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Here is your next issue of E-BENCH. Thanks for subscribing.
<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=> The E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers
January 2004
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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 anyone that you think may benefit from it, provided you forward all of it without modification and not just portions of it. This document may NOT be distributed for profit. E-BENCH is a copyrighted newsletter and all rights are reserved!
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E-BENCH is sent to you each month FREE of charge because of the generous support of our SPONSORS. Please support them with your purchases.
E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication BENCH MEDIA is a B W Simon Company Bradney W Simon – Publisher Daniel Spirer - Proofreader
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<=> <=> <=> TABLE OF CONTENTS <=> <=> <=>
REVERE’S TIPS FOR JEWELERS 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 International School for Jewelers
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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Exciting New Show for Bench Jewelers
The first annual Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo will be held April 23 – 25, 2004 in Chicago IL, and will include Workshops, Seminars, Demonstrations, Networking Opportunities, and an Exhibitor Show.
An all-day Educational Conference will begin the weekend events on Friday April 23rd. This will include seminars, workshops, and a panel discussion. Conference Speakers include: Jurgen Maerz, Blaine Lewis, Wayne Emery, Bob Staley, Gerry Lewy, Steve Satow, Chuck Koehler, Joe Lovato, and Liz Brehmer. Topics will include: CAD-CAM, Stone Setting, Jewelry Repair, Laser Welding, Fabrication, and Casting.
Then on Saturday and Sunday April 24th & 25th a Suppliers Expo will highlight the weekend. Industry suppliers of Tools & Equipment, Findings, Precious Metals, Refining Services, Gemstones & Diamonds, Continuing Education, and other Trade Services will display and demonstrate their products and services. In addition demonstrations and seminars will be held on the Show Floor. Banquets on both Friday and Saturday night and other meals during the Conference provide networking opportunities and include a Keynote address by Bradney W. Simon founder and president of Bench Media.
Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo will be held at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest Hotel & Conference Center in Arlington Heights, IL. Special Room Rates are available for Conference attendees.
Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is open to all Bench Jewelers including Professional and Serious Hobbyist. Admission to the Exhibit Floor on Saturday & Sunday is FREE with advanced registration or $10 at the door. A nominal fee will be charged for the Educational Conference on Friday and for all Meals during the weekend.
All activities during this three day event will be directed toward the Bench Jeweler, Making This The One Show In 2004 That You Don’t Want To Miss.
Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is presented by Bench Media, Publisher of E-BENCH, BENCH Magazine, and BENCH ROM.
For More Information log onto: or write to Bench Media 106 South Pinepoint Dr. Spartanburg, SC 29302
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<=> <=> REVERE’S TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs from Alan Revere Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
Avoid marring a surface by keeping abrasives moving and by changing directions constantly.
Select the largest tool possible to do a job: file, bur, sanding stick, hammer, etc.
Harden earring posts, pin tongs, and clasps by rubbing with a burnisher.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Procrastination is a close relative of incompetence and a handmaiden of inefficiency. Alec MacKenzie
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
Raffle Tickets WIN a J-2R Casting Machine
Rio Grande has generously offered the Orchid community and The Ganoksin Project a J2R Casting Machine. The winner will be announced at the 8th Annual Tucson Orchid Dinner during the Tucson Gem Shows - February 6, 2004. You do not have to attend the dinner in order to win. Raffle tickets are only $40 per ticket with a limit of 200 tickets to be sold in total. You can get your chance to win the J-2R casting machine by buying a raffle tickets at:
The
Ganoksin Project
www.ganoksin.com
The Gem and Jewelry Pre-Eminent Online Resources
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<=> <=> <=> FEATURE ARTICLE <=> <=> <=> What You Don’t Know … A Bench Jeweler’s Guide to Continual Learning
Without a doubt Shawn was one of the finest craftsmen I have had the privilege to work with. One day, soon after Shawn came to work for me I asked him if he knew how to work on platinum. He said he did so, excitedly, I gave him a platinum ring to size.
Without giving it any thought I handed him my welding goggles and explained that these were the only ones I had, and the next time I was out I would get him a pair.
It wasn’t long before I heard; “Wow, this is great!”
“What’s so great, Shawn?” I asked.
“Wearing welding goggles while soldering platinum,” he responded.
“I thought you said you had worked on platinum before.” I responded.
“I have,” Shawn said.
“How could you work on platinum, if you never soldered with welding goggles?” I inquired.
He told me that he would get everything ready to solder and force a small paillon of solder into the joint. Then he would begin to heat the ring. When the ring got so hot that he could no longer stand to look at it, he would close his eyes and count to 10. When he got to 10, he would remove the torch, allow the ring to cool, and then look to see if the solder had flown. If not, he would repeat the process counting this time to 15, allow the ring to cool and see if the solder had flown. If not he would repeat the process again counting to 20. He would continue increasing his count by five until the solder had flown completely through the joint.
In just a couple of weeks, Shawn was producing some of the most beautiful platinum work I had ever seen. If you learned how to solder with your eyes closed - just imagine what you could do with them open. Not only was he producing better work, he was also increasing productivity. Just imagine how much time Shawn was wasting closing his eyes trying to get the solder to flow.
We have all heard the statement: What you don't know won't hurt you. Nothing can be further from the truth! What you don't know can have a detrimental effect on your business, on your career, and definitely on your productivity.
How many times have we acted like Shawn? We try to accomplish a task, set a goal for ourselves, or try to do a job, but we fail because we did not know there was an easier, faster, or better way to accomplish our task. Many times, we are not productive in the shop and we are not successful in our careers because we do not know what it is we need in order to be successful or more productive.
The great American industrialist Henry Ford said “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning today is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young!” God has given each of us a mind to use, and when we use it, it stays active, it stays sharp, it stays alive, and it stays young.
We have seen an explosion of information during our lifetime. Knowledge is doubling every few years. If we do not continually learn new things we will soon fall behind. Each of us needs to continue to learn, in order to continually improve our skills. There are plenty of resources for us to draw from, including magazines, books, videos, seminars, schools, and trade shows. When you continue to learn new methods to do your work and new ways to approach your work, you will not only improve your skills and quality of work, but you will also improve your productivity. As you find easier, faster, or better methods to accomplish your work, your productivity will increase.
You cannot do what your customers want done if you do not know how to do it. You cannot be efficient in the shop if you do not know the best way to do a specific task. As you learn, grow, and discover new things you will become more productive and more skilled.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16: 9
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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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<=> <=> STEWART'S BENCH TIPS <=> <=>
Bench Tips from Stewart’s International School for Jewelers http://www.stewartsintlschool.com/
How can you tell whether your shears are RIGHT hand or LEFT hand? Draw a straight line on a piece of paper and hold it in front of you. Take the shears in your right hand and cut along the line. If you can see the line where you are cutting, you have RIGHT hand shears. If you can't see the line because the jaw is in the way, you have LEFT hand shears.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals. Booker T. Washington
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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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<=> <=> AT THE PLATINUM BENCH <=> <=>
Tips for working on Platinum from Jurgen J. Maerz CMBJ, Director of Technical Education for Platinum Guild International http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com
FTC Guide for Marking Platinum Jewelry
The FTC Platinum Guide for marking jewelry made wholly, or in part, of platinum provides that items consisting of:
* 950 parts or more per thousand of pure platinum can be marked "Platinum" without the use of any qualifying statements;
* 850 to 950 parts per thousand can be marked in accordance with international standards of "950 Plat." or "950 Pt.," "900 Plat." or "900 Pt.,"
* "850 Plat." or "850 Pt.” (The revised guide permits the use of a two or four letter abbreviation for platinum);
* 500 parts per thousand of pure platinum and at least 950 parts per thousand platinum group metals can be marked with the parts per thousand of pure platinum, followed by the parts per thousand of each platinum group metal (example: "600Plat.400Irid." or "600Pt.400Ir.” and less than 500 parts per thousand pure platinum cannot be marked with the word platinum or any abbreviation thereof.
Copies of the Platinum Guide Federal Register notice and the entire Jewelry Guides are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Public reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington D.C. 20580; (202) 326-2222
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
I have more respect for the fellow with a single idea who gets there than for the fellow with a thousand ideas who does nothing. Thomas Edison
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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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<=> <=> <=> FAVORITE TIPS <=> <=> <=>
When setting soft stones such as
tanzanite,
coat the stone with clear fingernail
polish.
The fingernail polish is not hard
enough to
completely protect the stone, but it
will give
some protection from abrasion. It will also
serve as an indicator: if you scrape the
fingernail polish you are too close and
you
should back off! After setting and polishing,
soak in acetone.
DO NOT do this with stones such as
emerald
where the acetone will remove possible
oiling.
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Before beginning to set any stone
remove all
tools from your lap tray. Even a diamond can
be chipped it if hits a hard steel tool
when
dropped.
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After cutting a seat for a stone, clean the burs off the prongs before placing the stone into the crown. Use a graver to cut the burs away, or scrape them off with your tweezers. Then, polish the inside of the crown before continuing the setting process. It's the little "extra" steps that make the ordinary into extraordinary.
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Do not solder the jump ring
attaching the clasp
directly to the chain. The jump ring will not
be able to turn so all of
the wear and tear
will be at one point on the
jump ring.
Instead, link the jumpring
through the end link
on the chain and then
through the clasp. This
allows the jump ring to
turn freely,
distributing the wear
evenly around the jump
ring, thereby extending the
life of the jump
ring.
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When repairing hinges in
bracelets such as
tennis bracelets, often the
center knuckle is
worn as well as the hinge
pin. Build up the
hinge knuckle by fusing
additional metal to it
or attach a new one by
fusing the metal
together, rather then
soldering. When you
solder the new hinge pin in
place, there is no
solder on the inside of the
hinge that can flow
and freeze the link.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
Over time, the hinge on an
adjustable shank
becomes loose and the holes
begin to wear oval
allowing "play"
on the hinge. To alleviate
this you CAN NOT plug the
hole by soldering a
piece of gold and
re-drilling the hole. The
shanks are assembled of
several pieces and the
heat will ruin the
shank. Instead, re-drill
the hole with a slightly
larger drill bit then
re-rivet the hinge with a
larger hinge pin.
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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 <=> <=>
An organization that is committed to creative collaboration will ride the wave of the future. They will go beyond the realm of assumptive thinking and welcome the dawn of innovation … because there is nothing more empowering than an idea whose time has come.
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
Run Your Shop Without It Running You A Practical Guide To Efficient Shop Management
With over one hundred and fifty pages of information, illustrations, and worksheets, this is the most comprehensive book on Shop Management available today.
This Valuable Guide Is A Must In Every Retail Jewelry Store
“For too many years, Simon says, jewelry storeowners have believed the fallacy the shop can’t be a profit center. He destroys that notion step-by-step with a practical book that shows owners and shop mangers the keys to profitability.” Professional
Jeweler Magazine
Only $39.95 (US dollars) plus S&H - $4.00 US, $10 International
Send your order and check to: B W Simon 106 S. Pinepoint Dr. Spartanburg, SC 29307 U S A
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<=> <=> <=> GERRY’S GEMZ <=> <=> <=>
Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting http://www.gemzdiamondsetting.com/index.html by Gerald N. Lewy
If you are working on a plate for bead setting, you should take preventive measures for eye glare, by rubbing emery paper on the gold surface.
The correct depth of a diamond or stone for bead setting is to have the stone’s table located just at the surface of the metal. The difference in height of the table to the girdle is the correct depth for raising beads.
Use a smaller round bur at the underside of the holes to counter-sink them. This will remove any burs left from drilling and it will give a brighter finish to the underside of the jewelry.
Before setting a diamond or other small stone down into the metal, open up the base of the hole with a small round bur. Some diamonds have a deeper pavilion and will cause trouble for you while you are adjusting for the correct depth. Removing the ‘extra’ metal will allow the stone to set down into the hole. A wider opening will also allow the polishing compounds to exit more easily while in the ultrasonic cleaner.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
People who attempt the difficult often attain the impossible. Anonymous
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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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<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From Charles Lewton-Brian
THE PILOTS' RITUAL
Have you ever sat in a small commuter plane where you can see the pilots in front of you? You are on the runway ready to take off and they go through a check list; one says a word and hits a switch, the other repeats it and does the same thing. It is a ritual, unwavering, and checked by a partner, and it has saved your life, and theirs---repeatedly. Check lists can be useful as guidelines for ensuring that things are done correctly and that you have made no mistakes. Create rituals for things like changing your gas tank. I have my own systematic check list/ritual when I work with gases, do electroplating, casting and many other procedures. Writing them down in point form can help you avoid errors. Just realize that, like many rituals, time and circumstances change and it may be a good idea to reevaluate them on a regular basis.
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 Reading <=> <=>
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 <=> <=>
We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. We do not sell, rent, or otherwise disclose our list of subscribers for any reason. Your Email Address Is Kept Strictly Confidential.
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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.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
For editorial suggestions, comments, ideas or requests, please send an E-Mail to
Copyrighted, 2004, BENCH MEDIA. All rights reserved.
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