August, September and October Classes for Precision Bench™

Tira Mitchell and Joel McFadden are offering another round of Precision Bench™ classes this September and October. Joel will offer his popular Bead Setting and Fishtail course along with his new Princess Cut and Delicate Stone Setting course. Tira will teach her new Signet Ring class and reprise Shaping Tools for Scrolls and Designs.

Joel and Tira have developed a fresh approach toward teaching specialized techniques in time-saving 2 day weekend courses. Going from “End-to-Beginning”, they focus on a final finish first then move back through engraving and stone setting steps, ending up at design. Similar to spell checking a paper backwards, this teaching method enables students to focus on techniques necessary to achieve the ultimate goal. By the time they discuss design, students have a practical understanding of what elements are necessary to achieve their desired results. They use specially developed CAD rings and teaching materials to guide students through the 2 day intensive courses.

Practical CAD for Professional Jewelers – August 26-27

Using Matrix® as an example, Joel will cover both design and business techniques for incorporating CAD in a modern jeweler’s business. Students will learn to simplify the design process by avoiding Boolean operations, making setting as easy as possible, and optimizing CAD designs for finishing castings faster. Joel will give tips and tricks for how to use CAD for improved and faster hand engraving, producing organic jewelry and preserving handmade qualities in computer designed pieces. Special Registration rate - $300 per person and No Bench Fee

Bead and Fishtail Setting – September 23-24

Joel teaches jewelers who want to refine high-quality bead setting skills and develop decorative stone setting techniques using modern tools and equipment. Good class for beginning and experienced stone setters alike.

Shaping Tools for Scrolls and Designs – September 30-October1

Tira teaches jewelers and engravers who already have basic engraving skills how to shape and sharpen the right tool for the job, transfer patterns to your work, and execute traditional border patterns & scroll design.

Princess Cut Delicate Stone and Channel Setting – October 7-8

Joel teaches jewelers how to set Princess Cut stones and other delicate stones without damaging the corners of the stones, and then some of the easiest channel setting techniques ever.

Engraving Signet Rings – October 14-15

Tira teaches jewelers and engravers how to engrave scrolls and decorative side panels on signet rings. More advanced students will learn stone setting and engraving techniques on the face of the ring.

All classes are held in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Registration is $500 per person plus a bench fee (varies per course) to cover consumable materials, CAD models, written materials and other items students take home with them.

Precision Bench ™ is a joint venture between Joel McFadden and Precision Artistry LLC. Together, Joel McFadden and Tira Mitchell teach jewelers, hand engravers, stone setters and other craftspeople modern bench skills with the latest tools and technology.

Joel McFadden has been a jeweler for 45 years. He started with his family’s business and currently runs his custom jewelry shop in Red Bank, New Jersey. During that time, Joel has lectured, consulted, and written extensively about jewelry techniques and running a successful jewelry business.

Tira Mitchell owns Precision Artistry LLC and runs Engraver.com. She has been engraving, teaching and demonstrating for over 20 years, and she sells bench supplies including EnSet hand engraving systems, Leica microscopes, Swiss tools from Vallorbe, and various other fixtures and finishing equipment.