Pieh Tool

Meek

Unlike so many so-called "instruction manuals", The Art of Engraving does not assume you know anything about engraving. You start at the beginning by learning to draw scrolls and layouts, then cut practice plates until you are sure enough of your ability to actually proceed to designing a pattern, transferring it to a gun and cutting it into the steel.

Every gunsmith, gun lover or craftsman - no matter what his other calling - has the soul of an artist. This personal, creative urge can be easily directed into the highly renumerative field of gun engraving through the coaching, no-nonsense instructions and technical support in  Hundreds of original engravings, designs and layouts by the author (plus samples from other master engravers) to explain specific points and techniques. Much of the original work is intended for you to copy and transfer to your own guns to create an engraving job you can be proud of having done.

Timeless Techniques with a Twist

Whyte

Chain mail is one of the hottest jewelry trends out there; add beads and the style positively sizzles. Who could resist? Bestselling author and chain mail expert Dylon Whyte presents his time-tested, time-saving techniques with more than 30 breathtaking projects, ranging from extremely simple to challenging.
A thorough introduction, illustrated with computer-generated pictures, covers the basics of chain mail techniques. Then Whyte reveals his patented, perfected beading method: rather than using difficult wire-wrapping, he threads the beads directly onto the rings before they’re fashioned into chain mail.
The exciting collection of 30 projects includes a delicate Persian patterned anklet, embellished with tiny silver bells; an amethyst opera-length necklace; and silver earrings shaped like inverted peacock feathers, edged with rings and turquoise beads.

Taylor, Terry & Whyte, Dylon
 
Contemporary Designs from Classic Techniques

Once used to create protective garments, chain mail techniques and patterns have now been adapted for jewelry making by innovative artists. Making chain mail jewelry needs very few tools to achieve impressive results. Thirty extraordinary projects are offered here for all skill levels.

Creative Projects, Simple Techniques

Le Van

After exploring the exquisite ideas and 35 projects  showcased in this one-of-a-kind jewelry collection, you’ll never look at “found items” the same way again. There are countless suggestions for recycling everyday objects, from electrical wire to soda cans, and uncovering their vast potential for beauty. Begin by examining various metal types and forms, and the techniques for shaping and cold-connecting them. Select from a range of surface finishing treatments, and find out about special skills often used for working with stones, shells, plastic, wood, and bone. The wildly creative pieces include a driftwood brooch, a bracelet with wooden game pieces, and a pendant featuring old boat charts.

Lewton-Brain

Charles Lewton-Brain invented fold-forming, a completely new way of forming sheet metal quickly into wonderful 3-D shapes and textures, most from single sheets of metal without any soldering. Fold-forming uses sheet material, folds it, works it and then unfolds it. Many schools and workshops teach and use fold-forming, and thousands of people use parts of the system in their work. The British Museum Research Lab and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, among others have certified that Fold-forming is new, and has not been done before in the history of metal working.

Fold forming is a new system of metal forming developed between 1980 and the present which is the concrete result of a conceptual approach to metalsmithing that emphasizes forming using the metals characteristics. It is about following what the metal likes to do.

McConnell

The American Arts and Crafts Movement flourished briefly but brilliantly during the early years of the twentieth century. It was during this era that the Heintz Art Metal Shop and its successor the Smith Metal Arts Company (Silver Crest) produced decorative bronze wares of the highest quality. Today's avid interest in Arts and Crafts furnishings and accessories has collectors searching for examples made by these two firms. This book provides collectors and dealers alike with a pictorial panorama of such Heintz and Silver Crest items as bowls, jewelry, trophies, vases, and desk pieces, as well as essential data regarding value, rarity, maker's marks, and company histories.

McGrath

An indispensable reference for jewelers, designers, students, and anyone working with base and precious metals, this is a complete guide to the tools, materials, and techniques for creating beautifully decorative finishes for jewelry. Clear step-by-step photographs and instructions for key surface and decorative techniques enable you to achieve a wide range of spectacular effects. Illustrated samples demonstrate all the possible variations, with practical advice on how to achieve each finish. Includes essential safety information. Inspirational showcases of work by professional jewelers demonstrate how the different methods can be used to create stunning pieces.

Holschuh

The perfect guide through the process of equipping your own jewelery studio. It teaches you the techniques that will have you creating one-of-a-kind metal jewelry in no time.

Kaye-Moses

Metal clay is an innovative material that combines the workability of clay with the beautiful finish and durability of precious metals. The material is easy to manipulate and shape by hand to make beads for bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry.  This book contains 15 projects for creating fine silver beads and a design gallery of 25 additional jewelry pieces. Intro chapters include information about tools and techniques. Projects are organized workshop-style, to build skills cumulatively.

This practical and comprehensive manual by two master craftsmen teaches every step of the engraving process - something other books on the topic fail to accomplish. It illustrates not just the forms and appearance of finished designs, but also provides complete instructions for the actual engraving. Clear, step-by-step instructions, accompanied by countless detailed illustrations, tell how to cut initials and inscriptions in a wide variety of alphabets, what forms to use for decorating and embellishing engraved work, how to shape and maintain tools, and much more. With the many useful suggestions, both expert and beginning engravers will find this book invaluable for mastering the art of engraving.

McCreight

A full-color introductory text for anyone entering the field. Basic techniques like sawing, stone setting and soldering are explained through scores of color photos. Over 120 examples of exciting work by a diverse collection of artists. A helpful glossary and valuable tables all make this a welcome addition to any bookshelf.

Brain Press

This book teaches how to easily hot burnish gold foil permanently onto silver objects, and raw sheet for soldering and building patterned jewelry with. It is a very rapid, easy method of adding the buttery richness of 24k gold to your silver and gold objects. This incredibly simple designing technique was re-introduced to the West from Korea in the 1980’s. It lets you make pictures and patterns using pure 24k gold foil placed onto other metals as well, including steel, platinum, palladium, 14K, 18K and other gold alloys, aluminum and even copper. Step-by-step photos show how to make your own gold foil, hot burnish onto silver, platinum. Also discussed are how to calibrate a hot plate and use liver of sulfur. The white electrum alloy for keum-boo is described.

Warg

With this comprehensive skill-building guide at hand, jewelers of all levels can craft 30 stunning one-of-a-kind beads in shimmering silver, copper, brass, and other metals. An introduction to metalworking provides the basics, followed by creative design ideas and techniques specific to metal beadwork. Transform commercial beads using simple stamping, chasing, and dimpling. Use cold connections to produce riveted and woven beads from sheet and wire. Roll a simple Crescent Roll Bead, and create variations in the form by using patterned, textured, or hammered sheet metal. Crafters will build a repertoire of skills as they progress, and learn numerous ways to embellish the bead’s surface and add decorative elements. An extensive gallery of handmade beads provides a wealth of inspiration.
A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.

Becker-Simon

When you combine two bestselling topics like metal clay and beading, and then add one of the most talented and respected artists in the business, you’ve got a winning combination. In this unique, comprehensive reference, Barbara Becker Simon treats readers to 22 outstanding metal clay bead projects. An introductory section guides them through all the fundamentals, from forming and joining the clay to firing and finishing. Learn how to add gemstones, glass, and other objects; use molded and carved texture plates; etch photos into a surface; develop rich patinas; and more. From the Porcupine Pearl Bead to a Polygon Box Bead, the projects are both timely and sophisticated.

Pina

The collectible appeal of Mexican metal art can be attributed to artistic quality, variety, and large production volume. In addition to jewelry, it includes wearable art, table art, and wall art, with something for everyone. See Mexican jewelry and metal art made with copper, brass, alpaca, and silver. From glass mosaics on brass to silver jewelry inlaid with crushed stone, to metal combinations such as metales casados, the variety in color, texture, and form is wonderful. While other books have made significant contributions to raising awareness of Mexico-designed silver jewelry, little has been written about other metal objects, often made by the very same designers, such as Salvador Teran, Los Castillos, Miguel Martinez, Miguel Pineda, Estele Popowski, and Bernice Goodspeed. Additional names found on illustrated brass and mixed-metal items include Maya, Toño, Cecilia, Caballo, and Victoria. Detailed captions with value ranges accompany 1000+ color photographs. Includes a bibliography, index, illustrated glossary, and illustrated hallmarks.

 
Penny Chittim Morrill & Carole A. Berk

Here is the powerful story of the silver renaissance in Mexico from the 1920s to the present. The wealth of color photos showcases the incomparable beauty of these works in silver. Extensive research sheds new light on the life and art of William Spratling, Margot van Voorhies, Fred Davis, and Hubert Harmon, and on the artisans who worked for them, making this book the definitive study of Mexican silver jewelry and decorative objects.