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		Part Two of Two A recent email from an At The Bench member prompted Andrew to make this two part film. It does not matter what size torch you have, it’s how you control the flame that matters. The small hand held butane torch is more than ample to solder small fine chains but direct the flame in the wrong direction and you have ruined and melted the chain. Not so bad if the chain is yours but could be a disaster if you were repairing the chain for a client. With the aid of some home made solutions Andrew shows you how not to melt the chain and how to keep the cleaning up to a minimum.

		Part One of Two A recent email from an At The Bench member prompted Andrew to make this two part film. It does not matter what size torch you have, it’s how you control the flame that matters. The small hand held butane torch is more than ample to solder small fine chains but direct the flame in the wrong direction and you have ruined and melted the chain. Not so bad if the chain is yours but could be a disaster if you were repairing the chain for a client. With the aid of some home made solutions Andrew shows you how not to melt the chain and how to keep the cleaning up to a minimum.

The clasps on bangles have a habit of coming undone and there is a risk of the bangle becoming lost

By simply fitting a safety chain, a silver one in this case, the chances of the bangle becoming lost is minimalised. Andrew walks you through the steps needed to reassure the client’s bangle does not become lost.

The diamond cut pattern on this half hoop ear ring has weakend the area where the post was soldered.

Replacing the post, Andrew Berry uses a slightly longer post to ensure a stronger solder joint.

Similar to the back of shanks, wedding rings, over the years, take a lot of wear and consequently gets work hardened.

For some reason this wedding ring has cracked. This may have been due to the way it was manufactured or simply due to the stresses put on due to everyday wear. Adrew Berry shows you how to complete a successful repair.

The shanks of rings, over the years, takes a lot of wear and consequently gets work hardened.

When the shank can not take much more, it splits. Andrew Berry carries out this is a common repair and provided it is soldered back correctly working through the necessary stages,the ring will have many more years wear left in it.

Silver chains are a good way to practice your soldering techniques.

Learning the basics of chain soldering on a silver chain is a good way to practice. Cleaning it up and getting it polished again can be a difficult job as you would not want to polish it on a polishing motor. Using a brass brush, hot water and soap can restore the original finish.

Bolt rings are the most common type of clasp for chains and one of the easiest to fit too.

There are two types of bolt ring that you can buy from the suppliers, open and closed. Then there are two ways to fit the bolt ring too. The cheaper way is just to open the end ring and loop it through the end of the chain or you can solder it closed. In this film, Andrew Berry shows you both methods.

If you’ve just removed diamonds from a setting and they are covered with dirt, you can clean them at the bench.

You dont normally keep salt on your bench, but pick up a couple of sachets when you are out in a restaurant. Empty the contents into the palm of your hand and rub the diamonds in the salt grains. Salt has a low Mohs hardness so it wont scratch the stones.