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<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=>
The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
December 2004
Volume 5 Issue 12 circulation over 3,400
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<=> <=> ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER <=> <=>
E-BENCH is a FREE monthly newsletter for Retail
Jewelry Store Owners, Shop Managers, Bench
Jewelers and Anyone Else That Is Interested.
We encourage you to forward this newsletter to
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E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
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Bradney W Simon – Publisher
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daniel@spirerjewelers.com
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<=> <=> <=> TABLE OF CONTENTS <=> <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers,
Who Do Repairs from Alan Revere
FEATURE ARTICLE
Learn how to make your shop more profitable, a
new technique, or brush up on basic
skills.
STEWART'S BENCH TIPS
Bench Tips from
Stewart’s
AT THE PLATINUM BENCH
Tips for working on Platinum from
Platinum Guild International
FAVORITE TIPS
Tips and Tricks to make your work on the bench
a little easier and more productive
from
Bradney W. Simon CMBJ and E-BENCH Readers.
GERRY’S GEMZ
Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting
WORKSHOP SAFETY FOR JEWELERS
Tips from Charles Lewton-Brian
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
New from
MJSA/AJM Press
The AJM Guide to
Lost-Wax Casting
Learn from the masters how to achieve smooth,
porosity-free castings! The AJM Guide to Lost-
Wax Casting offers an abundance of best
practices, handy tips, and
troubleshooting
techniques. How to create trouble-free master
models to proper breakout
procedures.
Contributing experts include:
Charles Lewton-Brain, Jurgen J. Maerz,
Gregg Todd, Michael Bondanza,
and many more.
For sample chapters and more information, go to
http://www.ajm-magazine.com/pub_press.php
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<=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere
AN EASY WAY TO FILL SMALL HOLES IN METAL
Let’s say that during the final polishing of a cast, opal-set ring, you discover a pit in the metal that’s too big to burnish closed. Or maybe you fabricated a hollow ring with a small air hole in the back, to allow gases to go in and out during soldering, and you now need to close the hole. In either case, you cannot fill the hole with solder, nor can you bur it out and then solder in a plug. What do you do?
Here is a sure fire way to fill a small hole in metal, either in a fabricated or cast piece. Begin by drilling through the hole with as small a drill bit as possible. Now select a piece of round wire made of the same alloy as the piece, but slightly larger. Using a file, taper the wire so the tip will go in the hole.
Now place the wire in a pin vise and slowly jam it into the hole, twisting it as you force it in. When the wire will not go in any further and fits the hole tightly, cut it off and file it down until it’s flush with the ring. Sand, polish, and voilá—you have totally hidden the hole. There isn’t even a solder seam to discolor.
This Tip is from the forthcoming book
"101 Bench Tips for Jewelers"
written by Alan Revere and published
by
MJSA/AJM Press.
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The best thing workers can bring to their jobs is a lifelong thirst for learning. Jack Welch
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
BENCH
ROM
The Multi-Media
Magazine for Bench Jewelers
BENCH ROM is an affordable method to learn new
skills and develop your career.
Discover New
Techniques
Learn New Tips to
Improve Your Work
See New Products and Technologies Demonstrated
All right from your home or shop without having
to travel to a seminar or trade show.
“Bench Rom is great,” says jeweler Bill Scores
“It’s like being in the shop of a Master
Jeweler and watching over his shoulder.”
Log onto www.BWSimon.com/BenchRom for more
information or to subscribe
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<=> <=> <=> FEATURE ARTICLE <=> <=> <=>
I UNDERSTAND
By Martin Lee Ernst
When you climb into that chair and roll up to your bench you sit in a position that few will ever really know. How many in their lifetime will wish they could do a small part of what you do on a daily basis? How many will take for granted the magic you dispense while they stand and watch you perform that "something really simple... it'll only take you a couple of minutes"? How many will really put their hand on your shoulder, give it a light squeeze and say "Thanks!, I really
appreciated that"?
Many will just sort of slowly disappear because they found someone who would do the work for less. How many will go home at night and forget that you are still at it when they go to sleep and already back at it when they get up? How many will really know what you do, day in and day out? There really are very few people who will understand. Those that understand can do little but shake their heads in
wonderment.
We will not see what becomes of most of our work. To us, it is often just rocks and metal. Build it, bill it, bag it - next. The special moment of giving is hidden from us. REMEMBER that your genius and talents will be remembered and cherished long after we are gone from this earth and that the tears of joy often shared with the loved one - also belong to
you.
Having spent almost half of my life parked in front of a bench, I tip my hat to my fellow brothers and sisters and say from the bottom of my heart that it is a privilege to know you, to share your passion, to share your work and to call you my friends.
Remember, they may not know, BUT I DO!
May you have a blessed holiday and some well deserved rest.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
People with small minds talk about other people. People with average minds talk about events. People with great minds talk about ideas. Anonymous
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
CALL FOR
ENTRIES
The first Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design
Competition will be held in conjunction with
the Bench Jewelers Conference &
Expo April 22 –
24 in
per category in up to three
categories in both
the Finished Jewelry and CAD
Rendering
Divisions. Deadline for submissions is March
15, 2005.
For details Contest Rules and to enter log
onto: www.BWSimon.com/DesignContest
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<=> <=> STEWART'S BENCH TIPS <=> <=>
Bench Tips from Stewart’s
for Jewelers
http://www.stewartsintlschool.com/
How To Repair A Broken Hollow Chain
By Jim Stewart
Take time to clean the chain because oils and hairspray may get inside the hollow links. You may have to clean the chain using a mixture of one tablespoon of Red Devil Lye to a few cups of water at 180F. If you use this solution you will need proper ventilation. You can cut through link one on both sides using an ultra thin cutoff disc or you can unsolder the links using a small reducing flame and twist the link a little using soldering tweezers. Now weave link one into link two and solder together using paste solder. Then weave the other link one into link two and solder the same way. Paste solder is not necessary but it is a little faster.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. Helen Keller
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
SIMON SEZ
SEMINARS
Bradney W. Simon is a JA Certified Master Bench
Jeweler with over 26 years experience on the
bench. He is the Editor and Publisher of
E-BENCH, BENCH Magazine, and BENCH ROM, and is
an accomplished platform speaker,
providing
Keynote Speeches, and Educational
Seminars.
Topics include:
Shop Management
Bench Tips
Jewelry
Demonstrations
For information on having him speak for your
organization, log onto;
http://www.BWSimon.com/SimonSez Seminars
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<=> <=> AT THE PLATINUM BENCH <=> <=>
Tips that working with Platinum or working at
the bench in general - easier from
Jurgen J. Maerz CMBJ,
Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com
Proper eye protection is important when melting platinum, since the ultraviolet light emitted by the glowing melt can damage your eyes. Use only lenses that are approved by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and comply with American National Safety Institute standards. A #10 welding goggle is the absolute minimum protection for the caster, and we generally recommend a #11 or #12 lens to be safe. Do not, under any circumstances, use regular sunglasses or other dark lenses! Any jewelry tool supplier or welding supply house can provide you with the proper eye protection, as well as gloves and a leather apron-two other important safety items.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. Napoleon Hill
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
The Ganoksin Project
www.ganoksin.com
The Gem and Jewelry Pre-Eminent Online
Resources. Open to the public
Free of Charge.
A substantial library of articles,
publications, reports, and technical
data on
gem and jewelry related topics; as
well as a
sizable collection of art and jewelry
galleries, for both the casual visitor
and the
professional, also host the popular
Orchid
online forums for jewelers.
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<=> <=> <=> FAVORITE TIPS <=> <=> <=>
Always cut a hole in the inside bottom of a closed bottom crown. This hole can be cut with a drill bit or a round bur. This will allow clearance for the culet of the stone. If this clearance is not provided, the stone may chip during setting or if the customer bumps the stone during normal wear and tear.
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To tighten prong set stones, use chain noise pliers and squeeze each prong with one adjacent prong. Then repeat the process by squeezing each prong toward the opposite adjacent prong, returning the prong to its original position. This will cause the prong to “walk” towards the stone tightening it.
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Time allowed for shop maintenance is always time well spent. Keeping cheaper tools in top condition is better then having expensive tools out of adjustment and poorly maintained.
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Purchase roll cage padding from an auto parts store. It's similar to pipe insulation however, it doesn't compress nearly as easily (pipe insulation is only marginal as a pad and quickly deteriorates). This can be used at several places on your bench to aid your comfort. For example, cover the leading edge of your bench pan, or place on your armrest. It can also be places where the handpiece of your flex-shaft hits when you let go.
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A sign in my dentist office reads “You don’t have to brush and floss all your teeth. Only the ones you want to keep!
The same applies to take-ins. You don’t have to check every stone. Just the ones you don’t want to replace!
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If you have a tip you would like to share with
our readers send it in an e-mail to
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11: 25
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
How would you like to learn in just 50 minutes
what it took others years to
learn?
YOU CAN!
Learn how to Set Stones, and Create Custom Made
Jewelry, PLUS numerous tips to make your work
at the bench easier, and more
efficient from
Certified Master Bench Jeweler Bradney W.
Simon. Each Bench View
CD Rom contains
approximately 50 minutes of video you
can watch
on your computer plus articles you
can print.
Only $24.95 each or All 5 for $100
For more information or to order log onto:
http://www.bwsimon.com/products.php
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<=> <=> <=> GERRY’S GEMZ <=> <=> <=>
Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting
http://www.gemzdiamondsetting.com/index.html
by Gerald N. Lewy
Always clean your gold shavings with a nylon brush after drilling. The reason being is that when the shavings are left inside the hole and the diamond is placed in the hole with these shavings and beads are raised and secured, you might think that the diamond is secured. When the gold item is placed in the sonic-cleaner, the shavings are released and the diamond is now loose!
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself. Lucille Ball
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
Jewelry Dealers
World Trade Network
http://www.JewelryDealersNetwork.com
<=> Bench Jeweler
Discussion Channel <=> >
Ask questions, share tips, and take part in the
ongoing discussions, or just read and
take in
all the advice from many excellent
jewelers
from around the world.
Membership includes: Topical Discussion
Channels, including
Bench Work, CAD-CAM, Stone Setting, and many
more. You may buy, sell and trade on the
Buy/Sell Channels, Plus Much More.
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<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY
FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From Charles Lewton-Brian
SAFETY AND SUBSTITUTES
According to Michael Hutt, (Health and safety advisors of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, food and Rural Affairs), the first rule of industrial hygiene is to eliminate or substitute with a less hazardous substance (/HSC list, Jan. 10/98). Any reduction in risk or exposure to hazards is a positive. If you identify your processes and procedures you may be able to find a safer substitute that accomplishes the same ends. Examples of simple changes include switching to fluoride free fluxes or even eliminating soldering altogether for some production applications by switching to a fusion welder.
For more information on Workshop safety from
Charles Lewton-Brian log onto:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm
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<=> <=> Thank You for
We are on the World Wide Web.
Visit us at http://www.BWSimon.com
A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is
located there.
Visit often, as we will be making changes to
our site, adding additional useful
information
for bench jewelers.
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INFORMATION <=> <=>
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Information provided in this document is
provided ‘As Is’ without warranty of
any kind,
either expressed or implied. This publication
is designed to provide accurate and
authoritative information concerning
the
subject matter covered. It is provided with
the understanding that the author or
publisher
is not engaged in rendering legal,
accounting,
or other professional services. If legal
advice or other expert assistance is
required,
the services of a competent
professional person
should be sought.
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For editorial suggestions, comments, ideas
or requests, please send an E-Mail to
Copyrighted, 2004, BENCH MEDIA.
All rights reserved.
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