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<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=>
The E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers
June 2004
Volume 5 Issue 06 circulation over 3,000
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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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<=> <=> <=> 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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<=> <=> <=> 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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<=> <=> REVERE’S TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
This Tip is from the forthcoming book
"101 Bench Tips for Jewelers"
written by Alan Revere and published by
MJSA/AJM Press.
The snazziest system I have seen to find your
chuck key is mounting one of those retractable
spring gadgets that hold a ring of keys on your
belt (sometimes known as a Keyback or key
caddy), under your bench top. Instead of keys,
attach your chuck key. Now it is always
exactly where you left it.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
I do the very best I know how – the very best I
can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the
end.
Abraham Lincoln
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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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<=> <=> <=> FEATURE ARTICLE <=> <=> <=>
YOU WANT IT WHEN?
A Bench Jewelers Guide to Job Scheduling
Part 1 of 4
When Charles M. Schwab started Bethlehem Steel
he called in management consultant Ivy Lee and
asked how management could get more done during
the day. Ivy Lee recommended the following.
Each evening before the manager leaves, they
should write down the most important things
they have to do tomorrow. Then number them in
the order of their true importance. The first
thing the next morning, they are to start
working on item number one, and stay with it
until completed. Then begin item number two,
then number three, and so on. They should not
worry if they do not complete everything on the
list. At least they will have completed the
most important projects before getting to the
less important ones.
Ivy Lee told Charles Schwab to have all his
managers do this for one month. Then when the
month is over, send him a check for what ever
he thought the idea was worth.
At the end of the month, Ivy Lee received a
check for $25,000, an enormous amount of money
in the early 1900’s. Charles Schwab said that
it was the best idea he ever received. It
allowed his people to accomplish more during
the day then any other single idea.
This was the beginning of the daily To Do list.
Scheduling your work allows you to work more
efficiently and productively regardless of the
type of work you are doing. When work comes
into the shop each jeweler needs to schedule
the work given to them. An ideal time to do
this is late in the afternoon. After you have
finished the day’s work, and it is in the
cleaner, take all the new jobs that have come
in during the day and schedule them.
Examine the Work
The first thing you need to do is check over
the new jobs. One at a time, take each job out
of the envelope. Check the descriptions on the
envelope and make certain you can later
identify the jewelry from this description, as
you are responsible for getting the jewelry
back into the correct envelope. Add any notes
or draw a simple sketch of the jewelry if
needed.
Next, examine the stones and the jewelry for
any damage that is not listed on the envelope
and look for any additional repairs that are
needed. If either of these conditions exists,
return the job to the salesperson that took in
the job to notify the customer.
Next, check the instructions on the envelope.
Make certain you understand exactly what work
you are to perform. If you have any questions
ask the salesperson who took in the repair. Do
this as soon as possible while the information
is still fresh in their mind.
Then check if any parts are needed to complete
the job. If parts are needed, take the parts
out of inventory and place them in the
envelope. If they are not in inventory, make
certain the information is on an order log and
that they have been ordered. Then place the
jewelry back in the envelope.
File the Envelopes
The next step in scheduling your work is to
file the envelopes. A 5 X 7 card file box
works well for this. You need to have numbered
dividers in this file box, one for each day of
the month. Often dated file dividers come in
packages with the 30th and 31st printed on one
divider. Avoid these, and buy the package of
thirty-one cards. The 31st comes only seven
times a year. However, on those occasions
having the extra divider is necessary.
Each jeweler needs to have their own workbox to
schedule their work in. It does not matter if
there is only one jeweler in the shop or if it
is a multi-jeweler shop. Each jeweler should
schedule their own work and take responsibility
for getting that work out of the shop on time.
File each job envelope behind the date you will
begin to work on it. Do not file it behind the
promise date. Filing it behind the date you
need to begin the work will assure you that the
work will begin on time and be ready for the
customer when they expect it.
To determine which date to file the job
envelope, work backwards from the promise date.
Most repair work in the shop can be finished
the same day it is started. File these jobs
behind the divider for the day prior to the due
date.
If possible, it is best to stay one day ahead
in planning your work. For example, jobs
promised to be delivered on the 3rd should be
filed behind the 1st. Then they can be worked
on during the day on the 1st, and be ready to
be delivered on the 2nd, one day ahead of
schedule.
If something happens to a job or if you just do
not complete all the work, you have this extra
day to finish them. Plus, I have never heard
of a customer complain about the work being
done too quickly. Keeping ahead with the work
coming out of the shop also looks good to your
employer.
Staying one day ahead allows you the
flexibility to work around a day with numerous
interruptions, or when a large number of jobs
are taken in. You can spread the work out over
two days, and still be on schedule. The next
day, you can then start to work ahead, to get
back to your one-day cushion.
This works well if you receive a sufficient
amount of time on the promise dates,
particularly on work promised for a week or
more from when it was taken in. However, if
jobs are promised for a day or two then this is
impossible to do.
In scheduling your work keep your days off in
mind. If a job is promised for the 5th and you
are off on the 4th, file the envelope behind
the 2nd not the 3rd. You do not want to
schedule work to be done on a day you are not
working.
In order to keep from scheduling jobs on your
day off, go through the dividers once a month.
On all the days that you will not work, paper
clip the divider to the next one, and then
envelopes can not accidentally be filed behind
it. It is preferable to not remove these
dividers from the box, as they can easily be
misplaced.
On jobs that will take longer than one day to
finish, you need to estimate how many days it
will take to finish the work. Then counting
forward from the due date, file the job behind
the appropriate date. For example, a job
taking three days to finish and promised for
the 10th should be filed behind the 5th or 6th.
To give you a one day cushion, the job will
need to be scheduled to be finished on the 9th.
This extra day is important on large jobs. If
you miss on your time estimate, you will still
have time to finish the work, and be able to
deliver when promised. You need to start on
the 6th to have three days to complete the work
by the 9th. If a day off falls between the 6th
through the 10th you will need to start the job
on the 5th.
This is the most effective method to making
certain the job is done when the customer
expects it. Next month we will look at
planning your daily work.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to
mind your own business and to work with your
hands, so that your daily life may win the
respect of outsiders and so that you will not
be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11 – 12
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<=> <=> STEWART'S BENCH TIPS <=> <=>
Bench Tips from Stewart’s International School
for Jewelers
http://www.stewartsintlschool.com/
REMOVING A DENT FROM HOLLOW JEWELRY
By Jim Stewart
There are many ways to remove a dent from
hollow jewelry. One method is to pour water
into an opening, filling it to the top. Then
put tape over the end and put in your freezer.
The water will expand when frozen pushing out
on the dent. You may have to do this more than
once to completely remove the dent. This also
works in removing dents from candlestick
holders.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
The people who get on in this world are the
people who look for the circumstances they
want, and if they can't find them, make them.
George Bernard Shaw
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information, illustrations, and worksheets,
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This Valuable Guide Is A Must In Every Retail
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“For too many years, Simon says, jewelry
store owners have believed the fallacy the shop
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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
It is difficult to explain surface textures to
a customer who is not familiar with the
terminology of the trade. Prepare a texture
strip by taking a strip of metal and apply
different textures in 10mm sections along the
strip. You'll be able to show the surfaces to
clients, preventing misunderstandings.
When polishing a ring with diamonds, it can be
difficult to remove the rouge after polishing.
Try dipping the ring in water and then in
baking soda before you polish. The rouge dust
will stick to the baking soda rather than the
metal. Since baking soda is water soluble, the
rouge will wash away easily when the ring is
rinsed.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
You can’t build a reputation on what you are
going to do.
Henry Ford
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
Jewelry Dealers World Trade Network
http://www.JewelryDealersNetwork.com
<=> Bench Jeweler Discussion Channel <=> >
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ongoing discussions, or just read and take in
all the advice from many excellent jewelers
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Membership includes: Topical Discussion
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Buy/Sell Channels, Plus Much More.
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<=> <=> <=> FAVORITE TIPS <=> <=> <=>
When filing prongs to shape them,
always file
in a direction toward the mounted
stone.
Filing away from the stone could push
the prong
loose.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
Always polish inside the
head before you set
the stone.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
After coiling wire around a
mandrel, thread
your saw blade through the
coil to cut the jump
rings apart, and saw from
the inside out. This
makes sawing the coil
easier as your blade
tends to slide when
starting to cut from the
outside of the coil.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
When soldering hollow link
chains or other fine
chains do not use a solder
pick. The pick will
act as a heat sink, drawing
heat away from part
of the chain. This makes it easy for the
remaining chain to melt.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
Many ring mandrels measure
ring sizes
differently than the ring
sizers used to
measure the customers’
finger, resulting in an
improperly sized ring.
One method to avoid this
problem is to purchase
several sets of plastic
ring sizers. Take
apart the sets of sizers
and organize them by
finger size in a plastic
compartment box with a
snap close lid. Then measure the customers’
finger with these sizers
and place the correct
sizer in the job envelope
with the ring to be
sized. Then the bench jeweler will have no
questions as to the size to
make the ring.
When finished, return the
ring sizer to the
tray for future use.
< < < < < <> > > > > >
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 <=> <=>
I believe that every right implies a
responsibility; every opportunity, an
obligation; every possession, a duty.
John D. Rockefeller
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Learn New Tips to Improve Your Work
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All right from your home or shop without having
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“It’s like being in the shop of a Master
Jeweler and watching over his shoulder.”
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<=> <=> <=> GERRY’S GEMZ <=> <=> <=>
Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting
http://www.gemzdiamondsetting.com/index.html
by Gerald N. Lewy
When setting a series of diamonds in a row, I
use a 156C bur and just touch the inside wall
of the hole. This way each and every diamond
will sit at the same level and be correctly
placed.
When bright-cutting the inside bezel for a
‘gypsy’ set stone, apply downward pressure with
your finger to the #39 flat graver. This will
give you a consistent applied control to the
cutting tool and not leave a jagged edge when
cutting.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Believe in yourself. You gain strength,
courage, and confidence by every experience in
which you stop to look fear in the face … You
must do that which you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
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<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From Charles Lewton-Brian
To escape unnecessary work, look for examples
of people who have solved the same kinds of
safety problems you have to solve, and see if
you can adapt some of their ideas and
approaches for your own small shop. Look for
models around you.
Here's something to aim for. A well laid out,
orderly workshop, electrically and fire safe,
with low dust and few solvent procedures, with
excellent local ventilation at the appropriate
work stations; the use of work clothing cleaned
frequently, lots of personal safety equipment
(earmuffs, safety glasses etc.), different
heights to work at over the work day and a
conscious attitude and consciousness of safety.
Choose procedures that don't involve exposure
to risks. Set things up so that you can't hurt
yourself. Mark Twain said 'If you don't lie
you don't have to remember anything', we could
crudely paraphrase that to 'If you don't have
an unsafe workshop you have less to worry
about'. Make safety a habit and then it won't
seem like work.
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 <=> <=>
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located there.
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our site, adding additional useful information
for bench jewelers.
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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
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< < < < < <> > > > > >
For editorial suggestions, comments, ideas
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Bradney W. Simon mailto:Brad@BWSimon.com
Copyrighted, 2004, BENCH MEDIA.
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< < < < < <> > > > > >