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<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=>
The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
June 2006
Volume 7 Issue 06 circulation over 4,200
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Do You Want to Improve Your Pave Setting?
Would You Like to Channel Set Princess Cuts
Better?
Then you need to attend Bench Seminars!
Learn How To Set Stones Easier,
Faster, and
with Less Stone Breakage. You will see STONE
SETTING demonstrated from PAVE SETTING to
PRINCESS CHANNELS to FLUSH SETTING and much
more. Working with PLATINUM, HAND FABRICATION,
and BENCH TIPS is also included.
This Is One Seminar You Do Not Want To Miss!
LOCATIONS & DATES
For more information and to register log onto:
http://www.BWSimon.com/Conference/seminars/
or call 864-680-6660
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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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B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
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daniel@spirerjewelers.com
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
For over 60 years,
jewelry supplier, has provided
quality
products, unsurpassed selection and
legendary
service to help professional jewelers
succeed.
* Gems & Findings division offers finished
jewelry, findings and gemstones
* Display & Packaging division offers
innovative display and packaging
* Tools division offers equipment and supplies
Call us at 1-800-545-6566 or visit us at
www.riogrande.com
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<=> <=> <=> TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=> <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
From Alan Revere
NO SWEAT:
Sweat Soldering Made Easy
Nearly every bench jeweler who has tried it
finds soldering a small piece of
sheet cleanly
and perfectly onto a larger one
exceedingly
difficult. Soldering a pierced monogram onto a
sheet, for instance, is no simple
matter. Most
bench jewelers would sweat solder the
pieces
together (i.e. solder them in stages)
by first
flowing solder onto the back of the
monogram
and then placing it onto the
sheet. The
assembly is heated, and the two
pieces join
when the solder flows for a second
time.
The trick is to have just the right amount of
solder in the right places. Too often, not all
areas of the seam are soldered
completely, or
they are flooded with too much solder
(or
both). To sweat solder with accuracy, you must
first properly prepare the top piece
to receive
the solder, by routing out metal from
the back.
Use a pair of dividers to trace the outline
onto the back, leaving an inscribed
border
about 0.5 mm inside the edge. Now, with a ball
bur, carve away the surface about 0.2
mm deep,
leaving the border intact. Flow solder into
the recessed area and then file the
surface, so
that the solder and the surrounding
edge are
perfectly flat. Place the monogram in position
on the clean backing and trace it
with a
pencil. Flux within the traced outline, then
flux and position the monogram. Heat from
below—and watch with delight as the
monogram
settles gently into place, with a
perfectly
even seam all around. Once you have tried
this, you will never attempt sweat
soldering
any other way!
This tip is from 101 Bench Tips for Jewelers
written by Alan Revere and published
by
MJSA/AJM Press.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
The difference between great people and
everyone else is that great people
create their
lives actively, while everyone else
is created
by their lives, passively waiting to
see where
life takes them next. The difference
between
the two is the difference between living
fully
and just existing.
Michael E. Gerber
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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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<=> <=> <=> COLORED STONES <=> <=> <=>
Learn all about handling colored stones from
gemstone cutter
CHRYSOBERYL
The mineral chrysoberyl provides us fantastic
gemstones in three distinct
forms. The first,
alexandrite, the color-change variety,
has been
discussed in the April Issue of
E-Bench. The
second is cats-eye chrysoberyl, the
rarest and
by far the most expensive of the gems
capable
of producing the cats-eye
phenomenon. The
cats-eye phenomenon, called chatoyancy by
gemologists, is caused by the
internal
structure of the stone. In this case, parallel
fibers, needles, or elongated
crystals of the
mineral itself reflect light in such
a way that
sheen can be seen in reflected light
on a flat
polished surface. When the surface is domed or
cut en cabochon the eye is seen; the
finer
the needles, the better the eye. In the best
chrysoberyl the eye seems to glow and
as the
stone is turned the eye will seem to
open and
close or wink.
Varying in color from orangey-yellow through
yellowish green to grey-green, top
cats eye
chrysoberyls in three to five carat sizes sell
for $1500 to $3500 per carat
wholesale. Some
also show a color change, in which
case they
are cats-eye alexandrite, and the
prices go
through the roof.
The third variety of gem chrysoberyl is simply
transparent yellow-green, usually
seen in
faceted form. It is generally a medium light
yellow to yellowish green. Properly cut it is
very brilliant and often free of
inclusions.
It shares the high 8.5 hardness of its siblings
and is very tough as well. Avoid sudden heat
or quenching, as usual; otherwise
chrysoberyl
offers no challenges.
You can contact
wayne_emery@msn.com
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Teach this triple truth to all: A generous
heart, kind speech, and a life of
service and
compassion are the things, which
renew
humanity.
Buddha
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
Southeastern Findings
Southeastern Findings has been a leader in the
wholesale jewelry business for the
past 27
years servicing the Independent
Jeweler. We
are Findings, Diamonds, Wedding
Bands, Jewelry
Boxes, Platinum, Batteries, Tools, and So Much
More.
Call us Today at 1-800-282-8285 or
visit us on
the World Wide Web www.sefindings.com
Namano /
Southeastern Findings
Your Home for
Southern Hospitality
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<=> <=> Tips & Tricks from
Take-In Tips
If a customer comes in to pick up their
jewelry, and leaves another item for
repair,
use a new envelope for the new
job. Do not
cross out the instructions on the
original
envelope and write in new
instructions next to
it. It does not allow you to record an
adequate description of the new piece
of
jewelry. Reusing an envelope eliminates the
record of the original repair for
your
permanent file. This also causes confusion in
the shop, possibly resulting in the
wrong
repairs being performed.
Do not take in jewelry in boxes. Boxed jewelry
often does not fit in envelopes, makes filing difficult, clutters up the shop and
gets the
boxes soiled, damaged, ruined, and separated
from their jewelry. At take in time, simply
return the box to the customer and explain
that
their jewelry is most easily
identified and
safely kept in an envelope.
Clearly, specifically, and completely write the
repair instructions in terms the
bench jeweler
understands. You want to eliminate confusing,
incomplete, or inaccurate instructions
and with
them the chance of unacceptable or
unwanted
repairs. Do not write please fix or solder.
State exactly what the customer wants repaired.
You can contact Brad at Brad@BWSimon.com
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
That some achieve great success, is proof to
all that others can achieve it as
well.
Abraham Lincoln
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
BENCH
VISION
A Video Magazine for
Bench Jewelers on DVD
Each quarterly issue contains 1 hour of video
training including: Stone Setting,
Jewelry
Repair, and Custom Jewelry
Manufacturing. Plus
Bench Tips, Bench Visits, and New Product
Reviews.
Only $95 per year in the
and Only $125 per year for oversea
delivery.
www.BWSimon.com/BenchVision
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<=> <=> AT THE PLATINUM BENCH <=> <=>
Tips that make 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
Out and Over:
Holding Rings Securely for Soldering
To hold a wedding band securely for soldering,
try making a small modification to
your
tweezers. Using a pair of concave round
forming pliers, bend the ends of the
tweezers
outward. This will make it possible to hold
the ring securely for soldering. The natural
tension of the tweezers will keep the
ring in
position. However, be sure to use tweezers
with little tension, as too much can
spread the
ring open during soldering operations.
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
Platinum Guild International and Bench Media
Present – Bench Seminars
Master Level Seminars presented by two of the
Industrys Foremost Seminar Leaders. Seminars
include: Platinum Bench Techniques,
Advanced
Fabrication, Advanced Stone Setting, and Bench
Tips & Other Tricks.
Seminar Leaders
will present these seminars in
28th,
Angeles) August 25th,
22nd, and
For more information and to register log onto:
http://www.BWSimon.com/Conference/seminars/
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as
surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21: 5
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
JewelersTraining.com
JewelersTraining.com is the first and finest On
Demand Jewelry Video Training Website.
JewelersTraining.com is designed by Jewelers
for Jewelers. Our mission is to provide
jewelers with the best online jewelry
education
with On Demand Videos and other
training
resources.
Log onto JewelersTraining.com Today and sign-up
for our free educational newsletter.
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<=> <=> <=> Gemz from Gerry <=> <=> <=>
Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting
http://www.gemzdiamondsetting.com/index.html
by Gerald N. Lewy
If I have to hammer secure a channel-set stone,
I do not do the hammering while holding the
ring in a wooden clamp. I find that the wooden
holder absorbs the downward
force. A better
approach is to place the ring on a
steel
mandrel. On the steel mandrel, the hammering
is total and the movement of the gold
onto the
gemstone is more definite. You can apply
more downward force with less
repetitive
hammering motions.
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
What the mind can conceive and believe, it can
achieve.
Napoleon Hill
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
United Precious
Metal Refining
United is a full service refiner for Gold,
Silver, Platinum, & Palladium. We specialize
in Refining for the jewelry Industry,
processing everything from sweeps to
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Technical assistance on all phases of
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United Precious
Metal Refining
Simply
the Best
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY
FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From Charles Lewton-Brian
DUSTS
Dust is small particles of a material. There
are dusts you can see in the air;
these can be
breathed in and because the particles
are
fairly large they end up in the upper
portions
of the lungs. Some can be cleared from the
body by its natural mucus where it is
bound up
and brought up into the
esophagus. From there
it is swallowed.
The finer dust particles, ones you can barely
see and many you cannot see at all
with the
naked eye, are the worst. They enter the
lungs, go far deeper into their
recesses, and
can result in chronic lung damage. Many dusts
and even metal particles in fumes are
this
tiny.
Choose the least dust producing techniques and
processes possible. If possible work wet so
that particles cannot become dust in
the air.
There are wet belt sanders available now for
working metals (and other materials)
that can
do a great job (they run cold so you
can hold a
piece onto them without it heating up
in your
fingers) and they keep a lot of dust
out of the
air. When working with silicon carbide
separating discs I use a wax
lubricant which
binds most dust generated into a
paste and
keeps it out of the air.
One of the big sources of hazardous dust is
investing for casting. Investment contains 40-
50% cristobolite, a form of quartz
which is
many times more likely to cause
silicosis than
standard quartz does. It is therefore very
important to be careful when mixing
investment,
quenching a flask and removing
investment.
Local ventilation sucking from where you are
working is necessary. When I started insisting
on this at our school, we discovered
a crust of
investment on the mesh over the
suction slits a
millimeter or so thick in only one
week. This
was without seeing any dust in the
air while
investing. Remember that the worst
particles
are the ones you cannot see. We use proper
respirators and the local ventilation
now.
There are cases of silicosis recorded from
investing where the worker was only
exposed to
the material for a year or so.
If you generate dusts, fumes and chemicals as a
result of your working methods, take
full
responsibility for what you are
doing.
For more information on Workshop safety from
Charles Lewton-Brian log onto:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Aristotle
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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.
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> 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.
<=> <=> SUBSCRIPTION
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
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Copyrighted, 2006, BENCH MEDIA.
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BENCH MEDIA
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