G’day; may I draw your attention to the type of jewellery bench a
lot of European jewellers have used for centuries? The front of the
bench has a semi circular cut out, about 20 inches in diameter. Under
this is hung a piece of thin flexible leather. One can sit right up
to the leather when working, and filings, sawdust, and any bits that
go sproinnnggg out of your forceps collect in the curve of the
leather. Fish out the hot bits quickly, and they won’t burn holes in
the leather. Tap the centre with a pencil, (after you have fished out
the pile of tools which it also collects) and the bits all bunch
together. Tip the lot into a little double bottomed box. (Kodak slide
box; lid underneath) The first bottom will be of gauze, so all the
filings fall through, separating the bits and the dust to be recycled
later. I made mine myself (gee; you guessed?) and think it superior
to the benches with tray one sees in books. That’ll cost you 2c
Cheers,
John Burgess