MJSA will once again present its “At the Bench Live” program during the JCK Show ~ Las Vegas on June 3-5 in the rear of the Galileo Ballroom in the ET&S Pavilion. This year’s sessions will feature a diverse range of topics, from working with palladium to cleaning and detailing CAD-milled waxes. All sessions are free.

Saturday, June 3
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Preparing for Palladium
Panelists; Daniel Ballard, PM West; Stewart Grice, Hoover & Strong; B.J. Williams, Johnson & Matthey; and Teresa Frye, Techform Advanced Casting Technology
Find out how to best work with this increasingly important metal, as well as how to take advantage of its selling points.

Sunday, June 4
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Crocheting with Gold
Michael David Sturlin, Michael David Sturlin Studio
Receive a close-up view of how to fabricate chain with just a needle and gold wire, as Sturlin demonstrates the hand crocheting technique that he uses to create his award-winning jewelry.

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Working with Computer Milled and Grown Waxes
Arthur Skuratowicz, Anton Nash LLC
More shops are using CAD/CAM to create their waxes—and jewelers must learn the differences between the fragile machine “grown” and milled waxes.

3:00 p.m. – 4:30p.m.
Saving Irreplaceable Stones: Tips for Working on Gem-Set Jewelry
Arthur Anton Skuratowicz, Anton Nash LLC
The co-author (with Julie Nash) of the MJSA/AJM Press book Working with Gemstones, Skuratowicz will demonstrate how to avoid damaging expensive—sometimes irreplaceable—gems.

4:30 p.m.
Book Signing
Arthur Skuratowicz will be available to sign copies of his latest book, Working with Gemstones. Copies will be available for sale.

Monday, June 5
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The Price Is Right: Pricing and Promotion Strategies
Michael David Sturlin, Michael David Sturlin Studio
This presentation will examine two of the most important concerns for any shop: developing an accurate pricing formula and launching an effective promotional campaign.

1:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Thinking Ahead: Innovative Tools & Techniques
Kate Wolf, Wolf Tools
Wolf will demonstrate how to use some of the most innovative tools on the market—from her own Wolf Belt Sander to the latest flex-shaft abrasives—as well as share some of her favorite modifications of old tools that lead to new uses.

3:00 p.m. – 4:30p.m.
Fancy Free: Working with Custom Waxes
Arthur Anton Skuratowicz, Anton Nash LLC
Learn how to carve, clean, and work with custom waxes that will ensure fancy stones remain stress-free and intact.

For more information, contact Teresa Shannon, MJSA Jewelry Academy director, at 1-800-444-6572, ext. 3103, or e-mail teresa@mjsainc.com.

JCK