E-Bench

Volume 10 Issue 2

2009-03-04T17:35:54-05:00

E-Bench Newsletter

The Leading E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers

Now in it’s 10th year of publication.

View this newsletter at www.ebenchnewsletter.com

February 2009

Volume 10 Issue 2

circulation over 5,500

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!

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.

The Best Advice to Becoming A Better Bench Jeweler
Ever Crammed Into 3 Days

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By
Register TODAY!

Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo
St. Louis ~ April 23 – 25, 2009

ATTEND 1, 2, OR ALL 3 DAYS

The money I save from instituting some of the practices and employing some of the techniques I learned this weekend will more than pay for the costs of attending the conference. The rewards are not only monetary; I met some of the most incredible people as well.
Al Solymosi Jr. - Cleveland, OH

Don’t Delay – Register TODAY!!

http://www.BenchConference.com

Seminars
Bench Demonstrations
Networking Opportunities
Discussion Groups
Meals and MORE!

Whether you are a beginner looking to develop your skills and build your career or a seasoned veteran of the bench looking to refresh your skills and rejuvenate your career, the conference programs will help jump-start your creativity and motivate you to accomplish your goals.

“This was my 2nd conference and honestly Can't Afford To Miss It with all the information and trade secrets that are shared among all the participants. Even after 28 years in the industry I was amazed at how much the trade has evolved with new technology. Thanks to your conference, we have experienced tremendous growth in both the repair and custom ends of our business.”
Holly Scott - Mountain Home, AR

6th Annual Bench Jewelers Conference
April 23 – 25, 2009
St. Louis, MO

Each year we have improved on the success of past conferences and this year is no different. In today’s economy this may be the most important event you attend this year. As in past years, the Bench Jewelers Conference offers a wide selection of seminars presented by Working Master Jewelers to help you improve your skills and add new techniques to make your services more valuable to your customers and employer.

We have added more seminars and new seminar leaders. In addition, there will be a variety of seminars lead by successful business owners and flourishing bench jewelers designed to show you how you can Increase Your Profitability. Whether your are a shop owner looking to improve profits or an employed bench jeweler looking to secure your job and increase your pay, the Bench Jewelers Conference has something for you.

It is neat to have a venue where we can get together and learn new things and share with other people who understand what we are talking about. It is wonderful. The classes are very informative; they are very concise and to the point and the instructors are always open to questions.
Heath Rackley – Greenville SC

Don't Wait Another Moment! Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchConference.com

Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere

GETTING INTO THE GROVE
How to Make a Groovy Bench Pin

As the focal pint of the jewelers bench, the bench pin is a reflection of how you work and what you do. It is the central holding device, and it can be customized to better serve your needs. The bench pin can be filed or sawed to hold various pieces of metal. A handy modification that you can do to your bench pin is to carve precision cross grooves that hold metal rod or wire for sawing or filing.

To accomplish this, use a machinists square to lay out three parallel lines across the bench pin; they should be perpendicular to the side of the pin. Remove the bench pin and place it in a mounted vise. Use square files to carve precise grooves along the lines in three different sizes to accommodate a range of diameters, from about 1mm to 4mm deep.

Now, when you need to cut off a section of rod or wire of any shape, place the metal into the appropriate groove and saw across, using the side of the bench pin as a guide. You can also use the grooves to stabilize metal if you are trying to file a perpendicular surface on the end.

This Tip is from 101 Bench Tips for Jewelers written by Alan Revere and published by MJSA/AJM Press.

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts http://www.revereacademy.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

Do a little more each day than you think you can.

Lowell Thomas

E-Bench Sponsor

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 at: http://www.sefindings.com

Namano / Southeastern Findings Your Home for Southern Hospitality

Favorite Bench Tips
By Brad Simon

Stone Setting Tips

Arrange setting burs in order in a bur block. Write on the block by each hole the size of the bur in millimeters. When setting stones, you will not waste time looking for and measuring the correct size bur.

Always use a lubricant on burs while cutting. This will make smoother cuts and extend the burs life. Solid wax-based lubricants, such as Bur Life, are handy to use and are less messy than oil-based lubricants. They can be mounted on the front edge of your bench, or on the side of your bench pin. Mounting on the side of your bench pin provides easy access; just make certain it is mounted below the top edge of your bench pin to stay out of the way of your work.

Undercut the wall on the outside of the curve when setting stones into a curved channel. Then, secure the stones by hammering or bending the inside channel wall over the stones. Although some mounting designs will not allow you to set in this manner it is more efficient than trying to secure the stones with the metal from the outside wall. When metal is forced inward in a curve, it tends to buckle, or spring back. In addition, pressing in on the stones to tighten them may force the stones together causing them to chip.

For more tips on Stonesetting visit our Stonesetting Blog at: http://BenchMedia.typepad.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us ...
we would all be millionaires.

Abigail Van Buren

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.

Handling Colored Stones
from Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

Star Sapphire

The star in star sapphire (asterism) is caused by microscopic needles of rutile intersecting at sixty degrees. When a translucent or transparent sapphire containing these inclusions is cut en cabochon and highly polished, light reflects from the inclusions in such a way that a six-legged star is visible.

Star sapphire occurs in many colors, including black. These stones, like all corundum, are quite tough and heat resistant, but common sense should be used to avoid excessive heat. Once in a while you may encounter a black stone with a four-rayed star instead of six. This is star diopside, often sold to tourists in Asia as sapphire. It is inexpensive, although rarely seen anymore, and quite beautiful in its own right. It is not nearly so durable as sapphire, and is prone to damage from moderate heat. If you see four rays, no heat, please!

You can contact Wayne Emery at wayne_emery@msn.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

E-Bench Sponsor

Rio Grande

For over 60 years, Rio Grande, a full-line 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

Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com

Working with Platinum

Jurgen J. Maerz

Sizing a Platinum Ring using a Laser

If there is still a gap between the opposing ends of the ring this is not a problem as it will be filled with the laser. If the ring was being soldered this gap would have to be closed.

With a small beam setting and the voltage set to 300V, take your first shots at the ring. These will deeply penetrate the metal and stitch the two sides of the ring together. Turn the ring all the way around as subsequent shots are fired, welding the two ends together and leaving a welded trough.

Once the ring is welded together, some additional wire is needed to fill the trough that the initial weld left behind. This is done by melting small amounts of 0.2 mm round wire, of the same platinum alloy as the ring, into the groove.

Widen the beam to flatten the extra molten metal along the groove. Do this by overlapping the laser shots to create flat metal puddles along the surface.

During the welding of the inside seam, the edge of the ring, which is quite thin, may begin to melt inwards as the laser follows its contour. If this happens, add more of the 0.2 mm wire to that edge to straighten out the line. You can use the same laser settings.

For more Tip to Working on Platinum Jewelry from Jurgen Maerz visit our Platinum Blog at: http://BenchMedia.typepad.com/platinumguru

www.PlatinumGuru.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

For every failure, there's an alternative course of action.
You just have to find it.
When you come to a roadblock,
take a detour.

Mary Kay Ash

E-Bench Sponsor

Internet Marketing 4 Jewelers

Internet Marketing Full-Day Seminar

St. Louis, MO ~ Sunday April 26^th

At last! Local Internet Marketing Information you need, tailor made for Retail Jewelry Stores. The Internet 4 Jewelers Seminar will provide you the knowledge and resources you need to get your online marketing started - and/or - taken to the next level.

We’ll Teach You What You Need to Know and Show You How to Do It!

At this Seminar You Will Learn About:

Ø Local Search

Ø Linking Strategy

Ø Blogs

Ø Websites

Ø Social Networking

Ø Search Engines

Ø Online Video

Ø PLUS MORE!

All for ONLY ^$245(with early registration and conference registration)

The Hardest Thing You'll Face is Deciding What Idea to Implement First!

We bring you Experience & Insight!

We have been in the Retail Jewelry business since 1977, and have been marketing Online since 1999. We know the Needs and Concerns of a Jewelry Retailer and have the experience with Internet Marketing to bring you the Information and Insights You Need to Know.

Learn How to Use Your Website to Attract Walk-In Customers - Not Just Web Traffic

To thrive in today’s economy, your business must be found online. Gone are the days where our fingers did the walking through those bulky Yellow Page Books. Instead customers are searching online, over 6.8 billion of them and these searches turn into sales.

Let’s Face It; Not Having An Online Presence
Is Quickly Becoming The Equivalent Of Not Having A Phone!

Learn what works and what doesn’t. This seminar will really get you excited about the things you could easily be doing with the Internet. You’ll learn how to reach out to your Geographic Area to Bring More Customers into your store. This Insightful Event Is Different Than Anything You Have Ever Attended Before!

Regardless of how much money you throw at Internet Marketing, if you're not doing the right things in the right way, you might as well be throwing your money down the drain! We will show you what you need to know and how to optimize your Internet Marketing Efforts so that it works most successfully for you. Plus we will show you Low Cost and often time FREE alternatives to High Priced Internet Advertising that are Just As Effective!

This Seminar Includes:

Ø Full Day of Internet Marketing with

Brad Simon

Ø Networking Lunch

Ø Seminar Manual

All for ONLY ^$245 (with early registration and conference registration)

For More Information and to Register Log Onto: www.Internet4Jewelers.com/seminars

Workshop Safety Tips
from Charles Lewton-Brian

Studio Colors

Your studio is an entire environment. Make it as comfortable for you and your eyes as possible. Make it a nice place to be and you will do better work. We selected blue and gray as theme colors for our teaching studio years ago and people enjoy it. All table surfaces are gray (smoke gray) so that things show up easily, are easy to find and there is no great contrast on the bench top. I am a big believer in white paint on the walls and neutral colors elsewhere.

For more information on Workshop safety from Charles Lewton-Brian log onto:

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

No matter what we want of life
we have to give up something in order to get it.

Raymond Holliwell

The Best Advice to Becoming A Better Bench Jeweler Ever Crammed Into 3 Days

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By – Register TODAY!

Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo – St. Louis

April 23 – 25, 2009

ATTEND 1, 2, OR ALL 3 DAYS

This year the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is More Affordable Than Ever Before. The one day rate is only ^$245 (a Savings of ^$80.00 from past years). Plus this year we have expanded our Educational Conference to 3 days for those who want even more. The 3 day price is less than ^$210 per day – Learn More and Save More!

“It was a pleasure being at your conference. It’s Reasonable Price for everything that was included. I learned many new ideas/things and was inspired to try them and implement them in my Bench Work. Just the entire experience was super. Wow, did I have a great time.”

Gene C. Burgess – South Carolina

Your Paid Registration Includes:

Ø General Sessions

Ø Your Choice of Break Out Seminars

Ø Meals

Ø Thursday Night’s Gala Reception

Ø Friday Night at the Ball Park Cardinals VS Cubs
(Limited amount of tickets available)

Ø PLUS - All paid attendees will receive an E-Book on Shop Management.

“I want to tell you again how much I enjoyed the Expo. It was a very positive experience and I feel that I brought plenty of ideas and information back to more than justify the time and expense. Great job!”

Jill LaPrad – Richmond, VA

Don't Wait Another Moment!

You Can Improve Your Work at the Bench – We Will Show You How

Register TODAY!

Log onto: http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

P.S. Don’t FORGET - The Gala Reception on Thursday night and a Night At the Ball Park sponsored by Southeastern Finding on Friday.

A Bench Jewelers Guide
Brad Simon

TIME ROBBERS
A Bench Jeweler’s Guide to Handling Interruptions

A major area of wasted time for the bench jeweler is interruptions. Interruptions are a normal part of anyone’s work day, a necessary part of doing business, and can never be completely eliminated. However, when they become excessive, unnecessary, or when they are not handled properly, they have a detrimental effect on the productivity in the shop. Without a doubt, interruptions are one of the biggest Time Robbers that jewelers face.

Often the bench jeweler is interrupted with questions. This is not because they are the best person to ask, but because they are the easiest person to ask. Since they are sitting at their bench everybody knows where to find them. Because they are quietly working it is assumed they don’t mind being interrupted. However, to disturb a jeweler while working at their bench is just as much of an interruption as asking a salesperson a question while they are selling jewelry to a customer.

Salespeople taking in repair work should be familiar with what can be done in the shop and with the store’s price sheet. They should be able to give price estimates on most routine jobs without asking for the bench jeweler’s assistance. Then interruptions to the jeweler can be minimized. During the day, however, there are situations where technical assistance is needed, or where the jeweler must figure price estimates. On these occasions, one should not hesitate to bring this to the attention of the jeweler for their assistance. There are also occasions where additional work must be performed, interrupting the jeweler's schedule. This work may need to be done while the customer waits, or finished in a few hours.

While You Wait Jobs

When bench jewelers speak of interruptions they are usually referring to situations where salespeople come back into the shop with a special request for a customer. This is NOT an interruption to your work; IT IS YOUR WORK!

It is the responsibility of the bench jeweler to balance the salesperson’s pressure for priority service and completing work already in the shop, and should always strive to see that any additional work is executed with the minimum amount of disruption.

Jewelers need to keep in mind that change is inevitable. Customer’s requests are NOT an interruption to their work, it IS their work. This does not mean however that every request can be accomplished. There are times when a request can not be met, and the bench jeweler needs to say NO. Saying no up front can save many problems down the road. Do not accept a job you know you cannot finish in time. For example, if the salesperson states that the customer will be back in 30 minutes for the job and you know it will take you at least an hour or more, it’s best to say that up front. Otherwise when the promised time arrives it must be explained to the customer why it is not finished on time; and the customer’s work that was delayed in an attempt to finish the new work may not be completed when expected either.

You might also have the situation where you are trying to finish jobs for other salespeople. You need to explain that you already have these other jobs that customers are waiting for and you have another job that the customer has been calling about it for the last two days and you will not be able to get to another request right now. Sometimes in these situations the store owner or manager needs to be brought in to set some priorities. If that happens, take the jobs they want you to put off out of your daily work tray, go to the safe and put them back into your work box. There is no reason to have those jobs in your daily work tray staring you in the face adding to your stress during the day.

Remember, everything you say YES to, is a NO to something else. Keep the following in mind: Never make a promise you can’t keep. Never say YES without thinking about it first. Learn to pause before you say Yes. Give yourself at least a moment to think through what the job involves, and what effect it will have on your schedule. The next time you are tempted to say YES stop and think, What am I doing? What should I be doing? What should I be doing next? What should I not do?

A useful device used in many stores is a while-you-wait envelope. The envelope is filled out and placed on the jeweler’s bench. The jeweler has all the information needed to complete the job and exactly when the customer will return for it. They can then work the job into their schedule. This is done without disturbing the jeweler to hand them the jewelry and verbally explain what needs to be done.

Just because you CAN do it doesn’t mean you should do it. A prime example is changing watch batteries. Often the bench jeweler is called upon to perform this simple task. Changing batteries in one or two watches has little effect on a jeweler’s schedule. However, in larger stores with several salespeople all bringing watches to the jeweler it can become a major problem.

One stores solution to this problem was to train all the salespeople how to change watch batteries. When a customer came in with a watch, the salesperson would give it to another salesperson that did not have a customer at the time, to change the battery. Then, the first salesperson could stay on the sales floor showing the customer jewelry from the cases and the jeweler was not interrupted with the menial task of changing watch batteries.

Bench Jewelers need to learn to discern the necessary from the unimportant. Often we do not have time to complete the necessary work because we spent too much time on trivial tasks and true interruptions.

Plan for Extra Work

Practical steps can be taken to maintain efficiency. When setting a schedule for the day the jeweler should allow for flexibility. In this way change can be accomplished with little effect on productivity.

If you work an 8 hour day, plan on only 5 or 6 hours of work. Then when the new rush job comes in, you have time for it and won’t feel you are putting off other customer’s work you already have. If you do not get any rush jobs or just a few simple ones, you can always go back to your work box and pull out a few more jobs later in the day.

Stock jobs make great schedule filler. Instead of leaving holes in your schedule as above, plan a full day’s work scheduling stock jobs for later in the afternoon. Then, if you receive several while you wait jobs you can put the stock jobs off until the next day without effecting the scheduling of customer’s jobs.

Schedule more difficult work that requires concentration (such as setting emeralds or intricate fabrication) during times when the store is quieter. The chance for interruptions is diminished during these times. Plan to work on simpler jobs (such as chains or ring sizings) during times when the store may be busier (during lunch for example). Then, any new work brought to you during those times will have less effect on your productivity.

Inform the sales staff on days that are particularly busy. Explain that you have a large amount of work to accomplish. Express your appreciation for them to keep interruptions to a minimum.

Whenever possible, tend to the interruption between groups of work. It is less distracting from the work you were doing. It also serves as a break, instead of being an interruption; it becomes a welcomed change of pace from the rest of the work.

True Interruptions

True interruptions are when someone interrupts you with something other than work related issues, such as phone calls from friends or family, co-workers talking about activities outside the store, reading through the mail, etc.

The best way to deal with these types of interruptions is to treat them as a break. If the phone is for you come quickly to a place you can stop your work or inform them you will call them right back. Then call them back as soon as you come to a natural place in your work that you can stop. When the mail comes place it aside until you take your next break and then look through it. Don’t stop what you are working on to read the mail.

Treat co-workers who want to talk the same as phone calls. If the situation is that you can easily stop your work without having it affect work flow, then stop and take a break and spend a short time chatting with them. If you are in the middle of something that really requires your concentration and you need to finish before stopping, say something like, Give me a minute to finish this and I’ll be right with you. Learn to excuse yourself graciously from unnecessary chit-chat when important work is waiting on you, and develop the self-discipline to do so.

Remember: Interruptions will happen. They are the normal part of anyone’s workday and a necessary part of doing business. An efficient, productive shop results when salespeople keep them to a minimum, and jewelers learn to handle them properly.

~ Brad

Bench Jewelers Network

www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com

The Ultimate Website for Bench Jewelers

Join Today and Start Networking with
other Bench Jewelers

The Bench Jewelers Network is a Website Community of Professional Bench Jewelers, Students, and Serious Hobbyist. Here you can ask questions, share tips & tricks, and show off your latest creations. Plus you can read articles in our vast library and even watch videos.

NOW For a Limited Time when you join the Bench Jewelers Network you will receive “From Fee to Shining Fee” Pricing Software Absolutely FREE! Plus we are so sure that once you see all that is available on this network you will want to continue your membership, we are giving you your first month FREE when you sign up for the monthly plan.

Log onto: www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com for all the details.

Becoming a Member could very well be Your
Key to Success in 2009!

Visit us at: www.EBenchNewsletter.com

A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.

To subscribe, log onto: http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Copyrighted, 2009, BENCH MEDIA, LLC. All rights reserved.

E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA, LLC is a division of B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader daniel@spirerjewelers.com

BENCH MEDIA, LLC
106 S Pinepoint Dr
Spartanburg, SC 29302

http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Volume 10 Issue 1

2009-02-01T22:35:51-05:00

E-Bench Newsletter

The Leading E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers

Now in it’s 10th year of publication.

View this newsletter at www.ebenchnewsletter.com

January 2009

Volume 10 Issue 1

circulation over 5,500

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

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.

Bench Jewelers Network

www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com

The Ultimate Website for Bench Jewelers

Join Today and Start Networking with other Bench Jewelers

The Bench Jewelers Network is a Website Community of Professional Bench Jewelers, Students, and Serious Hobbyist. Here you can ask questions, share tips & tricks, and show off your latest creations. Plus you can read articles in our vast library and even watch videos.

NOW For a Limited Time when you join the Bench Jewelers Network you will receive “From Fee to Shining Fee” Pricing Software Absolutely FREE!

Plus we are so sure that once you see all that is available on this network you will want to continue your membership, we are giving you your first month FREE when you sign up for the monthly plan.

Log onto: www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com for all the details.

Becoming a Member could very well be Your Key to Success in 2009!

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.

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts http://www.revereacademy.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"I found that the men and women who got to the top
were those who did the jobs they had in hand,
with everything they had of energy and
enthusiasm and hard work."
Harry S. Truman

E-Bench Sponsor

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 at: http://www.sefindings.com

Namano / Southeastern Findings Your Home for Southern Hospitality

Favorite Bench Tips
By Brad Simon

Retipping Pointed Stones

Be careful when retipping any stone with points such as pear, marquise, and princess shape stones. The thin points of the stones heat up quicker than the body of the stone. Uneven heating of the stone can cause it to crack.

In addition, metal and stones expand and contract by different amounts when heated and cooled. A problem can develop during retipping if solder is allowed to flow completely around the point of a stone. The solder will contract as it cools, squeezing the point. This may cause the point to break off.

The best method to retip a stone with a point is to make a cap in the shape of the prong. Then with a minimum of solder, attach the cap to the top of the prong. Move the flame of your torch over the length of the stone, gradually raising the temperature evenly in the entire stone. DO NOT allow solder to flow under the stone, completely encircling the stone point. If the prong is worn to the point that it needs more work than just a cap, it is best to remove the stone and replace the crown or prong.

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

Wisdom … is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire compares with her.
Proverbs 8:11

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.

Handling Colored Stones
from Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

Feldspar

The feldspar group of minerals contains many materials used as gemstones. Some are more commonly seen in cabochon form like microcline (amazonstone) or moonstone, while others such as

Oregon sunstone, orthoclase and andesine are usually faceted. Mineralogically, the feldspar group is quite complicated. For our purposes here, the chemistry of the many minerals in the feldspar group is irrelevant; we are more interested in their physical properties and handling characteristics.

All members of the feldspar group vary in Mohs hardness from 6-6.5 and often show exceptional durability because some of them, like moonstone, tend to be tough and wear very well. Intergrowths of various feldspars are common, and extend the durability even further, although a sudden sharp blow can sometimes develop a cleavage. The clear varieties which are faceted, such as orthoclase,

Oregon sunstone (labradorite), and the newer brownish-red to red andesine (which has appeared in the last year or so) are more fragile and can be easily chipped. None of the feldspar group will withstand great heat or sudden temperature changes, but moonstone in particular seems to resist the ultrasonic quite well. Test this at your own risk, however! Pickle has no adverse reaction on any of the feldspar minerals.

Most cost only a few dollars per carat, but good blue sheen moonstone can be expensive. The newer andesine in fine reds can fetch $200/ct wholesale, and

Oregon sunstone in fine reds can reach $750/ct in 1 carat sizes, and $700-1000/ct over 5 carats in deep green or deep red! The medium greens, medium reds and orangey-reds fetch about half that price in similar sizes.

There has been some downward pressure on these prices recently as more and more fine material is coming from the Oregon deposits as larger scale mechanized mining has begun. Operations such as the Dust Devil Mine open themselves up to the public for collecting a few weeks every year, but the conditions there are primitive and the nearest water is many miles away. Sounds like fun to me!

You can contact Wayne Emery at wayne_emery@msn.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect
before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
John Quincy Adams

E-Bench Sponsor

Rio Grande

For over 60 years, Rio Grande, a full-line 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

Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com

Working with Platinum

Jurgen J. Maerz

What Not To Do:

Don't use Acetylene Gas. Only Natural Gas, Hydrogen or Propane will work for Platinum

Don't weld without eye protection. UV radiation WILL damage your eyes

Don't weld when stones are nearby. The welding process will damage most stones

Don't use your soldering pick or steel tweezers near the flame, as they may contaminate the platinum

Don't weld on a charcoal block. Platinum and Carbon do not get along.

For weekly tips on working with platinum visit our blog Platinum Guru at
www.PlatinumGuru.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Time is our most valuable asset,
yet we tend to waste it, kill it,
and spend it rather than invest it."
Jim Rohn

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Workshop Safety Tips
from Charles Lewton-Brian

Chemicals

If you know what the chemicals are that you use and what their dangers are you will be less likely to hurt yourself with them. You should have a list of the chemicals in your workshop (a chemical inventory), MSDS sheets and chemical profile sheets which tell you important information about the chemical. A chemical profile sheet is theoretically easier to read than a standard MSDS sheet. There are several places on the internet where chemical profiles are available. One is http://nsc.org/ehc/ew/chemical.htm.

Mishandling of chemicals is the main cause of accidents with them: spills, accidental reactions, contamination, breathing, etc. Because so many products contain chemicals, you should ideally have information for every product in your workshop that contains chemicals, as well as those clearly identifiable ones that you think of immediately when one says chemical.

For more information on Workshop safety from

Charles Lewton-Brian log onto:

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"I do not think there is any other quality so essential
to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance.
It overcomes almost everything, even nature. "
John D. Rockefeller

The Best Advice to Becoming A Better Bench Jeweler Ever Crammed Into 3 Days

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By – Register TODAY!

Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo – St. Louis

April 23 – 25, 2009

ATTEND 1, 2, OR ALL 3 DAYS

“The money I save from instituting some of the practices and employing some of the techniques I learned this weekend will more than pay for the costs of attending the conference. The rewards are not only monetary; I met some of the most incredible people as well.”

Al Solymosi Jr. - Cleveland, OH

Don’t Delay – Register TODAY!!

http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

Ø Seminars

Ø Bench Demonstrations

Ø Networking Opportunities

Ø Discussion Groups

Ø Meals and MORE!

Holly Scott - Mountain Home, AR

Don't Wait Another Moment! Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

“It is neat to have a venue where we can get together and learn new things and share with one another and just to get together with other people who understand what we are talking about. It is wonderful. The classes are very informative; they are very concise and to the point and the instructors are always open to questions.”

Heath Rackley – Greenville, SC

It Seems Incredible That You Can Learn to Become A Better Bench Jeweler In Only 3 Days – But It IS TRUE!

Learn what works and what doesn’t from our experienced seminar leaders. Each seminar is filled with high-quality instruction by working jewelers who are masters of their craft.

From Basic Techniques to Advanced Applications

From Centuries Old Procedures to the Latest in Technological Advancements

Each seminar provides accurate informative instruction from Professional Bench Jewelers.

Tips

Tricks

Tools

Techniques

Technology

It’s all here for you.

You’ll learn how to work smarter not harder and achieve more in less time. The Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is designed to inform, instruct, and inspire bench jewelers to accomplish their best. So few of us are utilizing our full potential, that it feels absolutely wonderful to achieve things we didn’t know we could, the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo provides the resources to help you achieve them.

“If you're like me, you can read till your eyes bleed, and listen to it explained till your brain hurts, but ain't nothin' like watching someone else do it.

I met up with so many people and learned so much in 3 days you'd never believe it. Being at these conferences are worth their fees.”

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Your Paid Registration Includes:

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Don't Wait Another Moment!

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Register TODAY!

Log onto: http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

P.S. Don’t FORGET - The Gala Reception on Thursday night and a Night At the Ball Park sponsored by Southeastern Finding on Friday.

A Bench Jeweler’s Guide
Brad Simon

Is Retail Jewelry Truly a Recession Proof Business?

I’ll never forget the day back in the late 70’s when my boss took me aside to talk. I was a bench jeweler for his downtown jewelry store, my first job out of college. I was married and we were expecting our first child. The economy was a mess and I was concerned how long I would have a job.

He told me not to worry because the retail jewelry industry was one of the most recession proof businesses to be in. When the economy is great - we sell jewelry, and when there is a downturn - we sell remounts and repairs. He said there were very few jewelry store closings during the Great Depression of the 30’s (I’ve never checked that out, but he was old enough to have known). He reassured me that during an economic downturn the Bench Jeweler is the MOST important employee in a retail jewelry store.

Last week I was reminded of his little talk when I read some early statistics on jewelry sales for 2008. Every single category was down from 2007 except for one. Engagement and Wedding Rings, Platinum Jewelry, Diamonds, Colored Stones, Gold Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Pearls were all down from last year. The one lone category that was not only up, it was up 16% over 2007 was Jewelry Repairs!

As you make plans for your Valentines Day advertising and for the rest of 2009 Promote Your Shop Services! To be successful in 2009 you must keep your inventory levels low, train your staff to sell remounts and repairs, and provide your bench jeweler with continuing education so that they will be prepared to handle the increased work load.

Advertise Your Repair Services. Hold Re-Styling Events. Promote Custom Designed Remounts. 2009 will be the Year of the Bench Jeweler – Are you ready for it!

~ Brad

Visit us at: www.EBenchNewsletter.com

A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.

To subscribe, log onto: http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Copyrighted, 2009, BENCH MEDIA, LLC. All rights reserved.

E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA, LLC is a division of B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader daniel@spirerjewelers.com

BENCH MEDIA, LLC
106 S Pinepoint Dr
Spartanburg, SC 29302

http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Vol 9 Issue 12

2008-12-14T23:32:00-05:00

E-Bench Newsletter

The Leading E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers

Now in it’s 9th year of publication.

December 2008

Volume 9 Issue 12

circulation over 5,200

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

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.

Your Busy Making Christmas Presents for Everyone Else… So Here Is A Christmas Present Just For You!

Bench Media’s Half Price DVD Sale

We know this time of year is busy for Bench Jewelers. You are working long hours making jewelry so that all of your customers can have that Extraordinary Present under the tree for that Special Someone.

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Order a Bench Media DVD Today for Half Price and receive a Special Bonus of One Month Complementary Access to the Bench Jewelers Network.

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Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere

Put A Cork On It

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.

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts http://www.revereacademy.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"At the end of your life, you will never regret
not having passed one more test,
not winning one more verdict or
not closing one more deal.
You will regret time not spent
with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent."

Barbara Bush

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By Brad Simon

Fit to be Sized

Before sizing any ring, examine it carefully and compare it to the information on the job envelope. If you see any damage or potential problems that are not marked clearly on the envelope, inform the store manager or sales clerk who took in the job so that they can notify the customer. It is extremely important that you inform them now, before any work is performed, rather than wait until later to inform them.

Measure the thickness and width of the ring shank and record these measurements on the job envelope. Having these measurements may save you from doing a half-shank later if the customer complains that you thinned the shank too much during sizing.

While examining the ring, measure the ring’s current size and determine if you need to size it up or down. Divide your sizing jobs into four groups: rings to be sized down, rings to hammer up (1/2 size or less), rings to size up, and wedding bands to stretch. By organizing your ring sizings in this manner and working on all the rings in each group together will increase your productivity.

To begin, anneal all the wedding bands needing stretching or compressing. Die struck seamless bands are work hardened during the manufacturing process. This hardened gold is difficult to stretch or compress. Annealing the band before you begin will reduce the amount of physical force that you will need to apply to accomplish the task. A ring stretcher is not designed to double as a nautilus machine. In addition, if the metal is not annealed the stretching or compressing process may cause the metal to crack.

While the wedding bands are in the pickle, take all the rings to be sized down together. Then one at a time mark the back of the shank for the amount of gold to be removed from each shank. The difference in one size is 1/10 of an inch or 2.54 millimeters. For simplicity 2.5 millimeters is used in actual practice. If a ring is to be sized up or down one size 2.5 mm is either added or removed from the shank.

The curvature of rings creates problems when down sizing a substantial amount. Your measurement on a flat ruler cannot be accurately transferred to the curved surface of the ring shank. As the distance increases the inaccuracy multiplies. To compensate, when sizing down 3 or more sizes cut the back of the shank at one side of center. Then straighten the back of the shank. Mark the amount to remove on this straightened portion. Cut off the excess amount with your saw and re-shape the ring closing the gap.

When sizing purposely make the ring 1/8 size too small. You can later hammer across the solder joint until the ring reaches the correct size. This will help you to be more accurate in your sizing (if you are a little too large you will need to resize). In addition, this will work-harden the sizing area making a stronger joint, and finishing and polishing will be easier.

When all the rings are marked, then pick up your saw. Saw through all the rings without putting down the saw.

When finished sawing, pick up your ring bending pliers and bend all the shanks closed. Make sure there is no visible gap; hold the ring up to a light to see that there is a precise fit. If there is a gap, true the seam with an equaling needle file. Grind a knife-edge on the end of the file. Then it will be easier to insert it into the seam. Another method to true a seam before soldering is to saw through the seam with a saw blade, trimming a little metal from each side of the seam.

Next, group the rings on your bench as to metal content and color, 14k yellow together, 14k white together, 18k yellow, etc. Then place enough solder on your soldering pad to solder all of the rings closed. Make a small pile of solder for each metal type.

Then begin the soldering process. Hold the torch in one hand and with the other hand pick up a ring with locking tweezers, and dip the ring in boric acid and alcohol. Set the ring down on your soldering pad and light it with your torch. Arrange several rings across your soldering pad in this manner. Then, with the solder pick in your free hand, pick up the solder and solder the ring shanks closed.

Place the rings aside on your soldering pad to cool, and pick up another group of rings as before. As the alcohol is burning off, pick up the solder with a pick, and solder the shanks of this group. Lay them aside to cool, and move on to the next group.

With this process, you can solder all the rings closed without ever placing the torch down. You light the torch once and do not have to re-light it for each separate job. When you are finished soldering all the rings, turn your torch off.

While the down sizings are cooling, remove the wedding bands from the pickle, and rinse and dry them off. Place down sizings in the pickle and begin stretching the wedding bands.

To stretch a wedding band that is larger than your ring stretcher mandrel, slip a copper sleeve over the mandrel and place the ring over the sleeve. The mandrel will press out on the copper sleeve, which in turn will press out on the wedding band stretching it to a larger size. To make the sleeve purchase a 3/4 inch copper pipe coupling from a plumbing supply store. Then, using a hacksaw cut slits down the length of the coupling. Make four or six cuts to line up with the slits on the mandrel on your stretcher. Make all the cuts from the same end and cut 3/4 of the length of the coupling. This will allow it to expand easier and will make it easier to remove the ring when finished.

Next begin work on the up sizings. Cut each shank through with the saw. Then open the shanks, either with pliers or by sliding it down on the ring mandrel. Then cut pieces to add to the shanks from your gold stock and lay on your bench next to each ring. Lay out across your bench each ring with the corresponding piece to add to the shank.

If you do not have the correct size of metal stock available for up sizing, reduce the size of stock with a rolling mill before marking the amount needed. This will eliminate waste and will save time over filing away the excess. Ideally the stock should be 1 tenth of a millimeter and no more than 2 tenths wider and thicker than the shank.

With two pairs of locking tweezers, hold the ring in one pair of tweezers, the piece to be added in the other. Solder the piece you are adding to one side of the ring and lay it aside to cool. When each ring is soldered on one side turn your torch off. Using your pliers, close the gap on each ring making sure you have a tight fit. Then solder the rings closed using the same manner that you used sizing rings down.

When they are all soldered, place them in the pickle and take out the rings you sized down. Rinse and dry them off and begin to file with your half-round ring file. File each ring on the inside so that it is smooth. File off excess solder only on the inside of the rings at this time.

Then lay the file down and pick up the ring mandrel and mallet. Taking one ring at a time, slide it onto the ring mandrel and straighten it out; check to make certain you have reached the right size.

When rounding out the rings from sizing use a double face mallet - brass on one side and nylon on the other. Use the nylon side to straighten out the ring shank. Like a rawhide mallet, it will bend the shank but not stretch it. Then if the ring is a little too small turn the hammer around in your hand and tap up with the brass side. This saves time from putting down the rawhide mallet and picking up a steel hammer then going back to the rawhide mallet.

After you have straightened each ring, pick up your file again. File the sides and back of the shank, removing the excess solder and hammer marks on the outside of all the rings.

You should always take great care when filing that you do not remove too much metal. It is impossible to replace the metal removed. When filing to remove excess solder, often the mistake is made of filing too much resulting in thinning the metal. Stop filing when the outline of the solder is just barely visible. Sanding to prepare the metal for polishing will remove the remaining solder. If you continue to file until all evidence of the solder is removed the sanded metal will be thinned more than necessary.

When you have finished filing each ring, take the rings that you sized up out of the pickle rinse and dry them off. Add any rings that are to be sized up 1/2 size or less. They can be hammered up along with straightening the rest of the up sizings.

Repeat the filing / straightening process. File the inside of the rings first, then straighten each ring and then file the outsides of the rings. When all rings needing to be sized are filed, sand all of the shanks, polish, and place them in the cleaner.

If you only have a few rings to size, you can size the down sizings and up sizings together. Solder the piece on one side of the up sizings. While they cool, solder the down sizings. Then bend and solder the second side of the up sizes.

Sizing heavy gent’s rings creates additional problems because of the metal thickness in the shank. Straightening the ring on a ring mandrel can be particularly challenging. Using a Lead-filled weighted rawhide mallet or a dead-blow mallet will provide the extra force needed to make this job easier. In addition, one of these mallets can be used to force the ring down on a ring mandrel when opening a shank up after sawing through the shank.

Heavy duty “Bow Pliers” available from most jewelry tool suppliers are indispensable in closing the gap in down sizing. Be certain to cover the jaws with leather or copper to avoid marring the outside of the ring. Sometimes it is necessary to use a rawhide mallet to hammer the shank into position. A bench mounted ring shank bender is a welcome asset in shaping pieces for up sizing and half-shanks.

When soldering heavy gents rings avoid the temptation to use a pick to smear the solder around the joint. This will result in a weak solder joint, known as a cold solder joint, as the solder flowed only at the surface and not through the seam. Make certain you have a tight fitting seam and apply solder to only one side of the joint. Then, with the heat of your torch pull the solder through the seam to the other side.

By following these procedures your shop will become more productive, and you will be Fit To Be Sized.

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Failing to plan is a plan to fail."

Effie Jones

E-Bench Sponsor

The Ganoksin Project
www.ganoksin.com

The Gem and Jewelry Pre-Eminent Online Resources. Open to the public Free of Charge.

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Handling Colored Stones
from Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

CHRYSOCOLLA

hrysocolla is a copper silicate often found in copper ore bodies. It is opaque and occurs in different shades of green, blue and blue/green. It is popular with designers in cabbed form and can be strikingly beautiful. The hardness of Chrysocolla is 2-4, but it often is silicified in nature, making it as hard as 7 on the Mohs scale. When the material is completely silicified, and of an even blue/green hue it s called gem silica and can command healthy prices. It is sometimes mistaken for turquoise, but is much more heat resistant and not as porous as turquoise. The most commonly seen cabochons are a mixture of blue and green and often contain other copper minerals as well, such as azurite and malachite.

Keep this material out of the pickle and away from the torch! If you accidentally scratch it, the surface can usually be easily re-polished with a small amount of Zam on a clean cotton buff using low speed.

You can contact Wayne Emery at wayne_emery@msn.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,
life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."

Langston Hughes

E-Bench Sponsor

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Ask Jurgen
Jurgen J. Maerz CMBJ

Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com

Proper Fuel to Work on Platinum

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, though, 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 is 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 are using.

For weekly tips on working with platinum visit our blog Platinum Guru at

www.PlatinumGuru.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war,
while defeated warriors go to war first
and then seek to win."

Sun tzu

E-Bench Sponsor

Internet Marketing 4 Jewelers

Internet Marketing 4 Jewelers Newsletter is the Greatest Goldmine of Internet Marketing Ideas ever crammed into a monthly newsletter. It provides Proven Tips, Tools and Techniques to Use the Internet as a Marketing Tool.

With your subscription to Internet Marketg 4 Jewelers Newsletter you will learn about:

Website Content
Nothing else matters until you get the content of your website search engine friendly and designed to attract potential customers willing to buy in your store. Many things can get your website noticed while others can get your website penalized or even banned by the search engines. We will give you the Heads Up on what to do and more importantly what NOT to do!

Online Directories
There are literally thousands of Local, Industry, & Business Directories to get your website listed in. We have visited Hundreds of them and checked them out personally to let you know which ones to get listed in and which to avoid. We also tell you what to look for in a Directory listing to Boost Your Website and Keep It From Being Penalized!

Online Yellow Pages
Listings in online yellow pages are effective in marketing your store locally, but there are numerous online yellow pages out there and new ones are starting all the time. Which ones should you be in and what type of listing should you have? We End All The Confusion!

Linking Strategies
Getting In-Bound links to your site is one of the most important things you can do to get noticed by the search engines, but some links can get your website penalized or even banned by the search engines. We show you What You Want and What To Avoid and how to develop an Effective Link Strategy!

Business Blogging
Business Blogs are the most powerful communication tool that has come along to keep in touch with your customers. However, they can take a lot of work to set-up and a lot of time to keep them going. We will show you What To Do and Tips To Keep You From Wasting A Lot Of Your Valuable Time!

Online Video Ads
Since the start of the Internet nothing has influenced search engine traffic the way that video has. But video can be expensive and time consuming. We show you how you can Easily Make Video Ads For Your Store Without Spending A Lot Of Money and over 30 websites where you can Easily Post Your Video Ads For Free and drive traffic to your website and Into Your Store!

Social Networking
Social Networking Websites are all the rage, but can you really make meaningful contact with your customers there? There are hundreds of Social Networking Sites out there and more being added every day, which ones should you be on and which ones are a waste of time? We Have The Answers!

E-Mail List
Developing a list of customer’s and potential customer’s e-mail addresses, in spite of spam, are still an important part of your Internet Marketing Efforts. But how do you gather your list and what do you do with it once you have it. We’ll show you what to do and how to automate parts of your business.

Plus Much More

Regardless of how much money you throw at Internet Marketing, if you're not doing the right things in the right way, you might as well be throwing your money down the drain! In fact, many times you don't need to pay for online traffic. Organic, natural ways to get internet traffic that is Free are often More Effective Than Paid Advertising. We will show you what you need to know and how to optimize your Internet Marketing Efforts so that it works most successfully for you. Plus we will show you Low Cost and often time FREE alternatives to High Priced Internet Advertising that are Just As Effective!

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More information log onto: http://www.Internet4Jewelers.com

Workshop Safety Tips
from Charles Lewton-Brian

DERMATITIS

Dermatitis is a group of skin conditions that may often be contracted by exposure to chemicals and metals. It is a real hazard for jewelers. I knew someone once whose dermatitis got so bad that her hands would begin to crack and bleed when she walked into a jewelry studio and she had to give it up, in her fourth year of school.

Working unsafely, dipping fingers into solvents, cutting oils for lapidary, mixing investments with bare hands and so on defat the skin which then loses its protection against other chemicals and metals. Moving to mechanical cleaning methods (scotch brite scrubbing) to reduce chemical (soaps-even the mild ones) exposure can help as well.

It has been suggested not to wear a ring in the workshop because dusts and chemicals tend to get caught under the ring and then react with the skin more easily; as well as getting caught on things.

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Proverbs 21: 5

E-Bench Sponsor

Bench Jewelers Network

www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com

The Ultimate Website for Bench Jewelers

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Discussion Forum
Ask Questions, Discuss Techniques, Share Tips & Tricks, and Network with other Professional Bench Jewelers

This is the place to be for the best Bench Discussions. You can contribute to and learn from these fully interactive Threaded Message Boards. Whether you want to exchange ideas with your peers, share your own expertise, keep up with the latest trends, show off your latest creations, or just chat with other Bench Jewelers around the World, this is the on-line community that you need to be a part of.

Classified Ads

Help Wanted, Buy, Sell, and Trade
Have Old Tools & Equipment You Would Like to Sell? Need Another Bench Jeweler in Your Shop? Want to Buy Used Equipment to Save Money? Looking For a New Job? Post it on the member’s only Classified Ad section.

Instructional Articles

All Articles from the Back Issues of Bench Magazine and E-Bench Newsletter PLUS MORE!
Want to learn a new technique, or brush-up on existing skills? Or maybe just curious how other jewelers do their work? Bench Jewelers Network’s Article section is all Index by subject and contains everything you want or need to know.

Training Videos

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If a picture is worth a thousand words then a video must be worth MILLIONS! There’s nothing like watching a Master perform his work. See how they hold their tools, how they move their hands. Watching how they work is better than reading all the words in the world.

www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com

A Bench Jeweler’s Guide
Brad Simon

Pain In The Neck

You start to turn and there it is again. You go to stand up from your chair and it happens again. It's that nagging pain in your neck or lower back. After several years on the bench, jewelers often develop chronic neck or back injuries.

Bench jewelers will spend most of the time in the workshop seated at their workbench. Therefore, time is well spent in adjusting and arranging it. A poorly adjusted chair and workbench will not only cause discomfort, fatigue, and muscle cramps that reduce worker efficiency, but more importantly, it may develop into leg, back, or neck injury.

Many varieties of workbench styles are available from jewelry tool and equipment suppliers. Unfortunately most all benches come in a standard height of 39” to 40” and are not adjustable. This one size fits all bench height fits worse than one-size fits all clothing. Since jewelers are not all the same height, the workbench MUST be adjusted to fit them properly.

Adjusting Your Chair
In order to achieve the proper workbench height you must first start with the chair. A jeweler may sit in their chair for over eight hours per day, every day, and even longer during the Christmas Season. A quality chair designed to be sat in for long periods of time and ergonomically designed is essential. Your body, limbs, spine, and neck are supported by and affected by the chair you sit in. Pain associated with seating may develop slowly, often over many months or even years. A good chair will go a long way toward preventing these problems.

When selecting a chair do not be fooled by the visual appearance. For example, a soft, overly padded chair may look inviting. When you sit in it for the first few moments, it may feel comfortable and soothing. Over an eight-hour workday, however, this chair may not support your back, legs, and spine properly.

Once you have purchased a chair, you must adjust it. The best chair in the world is worthless if it is not adjusted correctly.

Adjust the height of the chair so that when seated with feet flat on the floor the tops of your thighs are parallel to the floor. You should be able to feel the seat of the chair along the back of your thighs. You should feel enough pressure to support your upper legs, but not too much pressure as to cut off or restrict circulation. The angle between the torso and the thighs should not be less than 90° or greater than 110°. From this position, you need to adjust the height of the workbench. DO NOT adjust the height of the chair to the workbench.

A chair too high is awkward for shorter jewelers, and it is hard to reach the foot pedal for the flex shaft. It puts pressure on the thighs, restricting circulation in the legs. Improper support of the legs and thighs leads to chronic back injury.

A chair too low is uncomfortable for taller jewelers. Their knees are raised too high eliminating any support of their thighs. This causes compression of the lower spine and body organs. Alternatively, they bend their legs awkwardly under them, causing fatigue and cramping. Both lead to chronic back injury.

A backrest on the chair is necessary to help support the spine. The backrest should support the lower and middle of your back, from your waist to just below your shoulder blades. Less than this does not give adequate support; more than this restricts movement. Adjust the backrest up or down to give this support. Then adjust the backrest forward or backwards so that there is 2" to 4" of clearance between the front edge of the seat and the inside of your knees. Just like your thighs against the chair seat, you should be able to feel the support of the chair backrest along your back. While sitting your spine is supported either by a backrest or by your muscles. Avoid fatigue from muscular backache and get a chair with a properly adjusted backrest.

Adjusting Your Bench
To determine the proper workbench height, sit comfortably in a properly adjusted chair. Sit up straight with your back against the backrest. In this position, your bench pin should come to the center of your breastbone. If it does not, you need to adjust the height of your bench. Buying the proper chair and adjusting it correctly will do you no good if you hunch over your work because your bench is too short!

If your bench is too tall, you can cut the required amount off each leg. Be certain to cut exactly the same amount off each leg so that the bench does not wobble. If the bench is too short, glue a block of wood to the bottom of each leg to raise the bench.

Visors
Many magnifying visors available in the jewelry industry hold the magnifying lens plate out directly in front of your eyes. This forces you to look straight ahead, not down at your work. To see your work on your bench pin you must bend over your work. This also leads to chronic back and neck injury.

Many jewelers further complicate this problem when someone comes to talk to them while working. Rather than raise the visor, they bend their necks back and look down under the visor to see the person. Over time, a jeweler develops a whiplash type injury from this extreme bending of the neck.

A better alternative is to use a magnifier that sets lower in front of the eyes, such as reading glasses. To use, you look down through the glasses and only need to bend your head forward slightly, if at all. Then to see someone you can look straight out over the glasses without bending your neck.

Chiropractor
Last, but certainly not least, visit a chiropractor. Find a chiropractor that works with occupational injuries and provides maintenance care. Chiropractors that only work with acute injuries (such as auto accidents) may not be as proficient at working with chronic injury that bench jewelers develop. In addition, find a chiropractor that will take x-rays of your spine before making any adjustments. Any competent chiropractor will want to see just what condition your spine is in before making adjustments.

By making a few ergonomic adjustments to your shop and work habits as well as receiving chiropractic maintenance; your back will begin to feel good as new and you will have one less Pain In The Neck!

Visit us at:

www.EBenchNewsletter.com

A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.

To subscribe, log onto:

http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Copyrighted, 2008, BENCH MEDIA, LLC. All rights reserved.

E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA, LLC is a division of B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader daniel@spirerjewelers.com

BENCH MEDIA, LLC
106 S Pinepoint Dr
Spartanburg, SC 29302

http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Bench Seminars

2008-06-18T19:34:05-04:00

Platinum Guild International

and Bench Media Presents:

Bench Seminars

One Great Day of Learning by Two of the Industry’s Foremost Seminar Leaders. The Best Advice to Becoming a Better Bench Jeweler Ever Crammed Into 1 Day!

Advanced Level Bench Seminars are being held in:

Philadelphia ~ July 31st

Las Vegas ~ Aug 21st

Fort Lauderdale ~ Sept 4th

Portland ~ Sept 25th

Indianapolis ~ Oct 2nd

DON’T MISS OUT!! Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchSeminars.com

“No matter how much one knows it is always enlightening and stimulating to sit back and listen to a Master share his own personal tips. This is an excellent presentation.” Alan Revere – Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts

Whether you are a beginner looking to develop your skills and build your career or a seasoned veteran of the bench looking to refresh your skills and rejuvenate your career, Bench Seminars will help jump-start your creativity and motivate you to accomplish your goals.

You’ll learn how to Work Smarter Not Harder and Achieve more in less time. The Bench Jewelers Seminars are designed to Inform, Instruct, and Inspire Bench Jewelers to Accomplish their Best. These seminars illustrate a myriad of Advanced Bench Techniques. Rather than just learning from one speaker, you will experience one of the first dual instructed seminars in the industry. As they reach into their bag of tricks you’ll be amazed at the information presented.

“I found the Bench Seminar to be informative and worth my while. The expertise is incredible.” John Purvis

This Full-Day of seminars is Only $195 with early registration.
A Small Investment That Will Repay Itself Many Times Over.

Don't Wait Another Moment!

You Can Improve Your Work at the Bench
We Will Show You How ~ Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchSeminars.com

Learn what works and what doesn’t from our experienced seminar leaders. Each seminar is filled with High-Quality Content, providing Accurate Informative Instruction from Professional Bench Jewelers. Bench Jewelers Seminars are open to all Bench Jewelers including Professional and Serious Hobbyist. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to meet with Other Jewelers.

“I’ve been very impressed with the Quality of the Teaching and the camaraderie of the jewelry artist. I learned so much from Brad and Jurgen" Holly Scott

Your Paid Registration Includes:

Platinum Bench Techniques Seminar
Advanced Stone Setting Seminar
Advanced Fabrication Seminar
Bench Tips and Other Tricks Seminar
PLUS ~ Networking Lunch
PLUS PLUS ~ All attendees will receive 3 E-Books on Shop Management from Bench Media.
PLUS PLUS PLUS ~ All attendees will receive a DVD and other Instructional Items from PGI.

(The Value of the BONUS Materials More than Pays for the Cost of the Seminar!)

“The format of the seminar is very easy to follow, and the visual set up is clear and a dream to watch. The melding of both Brad’s and Jurgen's personalities, lead to pleasurable comprehension. More than once during the day I thought - This alone made it all worthwhile. The sharing between attendees, added to the overall presentation. I wholeheartedly recommend Bench Seminars.” Teresa Masters

DON’T MISS OUT!! Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchSeminars.com

Bench Seminars,Jewelers,Jewelry Fabrication,Stonesetting,Platinum

Sepcial Announcement

2008-05-28T21:52:59-04:00

The Bench Jewelers Television Network

http://www.BenchTelevision.com

Tips

Tricks

Tools

Techniques

Technology

It Is All Here! Everything You Need to Become a Better Bench Jeweler.

The primary purpose of the Bench Jewelers Television Network is to provide TV style How-To Training Videos for Bench Jewelers. Membership to this site allows you unlimited access to all the channels and shows.

Currently there are 12 different Shows airing on the Bench Jewelers Television Network with a current total of 67 Episodes – OVER 7 Hours of Video Training for you to view as often as you like and New Episodes are Added Each Month!

Bench Jewelers Television Network is Produced
BY Bench Jewelers FOR Bench Jewelers
We Know and Understand Your Needs and Concerns.

Each show is filled with high-quality instruction by Working Jewelers who are Masters of their craft.

From Basic Techniques to Advanced Applications
From Centuries Old Procedures to the Latest in Technological Advancements
Each episode provides accurate informative instruction from Professional Bench Jewelers. It is all here for you to view when you want, as often as you want.

“The Bench Jewelers Television Network is exciting! The quality of the work and the level of the expertise are great.”
Robyn Hawk

Bench Jewelers Television Network provides a unique learning experience on the Internet for Bench Jewelers. You can access training videos any time day or night 7 days a week from anywhere in the world with broadband access.

Subscriptions are ONLY $125 a year or $15 a month.

Note: Monthly subscriptions are set-up as recurring monthly payments, however there are no time length requirements, you may cancel your subscription at anytime without incurring any additional fees.

Members of the Bench Jewelers Television Network have unlimited access to all of the channels any time of the day or week. You can watch shows over and over as many times as you need. New Episodes air each month and Past Episodes are archived for you to re-watch as often as you like.

“Wow, I can’t believe how good the close-up shots are and the quality of video is excellent.”
Tom Antion

Check out the Pre-View Channel to watch some of the Pilot Episodes before you spend any money. http://www.BenchTelevision.com/preview_channel/index.html

Each show is filled with high-quality instruction by working jewelers who are masters of their craft and designed to Inform, Instruct, and Inspire Bench Jewelers around the world. Whether you are just beginning your career or a seasoned veteran of the bench, you will find extremely valuable information here that will help you become a better bench jeweler. The goal of this site is to provide jewelers with the information and resources they need. Every month new episodes will air to keep you reaching for greatness while working at the bench.

Tips, Tricks, Techniques, Tools, and Technology – It’s all here for you.

Join Today! http://www.BenchTelevision.com

Stonesetting,Jewelry Fabrication,Platinum Techniques,Bench Seminars

Special Announcement

2008-05-21T03:20:05-04:00

One-On-One Laser Welding Training with Steve Satow

Learn how you can improve the quality of your work and increase productivity in the shop using a Laser Welder. Receive personalized training on using a Laser Welder to repair jewelry and eyeglasses, fabricate custom designed jewelry and set gemstones in your jewelry creations. Whether you are just starting out using a Laser Welder or are an experienced user desiring to learn more, Steve Satow will customize his training to meet your specific needs.

Tired of taking training lessons in a classroom setting with instructors whose experience is limited to class projects?

Steve Satow’s One-On-One training takes place in his shop where a Laser Welder is used daily repairing and creating customers jewelry. Steve is a working Master Jeweler who still makes his living from working at the bench. He is one of the Jewelry Industry’s Laser Welding Pioneers and a Premier Laser Welding Trainer.

Learn from one of the foremost Jewelry Laser Welding Experts ONLY What You Want and Need to Know. Don’t waste time sitting in a class learning someone else’s training agenda. Steve will consult with you by phone prior to your training visit to ascertain your experience level and discuss with you your training needs. He will then plan a personalized training program just for you to maximize your time with him.

Your Training Could Include:

How To Use A Laser Welder To Fabricate And Assemble Jewelry.
How To Use The Laser Welder To Simplify Setting Jobs.
How To Effectively Set Fragile And Hard To Set Stones.
Unique Techniques To Trouble Free Jewelry Repair.
New Methods To Set Stones That Are Impossible To Accomplish With Traditional Setting Methods.
Welding Silver, Gold, Platinum And The New Palladium Alloys.
How To Use The Laser Welder In Conjunction With Other Setting Techniques To Finish Prongs And Perform Other Steps In Setting.
Innovative Mixed Metal Applications Such As Using Palladium To Repair White Gold.
How To Repair Eyeglasses – Including Titanium.
Plus Much More!!!

1-Day and 2-Day training periods are available. All training takes place only on days Satow Goldsmiths is closed so that the daily activities of operation do not interfere with the training.

Lasers are fast becoming an essential piece of equipment in the jewelry shop. Steve can teach you how you can use the new technology of Laser Welding to make your work at the bench Easier and More Profitable.

Call Steve Satow today at 702-837-8100 to set-up your One-On One Laser Welding Training.

Laser Welders are more than just an expensive retipping tool! Let Steve show you what you can accomplish with your Laser.

There are a limited amount of days available for training so don’t wait! Call today to reserve your dates.

Call 702-837-8100

One-On-One Laser Welding Training Prices:

One-Day $1,000 Two-Days $1,700

Prices Include:

Pre-Training Phone Consultation
Customized Training Program Design And Preparation
One-On-One Training
Standard Materials Used In Training
(Addition Fee May Apply For Specialized Materials)
3 Thirty Minute Follow-Up Phone Consultations
Unlimited E-Mail Questions Answered for 3 months after training

Laser Welding Training

April 2008

2008-05-07T01:00:00-04:00

E-Bench Newsletter

The Leading E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers

Now in it’s 9th year of publication.

April 2008

Volume 9 Issue 4

circulation over 5,200

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

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.

Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere

A FILE-SAFE PLAN:

Modifying Files for Working Near Stones

Most flat and square flies—both large hand files and small needle files—have cutting surfaces on all four sides and edges. The sharp edges are great if you want to carve a 90 degree groove into a piece of metal, but then can be problematic for certain applications, such as finishing a bezel setting. If you want to clean up the top of a setting, a file with sharp cutting surfaces and edges all around will put the stone in danger. However, with a little effort, you can modify a file that will allow you to play it safe.

First, prepare a safe surface on the one side of a fine-cut (#4 or #6) square needle file. (Note: You can also use the following steps to modify barrette needle files, which are great for finishing prongs.) To do this, carefully lay one side of the file against the spinning wheel of a bench grinder and draw it across, removing the abrasive cuts on that side of the file. Repeat until the cuts are completely removed.

After rough grinding, take the file to an oiled sharpening stone—the kind you use to sharpen gravers, drill bits, blades, etc. Hold the file flat against the stone and rub it back and forth to smooth the new surface and remove marks left by grinding. When the surface is smooth, knock the cuts off the edges on both sides of the newly cleaned surface.

With all remnants of the original cuts removed, use progressively finer grits of abrasive paper to bring the surface and adjacent edges to a polish. Begin with 220 grit paper held against a flat surface. Proceed to 320, 400 and 600 grit. Finish up with 4/0 polishing paper. The file should shine on one side.

And with that, you have a file that is “safe” for finishing bezels and prongs. Keeping in mind that all stones can be damaged by abrasion, place the safe surface very lightly against the stone and file the setting to perfection.

This Tip is from “101 Bench Tips for Jewelers" written by Alan Revere and published by MJSA/AJM Press.

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts http://www.revereacademy.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction
in all his toil – this is the gift of God."

Ecclesiastes 3:13

E-Bench Sponsor

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 at: http://www.sefindings.com

Namano / Southeastern Findings Your Home for Southern Hospitality

2008 Passion Award Winners

The 2007 Passion Awards winners were announced at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo held in Buffalo NY, April 26th – 29th. The following are the winners of the contest listed by category. A panel of judges choose the winners in each category and jewelers attending the conference voted for the Jewelers Choice Award from among the winners. Pictures of the winning pieces can be viewed at: http://www.benchconference.com/2008/DesignContest/

Mark Grosser – Contest Chairman

Brad Simon – Contest Adminstrator

Jewelers Choice

Andre Zverev

CAD Rendering, Mens Jewelry

1st Place - Andre Zverev

2nd Place - Deric Metzger

Finalist

E G Milad

Corey Wilkening

Tom Linenberger

CAD Rendering, Ladies Jewelry

1st Place - Michael Devlin

2nd Place - ER-YA Chang

Finalist

Corey Wilkening

Paul Derrickson

Tom Linenberger

CAD Rendering, Ladies Ring

1st Place - Andre Zverev

2nd Place - Michael Devlin

Finalist

E. G. Milad

John Krikawa

Deric Metzger

Finished Jewelry, Mens Jewelry

1st Place -Ross Arterberry

2nd Place - Margie Foster

Finalist

Kelly Johnson

Michael Devlin

Llyn Strong

Finished Jewelry, Ladies Jewelry

1st Place - Llyn Strong

2nd Place - Thomas Herman

Finalist

Michael Goralski

David Holloway

Lisa Krikawa

Finished Jewelry, Ladies Ring

1st Place - David Phelps

2nd Place - Michael Goralski

Finalist

Dawn Muscio

Thomas Herman

Jeffrey Appling

Jewelry Design Team

1st Place - Lisa & John Krikawa & Yaroslav Shukel

2nd Place - Lisa & John Krikawa & Yaroslav Shukel

Finalist

Michael Ponthieux & Wanda Ponthieux

Jeffrey Appling & Michael Ciegelski

Lisa & John Krikawa & Yaroslav Shukel

Laser Welded Jewelry

1st Place - Jimi Gwinn

2nd Place - Tom Linenberger

Finalist

Margie Foster

Deric Metzger

Ross Arterberry

Click here to see all 2008 winners

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"The man who starts out going nowhere,
generally gets there."

Dale Carnegie

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.

Handling Colored Stones
from Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

Jade

There are two distinct minerals referred to as jade. “Precious” jade, or jadeite comes in a wide range of colors including green, bluish green, greenish blue, orange to red to brown, lavender, shades of cream to yellow and a flat white called “chicken bone”. Mixed colors are common.

Nephrite, a separate mineral, usually occurs in whitish gray to shades of green, but the greens are more muted and less pure. Often, it is seen in a “spinach” color. It is available widely at very low prices.

While nephrite is widespread in its occurrence and exists by the millions of tons in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington all the way north to Alaska, jadeite is much rarer. The primary source of the much more prized jadeite is Burma. While much of this material is processed in China, there are no sources of fine jadeite in China, contrary to popular belief.

Although the colors of jadeite are often much better than the usual drab colors of nephrite, and the values thus much higher, for purposes of our discussion the material can be handled in the same way. Both nephrite jade and jadeite are at the very top of the toughness scale. While neither is as hard as diamond, or anywhere near it, they are much tougher than diamond. Their ability to resist chipping or breaking by percussive blows is unmatched in the mineral kingdom, good news for bench workers!

Jades are best protected from torch heat whenever possible and are generally unharmed by immersion in the ultrasonic or the steamer, but, again, the steamer should always be used with care if at all.

Pickling solutions present no problems for the jades.

You can contact Wayne Emery at wayne_emery@msn.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Time can’t be managed.
But what can be managed are our activities
and how we “spend” time.
And all the experts agree:
managing our activities begins with planning.
So by knowing what’s important for us
– planning our work and working our plan
– we become wise managers."

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 1-800-999-3463 or visit us online at http://www.unitedpmr.com/

Ask Jugen
Jurgen J. Maerz CMBJ

Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com

Q: When is it proper to solder, and when do I weld Platinum?

A: Soldering is usually required when you are working on a multi-metal piece, such as 18K and platinum combination. The metal with the lowest melting point dictates the method used. When installing minor components to platinum, such as findings, soldering is preferred. Whenever you are sizing a ring and need to use solder, use a 1700 seamless solder or the high purity “plumb” solders for the task. Lower temperature solders tend to show a seam

Sizing a platinum ring is normally done with the welding method, as long as there are no stones nearby and the ring is made of platinum.

For weekly tips on working with platinum visit our blog Platinum Guru at www.PlatinumGuru.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"It is common sense to take a method and try it.
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another.
But above all, try something."

E-Bench Sponsor

Rio Grande

For over 60 years, Rio Grande, a full-line 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

Workshop Safety Tips from Charles Lewton-Brian

Grinding Wheel Safety Thoughts

Wear adequate eye and hearing protection. Wear hair up and avoid loose clothing or jewelry.

Do not talk to anyone or have any distractions while grinding

Keep this tool in its own small area, free of clutter, preferably with at least low walls around the area to isolate the tool and debris from it.

Have good housekeeping and clean the area around the tool after every use. Clean up particles using hand broom/vacuum (never with your hands) after every use of the machine. Make a habit of it.

Have good lighting on the working area of the wheel, a mounted desk lamp or one on each side is good (illumination from two sides eliminates shadows)

Always have the machine properly mounted and screwed securely in place onto a sturdy work surface.

Turn off the machine when not in use.

Wear fireproof clothing/apron.

Keep all flammable materials such as paper, cloth, solvents, and potential fuels away from the grinding area.

Do not grind wood or other flammable materials on the same wheel used for metals.

Always use a wheel guard.

When starting up a grinder always stand safely to one side until the wheel has reached speed and run for some seconds at speed. If a grinding wheel is going to fly apart it often does so during the wind up phase.

Use the right grinding wheel for the job, properly rated for the motor speed and the correct size.

Inspect the grinding wheels carefully on a regular basis.

Grind evenly across the face; avoid creating ruts in the wheel.

Dress the wheel with a wheel dressing tool if required to keep a wheel flat. Wheels with chips, flat spots, gouges and glazed areas should be dressed. Bad spots like that can make grinding more hazardous and inefficient, reduce accuracy, and damage the work surface by burning or gouging it. Dressing your wheel helps keep it balanced, which is important for safety.

Always keep the tool rest the correct distance from the wheel, usually 1/16th of an inch (1.5 mm). As the wheel is ground down the tool rest needs to be reset.

Have a water dip next to the wheel; small water pans designed for this can be attached to the front and middle of the grinder. Dip frequently to cool the workpiece. Always cool a workpiece before putting it down and picking up the next one.

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Those who say it cannot be done,
are usually interupted by someone doing it."

E-Bench Sponsor

Bench Jewelers Television Network

Join by the month or year,
whichever fits your budget.

A Complete Television Network Exclusively For Bench Jewelers Broadcasted Over the Internet www.BenchTelevision.com
Tips, Tricks, Tools, Techniques, and Technology, it is all here. Everything you need to become a better Bench Jeweler Bench Jewelers Television Network is produced BY Bench Jewelers FOR Bench Jewelers We Know and Understand Your Needs and Concerns

For details go to: www.BenchTelevision.com

This innovative educational initiative provides jewelers with a comprehensive source of in-
depth information and suppliers with unique advertising opportunities never before seen
in the jewelry industry.

Visit us at: www.EBenchNewsletter.com

A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.
To subscribe, log onto: http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA, LLC is a division of B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader daniel@spirerjewelers.com

BENCH MEDIA, LLC
106 S Pinepoint Dr
Spartanburg, SC 29302
http://www.EBenchNewsletter.com

Special Announcement

2008-04-10T07:19:17-04:00

The Best Advice to Becoming A Better Bench Jeweler Ever Crammed Into 4 Days

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By – Register TODAY!

Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo
Los Angeles
April 24 – 27, 2008

ATTEND 1, 2, 3, OR ALL 4 DAYS

Al Solymosi Jr. - Cleveland, OH

Don’t Delay – Time Is Running Out

Register TODAY!!

http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

Seminars
Bench Demonstrations
Networking Opportunities
Discussion Groups
Meals and MORE!

Don't Wait Another Moment!
Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

It Seems Incredible That You Can Learn to Become A Better Bench Jeweler In Only 4 Days – But It IS TRUE!

Learn what works and what doesn’t from our experienced seminar leaders. Each seminar is filled with high-quality instruction by working jewelers who are masters of their craft.

From Basic Techniques to Advanced Applications

From Centuries Old Procedures to the Latest in Technological Advancements

Each seminar provides accurate informative instruction

from Professional Bench Jewelers.

Tips

Tools

Tricks

Techniques

Technology

It’s all here for you.

“If you're like me, you can read till your eyes bleed, and listen to it explained till your brain hurts, but ain't nothin' like watching someone else do it. I met up with so many people and learned so much in 3 days you'd never believe it. Being at these conferences are worth their fees.”
Tony Baldwin – Marietta OH

DON’T MISS OUT!! Go to:

http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

To Register TODAY!!!!

This year the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is More Affordable Than Ever Before. The one day rate is only $225 (a Savings of $80 from past years). Plus this year we have expanded our Educational Conference to 4 days for those who want even more. The 4 day price is only $181.25 per day – Learn More and Save More!

Your Paid Registration Includes:

General Sessions
Your Choice of Break Out Seminars
Meals
Exhibit Hall Pass
Friday Night’s Gala Reception
Chance to WIN Tools and other Prizes
PLUS - All paid attendees will receive an E-Book on Shop Management.

Don't Wait Another Moment!

You Can Improve Your Work at the Bench

We Will Show You How

Register TODAY!

Log onto: http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

P.S. We are now able to offer Bench Jewelers a Payment Plan to pay for the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo. For details e-mail Debbie@BenchTelevision.com

P.P.S. Don’t FORGET - The Suppliers Expo on Friday & Saturday afternoons and the Gala Reception on Friday night with Chances To Win Great Prizes is FREE of Charge to all pre-registered Bench Jewelers.

2008-01-31T23:47:19-05:00

E-Bench

Volume 10 Issue 2

E-Bench Newsletter

The Leading E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers

Now in it’s 10th year of publication.

The Best Advice to Becoming A Better Bench Jeweler Ever Crammed Into 3 Days

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By Register TODAY!

Bench Jewelers Conference & ExpoSt. Louis ~ April 23 – 25, 2009

ATTEND 1, 2, OR ALL 3 DAYS

Don’t Delay – Register TODAY!!

http://www.BenchConference.com

Seminars Bench Demonstrations Networking Opportunities Discussion Groups Meals and MORE!

6th Annual Bench Jewelers ConferenceApril 23 – 25, 2009 St. Louis, MO

Don't Wait Another Moment! Register TODAY!

http://www.BenchConference.com

Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs from Alan Revere

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

Do a little more each day than you think you can.

E-Bench Sponsor

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 at: http://www.sefindings.com

Namano / Southeastern Findings Your Home for Southern Hospitality

Favorite Bench Tips By Brad Simon

Favorite Bench Tips By Brad Simon

Stone Setting Tips

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us ... we would all be millionaires.

Abigail Van Buren

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.

Handling Colored Stones from Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

Star Sapphire

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

E-Bench Sponsor

Rio Grande

For over 60 years, Rio Grande, a full-line 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

Working with Platinum

Working with Platinum

Jurgen J. Maerz

Sizing a Platinum Ring using a Laser

www.PlatinumGuru.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

For every failure, there's an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.

Mary Kay Ash

E-Bench Sponsor

Internet Marketing 4 Jewelers

Internet Marketing Full-Day Seminar

Workshop Safety Tips from Charles Lewton-Brian

Studio Colors

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

No matter what we want of life we have to give up something in order to get it.

Raymond Holliwell

Log onto: http://www.BenchConference.com/Attendee/registration.html

A Bench Jewelers Guide Brad Simon

TIME ROBBERSA Bench Jeweler’s Guide to Handling Interruptions

While You Wait Jobs

Plan for Extra Work

True Interruptions

Bench Jewelers Network

www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com

The Ultimate Website for Bench Jewelers

Join Today and Start Networking with other Bench Jewelers

The Bench Jewelers Network is a Website Community of Professional Bench Jewelers, Students, and Serious Hobbyist. Here you can ask questions, share tips & tricks, and show off your latest creations. Plus you can read articles in our vast library and even watch videos.

Log onto: www.BenchJewelersNetwork.com for all the details.

Becoming a Member could very well be Your Key to Success in 2009!

Visit us at: www.EBenchNewsletter.com A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.

Visit us at: www.EBenchNewsletter.com

A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.

Copyrighted, 2009, BENCH MEDIA, LLC. All rights reserved.

E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA PublicationBENCH MEDIA, LLC is a division of B W Simon InternationalBradney W Simon – PublisherDaniel R. Spirer - Proofreader daniel@spirerjewelers.com

BENCH MEDIA, LLC 106 S Pinepoint DrSpartanburg, SC 29302

Volume 10 Issue 1

E-Bench Newsletter

The Best Advice to Becoming A Better Bench Jeweler
Ever Crammed Into 3 Days

Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass You By
Register TODAY!

Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo
St. Louis ~ April 23 – 25, 2009

Seminars
Bench Demonstrations
Networking Opportunities
Discussion Groups
Meals and MORE!

6th Annual Bench Jewelers Conference
April 23 – 25, 2009
St. Louis, MO

Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere

Favorite Bench Tips
By Brad Simon

Favorite Bench Tips
By Brad Simon

If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us ...
we would all be millionaires.

The Ganoksin Project
www.ganoksin.com

Handling Colored Stones
from Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

For over 60 years, Rio Grande, a full-line 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

For every failure, there's an alternative course of action.
You just have to find it.
When you come to a roadblock,
take a detour.

Workshop Safety Tips
from Charles Lewton-Brian

No matter what we want of life
we have to give up something in order to get it.

A Bench Jewelers Guide
Brad Simon

TIME ROBBERS
A Bench Jeweler’s Guide to Handling Interruptions

Join Today and Start Networking with
other Bench Jewelers

Becoming a Member could very well be Your
Key to Success in 2009!

Visit us at: www.EBenchNewsletter.com

A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is located there.

E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA, LLC is a division of B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader daniel@spirerjewelers.com

BENCH MEDIA, LLC
106 S Pinepoint Dr
Spartanburg, SC 29302

Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
from Alan Revere