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E-BENCH <=> <=>
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The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
March 2006
Volume 7 Issue 03
circulation over 4,000
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3rd
Annual
Bench Jewelers
Conference & Expo
Pre-Conference
Seminar April 27th
The Third Annual Bench Jewelers Conference &
Expo will be held
Pre-Conference Seminar on April 27 in
BIGGER &
BETTER THAN BEFORE
More Exhibitors ~ More
Seminars ~ More Events
The Educational Conference this year features
Christel Trimborn, Editor in Chief GZ Art +
Design, the leading jewelry design publication
in
Leaders including
Grosser,
Koehler,
Ruiz,
Skuratowicz, & Greg Stopka.
The Suppliers Expo is double the size and
features New Exhibitors and Larger Displays by
many companies. There will be many bench
demonstration at booths throughout the show
floor and sever seminar in our Exhibitors
Presentation Theater.
Enjoy the camaraderie of other jewelers.
Perhaps the most valuable component of the
Conference & Expo is getting the chance to
spend time with people just like you who love
to make jewelry! Book you room at the
conference hotel today.
For More Information & to Register log onto:
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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
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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
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and all rights are reserved!
We Hate Spam as Much as You Do!
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E-BENCH is sent to you each month FREE of
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support them with your
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E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA is a division of
B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader
daniel@spirerjewelers.com
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JewelersTraining.com
JewelersTraining.com is the first and finest On
Demand Jewelry Video Training Website.
JewelersTraining.com is designed by Jewelers
for Jewelers. Our
mission is to provide
jewelers with the best online jewelry education
with On Demand Videos and other training
resources.
Log onto JewelersTraining.com Today and sign-up
for our free educational newsletter.
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<=>
<=> <=> TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=>
<=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
From Alan Revere
To reduce the likelihood of losing little
stones, findings, jump rings, and pieces of
precious metal make a recessed dish in the top
of your bench pin. Simply draw a rectangle
about 15 mm by 30 mm, near the back. Wearing
goggles and a dust mask, use a coarse cut round
bur to carve down about 3 mm within the
rectangle. It is important to frequently
measure the depth while carving to ensure a
flat floor.
Now you have a convenient little trough for
holding pieces and parts. Because it is
recessed, you can even lay a piece of sheet or
other large items right on your bench pin,
without fear of disturbing the small items
hidden below.
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
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Many people think that if they were only in
some other place, or had some other job, they
would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So
get as much happiness out of what you are doing
as you can and do not put off being happy until
some future date.
Dale Carnegie
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<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
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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 karat
scrap.
Technical assistance on all phases of
manufacturing and jewelry casting is only a
phone call away. Call
us today at
1-800-999-3463 or visit us online at
United Precious
Metal Refining
Simply the Best
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<=>
<=> <=> COLORED STONES <=>
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Learn all about handling colored stones from
gemstone cutter
APATITE
Until the appearance of neon blue-green apatite
about ten years ago, there was no interest in
apatite as a jewelry stone. The large yellow
crystals from
in demand by cutters like me, but that material
is pretty much gone. While apatite cuts a
beautiful and bright stone, the Mohs hardness
does not exceed 5 in gem quality material, and
it is quite brittle. All in all, this is not a
good candidate for a ring, but the popularity
of the newer neon colored material is not to be
ignored. In addition to its brittleness,
apatite is very heat sensitive. Torch use is
out and the ultrasonic is risky at best.
Extreme caution is advised when setting. It
falls into the look but do not touch category.
Besides the currently popular neon blue-green,
apatite can be found in a nice medium yellow,
light pink, greenish-yellow and even purple,
but the material is never common. Extra fine
faceted apatite in the neon colors wholesales
in the $150 to $175 per carat range in five to
ten carat sizes and is mostly sold to
collectors. When well cut it is a visual
knockout! Stones smaller than 3 carats are
usually available for under $85 per carat.
You can contact
wayne_emery@msn.com
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QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING
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Accept yourself as you are. Otherwise you will
never see opportunity. You will not feel free
to move toward it; you will feel you are not
deserving.
Maxwell Maltz
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<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
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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
WAX CARVING TIPS
To size a wax ring blank heat an old ring
mandrel with your torch or over an alcohol
lamp. Then slide the wax ring blank down the
warm mandrel melting the wax until you reach
your desired size. Slide the ring blank off,
flip it over and slide it back down the mandrel
to size the other side. Remove the blank
carefully and wipe the excess wax off the
mandrel with a paper towel or allow it to cool
and peal the wax off.
When carving hard waxes it is easy to judge the
thickness of the wax by the amount of light
showing through. To make it easier purchase a
light box at an art supply store or hobby shop.
Use the light box as a work table as you carve
allowing the light to shine through the wax.
An alternative to the light box is to use a
small florescent light fixture made to mount
under a shelf. Lay the light on your workbench
with the light shining up and use the diffuser
as your work surface. To cut down on the glare
from the light, cover the diffuser with
construction paper leaving an opening for your
work area.
When carving a wax for bead setting, cut the
seat for the stones and rough out the bright
cut with your graver in the wax. This will
save a lot of time later when you set the
stones as it is easier and faster to cut away
wax than it is to cut the metal.
When repairing a break in hard carving wax use
the next hardest wax as the filler as this will
give you a stronger seam. For example if you
are using blue wax, repair the break with
purple wax, if using purple wax use green wax.
Buy a cookie sheet that will fit over the
opening in your lap tray. (The kind with a
half inch lip all the way around works best.)
Place the cookie sheet over your lap tray when
carving wax. You can then easily dump the
contents into the waste basket when finished so
that you keep the wax filings out of your lap
tray and mixing with your metal scraps.
You can contact Brad at Brad@BWSimon.com
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QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING
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A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh
word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
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<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
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Bench Conference
Perhaps the most valuable component of the
Conference & Expo is getting the chance to
spend time with people just like you who love
to make jewelry.
There Are Still Plenty Of Rooms Available At
The Conference Hotel.
To make hotel reservation at the Holiday Inn
call the hotel 303-302-4148 and ask for Roxie
Crow and she will make your reservation for
you. Rooms are $94 a night (regularly $112.95).
You will want to stay at the Conference hotel;
the Holiday Inn has a large lobby with a two
story waterfall at one end and a sports bar at
the other. It is a great place to relax and
talk with other jewelers as the days activities
wind down.
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AT THE PLATINUM BENCH
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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
Making a Better Bench Pin:
THE SOLDERING AID
A bench pin is not just a handy device for
filing. With a little modification, it can
have its range of uses expanded. For example,
if you want to turn it into a soldering aid,
take a coping saw and cut out a 1/8 inch wide
slot along one side of the pin. You can now
insert a pair of tweezers for use in soldering
operations.
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QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING
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Success is the maximum utilization of the
ability that you have.
Zig Zigler
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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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<=> Gemz from Gerry <=>
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Stone setting tips from Gemz Diamond Setting
http://www.gemzdiamondsetting.com/index.html
by Gerald N. Lewy
When securing stones in settings use a soft
metal pusher. I suggest a copper or brass
pusher. This will prevent making deep marks in
the prongs, which can be difficult to remove
later.
I use flat-edge and tapered-edge pumice wheels
(#180 grit) on all of my setting items. I do
this because it is a mark of a careful, high
quality setter. I remove all of the plier and
graver marks and the general rough edges left
by the casting house. I do not want my
polishing sub-contractor to grind away more
than he has to in finishing my setting work.
Just before you remove a diamond or any
precious gemstone, observe any inclusions or
defects in the stone. Always keep your 10X
Triplet Loupe at your side. Take note and
record any inclusions or have the client view
the inclusions themselves. I speak from
experience. If you are in doubt about a stone,
DO NOT SET IT. Being an overly cautious setter
is far more rewarding than paying for a stone
replacement.
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QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING
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What we have learned from others becomes our
own reflection.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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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 Bands, Jewelry
Boxes, Platinum, Batteries, Tools, and So Much
More.
Call us Today at 1-800-282-8285 or visit us on
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Southeastern Findings
Your Home for
Southern Hospitality
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<=>
<=> WORKSHOP SAFETY FOR
JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From Charles Lewton-Brian
The first thought on having an accident is
usually -That Was Stupid!
At least for me and from others who I have
asked, the first thought that goes through your
head, even before anything hurts, is that was
dumb. And, usually, it was. Most accidents
(including the slow ones that get you twenty
years down the line) are stupid ones. In the
light of the best knowledge at your disposal
(and it is your duty to yourself to do the
research to find out about what you are doing)
act in such a manner as to avoid accidents and
threats to your health.
Never ask someone who has just had a drastic
accident how they did it. Quite often they
will be in shock and literally show you just
how they did it thus damaging themselves even
more. While this most frequently happens right
after the accident I heard of a three fingered
woodworking instructor at a college in Southern
to a class. Someone asked him how he lost the
finger, and he said like this and promptly took
the other three off.
Be smart, work calmly and steadily, think and
be conscious.
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
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That some achieve great success, is proof to
all that others can achieve it as well.
Abraham Lincoln
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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.
www.BWSimon.com/BenchVision
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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 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
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For editorial suggestions, comments, ideas
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Bradney W. Simon mailto: Brad@BWSimon.com
Copyrighted, 2006, BENCH MEDIA.
All rights reserved.
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