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After writing my recent safety book something unexpected happened. I had a number of calls from lawyers about safety issues. These guys were suing jewelry store owners in different places in the US. The litigation was on behalf of the store's goldsmiths, when working conditions, storage of chemicals and so on had injured them.... (2000) Complete Story
MJSA's Mary Walek asked me to do a session called "Shop the Show" in New York. When I first read the description of the presentation I had to give I had to think hard. Don't we all know how to shop already? And at a trade show too, where we know why we are there.... (2003) Complete Story
This selected list describes a number of small, easily made tools which can improve efficiency, speed and ease of working at the bench. While by no means a complete listing of the tools one has at one's bench or of vernacular goldsmiths tools it demonstrates examples of the kind of thinking required for ease of working at the bench. Remember, speed and efficiency give one more creative time. Each tool represents a useful production aid and involves skills applicable to other areas of metalworking in it's making and discussion.... (1992) Complete Story
Double is a German word of french origin meaning rolled gold or gold fill material. I use it for the gold-fill material described here to differentiate it from the commercially produced sheet. Hand made double has different qualities than the manufactured metal. It is far less perfect, its finished size is limited by one's workshop facilities and counting hours it costs more per square centimeter....
(1985) Complete Story
While goldsmiths normally strive to have their solder flow easily, there are times you don't want it to flow, such as spilling over a decorated surface, if it 'freezes' a mechanism, or if it threatens to open a gap in a seam soldered earlier in a construction. The best way of not melting earlier seams is.... (2004) Complete Story
