The Ganoksin Project S i n c e 1 9 9 6 Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Techniques
------------------------------------------------------------------------- In This Edition:
- Organizing your bench - Your Bench is like the Cockpit of a Plane 2. In a New Light - Faster, more efficient laser welders 3. Platinum - Bench Tricks 4. Sawarovski North America sets trends with CAD/CAMs 5. Book Review - "Secrets of the Gem Trade" 6. Examples of basic tools in a goldsmith's kit 7. Some suggested tools for gem setting
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Make your gemstone shopping easier, safer and cheaper by buying directly from the source at
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Join us at the 8th Annual Tucson Orchid Dinner - February 6, 2004
Contact Sam Patania: tb1 AT earthlink.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Orchid events help all of us in dispersing information about Ganoksin and its vast resources. Additionally, our group mind comes together to strengthen our community and share in common experiences.
Check out Ganoksin's current events at:
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Important Notice: J-2R Casting machine raffle
Rio Grande, has generously offered Ganoksin a J2R Casting Machine. The raffle day is only couple of weeks ahead and we still have about 50 raffle tickets left!! Tickets are 40$ each with a limit of 200 tickets to be sold in total.
We will be announce the lucky winner at the Annual Tucson Orchid dinner, 6 February 2004.
Please remember - You don't have to attend the dinner in order to participate.
Simply follow this link to win the 6,000$ worth Neutec J-2R casting machine:
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In This Edition of Tips From The Jeweler's Bench
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- Organizing your bench - Your Bench is like the Cockpit of a Plane
The next time you sit down at your bench, don't think of it as just a bench. Think of it as the cockpit of a plane. That's right, a plane. Sure, there are differences: Instead of dials, switches, and throttles, you have files, saws, and burnishers. But the same principle applies: Just like a pilot doesn't want a crucial switch out of reach, you don't want to have to move out of your way to get a tool. Your setup should be carefully designed to avoid problems and to make working easy and fast....
Complete Story:
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- In a New Light - Faster, more efficient laser welders
Since their introduction to the jewelry industry, laser welders have been lauded for their speed, accuracy, and convenience of use. Retail stores and job shops have made sizable investments in these machines, which are guaranteed to simplify day-to-day repairs such as fixing damage next to stones a nd cleaning up porosity in castings. But it has only been in the last few years that the technology has started to turn up in higher volume production settings. Now, however, as laser welders become faster, more user-friendly, and suitable for a wider range of jewelry applications, they are finding new homes as standard equipment on the manufacturing shop floor....
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- Platinum - Bench Tricks
This project is dedicated to bench tricks that make working with platinum-or working at the bench in general-easier. This is the first installment of a periodic Platinum Bench series....
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- Sawarovski North America sets trends with CAD/CAMs
In addition to reducing the labor required to move a design from the sketch stage to the actual model, CAD reduces misunderstandings between designers and model makers. Because pencil sketches are not always precisely scaled or proportioned, a model maker relies on his or her own interpretation of the designer's vision. Such interpretation opens the door to misunderstandings....
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- Book Review - "Secrets of the Gem Trade"
This very readable book represents the accumulated wisdom and experience of a lifetime in the field, and especially a life committed to examining and buying gemstones, as well as selling them. The view is unique, and rich with examples and deep background information. In fact the view is different than any other book in the field. It is eminently practical and deals with the skills of connnoissiourship, that is how to really look at and see a gem, what the subtleties and conventions are....
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- Examples of basic tools in a goldsmith's kit
This article lists the basic tools found in a standard Western Goldsmith's toolbox.
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- Some suggested tools for gem setting
This article lists the basic tools someone learning stonesetting might want to have around. One would of course add to this list....
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Put an Orchid on your Bench
Join the most popular online community for jewelers, The Orchid forums at
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We are here to build a strong pool of information for the benefit of Web's jewelers and craftsmen - and those interested in jewelry and gemstones.
Enjoy Hanuman