Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Oct 31, 2010 14:13:13 GMT -5
Our club newsletter published by Bob Carnine ( known by some of you ) had a little blurb in it re bench tips I thought some of you wrappers and jewelry makers would be interested in::
For the jewelry makers among you, here's a new feature, provided by Brad Smith, who has
15 years of jewelry experience and teaches classes in the adult schools of Los Angeles and
Santa Monica, CA. Brad has offered to provide monthly tips similar to these; let me know if
you're interested.
STIFFENING EARRING POSTS
Soldering an earring post will always soften the wire a bit. Easiest way to harden it is to grip the
end of the post with your flat-jaw pliers and twist it a couple half turns. This work-hardens the
wire and at the same time tests your soldered joint.
________
USE A SPRAY BOTTLE
Those little spray bottles you can find at the drug store are great for firescale preventers and
debubbling solutions. A quick firescale preventer is liquid flux, and a homemade debubbling
solution is a little Dawn liquid in rubbing alcohol.
________
BROKEN DRILLS
Have you ever broken a drill bit off in a hole? Sometimes you can grab it with pliers, but other
times the steel piece is below the surface in the hole. If this happens, you can usually dissolve
the steel in a solution of alum.
Alum is typically available from a food store or a drug store. Use about a teaspoon per cup of
warm water. Submerge your piece so that the partially drilled hole is facing up so that bubbles
can float free.
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
More BenchTips by Brad Smith are at: groups.yahoo.com/group/BenchTips/
or: facebook.com/BenchTips
Pebble Pups
Dicky
For the jewelry makers among you, here's a new feature, provided by Brad Smith, who has
15 years of jewelry experience and teaches classes in the adult schools of Los Angeles and
Santa Monica, CA. Brad has offered to provide monthly tips similar to these; let me know if
you're interested.
STIFFENING EARRING POSTS
Soldering an earring post will always soften the wire a bit. Easiest way to harden it is to grip the
end of the post with your flat-jaw pliers and twist it a couple half turns. This work-hardens the
wire and at the same time tests your soldered joint.
________
USE A SPRAY BOTTLE
Those little spray bottles you can find at the drug store are great for firescale preventers and
debubbling solutions. A quick firescale preventer is liquid flux, and a homemade debubbling
solution is a little Dawn liquid in rubbing alcohol.
________
BROKEN DRILLS
Have you ever broken a drill bit off in a hole? Sometimes you can grab it with pliers, but other
times the steel piece is below the surface in the hole. If this happens, you can usually dissolve
the steel in a solution of alum.
Alum is typically available from a food store or a drug store. Use about a teaspoon per cup of
warm water. Submerge your piece so that the partially drilled hole is facing up so that bubbles
can float free.
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
More BenchTips by Brad Smith are at: groups.yahoo.com/group/BenchTips/
or: facebook.com/BenchTips
Pebble Pups
Dicky
