Fix ‘Er Up!
Reduce waste and spending by making repairs instead of buying new. Find out where to fix everything from moth-eaten cashmere sweaters to surfboards.
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With the economy still stagnating and earnings at or below historic lows, it’s no surprise that people are figuring out ways to make what they have last longer. But with an extended life comes inevitable repairs, which are often worth it for costly or irreplaceable items. Coast comes to the rescue with info on how to fix everything from moth-eaten cashmere sweaters to clocks and watches, damaged artwork and everything in between.
Dolls
It’s not every day that people find themselves in need of an emergency doll repair, but when that time comes, it’s good to know that Toni Foster, owner of Dr. Toni’s Doll Repair, will come to the rescue of an overly vigorous play session with a three-year-old, or just common wear and tear of collectibles and family heirlooms over the years. With 11 years of doll repair service, two doll repair certifications and a passion for restoring and fixing dolls and toys of all types, Foster works on modern, antique and vintage dolls with a specialization in bisque, porcelain, composition, hard plastic, and felt. Dolls stay in Dr. Toni’s Doll Hospital while they are being fixed, and emerge completely free of cracks, rips, missing eyes and limbs, and discolorations.
714.785.6998 :: dolldoctor.net
Watches and Clocks
For some, buying a watch is just a way to tell time; for others, it’s an investment in personal style and a statement that speaks to attention to detail and the importance of punctuality both professionally and personally. To keep your watch looking and operating its best, regular maintenance provided by The Clock Man in Fullerton can make the difference between a watch that merely looks good, and one that looks good and also serves an important purpose. Owner Matt Fitch discovered his love of timepieces at the early age of 14 while working at a neighborhood clock shop, and in the years since, has gained a reputation as the man to go to for fixing clocks of all kinds, from antique grandfather clocks to watches to high-tech animated clocks. Fitch’s watch specialty is Rolex, but he’s also expert in fixing Tag Heuer, Omega, Breitling, Cartier, and Patek Philippe brands, among others.
714.578.0089 :: watchrepairoc.com
Computers
Between spilling coffee on your keyboard, dropping your laptop from a table or just a hard drive meltdown at precisely the wrong moment, there are many, many ways that computers can go wrong. And it’s not a question of “if,” it’s a question of “when.” Best to be prepared, then, with the best in the business when an emergency fix is needed. The people at TechRoom in Costa Mesa repair PCs and Macs and specialize in data recovery and preservation, data transfer and other minor repairs such as replacement keyboards. Don’t know what’s wrong? TechRoom can provide a diagnostic service, plus give solutions and estimates, for a reasonable price.
949.706.5852 :: techroom.com
Shoes and Leather
Breaking a heel in a sidewalk crack is never fun, but it’s especially hard to take when the recipient of the damage is a new pair of Jimmy Choos. Instead of rushing out to buy a new pair (as tempting as that may be), take them to Anthony’s Shoe Repair and Leatherworks, where the magic of heel and dowel replacement, shining and buffing, and replacement of rubber parts and metal takes place, to reveal like-new shoes. Old, favorite shoes can also get a makeover with polish and conditioners, and accessories of all kinds are available to keep shoes looking and feeling their best. Besides fixing everything from worn-out soles to broken zippers, Anthony’s, which has locations throughout Orange County, also specializes in leather repairs on everything from handbags to jackets to belts.
:: shoerepair.com
Surfboards
If there’s one thing that may need fixing more than anything else in our coastal county, it’s surfboards. Whether it’s a small or large ding, or something more serious, like a completely broken board, leave the repair to Molly Logan of Logan Surfboards, located in Westminster. One of the world’s few women shapers, Logan toyed with careers in the entertainment industry and the corporate world before following her true passion: surfboards. Besides repairs for dings, delamination or buckles, Logan also builds custom boards, from eggs to hybrids to longboards.
310.633.0822 :: logansurfboards.com
Tile
Tile is mostly great – it’s clean, cool and looks good. But after a while, even the best tile breaks, fades or gets discolored grout, which can make a home look old and unkempt. With replacement being expensive and often unnecessary for one or two cracked tiles or grimy grout, the best solution could be to get it fixed by Tile Repair Specialists, an OC-based company that will clean, repair, replace, and re-color all types of tile and grout, including ceramic, porcelain, marble, travertine, and granite.
949.231.2868 :: tilerepairspecialist.com
Garments
With the motto, “If it can be done at all, Knitwear Doctor is the one to do it for you,” it’s hard to resist the temptation to dump all of your wordly problems on the Costa Mesa-based garment repair shop. But if your problems include knitwear repair, you’re in luck – the Knitwear Doctor has been in business for over 20 years, providing services that range from knit and sweater alteration and repair to dying to fixing moth holes in cashmere. Featured several times in Vogue magazine for its miracles with knits and the go-to garment repairer for companies like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, the company’s founders, Boris and Galia Gukaylo, also operate Buttonham Palace, a paradise for those looking to replace rare buttons or add new ones to an old sweater or cardigan.
949.650.1025 :: knitweardoctor.com
Art and Photography
Art, whether museum-worthy or something picked up while on vacation and painted by an amateur, is often prized for both its inherent quality and sentimental value. But as time passes, or an accident causes accelerated deterioration, the help of a professional is needed to restore art to its former glory. That’s where CASA comes in, the California Art Services Alliance, a group of professionals that have come together to collectively offer a range of art services that rival any reputable museum. From fine art storage overseen by Brian Ross, to Susan Brown’s able art restoration and conservation services to three-dimensional object conservation by Sabrina Carli, a full range of services is available for collectors, galleries and museums. Other services include art photography (Chris Bliss) and appraisal (C.H. Boyd), custom, hand-carved gold leaf frame making (Victor Mayen and Phil Olsen), and art installation and handling (David Aeppli).
949.499.3681 :: casaartservices.com
Model Trains
Maybe you’ve collected model trains since you were a kid and want to pass them on, or maybe your toddler is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine, but whatever the case, if it’s broke, go fix it at Arnie’s Model Trains in Westminster. The family business that has been in operation since 1975, when Jerry Arnold and his son Greg (“Arnie”) started it after leaving the railroad and corporate worlds, respectively, is now OC’s beacon for all things train. Specializing in O, HO and N scale trains, Arnie’s sells as well as repairs train sets, with two technicians available to advise on broken parts. Call ahead to make sure they can get the correct parts for older trains.
714.893.1015 :: arniestrains.com
Home Electronics
Just because the latest version of the TV you bought last month came out doesn’t mean you have to ditch your now-antiquated version for the one with a few more pixels. Instead, try sticking with it for a while, and maybe even consider repairing it if its high-tech components get their signals crossed. In the event of a meltdown, count on Mike’s TV Repair to service your HDTV, Plasma, LCD, DLP, and DVD in record time to avoid missing any big games, and while you’re at it, have them tune up your camcorders, stereos, satellite boxes, and antennas. Mike’s also makes in-house calls for extra convenience.
949.650.4700 :: mikestvrepair.com
Guitars
The relationship between guitar and player is much like that between parent and child: they are often inseparable, they resemble one another and the guitar owner believes his guitar is the best, most perfect guitar in the world. So it’s understandable when a guitar owner gets distraught when his stringed companion is suffering from an ailment. To remedy the problem, there is The Guitar Doctor in Fountain Valley, a highly respected business run by Doc Pittillo and Pavel Maslowiec, which specializes in full service electric and acoustic guitar repair. Other stringed instruments, such as bass guitars, dobros, bajos, mandolins, ukuleles, and lap steels, are also fixed at The Guitar Doctor.
714.437.9607 :: guitardoctor.net
Where to Fix Everything Else
When the roof starts leaking during the first downpour of the season or the lawnmower takes a nosedive into disrepair hours before guests are due to arrive, the first response generally involves some form of curse, followed closely by the question: Where am I going to get this fixed? Angie’s List, which started in 1995 when founder Angie Hicks was frustrated with trying to find a reliable contractor, has since grown to cover myriad markets and reach over 1.5 million consumers. The idea is simple: Members use a service and then submit reviews on the quality of that service, which can then be read by other members when they are in need of the same service. Safeguards, such as a six-month waiting period between reporting back on the same company, a review process of every member's report by Angie’s staff and a policy of no anonymous reviews keep things above board and allow the consumer to make the most informed decision possible. The Orange County market was opened recently by Angie’s List. Check out the website to find service providers here for everything from nail salons to pet grooming and oral surgeons.
:: angieslist.com
