[TheForge] jewellery for blacksmiths

[Bruce Freeman]

I consider Maryon's book worth the money for two illustrations alone.  These are plates that show the twisting of wires.  Although done in small scale, any of these could be scaled up for use in blacksmithing.  For example, this plate would show the effect of twisting two sqare and two round wires together.  A blacksmith might substitute 1/4" square and round for the wires.  The beautiful effects achievable are amazing.  Of course, it might be best to do some of these twists cold, and it would be helpful to have a hefty twisting tool, like, maybe, a converted pipe threader, to provide the muscle.

Bruce
NJ


>>> keporter at comcast.net 7/26/2005 8:36:48 PM >>>


-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Justin, it sounds to me like you need a book that covers a bit of a lot 
> of jewelery topics. I'd suggest this one as being very practically oriented: 
> 
> The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight 
> 
> Steve 
Steve
For about ten bucks you can buy a used copy of Metalwork and Enamelling (English spelling) by Herbert Maryon. What you would learn in jewelry classes, or from the books written by their teachers is nothing more than a few of the many methods carefully laid out in this tome. I have both books and consider The Complete Metalsmith to be fluff. Maryon was a master craftsman who restored the most difficult pieces in the British Museum, often reinventing long lost technics in order to do so. He was knighted for his work, and his book was reprinted for about eighty years. So, you can "pan for color" from authors like McCreight or go straight to "the mother load" by learning from Maryon. I would suggest the latter. It's what knowledgeable jewelers have been doing for close on a century (his published articles on jewelry technics preseeded the book).
Mike P.
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