Finishing Polishing and Cleaning

Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman offer tips, tricks, and various techniques to finish your project by hand. You...

The flex shaft machine is one of the most common tools at a jeweler's bench. Watch Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst...

Almost any metal or hard plastic item can be buffed to a high polish or a satin sheen with the...

We asked a number of top jewelers to tell us their best practices, techniques, and tips for creating satin, brushed,...

Platinum takes more effort to polish, for the simple reason that it does not wear as other precious metals do...

Though mass finishing procedures continue to improve, it is nearly impossible to match the beautiful polish obtained through hand finishing....

Many jewelers see polishing as a mundane task. However, it is one of the most important operations in the process...

There is a major difference between durability and scratch resistance. Platinum is very durable. When scratched, the scratch actually displaces...

A microscopic and technical view of mass finishing presented in layman's terms. Understanding of mass finishing must start at the...

True damascus steel is made by a casting process utilizing very high carbon steel. The material is held at or...

Myth: Singeing buffs to prep them is faster and more effective than raking them. There are as many people in...

When burnishing very detailed pieces, use stainless pins in your mixed shot. Don’t use them any other time because the...

The correct use of modern, semi- automated finishing processes enables the manufacturer not only to reduce production costs, but also...

This video shows just how the bright-cutting procedure is accomplished. I use only one tool, my "Onglette #2, Right-Sided" graver....

When it comes to fine jewelry making polishing is a very important step - it can be the difference between...

The mantra of polishing jewelry is the shinier the better - and obtaining polishing perfection takes skill and practice. It...

I believe polishing compounds are perhaps one of the most misused tools in the modern jewelry shop. Most jewelers are...

The best 'Sneaky Goldsmith Tricks' involve taking mundane, everyday items and repurposing them as goldsmith's tools. Two classic tricks that...

Opinions differ considerably when discussing the ease or difficulty of polishing platinum, but most agree that when a piece is...

Design dictates buyer's choices when gold jewelry is purchased and the quality of the pieces certainly plays an important part...

Historically, a wide range of techniques has been used to clad or coat silver or base metals with gold. These...

In this 3rd video, we will use an Onglet #1 graver to do the 'outline' or rough-cutting around the silver...

Trying to get a really high polish on the inside of a ring can be frustrating. Because inside ring buffs...

Our castings can be flawless, our assembly precise, and our settings secure -- but let any surface go a bit...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

3M Radial Bristle Discs were introduced to the jewelry industry in 2000. Additional discs and end brushes have been added...

This article is based on technical information taken from my personal notes and experiences, shared information from the Penland Anodizing...

The use of area inlay, called damascening or woven inlay, is common in the ancient metalwork of Iran, India, Japan,...

New patented Warrior Power Tool System kit provides a revolutionary proficiency advantage for bench jewelers and jewelry manufacturers for split-lap...

For this demonstration of Setting a Pear Shape Emerald in a Full Bezel I will be setting a large emerald...

Technical Briefs deals with technical concerns of interest to a wide audience, addressing topics as diverse as vanguard technology and...

For polishing it is recommended to use primarily bristle brushes for most of the removal work and to follow up...

An ordinary round toothpick becomes a precision polishing instrument in the hands of a bench-savvy goldsmith.

Pre-finishing, finishing, polishing and re-finishing have all been tasks usually done with a flexible shaft at the bench and/or a...

Understanding and using updated materials will help you accomplish pre-finishing and finishing requirements professionally and efficiently. Here's a brief overview...

3M XR wheels, formerly known as XK wheels are ideal for sprue removal and smooth deburring with minor surface reduction....

With a modified Onglette #2, Right-Sided bright cutting blade, I am now shearing off metal to leave a very bright...

When AJM asked me to test the new 3M FX Polishing Wheels, I was reminded of a neat factoid: The...

I need to duplicate a wax form from the original pattern. Here you will see just how easy it can...

The first time I saw a machine for pumice finishing and brass wire brushing was at the School for American...

Jeff Mathews has developed a process for polishing the inside of platinum rings using 3M abrasive technology. To illustrate how...

After several years of use, the small stainless-steel pins in my magnetic finisher had became dark, were stuck together and...

Every bench jeweler has experienced the frustration of trying to sand and polish a nearly inaccessible area on a piece...

The expressions which have come to identify the pre- and post-World War II generations - Me decade, suburban frontiersmen, spoiled...

This short video demonstrates how to setup your Ameritool Inc. Universal Grinder. This short demo covers the basic assembly of...

A bench jeweler typically uses a split mandrel to sand and finish the inside of a ring. Various grits of...

The word "technology" is defined as the totality of the means employed to provide the objects necessary for sustenance and...

Homemade flex-shaft guard using a soft drink plastic bottle, a solution to the annoying and potentially hazardous problem of breathing...

Before you start to drill any holes in your new project you 'must' do the following. Completely measure the thickness...

As easy as plating, with colors that rival enamels, this exclusive nano-ceramic electro-coating material delivers the best of both worlds!...

Selecting a proper bur for setting an Oval stone can be difficult. Deciding between H.S.S. & a Carbide bur can...

Jurgen J Maerz of the Platinum Guild International USA outlines factors to consider when adding platinum to your line of...

Precious metals are beautiful on their own, from the rich glow of yellow gold to the dense white of platinum—and...

My student is now hammering the stone in place. He checks that the Bezel-Wall is now laying on the stone...

JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler Linda Steinke uses Foredom's new pre-finishing wheels and polishing compound to finish fabricated and cast...

How to Make Silver Different Colors by Electrochemical Anodizing. Without using paint you can give a silver surface various colors...

Chemical and mechanical processing work together to treat the vibratory finishing wastewater at Aro-Sac, increasing production, making the water reusable...

This is just a short repeat of a prior video on final clean-up..But this is so much needed to be...

Here is the process on how to cut Azure patterns. These appear underneath the diamond setting portion of a ring,...

In the last issue I wrote about safety issues concerning polishing platinum. In this issue we will continue the discussion...

Here you will observe all of the steps in using the Pumice wheel. I use only a Flat-Faced #180 grit...

Using eggs to antique a silver coin ring. Method can be used on any sterling or copper jewelry. No Liver...

Here I am explaining how an Azure cut is finished. It is created underneath the hole where the diamond is...

About five years ago, Robert Fairbank, John Reynolds and I created a "living entity" called Goldsmiths 3 in Concord, Massachusetts....

In this brief video, I show once more how the graver just sails through the silver. Almost like carving into...

In this last of the 'mini-series' on our Bezel setting. I will show you where the hammer hitting will occur....

This is a video showing all the necessary tools, just to set a Princess stone. Between the selection of round...

It is here I am showing how fantastic CAD is now helping our jewellery trade. Instead of raising beads on...

In this video I explain Gypsy Setting & the many techniques using the Hammer & Carbide burs. I also show...

In this second of two videos just on Gypsy Setting, I demonstrate Bright-cutting inside of the "Gypsy" circle of metal....

If you overlook any errors in your cleaning process, redo as best as you can. Once you go to the...

This initial preparation consists of removing the "Tang". Then having it be inserted into the wooden handle of your choice....

The revolutionary PolishPlus process with MiracleMedia is a new mass finishing technology developed by Peter Richardson of Aurum Plus Resource...

In this first of 2 videos, I start the drilling with a 156C Under-Cutting bur to make a seat for...

In this new series of Bezel setting, I am aiming to introduce my well proven methods of Bezel setting. In...

Setting stones in tanzanite ring.

This is the 3rd video on "How to Set a Princess Stone". In this video, all tools are shown in...

This video documents the making of a silver necklace inspired by Mozart's "The Magic Flute". The green and purple material...

Supposing a designing hole is slightly off-center, how would you 'move' it? The answer will now be shown without soldering...

Every bench jeweler has experienced the frustration of trying to sand and polish a nearly inaccessible area on a piece...

zulasurfing is comprised of husband and wife duo, Gil and Irena, based in New York. Gil is originally from Israel...

Big Mistake..! I learn the hard way...!

Here you can see an 8mm mokum gan style band being created from silver strip and mokum patterned sheet. Mokum...

A Beads Baubles and Jewels project. Add a unique twist to your metal clay pieces by creating a two-tone effect...

In this final video, you will see the stones being finally set. I will be using a Hart-shaped bur..a.k.a. 156C...

It is here I am just going over some extra little notes on Bright-cutting. I might have missed a few....

My student has now finished his first setting project. He is so very happy over his first assignment under my...

Now that you know exactly what tools you need in your bench, we can now start the setting. Here I...

Lost a stone in your Ultrasonic? This video tip shows a creative tool you can make for retrieving stones from...

Once the Onglette graver is secured in the wooden handle, I will get the 'feel' of the new blade. I...

In this first video, you will see some of the poor quality of cleaning wheels. Only the best, or new...

Many of the Colored Stones we set in jewelry cannot be cleaned with an Ultrasonic or Steam Cleaner. This video...

Perhaps a more healthy way to polish with a micromotor. I made a container for the polish compound arround the...

This 2nd video introduces you to "Line-Cutting". It is here we will examine what is involved in basic 'Pre-Cutting' as...

In this second of three setting demonstrations, you will see the following procedure. I am burring out the inside of...

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