Matt under jeweler's bench

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi,

I was hoping for some suggestions for matts that can go under a
bench to minimize the time looking for dropped metal pieces and
stones. Preferably something that a roller chair can move on.

Thanks.
Hb
ilaandi.com

2

I would look into carpet tiles

3 
I would look into carpet tiles

I would not. Just drop one hot thing and…

Also it’s nearly impossible to find a tiny diamond or a small crown
dropped on carpet.

For shop floors you want a hard fire resistant surface that is one
solid color. Patterned floors make it hard to see things that have
fallen and bounced. Much commercial flooring whether carpet or hard
linoleum is patterned and made to hide stains and dirt. That very
thing makes it so difficult to find tiny things.

We have a cement floor painted a very light grey.

At least once a month or so we have what we call a “Jeweler’s Prayer
Meeting”. That’s where we get on our knees and crawl around saying
“Oh please dear God let us find this stone”.

Have fun and make lots of jewelry and make sure your bench pan is
pulled out to catch stuff.

Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com

4

One of the “improvements” I just made to my cramped little work
space was to staple low tech cardboard skirts along the bottom of
the benches to prevent dropped items from rolling under them into
the smaller spaces where I can’t see.

When attending meetings of The One True Jeweler, I usethe Flashlight
of Seeing crosswise across the plywood void, paying attention to
anything that isn’t plywood dull and smooth. Sort of like NASA’s
search of Mars…

5

I sometimes turn off the lights in the shop and get on my hands and
knees using a flashlight held close to the floor. Any small thing
will then cast a big shadow. Still wish I could find a few things.
Rob

6

Has anyone suggested the following to rescue small things that have
disappeared-- using a vacuum cleaner with a wand, cover the end of
the wand with an old stocking or thin fabric that will let the air
through. Secure the stocking with a very tight rubber band or hold
it very tightly aroundthe wand. This is very important because the
suction will try to inhale the fabric. Then vacuum. All the little
things are sucked up but cannot get into the vacuum. Turn it off-
and then empty the stuff that has accumulated. Great for far corners
and under furniture.

Sandra
Elegant insects jewelry

7 
Has anyone suggested the following to rescue small things that
have disappeared-- using a vacuum cleaner with a wand, cover the
end of the wand with an old stocking or thin fabric that will let
the air through.

This just may be one of the smartest things that I’ve ever read. I
will definitely be using this technique in the future. Thanks!

8

I’ve covered my entire shop with very thin commercial carpet, and
like the walls in an ER, I have no corners. The floor gently slopes
up to meet the wall, and the carpet is capped with the metal one
uses to end carpet at a hallway. The thin gap at the top is filled
with white silicon.

I also have a leather apron at my bench, and I’ve installed a
florescent light under the bench.

I have no wires laying on the floor under my bench either. I operate
my flex-shaft with my knee.

That’s all to catch tiny diamond and gems.

If I drop some tiny thing I’ve been filing on, I usually don’t
bother searching for it but instead just start making another one
because in spite of all my precautions, I still lose stuff to the
gremlins.

Paf Dvorak

9

Hi,

I was hoping for some suggestions for mats that can go under a bench
to minimize the time looking for dropped metal pieces and stones.
Preferably something that a roller chair can move on.

Thanks.
Hb

10

I use one of those heavy plastic matt that the office use, my
rolling chair can go on and easy to see what I droped.

Anna