Safety and quality at the workbench

The gold and silversmith's workplace looks quiet, but there is open flame, hot metal and chemicals. Good professional work is always safe work.

Soldering happens with a flame, and the metal becomes glowing. Burns are the most common injury in the trade, and they often happen because you forget that the solder metal is still hot even though it no longer glows.

• 01Work on a non-flammable substrate.
• 02Keep order — flammable things don't belong near the flame.
• 03Assume any metal you just soldered is hot.
• 04Switch off the flame when you are not using it.

In the trade acids are used among other things to clean metal after soldering. Always read the instructions, use eye protection and gloves, and ensure good ventilation. Never pour water into acid — and store chemicals correctly and labelled.

Quality deals with the details. A finished piece of jewellery should be clean and neat, even in places you don't immediately see.

• 01Joints must be strong and without visible solder traces.
• 02The surface must be smooth and without scratches.
• 03There must not be sharp edges that can cut or tear.
• 04Any stones must sit firmly and sit straight.

Finally quality is about honesty to the customer. Use the fineness you advertise and stand by your work. In a trade built on trust in precious metals, your credibility is part of the quality.