The Jeweler S Bench Book

Charles Lewton-Brain is recognized throughout the jewelry industry as a stellar metalsmith, educator, and author, as well as one of the guiding spirits behind the famed Ganoksin Project and the Orchid e-mail forum. Now, in The Jeweler's Bench Book, he will show you how to best purchase and set up a bench operation, offering insights into everything from the basics of bench design to ingenious storage solutions for tools and supplies. Featuring dozens of full-color images as well as "tours" of working benches that have been arranged and modified for maximum efficiency, The Jeweler's Bench Book will inspire you to take a look at your bench anew.

"Based on the monthly column in AJM, this book will help any jeweler speed production, improve quality, and raise profits at the bench. Filling with helpful, full-color illustrations, this publication offers tips for all aspects of bench work, from soldering to stone setting, piercing to final polish. Discover how you can modify common bench tools to enhance productivity; how household items such as dental floss and paper clips can become valuable bench aides; and how easy difficult repairs can be with the help of a few tricks."--Page 4 of cover.

The definitive reference for jewelry makers of all levels of ability--a complete, profusely illustrated guide to design, materials, and techniques, as well as a fascinating exploration of jewelry-making throughout history.

In every field the top artisans have their favorite ways of solving common problems. Making a piece of fine jewelry is no exception. The work is intricate, but accomplished jewelers have a variety of techniques, special tools and shortcuts that are proven to save time and improve the quality of your work. This book is written as a resource for jewelers with skill levels from beginner through advanced. The bench tips come from Brad Smith's 17 years of experience in the jewelry industry, including a decade teaching hundreds of students. 101 tips are detailed and illustrated with closeup pictures as ready solutions for common problems at the bench. They include over 20 ways to save time when soldering and polishing, 8 common hazards to avoid, many ways to cut costs, 10 tips to improve stone setting skills, and the "Must-Have" tools for increasing productivity at the bench.

"The book examines a series of practical goldsmithing projects, each of which has been successfully completed by student goldsmiths using its instructions ... The creation of rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, and clasps, the use of specialized tools, as well as hand positions, movements, and technical data are described in lucid text and demonstrated with an abundance of detailed color photos"--Cover.

Get to know the most diverse tool on your workbench—the jeweler's saw! Metal Artist's Workbench is your comprehensive guide for creating jewelry and other sawn projects by getting to know the jeweler's saw. Your personal instructor—veteran artist Thomas Mann—is eager to teach you everything you need to know about this well-loved tool. Following exercises designed to get you "sawing in the zone," you'll be inspired to try your hand (and saw) at any of the 15 stepped-out projects, such as the Light Switch Plate, Chef's Knife Pendant, Self-Portrait Pin or Maze Pendant. With Metal Artist's Workbench, you'll acquire the skill set to create impressive projects and learn: The anatomy of the jeweler's saw and how each part helps improve your sawing success The importance of sawing ergonomics and how the proper grip contributes to the "Whole Body Experience" Sawing techniques such as starting a cut, turning a corner, piercing and several trouble-shooting tips How to create beautiful projects from metal, plastic, wood and paper and more! Start "Sawin' Where Y' at" today and learn how to make the jeweler's saw your favorite tool on the bench!