and matching paints is an art in itself. Badger brand "Air Opaque" airbrush model paints are available in about any color you would ever want at your local hobby shop. You may want to have a hundred different colors of brown so you don't have to mix them, or you can get by with just a primary color set from which you hand blend the color you desire. To save time, I tend to keep a few more than just the primary colors. But for nearly exact matching, you can take a color that is already close and blend in a bit of white to lighten it. An old lens generally serves as my paint palette--they provide a tidy paint mixing area.

When it comes to inks, there is an advantage of translucence as opposed to the opacity of paint. To mix primary colors of ink, you need quantities larger than a marking pen will allow, so I use the "Marsh 88" brand ink markers, which are available at office supply stores. These are similar to paint markers: You push on the tip to release more ink on to the nib. These pens make it easy to imitate the tortoise overlays that are always popular with consumers.

To accomplish the traditional favorite tortoise overlay, keep the following steps in mind.

Finish the frame. Bring the frame to a bright luster and plate if needed to match.

Apply base coat. Using the ink markers, scribble on a nice base coat, usually yellow or a light orange, wherever the tortoise should be. After a minute or so, the base coat should be dry enough to start adding other colors.

Mix and match. Look closely at the other colors on the frame, and mix your paint to match if needed.

Connect the dots. Using a very sparse bristled brush, touch it lightly to the paint and then just lightly enough on the frame to place very small dots randomly on the base coat. Although you are basically just scribbling on the frame, some tortoise patterns have lines instead of dots that you will need to match. In the dish, begin with yellow, add a little red to make orange, and add green to make brown.

When the colors dry, put on a coat of lacquer to protect the color from rubbing off and give your frame depth.