Jewelry Making with Brad Simon

Bench Jewelers Newsletter Special Offer

In 1999 Bench Media published ‘Run Your Shop Without It Running You’.  For the past 10 years it has been the Best Selling book on Jewelry Shop Management.  In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the book you can now read it online free when you sign-up for eBench Newsletter.  Go to http://www.eBenchNewsletter.com enter your email Address to Subscribe and you will be sent instructions to read the book.

Electroplating Jewelry

The Metal Plating Bible

The Definitive Guide To Metal Plating

 

http://www.MetalPlatingGuide.com

This book is about plating metal in general and not just jewelry specific.  However at 123 pages in length, it contains all the information you ever wanted to know about plating metal (it even has a section on plating over plastic).  Several professional electro-chemists combined their knowledge in producing this authoritative guide on metal plating

 

CHAPTERS INCLUDE:

• Introduction to Electroplating

• Electroplating Process Description

• Solution Formulation

• Preparation for Electroplating

• Safety Hazards

• Plating

  Bath

  Compositions

• Operating Conditions

• And Much More!

 

This downloadable eBook is only $37.

 

For all the Details go to:

http://www.MetalPlatingGuide.com

Buff Wheels

Drill a 3/8” hole in the center of your muslin buff wheels.  Then place on the tapered spindle of your polishing motor.  This larger hole will allow the wheel to move up further on the tapered spindle.  You can then place an inside ring buff on the remaining tapered spindle.  You can then use both the inside ring buff and muslin buff wheel with out stopping the motor to change the buffs.

~ Brad

Jewelry Making,Jewelry Fabrication,Bench Tips,Goldsmith,Jewelers Tools,Bench Jeweler

Clean Files Occasionally

Files need to be cleaned occasionally.  Allowing the file teeth to become clogged or collect metal chips, greatly reduces file efficiency.  In addition, trapped metal may scratch the work surface.  To clean, hold the file by the handle with the tip resting on the bench pin.  Then, brush diagonally across the file with a file card (a stiff wire brush with short bristles).

~ Brad

Jewelry Making,Jewelry Fabrication,Bench Tips,Goldsmith,Jewelers Tools,Bench Jeweler,Wax Carving

Shaping Gravers

When shaping gravers on a grinding wheel hold the graver in contact with the grinding wheel for only a second or two.  Then, lift the graver slightly.  The airflow from the spinning grinding wheel will help keep the graver cool.  Do this a few times then dip in water and repeat the process.

~ Brad

Jewelry Making,Jewelry Fabrication,Bench Tips,Goldsmith,Jewelers Tools,Bench Jeweler

Saw Blade Safety

Often saw blades break before they wear out, a wasteful situation.  This can be avoided, or at least minimized with proper sawing procedures.  The two main reasons for blades breaking are too much force used while sawing, and pinching the blade from twisting either the metal or the saw frame.

~ Brad

Jewelry Making,Jewelry Fabrication,Bench Tips,Goldsmith,Jewelers Tools,Bench Jeweler,Wax Carving

Bamboo Skewer

Placing a section of a bamboo skewer in your flex-shaft can make an excellent wood lap polishing point.  File the protruding end to a point, and use your favorite rouge.  The bamboo skewers are approximately 3/32” in diameter, which makes them easy to use in a quick-change handpiece.

Filing the protruding end to a point helps to reach into tight places.

~ Brad

Jewelry Making,Bench Tips,Jewelers Tools,Bench Jeweler

Filing Small Parts

Hold the jewelry firmly when filing; unstable work leads to inaccurate filing.  When possible, it is best to hold the jewelry with your hand, firmly supported on the bench pin.

Small objects can be held with pliers or a ring clamp.  A small pair of vice grip pliers is a useful tool to hold small parts while filing.  File the teeth off the jaws before using so that you will not mar the item you are holding.

Smaller flat pieces can be placed on the cutting surface of the file, and rubbed back and forth.  Hold the file steady and use your thumb for pressure and to guide the metal.  Small pieces can be held against the file using a piece of gum eraser.

~ Brad

Jewelry Making,Bench Tips,Goldsmith,Jewelers Tools,Bench Jeweler

Soldering Precious Metals

There are three forces that pulls solder when it is in a liquid state.  The greatest of these is heat.  When solder melts it will flow most readily to the hottest area.  The next is capillary action.  Solder when melted to a liquid state will readily flow through a tight fitting seam.  The third, which has the least effect, is gravity.  Solder will flow down through a seam easier than up through a seam.  Always have a tight fitting seam.  When possible place the solder on the top of the seam and pull the solder down through the joint by applying heat to the underneath side of the joint.  Then you will have all three forces working for you.

~ Brad

Soldering,Jewelry Making,Precious Metals

Sawing Precious Metals

To saw a straight line, tilt the saw forward slightly.  Then, the cut already made will help guide the blade, and it is easier to sight the straight line along the blade.

To saw curves, keep the blade perpendicular to the metal.  Tilting the saw forward while rounding a curve will pinch the blade causing it to break prematurely.

To make a sharp turn, continue the same up and down rhythm without any forward pressure.  Then slowly rotate the metal around the moving blade.  On each downward stroke, make a slight sideways cut until you reach the new direction.

~ Brad

Jewelers Tools,Jewelry Making,Sawing