Jewelry Making with Brad Simon

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The fifth annual Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition will be held in conjunction with the Bench Jewelers Conference April 23 – 25, 2009 in St. Louis, MO.

The Deadline for Entries is March 20th.

The competition is open to all professional Bench Jewelry Artist and Designers actively involved in the design and production of jewelry.  The Passion Award Jewelry Design Contest consists of four categories for finished jewelry and CAD renderings.

For details, contest rules, and to enter the competition log onto: http://BenchConference.com/DesignContest

For information on the Bench Jewelers Conference log onto:
http://BenchConference.com

All jewelry submitted for the Finished Jewelry categories must be original, and designed and made by the jeweler entering the contest.  No trade shops or other jewelers can work on the piece of jewelry.  The Finished Jewelry Division categories are: Men’s Jewelry, Ladies Rings, Ladies Jewelry other than rings.

All renderings in the CAD Rendering category must be original and created by the jeweler entering the contest using 3D computer software.  The jewelry rendered must be able to be made by a jeweler using reasonable skills.

Jewelers may enter up to 3 different pieces of jewelry or CAD renderings in one or more categories.  Photographs of the finished jewelry or CAD renderings must be submitted over the Internet with a completed entry form.  Entry fees must be paid with a credit card at time of entry.

To submit entries log onto:
http://BenchConference.com/DesignContest

1st and 2nd place will be awarded in each category.  All Passion Award winners will receive a Trophy, Cash Award, and Publicized in trade publications.  Winners will be announced on Thursday April 23, 2009 during the Bench Jewelers Conference.  Jewelers entering the contest are encouraged to attend; however, attendance at the Bench Jewelers Conference is not necessary to enter the contest or to win an award.  In addition, a Jewelers Choice Award will be presented on Saturday April 25, 2009.  Jewelers attending the Bench Jewelers Conference will select the Jewelers Choice recipient from among the Passion Award winners.

Deadline for submissions is March 20, 2009.
Contest Chairman: Mark Grosser
For details, contest rules, and to enter the competition log
onto:  http://BenchConference.com/DesignContest

Saw Blades

Saw blades are available in a variety of sizes.  A size 14 is the coarsest, and an 8/0 is the finest.  A good size for general work on gold is a 2/0 blade.  You need to use finer blades for thin sheets of metal.  Greater care is needed while sawing with finer blades as they break easily.  As a general guide, two teeth of the blade should be in contact with the metal at all times when sawing.

 

  ~Brad

Sawing Precious Metal

When using a jeweler’s saw lubricate the blade with bees wax or other wax based lubricant such as “bur life”.  This will allow the blade to slide through the metal easier making cutting more accurate.  Re-lubricate the blade before each cut, and after every inch or so on long cuts.

 

  ~Brad

Solder Anti-Flux

To keep solder from flowing to certain parts, paint them with liquid paper prior to soldering.  The small bottle liquid paper comes in making it covenant to store on your bench, and the brush in the lid makes it easy to apply.

Another method to keep solder from flowing, is to not coat those areas with boric acid or any other flux.  The oxidation on the metal from the heat of the torch will keep the solder from flowing to those areas.

 

  ~Brad