Jewelry Making with Brad Simon

Polishing Jewelry

Always work just below the center of the buff wheel while polishing.  Never raise the jewelry above a horizontal line even with the motor spindle, or lower it too far below.  Both of these situations will cause the wheel to grab the item from your hand.

Bench Television
How to training videos for Bench Jewelers
See some of the most respected Master Jewelers explain their techniques and tips
on stonesetting, making and repairing jewelry.

Bench Jewelers Buffing Machine

When using a buffing machine always hold the jewelry in a breakaway grip.  Never interlock your fingers into the piece.  NEVER PUT A RING ON YOUR FINGER TO POLISH.

Always roll up or button your sleeves, and wear an apron or smock to keep loose clothing away from the wheels.  In addition, tie long hair back so that it can not tangle up in the wheel.

Use a face shield on your dust collector or wear safety glasses.  The buffing room is no place for vanity, your eyesight is far more important.

Protect your lungs.  Always wear a respirator.  (The same applies to lungs as eyesight.)

Bench Television
How to training videos for Bench Jewelers
See some of the most respected Master Jewelers explain their techniques and tips
on stonesetting, making and repairing jewelry.

Polishing Rings and Other Jewelry

When Polishing always hold the jewelry in a breakaway grip.  Never interlock your fingers into the piece.  NEVER PUT A RING ON YOUR FINGER TO POLISH.

Tie long hair back so that it cannot get tangle up in the buff wheels.  Always roll up or button your sleeves, and wear an apron or smock to keep loose clothing away from the wheels.  In addition, tie long hair back so that it can not tangle up in the wheel.

  ~Brad

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Polishing Jewelry

Always work just below the center of the buff wheel while polishing.  Never raise the jewelry above a horizontal line even with the motor spindle, or lower it too far below.  Both of these situations will cause the wheel to grab the item from your hand.

  ~Brad

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Polishing Bristle Brushes

To polish in hard to reach places use a modified end bristle brush in your flex-shaft.  To modify trim the outside rows of bristles with scissors.  Cut the bristles to form a pointed end.  Then, it will be easier to reach into tight places.

Cut away the center bristles in an end bristle brush forming a small cup bristle brush.  With this modified brush you can easily polish the metal rim around small bezel set or flush set stones.

 

  ~Brad

Polishing Jewelry

Never take the polishing wheel for granted.  Always keep your mind on what you are doing while polishing.  If interrupted, stop polishing and turn the machine off.  Then, come back when you can concentrate on polishing.

NEVER WALK AWAY LEAVING THE MACHINE RUNNING.  Not even for a few seconds.

 

~Brad

Jewelry Making,Custom Jewelry Making,Jewelry Tools

Small Polishing Buff

A small cotton buff for your flex-shaft can easily be made to polish recesses, and other areas that are small and difficult to access.  First, take an old ball bur small enough to fit into the area.  Then, wrap cotton around the bur by holding the bur against a small piece of cotton while turning slowly in your flex-shaft.  Apply rouge to the cotton and use to polish the area.

  ~Brad

Polishing Jewelry,Jewelers Tools,Custom Jewelry

Polishing Machine

Place a piece of cardboard from an old box under the polishing wheels.  Just lay it on the bottom of the cabinet under where the wheel turns.  This will cushion and possibly keep from damaging the piece of jewelry that "gets away" while polishing.  A piece of kitchen type carpet also works well.

  ~Brad

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Annealing White Gold

When annealing white gold, use a bushy flame and heat the gold to a red color.  Then, hold the meal at this temperature for several minutes by playing the flame across the metal.  Heating the metal for two short of a time will not completely anneal the metal.   Refiners anneal white gold in ovens and hold the metal at annealing temperatures for a half hour.  Always allow the gold to air cool slowly.  NEVER quench white gold, as this will cause it to become brittle.

  ~ Bra

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Using Tripoli

It is not necessary to apply more tripoli or rouge each time the buff wheel is used.  Apply the compounds when the results indicate it is needed.

DO NOT apply too much compound to the buff wheels.  At 3,450 rpm, (the normal speed of polishing motors) a buff rotates 57 ½ times a second.  That means every second you hold the rouge or tripoli bar against the spinning wheel you are applying 57 layers of compound to the wheel.

~ Brad

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