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Here is your next issue of E-BENCH.
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The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
March 2005
Volume 6 Issue 3 circulation over 3,600
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<=> <=> ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER <=> <=>
E-BENCH is a FREE monthly newsletter for Retail
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Jewelers and Anyone Else That Is Interested.
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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.
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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There’s Still Time!
There is still time to register for the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo April 22 – 24 in
The early registration discount deadline for Friday’s Conference has passed, however registration remains open. Some of the seminars are filled, but there is still room in many excellent seminars for you to choose from, including Bench Tips, Stonesetting, Jewelry Repair, Lasers, and CAD. Bench Jewelers Conference includes a full day of seminars plus Lunch and Dinner Programs on Friday and Breakfast Programs on Saturday & Sunday.
Registration for the Expo on Saturday & Sunday is FREE with advanced registration (Expo Registration is $10 after April 20th). Bench Jewelers Expo includes exhibits of 50 suppliers and seminars in the Exhibitors Presentation Theater.
For complete information and to register log onto: http://www.bwsimon.com/Conference/
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<=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere
Did you know that you have a terrific stone setting tool in your medicine cabinet? That is right. Remember the free samples of dental floss that your dentist gives you after every visit? Well, even if you do not floss daily, here is a great use for them.
When setting stones in bezels, jewelers often have to periodically test the fit. This means placing the stone into the setting to examine how it rests and to determine whether modifications are needed. But what if the setting is too tight? Then the stone can get jammed in place and in some cases, such as when setting closed-backed bezels, it can be impossible to remove.
This is where dental floss can save the day. Before pushing the stone into the bezel to test the fit, place a piece of floss over the opening; it is so thin that you can still press in the stone and get an accurate fit. Now all you have to do is pull on the two ends of the floss, and out comes the stone, easier than pulling a loose tooth!
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 <=> <=>
Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. Lin Yutang
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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 <=> <=> <=>
GIVE ME A BREAK By
“Knowing when not to work is as important as knowing when to work.” Harvey MacKay
Research shows that a short break every forty- five minutes actually increases productivity. The following are a few examples of ways bench jewelers can take effective breaks. This is not a comprehensive list, but is simply meant to stimulate your creativity to find ways to renew your body and mind so that you can work at maximizing productivity during your work day.
Coffee Break
This is the old stand by and just as effective today as ever. Sometimes you just need to go get a drink of your favorite beverage and get away from it all.
Wash Your Hands
Going to the sink to wash your hands and face can be very invigorating and effective in giving our minds a change of pace, and it only takes a minute or two. Also this helps prevent illness - getting sick is a major
time waster.
Do Chores
For the creative person these menial tasks can be a break, a change of pace that is badly needed, and you can feel good about the concrete, visible fruits of your labor. Sweep the floor, dust the shelves, vacuum the shop, change the solution in the ultrasonic, clean out the polishing machine, put tools away, organize your bench or shop, etc.
Maintaining Tools
Sharpen gravers and drill bits, clean and oil Your Pliers, Clean Your Files, Change Broken saw blades, change worn-out wheels on your flex shaft mandrels, etc.
Exercise
Get up and stretch or take a quick walk around the building or block. Exercise and fitness doesn’t have to take much time, it creates a natural high and it can increase your energy for the entire day.
Planning
Look through a new catalog from a supplier and daydream a little of all the new equipment you would like to have; plan the future of your shop.
Socializing with Co-Workers
This is important to do to maintain a good working relationship among employees, and should be done on a regular interval. Just make certain your break does not become an unwanted interruption to the other
workers.
Study Your Craft
Reading a magazine article or a book can be a refreshing break and you will gain knowledge in the process.
Take Time to Be Alone
Creative individuals need time alone; the amount of time you need varies depending on your personality and situation.
Take a Nap
You’d be surprised how many people incorporate a nap into their daily routine. Winston Churchill took daily naps, even during the height of World War II. Thomas Edison is famous for his 10 minute catnaps. 10 to 20 minutes is best. You’ll wake up refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on the
world.
Daydream
Open your mind and let go. This is what creativity is all about.
Curl Up With a Good Book
A good book can take you to distant places away from work and other problems. However be careful with this one. It is easy to get caught-up in the book and waste away an hour or so. Before beginning to read your book set a kitchen timer for 5 or 10 minutes. Then, when the timer goes off – stop reading and get back to work.
Remember
Taking several small well-planned breaks instead of one longer break helps keeps you refreshed and working at maximum
productivity.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Thomas Edison
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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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<=> <=> 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
Selecting the proper fuel to work on platinum is of utmost importance. Do not use acetylene; since it has a high carbon content and expels carbon in the flame the platinum will absorb the carbon, leading to contamination and brittle castings.
Although propane, or LPG, is also a carbon- based fuel, it does not have the high carbon content that acetylene does, and therefore can be used for platinum. Be aware that even when mixed with oxygen, propane does not burn as hot as hydrogen and thus requires more time to melt the platinum when casting. This longer melting time can lead to porosity caused by gas absorption or debris - a direct result of keeping the metal in the melting crucible too long.
The most efficient way to melt platinum is with hydrogen combined with oxygen. This fuel is carbon-free, and the high heat created by a proper hydrogen/oxygen mix melts platinum in seconds. But even with hydrogen, a proper flame is crucial: If it’s too big, the flame will heat the surrounding crucible, adding to the melt time-and creating the same problems as those with propane. Use as much oxygen as necessary to make a relatively small but oxidizing flame.
All fuel gases are dangerous, and you should have a professional install your torch systems and fuel tanks. In addition, the regulator on the fuel tank should have a directional flow restrictor, which allows gases to leave the tank but not re-enter. For safety, use only regulators designed for the fuel
you’re using.
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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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<=> 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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<=> <=> <=> FAVORITE TIPS <=> <=> <=>
Place tools used most often
within your primary
reach. Place other tools within
your secondary
reach.
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To save time when sizing rings, use
several
pairs of locking tweezers. Then a number of
rings can be held at the same time to solder.
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< < < <> > > > > >
Organize the work in the
shop so that similar
items that need soldering can be soldered at
the same time. Then you only
need to light the
torch once, do all of your soldering tasks and
then move on to another tool. In this way, you
use your time most efficiently.
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< < < <> > > > > >
Use a quick-change handpiece
rather than a
chuck with a key. You can never
seem to find
the key when you need it. In
addition, you
save time over loosening and tightening the
chuck. The time saved will pay
for the quick-
change handpiece in a month or less.
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< < < <> > > > > >
When you are bezel or flush setting
stones with
pointed ends, such as marquise and princess
cuts,
and baguettes, move the metal from the
side of the stone toward the point. If you
work from the corner to the center of the side,
you will be moving metal away from the corner
and will not have enough metal to properly
cover the point of the stone.
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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 <=> <=>
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal. Philippians 3: 13
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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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<=> <=> <=> 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 table of the stone located just at the surface of the metal. The height difference of the table to the girdle is the correct depth for raising beads.
When you are working with many diamonds it is advisable to have a smaller tray underneath your bench peg. This will surely help you in retrieving dropped stones. I always lay a rubber pad in the tray as this will prevent further bouncing of the lightweight
stones.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
That which holds the attention determines the action. William James
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
SIMON SEZ
SEMINARS
Bradney W. Simon is a JA Certified Master Bench
Jeweler with over 28 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
Have lots of personal safety equipment around. We have hooks on the walls of our studio every five feet or so and on them hang safety glasses, face shields and ear muffs. When all you have to do is reach out a hand in any direction to reach safety equipment you will use it. Make using your safety equipment easy to do. To keep safety glasses scratch free I keep mine in a plastic bag every time I take them off. If they are scratched you will be more reluctant to use them. We are used to being somewhat stingy with safety equipment, making it last a long time, accepting an irritation with scratches on the lenses in an attempt to 'save money'. It is better to have your equipment easy and pleasant to use, so you don't have to resent it.
Personal safety equipment like this is an operating cost. Plan your budget to include it so you can have good, scratch free glasses and other equipment at hand when you need
them.
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.
< <
< < < <> > > > > >
For editorial suggestions, comments, ideas
or requests, please send an E-Mail to
Bradney W. Simon mailto:Brad@BWSimon.com
Copyrighted, 2005, BENCH MEDIA.
All rights reserved.
BENCH MEDIA
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