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<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=>
The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
March 2007
Volume 8 Issue 3 circulation over 4,700
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4th
Annual
Bench Jewelers
Conference & Expo
Pre-Conference
Seminar April 26th
For More Information & to Register log onto:
http://www.BWSimon.com/Conference
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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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<=> <=> <=> 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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<=> <=> <=> TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=> <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
From Alan Revere
Put A
Because of their size and shape, some jewelry tools pose unique challenges. Small punches, for instance, can cause fatigue if held in one hand for too long, and once you have put it down, there is no guarantee it will not roll away.
So try putting a cork on it! Find a used wine cork and, drilling from both ends, create a hole straight through its center. The hole should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the punch – for a 4 mm shaft, drill a hole that is about 3.5mm. Now slide the cork onto the shaft and use a rasp, a coarse file, or a very coarse abrasives paper to create one flat side on the outside of the cylindrical
cork.
Now you have the most comfortable, most grip- able, and most controllable punch possible. And it will never roll off your bench.
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 plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
There’s Still Time!
There
is still time to register for the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo
Go
to www.BWSimon.con/Conference to register!
NEW
THIS YEAR
This
year at the Bench Jewelers Conference &
Expo,
United Precious Metals will be offering a
tour of their refinery. Don’t
miss this
opportunity to see first hand how your scraps
are processed and how your precious metal stock
and solders are manufactured. This tour is
free of charge to the Bench Conference
attendees.
The
Bench Conference was an overall good
experience, with lots of opportunity to network
with other jewelers with a vast knowledge and
experience. The free
sharing of information
was excellent.
Pablo
Martinez –
Go
to www.BWSimon.con/Conference for all the
details and to register!
Bench
Jewelers Conference & Expo will be held
at the Adam’s
Staying
at the Host Hotel provides you the best
opportunity to take advantage of the many
networking opportunities and all that the Bench
Jewelers
Conference & Expo has to offer.
To
book your hotel room, call the hotel
directly and tell them you are attending the
Bench
Jewelers Conference & Expo or log onto:
http://www.bwsimon.com/conference/Buffalo/Show_Hotel_Buffalo.htm
Just
a note to say a BIG THANKS for the great
conference this weekend! I came away with some
wonderful ideas and information. Plus it was
nice to be able to talk with others in the
trade.
Jeff
Watson
The 2007 Bench Jewelers Conference &
Expo
is fast
approaching.
DON’T MISS IT – REGISTER TODAY!
Go
to www.BWSimon.com/Conference for all the
details and to register.
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<=> <=> <=> COLORED STONES <=> <=> <=>
Learn all about handling colored stones from
gemstone cutter
As we continue our discussion of the handling of colored gemstones at the bench, I would like to repeat some general guidelines for working with colored stones for the new readers that may have missed them, and as a reminder to the rest of us.
First, proper identification of the gemstone is mandatory. If you have reason to question the identity of the stone or you are generally unsure, you only have two good choices. The first is to have a proper identification made so that you can then proceed accordingly, or remove the stone from its setting. When I ran my shop, the ironclad rule was to remove all questionable colored gems from the mountings when torch-level heat was to be applied to the piece. When in doubt, take it out! Laser welders when used properly limit the risk, but remember that those little facets can act like mirrors to the laser beam, so be cautious!
In previous articles I discouraged the use of steam cleaners with colored gems, as the sudden temperature change they create will often completely destroy a gemstone and I have proved it by having some of those accidents!
For the same reason, use caution with ultrasonic cleaners. Place the gem or jewelry in a glass beaker with room temperature cleaner and immerse it in the ultrasonic, letting the temperature rise gradually. Finally, do not forget to wait for pieces to cool before immersing them in pickle.
You can contact
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
There are precious few Einsteins among us. Most brilliance arises from ordinary people working together in extraordinary ways. Roger Von Oech
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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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<=> <=> Tips & Tricks from
THE MASTERs TOUCH
By Bradney W. Simon
The difference between a Master Jeweler and an average jeweler is not so much learning advanced techniques as a mastery over the basic ones. For example, there is little difference between the soldering technique in the most complex hand fabricated item of jewelry and sizing a ring. What sets the Masters work apart is the meticulous execution of those techniques.
The downfall of many bench jewelers is not a lack of skills but the determination and discipline to practice and fine-tune those skills to the degree of workmanship deserving the title of Master. Often what hinders our progress is not a lack of knowledge, but the apathy towards accomplishing our work that we have allowed to creep in. Over the years, it is easy to allow bad habits to develop like hurrying through our work or skipping certain steps. To overcome this takes practice. Just like a sports player will practice before performing on the playing field, or a musician will practice before performing on the stage, you need to continually practice before performing at the bench.
When was the last time that you did an actual practice exercise where you worked on a certain project just to develop a skill, and after critically examining the results to find areas that need improvement, practiced more to improve them. (It is not practice that makes perfect, but perfect practice that makes perfect.)
Why not commit a little time each week, just to the development of your skills? Why not get back to the basics and practice those fundamental techniques that seem so simple and easy like those basic procedures that take only a few days to learn, but a lifetime to master. Remember, it is not the techniques that set the master apart but the meticulous execution of those techniques.
This is not to say knowledge and understanding of skills is unimportant. It is just that often all we seek is new knowledge to overcome a problem when what is needed at the bench is development of the knowledge we
already have.
Certainly, learning a helpful tip or a new trick can help anyone perform better work. However, unless and until the basic techniques are practiced and mastered, can these new applications be performed with the perfection deserving the Master Craftsman title? To accomplish this, spend less time trying to learn new tricks and spend more time mastering basic skills.
Strive to accomplish the work of a master. This is a worthy goal of any jeweler regardless of where they are in the development of their career. Practice each technique and develop every skill with the standard in mind that this is the work of a true master. Even if this ultimate goal is never achieved, the striving for and the reaching toward it will create in you a better artisan.
You can contact Brad at Brad@BWSimon.com
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
The credit belongs to those people who are actually in the arena … who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions to a worthy cause; who at best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, fail while daring greatly … so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
CLASP - A Convergence of Jewelers
http://www.claspconvergence.com
Clasp is an innovative
conference produced by
Media, Ganoksin (parent to
the Orchid Forums),
Manufacturing Jewelers and
Suppliers of
(MJSA) and The Society of North American
Goldsmiths (SNAG).
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<=> <=> <=> BOOK REVIEW <=> <=> <=>
ADVENTURES
AT THE BENCH
Tricks to Overcome a Jewelers Daily
Challenges
In Adventures At the Bench, renowned platinum smith
information. This book is full of innovative tips, tricks, shortcuts, and homemade tools to help jewelers work smarter by being more efficient and economical.
However, this book is more than just a collection of bench tips & tricks as it also contains illustrated step-by-step guides on everything ranging from the basics of fabricating to advanced stonesetting. These guides present traditional bench techniques which Mr. Maerz traces to his European training as a certified German Master Goldsmith, as well as inventive uses of laser welding.
Even more valuable than the gadgets and the new twists on old techniques are the authors real- life experiences. Jurgen tales of his earliest days as an apprentice are sprinkled throughout the book. These stories are especially revealing and instructive, offering important advice and stress the importance of communication, planning, and working
smarter.
ADVENTURES AT THE BENCH is a must read, and an essential reference for anyone working on jewelry.
For more information, visit
www.ajm-magazine.com/pub_press.php
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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
PENCIL POWER: Gaining Bur Control
With the help of a modified pencil stub, you can have a simple little grip that will give you more control when you are cutting or grinding with a bur.
To begin, measure along the shaft of a pencil stub about 1 inch. Cut the stub to the proper length using a jewelers saw.
Once the pencil has been cut to the proper length, you must remove the pencil lead (graphite) from its core. Take a twist drill that is the size of the bur shaft, or slightly larger, and begin cutting through the lead.
Once the hole has been drilled through, push the bur through the pencil stub. You should have plenty of room to attach the end of the bur to the flex-shaft handpiece.
Now when cutting or grinding, you can grab the pencil stub and it will keep the bur still. This trick also has another benefit: The leftover graphite from the pencil lead will act as lubrication, allowing the bur to turn freely as you work.
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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
karat
scrap.
Technical assistance on all phases of
manufacturing and jewelry casting is
only a
phone call away. Call us today at
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United Precious
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Simply
the Best
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
No lions are ever caught in mousetraps. To catch lions you must think in terms of lions, not in terms of mice. Your mind is always creating traps of one kind or another, and what you catch depends on the thinking you do. It is your thinking that attracts you to what you receive. Thomas Dreier
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<=> <=> TAKE-IN NOT TAKEN <=> <=>
Tips for jewelers taking in
jewelry at the
repair counter.
Always give the cus
repair work when the jewelry is
left, allowing
the cus
the repair done before you begin
doing it. If
the price is too high, you can
work with the
cus
done until it meets her budget.
Often you encounter problems
over price because
the cus
would cost. When they pick up the finished
repair, they complain about the
cost. At this
point, the work is finished and
you can do
little about it. Giving estimates at Take-In
eliminates this problem.
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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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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
If a man has a talent and cannot use it, he has failed. If he has a talent and uses half of it, he has partially failed. If he has a talent and learns somehow to use the whole of it, he has gloriously succeeded and won a satisfaction and triumph few men ever know. Thomas Wolfe
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<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY
FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From
GAS HANDLING
Part 2
Here are some tips for
handling gasses in the
shop:
Do not handle cylinders
with greasy hands or
gloves.
Never position cylinders
near any electrical
equipment.
Never use torch equipment
near flammables or
combustibles.
Never fill one cylinder
from another or refill
a cylinder yourself.
Wear fire resistant
clothing - this is really
important. Tie your hair back, wear
no jewelry
etc. - most standard rules
for using tools
count here as well. Foot
protection is
necessary with most torch work.
Do not use an oxygen tank
near grease or oil,
or handle any part of it, tank, valve,
regulator etc. with greasy hands or with
gloves.
When installing a new hose
blow it out at 5 psi
first before attaching equipment to it.
Never crack a tank valve
near hot work, cinders
or any other possible ignition source.
Always shut cylinder valves
during work breaks,
when leaving the shop and when the cylinder is
empty. Do not leave pressure on
the regulator
when it is not in use.
Never put a torch down with
the gas flow on.
If you use a pilot light
then an appropriate
rack and holder away from combustible materials
(including your arm and your co-workers) is
necessary.
Open valves slowly and
carefully. Do not use
too much force when closing them. Never use a
hammer or a wrench to open a cylinder valve.
If a hand wheel controls
the valve on your tank
do not use a hammer, wrench or lever on it.
Never lubricate any valve
or fitting or use
white or red lead jointing compound, oil or
grease. Remember hand soap is
made with fat.
Never use a torch system
that is leaking. If
it leaks around the stem of a small acetylene
tank the packing nut can often be tightened to
stop the leak.
Do not use a full or
partially full lighter as
a striker to light a torch with, either use a
proper flint striker or use an empty lighter
you have drilled into to release any trace of
lighter fluid. It is not wise to
keep
disposable lighters near a torch system unless
they are completely emptied and aired out.
An au
fitted to all oxygen and acetylene cylinders –
needle valves in the torch tip are considered
inadequate. Ask your supplier about
back flow
check valves for your equipment - you should
have them.
Check hoses frequently for
signs of hardening,
fraying, cracking or perishing. Always use a
top quality hose. The longer
the hose is the
more likely it is to leak. Hose
connections
have to be securely clamped so they will
withstand twice the maximum pressure they are
exposed to when in use.
Use red hoses for acetylene
and green for
oxygen.
Never force fit mismatched conne |