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 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. 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   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