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Very handy for anyone who's never fused or just taken a basic course or two--which is still myself at times.It does lack the troubleshooting and more complex design issues one can run into when getting adventuresome though (heat sinks and white firescale in larger items, pieces of very different gauges, minimizing firescale when combining with sterling :-) so an advanced book would be appreciated.
This book is a useful guide for anyone who has no or little prior knowledge of metal fusing but is familiar with soldering and other torch techniques. It is clearly written with easy to follow steps to enable the development of basic fusing skills.
There are differences in methodology. Yes much is the same, but the ability to fuse silver without seeing the fire scale was pleasing (tested it yesterday - couldn't wait). 99% silver) work. how the fire brick retains heat thus helping in providing heat to the metal from beneath) and how to set-up a studio focused on silver work.
I decided to look into working with a purer form of silver and therefore purchased this book. My experience with metal jewelry-making stems primarily with sterling silver (SS), while the use of nearly 99% silver has been used with my glass and Precious Metal Clay (PMC - also approx. I also feel that the safety issues brought up in this book should be required reading in every book that requires the use of machines, tools, or other items that can cause potential health hazards. Even if it were only two or three examples. Expense-wise it is often a set-back, but when you take into consideration time also equals money when in production of jewelry pieces, this may equal out.
I also appreciated the more detailed insights on various items (e.g. Then again, since this is a beginner book on silver fusing, follow your own design path using the skills garnered from the guides in this book. However, I have to admit that at times the steps taken when soldering SS and removing fire scale is time consuming. Some items required can be a bit pricey, but luckily for me, I already have them all.Reference guide, basics to follow, projects to get you started into the design of silver jewelry, and more make this a book to have in your metal design library. One of the most useful charts in the book was on page 67 where information of amount of wire needed to produce various sized rings.
I also enjoyed playing with my little propane torch more than ever (have used it for other things).Yes this is a basic book, but one that is useful for those previously used to working with SS or those new to field of silver work. Giving it only four stars may seem a bit low after my positive review, but I really wish more examples of designs, especially outside the most common general circle designs, and applications for those wanting to advance in their skills would have been provided. You may be surprised.
This keeps the firescale (oxidized silver) to a minimum. However, when I began doing the flux/solder/pickle type of silversmithing, I was quite surprised to find that not only can I solder jewellery findings with a butane torch, doing it this way nearly guarantees that I'm not going to ruin things accidentally. Before I finally tried it, I was kind of scared of the process. Using a tumbler will help but it takes a lot longer than the time specified in the book.The fusing technique is not an invalid process or have any less artistic merit.
I did suceed in completing some of the projects (while experiencing the expected learning curve of destroying quite a lot of silver). I have recently started silversmithing. With fusing, the whole ring is covered in firescale, requiring a lot of polishing. And if I can do it, just about anyone with two brain cells working in tandem can do it.I did like the designs and the author's instructions on making and shaping rings were really good. (Heavier projects DO require different gases, but small things like jewellery can be done with butane).Solder, particularly easy solder, flows at a lower temperature than molten silver.
It also kind of pits the silver, so if you are looking for a rugged look with built in patina, fusing is a way to achieve that, but if you want shiny smooth silver, be prepared to invest a lot of time and elbow grease. The techniques she laid out for fusing could (and should) be applied to soldering, such as working from small rings to large ones. I bought this book because I thought it would be easier to just fuse the silver wire instead of going through all the processes of fluxing, soldering, and pickling silver, and I thought I would have to have an oxyacetyline torch to do it.In the fusing technique used in this book, the author uses a butane torch, which is quite strong enough to melt sterling and fine silver. I just don't know why someone would do it when they could just use regular silver solder. Since the purpose of silver fusing is to actually melt the silver together, you have to be really meticulous about the timing.
Also, when soldering silver, you protect what you are not soldering with a layer of flux, which is then removed by pickling. There are recipes online for simple borax flux and pickle with citric acid (even unsweetened lemonade mix)., so even someone with a small budget could get set up doing these projects. There was a lot of great jewellery making advice and her projects were better than the usual beginner jewellery stuff -- things you'd actually wear instead of giving to someone else.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Has good examples for your personal aspirations in wiring. Great photos,easy to follow instructions. Great for beginners as well as the seasoned jewelry maker.
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