Laura - I’m afraid this is a bit harsh, but you asked.
IMHO, you can’t make even minimum wage working copper maile,
especially micromaile.
If you want to even think of making a business, buy your rings
already cut, saw cut that is. That eliminates the time cutting and
cleaning up the rings. To do it yourself, you need a jump ring
cutter and multiple tumblers. That gets rid of the burr and polishes
them before assembly. If you can afford tumblers - about $250 to 350,
and you want to do chain maile, cut your own.
If you want to make a business of making jewelry, that is a different
question. Below is the link for an article I wrote for Orchid Feb 12,
2006 on pricing jewelry. Having reviewed it, it gives you a place to
start for pricing. You have to figure out what the market will bear.
If it won’t support what you would have to charge, either make
something different or change how you make chain maile. Silver maile
might be feasible… but that is your deal to figure out. Do update
the precious metal pricing to todays prices.
Tutorial on Pricing Jewelry for wholesale
Judy Hoch