[Ganoksin] [Issue #128] Tips From The Jeweler's Bench

The Ganoksin Project
S i n c e 1 9 9 6
Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Techniques
http://www.ganoksin.com

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In This Edition:


1. Chinese Freshwater Pearls - Fresh Possibilities
2. Gemstone Coloration and Dyeing - Pinks and Reds
3. Champleve with Ferric Chloride
4. Chasing, Repousse and Pitch Safety Notes
5. Build Your Own Basic Jewelers Bench
6. Build Your Own Advanced Jewelers Bench
7. Making a Three-Stone Dangle Pendant
8. "Fixturing" Using Welding Technology

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In This Edition of Tips From The Jeweler's Bench
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm

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1. Chinese Freshwater Pearls - Fresh Possibilities
By Suzanne Wade

When Chinese freshwater pearls began flooding the market several years
ago, craft artists took notice. It's not that pearls were new to them.
Studio jewelers had been incorporating pearls into their designs for
decades, long before the current wave of Chinese freshwater pearls
reached these shores. But the growing availability of Chinese
freshwater pearls has allowed artists to indulge their passion for
pearls as they never could before....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nena...ter-pearls.htm

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2. Gemstone Coloration and Dyeing - Pinks and Reds
By George W. Fischer

There are only a few inorganic processes, in my experience at least,
that will impart pinks or reds to gemstone. These involve primarily
four metals; cobalt, iron, mercury and silver. We already know cobalt
can induce blue, purple, amethyst, etc. and incidentally pink in
gemstone. There are also two additional cobalt processes that impart
pink or lavender, primarily or exclusively. Several iron compounds are
red or reddish, common rust being a familiar example and at least one
of these is useful in coloring gemstone. The same is true of mercury.
And there are two red-silver compounds that are adaptable to coloring
gemstone....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nena...ying-agate.htm

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3. Champleve with Ferric Chloride
By Audrey Komrad

Champleve (shahmp-luh-vay), meaning "raised plane" in French, is the
process by which a design is cut, gouged or etched out of metal to
create low areas for the enamel. After many layers of enamel have been
fired, the piece is stoned and may be re-fired to restore a glossy
finish. The unenameled metal areas may be waxed, polished or plated. I
cut, clean and etch many pieces at one time, but I fire each piece
separately. Each piece requires approximately 8 to 10 firings....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nena...-champleve.htm

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4. Chasing, Repousse and Pitch Safety Notes
By Charles Lewton-Brain

An ancient system of working metals, this procedure uses steel punches
to manipulate the metal while it is fixed onto a pitch or tar-like
material. There are traditional pine-resin pitches and modern
petroleum-based ones. The petroleum-based pitches are considered
potential dermatitis-causing materials, as well as some evidence of
their being carcinogenic. At this point most jewelers' pitches
available through the main suppliers are petroleum-based, and thus, in
my opinion, suspect. Besides, they don't work nearly as nicely as the
pine pitches.

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nena...sse-safety.htm

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5. Build Your Own Basic Jewelers Bench
By Tim McCreight

This bench has been designed so it can be made from easily available
materials without sophisticated woodworking equipment. People with
woodworking skills might use these ideas as a point of departure....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/basic-bench.htm

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6. Build Your Own Advanced Jewelers Bench
By Tim McCreight

This sophisticated bench costs a little more and is a bit more
difficult to make than the one on the preceding page, but the extra
effort will be repaid by years of efficient work. Use this pattern as a
starting point, but feel free to make changes to suit your individual
needs....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nena...nced-bench.htm

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7. Making a Three-Stone Dangle Pendant
By Mark B. Mann

The assembly of this three stone pendant pendant appears simple but
when using traditional methods to position and join the tiny parts it
can be tricky and time consuming. Each of the bezel units will be
connected by jump rings and will dangle when finished. Tack- and
pulse-arc welding technology makes the soldering and assembly process
easier and more proficient....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nena...le-pendant.htm

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8. "Fixturing" Using Welding Technology
By Mark B. Mann

"Fixturing" is a technique of using tack- and/or pulse-arc welding
technology to temporarily position parts prior to soldering, pulse-arc
or laser-welding. Repair, reconstruction, assembly, custom
manufacturing and mass production all become more proficient using it.
The following examples show applications of "fixturing", how it was
accomplished, the settings used and how it makes your work more
proficient....

Complete Story:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/fixturing.htm

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