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Here is your next issue of E-BENCH.
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<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=>
The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
July 2006
Volume 7 Issue 07 circulation over 4,300
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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
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
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<=> Bench Jeweler
Discussion Channel <=>
Ask questions, share tips, and take part in the
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Membership includes: Topical Discussion
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<=> <=> <=> TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=> <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
From Alan Revere
Advice from Aristotle: Excellence begins even prior to the first step.
It is a little-known fact that the Greek philosopher Aristotle was also an accomplished bench jeweler. This is obvious because of his famous adage, which is so applicable to making jewelry: Well done is half done. In most things, getting a good start is important. But in jewelry work, it is critical to success.
In every craft, there is an order to putting things together: some things must be done first, and then everything that follows is dependent on how well that first step was executed. Did you ever see a house builder put up one wall, hang the windows, and paint the shutters before laying out the footprint of the entire building? Of course not! So before you begin, think through every step and sub-step of the job ahead, and then arrange them in the correct sequence.
Once the job has been started, do your very best at every step, treating it with the same care and precision that you applied at the beginning. And, no matter how fast or slow you are working; take the time to enjoy every job. Remember that you are heir to a long line of goldsmiths who for 7,000 years have transformed ideas into objects of desire—not by speeding through the process or cutting corners, but by committing themselves to excellence, long before the first step was ever taken.
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 only time I become discouraged is when I think of all the things I like to do and the little time I have in which to do them. Thomas Edison
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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
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Boxes, Platinum, Batteries, Tools, and So Much
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Call us Today at 1-800-282-8285 or visit us on the World Wide Web at: http//www.sefindings.com
Namano /
Southeastern Findings
Your Home for
Southern Hospitality
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<=> <=> <=> COLORED STONES <=> <=> <=>
Learn all about handling colored stones from
gemstone cutter
CHROME DIOPSIDE
Until recently this intense green stone was rarely seen in jewelry. Recent discoveries in
availability and the TV shopping networks are doing their part to make it popular, so we can expect to see these stones at the bench with increasing frequency. All diopside ranges in hardness from about 5.5 to 7, and it is not exceptionally brittle. The gem varieties are remarkably resistant to heat, but sudden quenching is a no-no. The ultrasonic and the pickle present no problems.
Most of the chrome diopside you are likely to encounter will be under two carats, because stones much larger than that start to appear black rather than green. You may also encounter diopside in another form, as a cabochon. This material is dark golden-brown to black and displays a very nice four-rayed star. It is sometimes confused with black star sapphire, but star sapphire almost always displays six rays, not four. The star variety should NOT be heated or quenched
suddenly.
Black star diopside trades at a low value, just a few dollars per carat, while chrome (green) diopside in faceted form trades for $30-75 per carat in three carat sizes, much less in smaller sizes.
You can contact
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
He who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. The orderly arrangement of his time is like a ray of life which darts itself through all his occupations. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidents, chaos will soon reign. Victor Higo
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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.
http//www.BWSimon.com/BenchVision
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<=> <=> Tips & Tricks from
All cutting tools must be kept sharp. Dull cutting edges are dangerous to use as they have a tendency to slip off the metal rather than bite into it. Burs that slip can cut or pierce your fingers. Dull cutting edges take longer to perform the work resulting in lower productivity. They cause excessive heat buildup that could damage some jewelry or the tools themselves. Dull cutting edges produce poorer quality work. They leave more burs on the metal rather than cutting cleanly. In addition, they do not always cut true, resulting in off centered holes, and un-even or un-true cutting.
While using burs, use a steady, slow to medium speed. Flex-shafts can operate at speeds up to 14,000 rpm, some even faster. Burs and drills should not approach this speed while cutting metal (Carbide and Diamond tipped burs and drills are the exception to this). You should operate the flex-shaft at no more than medium speed while using steel burs and drills, and THE LARGER THE BUR THE SLOWER THE SPEED. High Speed Steel Burs are a description of the type of steel used and not indicative of the speed used when operating them.
Use light even pressure when you are using burs. Excessive pressure to vigorously cut metal will overheat the burs. This heat will remove the temper from the tool and it will no longer be able to keep a sharp cutting edge. Let the tool do the work. DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE SPEED OR PRESSURE TO FORCE A DULL BUR.
You can contact Brad at Brad@BWSimon.com
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit. Proverbs 24: 33 - 34
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
CLASP - A
Convergence of Jewelers
http://www.claspconvergence.com
Clasp will be the first conference of its kind—
an education and networking
conference
specifically designed to serve small
manufacturers, metalsmiths, designing
jewelers
and bench jewelers.
Brought to you by
Ganoksin Project (parent to the Orchid Forums),
Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of
(MJSA), and The Society of North
American
Goldsmiths (SNAG).
For more information and to register go to:
http://www.claspconvergence.com
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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
PIPE DREAMS: An Easy Sandblasted Finish
Imagine you must apply a sand-blasted finish to a surface, but have neither a compressor nor a sand-blasting tool. What is the solution? Get a piece of PVC pipe! Simply close one end of the pipe permanently with a cap, attach a removable cap to the other end, and fill the pipe one-third of the way with beach sand. Drop your jewelry inside and tape the removable cap to the pipe. Now shake the tube vigorously for a few minutes. Remove the piece from the tube – and enjoy the even sand finish you have just applied!
You can also achieve a nice sand finish by putting the piece in a rotating tumbler one- third filled with sand and running it overnight.
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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/
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Work expands so as to fill time available for its completion. Cyril Northcote Parkinson
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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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<=> <=> <=> Gemz from Gerry <=> <=> <=>
Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting
http://www.gemzdiamondsetting.com/index.html
by Gerald N. Lewy
The happiest diamond setter or jeweller is the guy/gal who is comfortable in their bench environment!
Keep all of your tools within close reach and do not waste precious time scrounging for your tools all over your bench. When you are finished with certain tools, put them away, and keep only the ones you need within close hand reach.
After every 1/2 hour stand up and walk around or take a coffee break. This will give your legs time to exercise and give your mind a rest also.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Sometimes the difference between loving your job and hating your job is all in your attitude. Zig Ziglar
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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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<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY
FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From Charles Lewton-Brian
FUMES VAPORS and MIST
Fumes
Fumes are small particles of
a material, often
from metals that have been melted. These may
be very tiny and can be breathed into the
lungs. Metal fume fever is a
real hazard with
molten metals. It has numerous names,
the
nastiest of which is The Smothers. Metal
fume
fever can be caused by zinc, copper, magnesium,
aluminum, copper, antimony, cadmium, iron, or
silver. The particles are so
small (0.01-0/5
microns) that they stay in the air a long time.
Because they are so tiny
they go deeper into
your lungs and can then dissolve more easily
within your body.
I have known a number of
people to experience
metal fume fever, from zinc while casting or
reticulating brass and once from copper,
because they did not use adequate ventilation.
Casting brass is a particular
culprit, often
because ventilation is frequently a hood type
above a casting machine and the fumes are then
drawn past the workers face on their way out.
So, do not cast brasses
unless you can help it,
use very good ventilation when melting or
reticulating metals, and if you must do it then
use the correct respirator.
Vapors
You get vapors when you
turn a liquid into a
gas, for example water evaporates to make water
vapor. The vapors jewelers worry
about most
are from solvents, acids, and simmering
solutions. Remember that things can
vaporize
at room temperature - even frozen sheets will
dry on the line in the cold. Mercury
vaporizes
at room temperature.
Mist
Mists are small droplets of
chemicals in liquid
form. If one quenches into a
pickle pot for
instance a mist is formed. It has
been shown
that in factory situations people exposed to
mists of sulfuric acid develop pitted enamel in
their teeth. Mists are more
toxic than vapors
because they deliver a more concentrated
solution to spots in the lungs and elsewhere.
For more information on Workshop safety from
Charles Lewton-Brian log onto:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winters evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true. Woodrow Wilson
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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
http//www.riogrande.com
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<=> <=> Thank You for
We are on the World Wide Web.
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Visit often, as we will be making changes to
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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
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the understanding that the author or
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Copyrighted, 2006, BENCH MEDIA.
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