(PRESS RELEASE) MJSA Press has published a new trade book, At the Bench Vol. 2: Tips, Techniques, and Step-by-Step Projects for Jewelers of All Skill Levels, offering instruction and insights from renowned jewelers.
The 150-page book features dozens of articles (and more than 300 photos) that together cover all aspects of bench work, from basic techniques to step-by-step breakdowns of advanced skills. The articles are organized by task (sawing and piercing, soldering, stone setting, etc.), with the tasks identified by color-coded tabs for easy reference. Each article is labeled with its skill level: basic, intermediate, or advanced.
The book is based on the popular At the Bench column that appears monthly in MJSA Journal, the award-winning trade magazine dedicated to professional excellence in jewelry making and design. Begun in 1999, the column has featured over the past two decades some of the industry’s most notable jewelers and educators, many of whom appear in the book. They include the earliest At the Bench columnists (Alan Revere, Charles Lewton-Brain, Jurgen Maerz) as well as more recent contributors, such as Ann Cahoon, Gary Dawson, Helen Driggs, Mark Maxwell, and Joel McFadden. McFadden, a third-generation jeweler who lectures frequently at industry trade shows, also served as technical editor of the book.
The Prime Sponsors of At the Bench Vol. 2 are Hauser & Miller, a refiner and metal supplier based in St. Louis, Missouri, and Albuquerque, New Mexico–based Rio Grande, one of the world’s largest trade suppliers serving jewelers, metalsmiths, and artisans.
The book costs $34.95 and is available through Amazon and leading industry distributors, as well as through MJSA, the trade alliance that since 1903 has helped jewelry manufacturers, designers, and trade suppliers achieve professional excellence. MJSA members receive a 15% discount when purchasing directly from MJSA.
For more information, go to MJSA.org or call 1-800-444-MJSA (6572), ext. 3025.