Metal is a marvelous material, but until recently it's been a foreign currency among general crafters, who feared that "metalworking" required pig iron, a blast furnace, and the musculature of a village blacksmith. Not true. Here are 50 gorgeous things to make from extra-thin sheet metals and foils in shimmering copper, aluminum, brass, tin, and pewter. And, just for fun, there are projects from mesh, tin cans, flashing, wire, ready-made metal objects, recycled materials, and found metal. Readers will learn about useful tools and basic techniques for working with metal, none of them esoteric. They'll learn to mark, drill, cut, smooth, bend, and form metal, along with some easy ways to decorate it--hammering, punching, piercing, stamping, and embossing. They'll learn easy means of attachment, such as soldering and Pop-riveting. They'll discover how to apply paint and patinas. Then, they'll choose among 50 diverse, easy-to-make projects and proceed to create as many stunning objects as they like. Between projects, they'll browse through a gallery of beautiful metalwork by expert designer/crafters.

"Here is the definitive book on jewelry making and other customized pieces of metalcraft, covering the subject completely and containing many hundreds of how to drawings and photographs. It is a must for beginning gold and silversmiths and an indispensable reference for the experienced craftsman artist."--Dust jacket.

This book, by a master craftsman who has devoted much of his life to teaching, is an exceptionally useful handbook in the techniques of sheet metalcraft. Presenting easy-to-follow and complete instructions on pages opposite to carefully executed drawings and diagrams, he makes it possible for anyone to learn the basics of this art form and to fashion objects which are at once beautiful and useful, and which display the individual expressiveness of the maker. Beginning with fundamentals, the author lists and pictures all of the necessary tools and carefully explains basic techniques for cutting stock, annealing and heating, pickling, shallow hollowing, raising, planishing, bending and shaping, leveling, soldering and welding, making molds, pattern making, and all of the steps and processes in the fine art of chasing. There follows a series of specific projects for making candlesticks, coasters, fluted platters and bowls, beakers, pitchers, serving trays, lamps, and a host of other articles in a wide variety of designs. A selection of thumbnail sketches for further exploration is included, and complete instructions are given for finishing and oxidation. The compact and graphic method of presentation makes this an extremely handy book, and the projects contained in it will engage the accomplished craftsman as well as the amateur. The approach is consistently from the craftworker's point of view, and the description of workshop methods are clear and direct and result from the author's lifelong experience in actual work and in instruction.

Today when we hear the word “craft,” a whole host of things come immediately to mind: microbreweries, artisanal cheeses, and an array of handmade objects. Craft has become so overused, that it can grate on our ears as pretentious and strain our credulity. But its overuse also reveals just how compelling craft has become in modern life. In The Shape of Craft, Ezra Shales explores some of the key questions of craft: who makes it, what do we mean when we think about a crafted object, where and when crafted objects are made, and what this all means to our understanding of craft. He argues that, beyond the clichés, craft still adds texture to sterile modern homes and it provides many people with a livelihood, not just a hobby. Along the way, Shales upends our definition of what is handcrafted or authentic, revealing the contradictions in our expectations of craft. Craft is—and isn’t—what we think.

A collection of innovative button handicraft projects.

"Many craft-minded individuals have been intrigued by the use of tin as practiced in an earlier day in the Southwest but they haven't known how to go about using it themselves. Now...a workbook that tells and shows all". -- New Mexican

(back cover) The ancient art of creating fired enamel on metal objects is enjoying renewed interest in today's arts and crafts world. This book explains the basic techniques clearly and precisely, combining text and illustrations to demonstrate several different metalworking processes. Following a brief, enlightening history of the art, the authors discuss the nature and characteristics of glass-based pigments, which are the special types of enamel required for application to metal. Subsequent chapters introduce readers to the materials and tools required for enameling on metal, the preparation processes, and the various working techniques that produce finished objects. The book's final section presents step-by-step instructions for crafting several different enameled metal art objects--all of which are the original creations of experienced metalwork artists. (front flap) Enameling on Metal The Art and Craft of Enameling on Metal Explained Clearly and Precisely Núria López-Ribalta and Eva Pascual i Miró Enameling on metal is an ancient and revered art form, and this book presents detailed instruction that is suitable for self-teaching as well as for use in formal arts and crafts classes. An opening chapter discusses and illustrates examples of enameled art objects created by medieval, renaissance, and modern artists. Chapters that follow describe tools and materials and present detailed instruction in mastering the various techniques required to produce finished work. Students are introduced to several different enameling methods, such as cloisonné and basse taille. A final section presents step-by-step instructions for a series of projects that students can carry out to produce several different enameled metal objects, which include jewelry, wall hangings, decorative boxes, vases, urns, and sculptures. (back flap) Núria López-Ribalta has her own enameling studio and regularly exhibits her drawings, paintings, and enamel work in international exhibitions. She has received numerous international awards for her enamel work, including the Diploma of the Municipality at the International Biennale in Vilnius, Lithuania and the Prize for Integration of Material in the Cloisonné Jewelry Contest in Japan. She also teaches and writes extensively on the subject of enameling on metal. Eva Pascual i Miró is an expert in antiques, and specializes in Catalan furniture and Catalan and medieval decorative arts. She has written extensively on these subjects, and has documented artworks and coordinated exhibitions at several museums and cultural institutions in Catalonia.

Craft metal has endless decorative possibilities. It is pliable and can be wrapped around or adhered to any surface you can imagine. This book is all about using colored craft metal—decorating it by means of embossing, cutting out designs, adding further color, taking away color and filling in 3D designs, and much more—to customize found objects for your home. You will learn more about the metal and supporting mediums, as well as how to use the tools and familiarize yourself with several techniques—all of which can be applied in making more than fifty decorative and functional items provided in this book. The original projects were designed and created specifically to showcase a variety of techniques and applications, including: Transferring and tracing designs Creating texture by means of inexpensive handheld tools or manual processes Using an embossing machine such as the cuttlebug™ for textures, patterns and die-cuts Finishing techniques such as sanding, ageing and painting Upcycling and repurposing Tips and tricks to simplify processes The projects range from beginner to advanced levels and from quick ideas to masterpieces that will take longer to complete. Magnificent photographs of the finished objects will inspire you while step-by-step instructions and photographs will help you to get started right away.

Introduces metalworking techniques such as how to create hinges and catches

Metalworking Through History provides a comprehensive, historic overview of the subject of metalworking while exploring it within its cultural context. It is written from the perspective that the crafting of objects in metal is a unique way of understanding a particular time and culture. As a broad encyclopedia of metalworking, it allows the reader to view the different societies and periods that produced work in this medium as part of a global, interrelated practice. Comprised of over sixty entries on relevant time periods, cultures, makers and processes, the book is a much-needed general reference text in the survey of this craft. The subjects span all the major metalworking periods and peoples, from the rituals of African iron smelting to the twentieth century studio movement. Outstanding individual makers are highlighted to give additional insight into the times at which they were active. Furthermore, the materials and techniques used in the act of metalworking are clearly explained in terms that are easily understood by a practitioner with tacit knowledge of the medium. Suggested further readings and cross-references allow for the expansion of research and additional study. It is an excellent first resource for understanding the concepts and terminology of the ancient and pervasive craft of metalworking. Volume includes eight pages of color plates, and black and white photos throughout. Metalworking Through History provides a comprehensive, historic overview of the subject of metalworking while exploring it within its cultural context. It is written from the perspective that the crafting of objects in metal is a unique way of understanding a particular time and culture. As a broad encyclopedia of metalworking, it allows the reader to view the different societies and periods that produced work in this medium as part of a global, interrelated practice. Comprised of over sixty entries on relevant time periods, cultures, makers and processes, the book is a much-needed general reference text in the survey of this craft. The subjects span all the major metalworking periods and peoples, from the rituals of African iron smelting to the twentieth century studio movement. Outstanding individual makers are highlighted to give additional insight into the times at which they were active. Furthermore, the materials and techniques used in the act of metalworking are clearly explained in terms that are easily understood by a practitioner with tacit knowledge of the medium. Suggested further readings and cross-references allow for the expansion of research and additional study. It is an excellent first resource for understanding the concepts and terminology of the ancient and pervasive craft of metalworking. Volume includes eight pages of color plates, and black and white photos throughout. *Art Deco *Marianne Brandt *Chinese *Dark Ages *Enamel *Engraving *Georg Jensen *Judaica *Metals and their Alloys *Native American *Plating and Leaf *Renaissance *June Schwartz *Soldering *South American *Samuel Yellin