Jewelers Bench Tips
Read these 69 Jewelers Bench Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Jewelry tips and hundreds of other topics.
Solder Stop
Try ordinary graphite! To make a barrier line to stop solder flow,simply draw on your piece of metal with a pencil and make a heavy line. The graphite will resist and your piece will not suffer from traversing solder.
Renewing Burrs
If you're sick of throwing your worn burrs away, try this: First, clean your worn burrs thoroughly.I use a 20% sodium hydroxide solution warmed on a hot plate followed by steam cleaning. Dip the cleaned burrs in concentrated nitric acid and let the acid work for a half minute or less, then steam clean again. Your burrs should be sharpened. Nitric acid doesn't work on high speed steel and some other metals. The burrs will be slightly smaller each time you repeat the process. The results are just short of miraculous.
Compounds & Effects - Mercury
Sometimes used to gild silver or used in the refining of gold and silver. Mercury is a cumulative poison affecting the nervous system, kidneys, and brain.
Compounds & Effects - Britannia Metal
Skin contact may cause lesions and ulcers. Inhalation can cause respiratory irritation, possible pneumonia, liver, and kidney damage, and possible heart damage.
Hard Soldering Flux Recipe
50 grams boric acid crytals
32 grams sodium phosphate
34 grams powdered borax
1 pint distilled water.
Mix and bring to a boil.
Stone Alignment
When setting colored stones, it is extremely important to place the stone in the mounting in exactly the same position each time you test fit the stone while cutting the seat. This is due to the fact that most colored stones are cut irregularly. To assist you in
this placement, draw a line on the crown of the stone with a fine tip marker. Then line-up this mark with a distinctive design element of the mounting, a similar mark with a felt tip marker on the mounting, or a mark made on the holder holding the mounting (such as a deep file mark filed into your ring clamp). When finished setting, any remaining ink can be removed with alcohol.
Channel Setting Helper
When channel setting stones, to help keep the gems in place while hammering or burnishing, sticky wax can become your helper. After putting stones in place, drag a bit of sticky wax across the stone toward the channel wall. This will allow a little build-up of wax that will hold the gem in place. Continue setting procedures as usual, and after the stone feels tightly in place, use a steamer to blast the wax out of the channel. The channel may need some additional tightening at this point, as small bits of wax residue have been removed and will leave a minor void. This is a great way to keep your stones from going into orbit during the setting process!
Compounds & Effects - Copper
Skin contact can cause allergies in some people. Inhalation of copper oxide fumes may cause irritation to the lungs and intestines.
Etching non ferrous metals
This [etching metals] is usually a dangerous and toxic task, but it can be made safer and easier. You can use a Sharpie waterproof marker as an acid block and ferric chloride (available at Radio Shack - it is also used to etch circuit boards and other materials). Draw on the metal with the Sharpie where you don't want the metal eaten away, or color the whole piece and use a scribe to draw in your design.
Compounds & Effects - Casting Investment
Manufacturers use a variety of fine particled materials, some of which may be hazardous. Some investment components deteriorate at high kiln temperatures and give off toxic fumes.
Compounds & Effects - Beryllium
Chronic ulcers may result from skin contact. Berylliosis, a severe pneumonia-like disease, is caused by exposure to small amounts and can be fatal. Inhalation may cause bronchogenic cancer.
Compounds & Effects - Shell, Gem, and Wood Dust
Dust produced by cutting, grinding, or polishing these materials can always be a potential eye hazard. Free silica in some stones can cause silicosis. Some contain asbestos and toxic metallic oxides. Some wood dust can result in skin irritation, allergies, and over long periods, nasal and nasal sinus cancer.
Compounds & Effects - Asbestos
Human carcinogen. Inhalation can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, intestinal, and stomach cancer. Ingestion may be fatal.
Compounds & Effects - Alcohol, Ethyl
Ingestion causes intoxication. Chronic ingestion can result in liver damage. Denatured ethyl alcohol contains methyl alcohol, making it poisonous.
Compounds & Effects - Sulfuric Acid
A highly toxic acid used to clean metal. It is corrosive to the skin, eyes, respiratory system, and stomach. Ingestion may be fatal. The heated acid releases toxic sulfur oxide gases.
Sticky sawblades
When sawing metal with a jeweler's saw sometimes the blade will catch and get stuck. To prevent this,run a piece of wax once down the teeth of the saw blade. Bees wax is best, but I have used a candle in a pinch.
Guru's note: Be sure to run the wax "down" the blade, in the same direction as the cutting teeth, to avoid clogging up your sawblade.
Compounds & Effects - Nitric Acid
Fumes given off in metal cleaning and etching are highly toxic by inhalation and can cause bronchitis and emphysema. Contact can burn the skin. Ingestion may be fatal.
Compounds & Effects - Acetylene
High concentrations of acetylene and carbon dioxide become asphyxiating by preventing normal supply of oxygen to the lungs. Acetylene also contains toxic impurities. Highly flammable and explosive.
Polishing Hard to Reach Areas
If you're trying to reach the area inside a bail, you can use the old string method we were taught at the GIA. Tie about a 1' long piece of string to your bench pin (or anything else handy!). Moisten slightly with lighterfluid. Rub a piece of Tripoli up and down the string. Thread it through your bail. Hold the string tightly with one hand and move your piece briskly up and down with the other hand, to reach all inside areas. Repeat with another piece of string and Rouge, if desired.
Compounds & Effects - Wax
Many types of waxes are in use for making casting models. Manufacturers add various compounds to wax to develop desirable modeling qualities. Some add plastics which give off harmful fumes when heated and give off dust when hand worked.
Compounds & Effects - Alcohol, Methyl
Inhalation and skin absorption causes stupor and unconsciousness, nervous system damage and possibly liver and kidney damage. Ingestion can result in blindness or death.
Compounds & Effects - Liver and Sulphur / Potassium Sulphide
Will create highly toxic fumes of oxides of sulfur when heated to decomposition. Can cause damage to the eyes and lungs.
Compounds & Effects - Enamels
Hazards throughout the enameling process are numerous. Preparation and cleaning of the base metal often involve the use of abrasives and acids. Many of the vitreous media contain hazardous oxides which can be inhaled in their raw form or in firing. The use of a kiln or torch is inherently hazardous.
Compounds & Effects - Benzene
Skin contact, ingestion, and inhalation can result in cumulative poisoning. May destroy bone marrow causing anemia and leukemia. Highly flammable.
Compounds & Effects - Alcohol, Isoamyl
Absorbed through the skin, it can cause digestive and nervous system damage. Acute inhalation or ingestion can be fatal.
Compounds & Effects - Tin
Inorganic tin compounds can be fatal if ingested. Vapors and fumes are toxic.
Compounds & Effects - Ammonia
Ingestion is intensely painful and injurious to the mouth and esophagus, and can be fatal. Inhalation of vapors can cause respiratory irritation and pulmonary edema. Vapors may also damage the eyes. Skin contact should be avoided.
Compounds & Effects - Pitch
The dark black pitch is a derivative of coal tar and can be a skin irritant that could lead to skin cancer if the metalsmith is exposed to pitch for many years. The brownish pure vegetable pitch is less hazardous. Both types are fire hazards when overheated and may explode if air pockets are allowed to develop as might be the case in removing pitch from a hollow form.
Compounds & Effects - Plastics
It is safe to say that almost all plastics work and many of the components involved are hazardous. Hazards range from mild skin irritation to cancer. Toxins can enter the body through the skin, inhalation, or by ingestion.
Compounds & Effects - Acetone
High levels of acetone vapor can result in stupor and unconsciousness. Contact can cause slight skin irritation. Extremely flammable.
Compounds & Effects -
Toxic by skin contact and may cause skin cancer. Avoid inhalation and ingestion.
Checking Prong Tightness
To make certain prongs are down tight on the crown of the stone, hold the stone eye level. Then, hold your index finger about 1" above the stone. This will shield direct light from the stone, causing a silhouette of the stone and prong. Then, you can easily see light coming through any gaps between the stone and prong. If necessary, tape a 3 X 5 white index card on the wall in front of your bench to provide a light background to hold the stone in front of.
Soldering Sterling Silver
To help prevent fire scale and melting,turn off your bench light when you solder. This way you can see more accurately what shade of red your pieces are at and know if you are overheating them.
Compounds & Effects - Silver
Silver in dust or vapor can cause argyria, a blue black discoloration of the skin and eyes.
Compounds & Effects - Buffing, Polishing, and Buffing Materials
Due to many types in use, the information given is general. Some materials contain free silica that may cause silicosis if inhaled. All are potential eye hazards and all abrade fine metal particles which may be toxic.
Compounds & Effects - Bronze
Skin contact may cause allergies in some people. Inhalation causes metal fume fever. Alloys containing lead can cause lead poisoning.
Compounds & Effects - Asphaltum
Toxic by skin contact and may cause skin cancer. Avoid inhalation and ingestion.
Avoid Marks During Metal Forming
During metal forming with pliers, often even with diligent care, the surface can become marred by the pliers. To avoid this, use some leather chamois between the metal being formed and the pliers used to form it.
Compounds & Effects - Cadmium
Constituent in some solder and brazing materials. Fumes can cause severe lung irritation and fatal pulmonary edema. Can also result in kidney damage, anemia, and damage to teeth, bones, and liver. May also cause lung and prostate cancer.
Compounds & Effects - Ketones
Found in paint and varnish removers and used as a solvent of lacquer or plastics. All ketones are skin, eye, nose, and throat irritants. Can cause stupor and unconsciousness. Ingestion results in vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. Chronic contact can cause nerve damage.
Compounds & Effects - Coal
Dust is toxic if inhaled. Can cause black lung or a disease similar to silicosis. Toxic fumes or ash may be released upon burning.
Compounds & Effects - Lead
Lead is a cumulative poison and is taken in through the skin and through inhalation or ingestion. Can cause damage to the nervous system, brain, blood cells, bone marrow, kidneys, and liver. May be found in some metal alloys and enamels. Lead blocks are sometimes used in metal forming.
Compounds & Effects - Hydrochloric Acid
An irritant to the respiratory system and corrosive to the skin.
Compounds & Effects - Styrofoam
Sometimes used for casting models. Releases toxic gases when heated or burned.
Bending metal
To get a clean bend when folding sheet metal just score a line on the inside of the bend with a file or grinding wheel. Then a good depth to score is through 50% of the thickness of the metal.
Compounds & Effects - Platinum
Heated platinum can give off fumes that may cause lung and skin irritation.
Sure Resizing
When sizing, make the ring 1/8 size too small. Clean the solder joint on the inside of the ring only. Next, place the ring on a ring mandrel and hammer across the solder joint until the ring reaches the correct size. Finally, clean up the outside of the ring with a file, emery, and polish the ring. 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 make a stronger joint, and finishing and polishing will be easier.
Compounds & Effects - Copper Sulfate
May cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, or anemia.
Compounds & Effects - Alcohol, Isoamyl
Absorbed through the skin, it can cause digestive and nervous system damage. Acute inhalation or ingestion can be fatal.
Repairing 14K Hollow Chains
Repairing hollow chains, especially rope chains can be a real problem: they hold the dirt and shmutz so! If they are not completely clean, an imperfect solder bond can result. Ultrasonic and steam alone may not do it all no matter how long you soak the piece so try this: Using a deep pyrex dish, add some water and a small amount of Draino drain cleaner and pop the hollow chain in. Let it soak, sonic, steam and rinse, and Presto! Clean as a whistle. Please note this is recommended for 14K or higher.
Compounds & Effects - Pewter
Care must be taken when working with older pewter alloys as these may contain lead.
Compounds & Effects - Cyanides
May cause skin rashes and be absorbed through the skin. Ingestion is often fatal, resulting from chemical asphyxia. Inhalation may also cause asphyxia. Acid added to cyanide creates extremely toxic hydrogen cyanide gas which can be quickly fatal if inhaled. Cyanide is a component in some plating solutions.
Compounds & Effects - Nickel
Fumes of nickel may cause skin allergies and eye irritation. Chronic inhalation of fumes may cause lung or nasal cancer or irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Oxy-Acetylene welding with nickel can result in the formation of toxic nickel carbonyl gas that might cause pulmonary edema.
Compounds & Effects - Brass
Skin contact may cause allergies in some people. Frequent inhalation of fumes can cause metal fume fever or lead or arsenic poisoning from certain alloys.
Repairing Hollow Chains
To solder closed a link in a hollow link bracelet, take a small section of wire that matches the color and karat of the bracelet link. Use a wire diameter that will semi-snuggly fit inside the link. Then, place some paste solder in each end of the link and insert the wire. Gently hold the link closed and heat until the solder melts. The wire will provide more surface area for the solder to flow to make a stronger joint.
Jewelry Photo Shine Elimination
To eliminate extra shine on jewelry when doing photography, hair spray works. So does polycell wallpaper paste mixed with a little bit of talc powder and sprayed on to whatever surface. A lot easier to remove afterwards than lacquer or varnishes!
Compounds & Effects - Arsenic
Sometimes used as an alloy constituent and may be released in the fumes of some enamels. Can cause nerve disorders and skin and lung cancer. Ingestion may be fatal.
Compounds & Effects - Alcohol, Butyl
May be absorbed through the skin. Can cause throat, nose, and eye irritation, stupor, and unconsciousness.
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