Customer Reviews

Foldforming

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This gorgeous book addresses a huge family of forming techniques, a family that is still under active exploration. These techniques create a wide range of varied forms, and add to the traditional methods of fabrication as much as they draw from them. If you have any experience in metalwork, you'll find plenty to add to your existing skills, and at least as much that your current knowledge can add to what's presented here.

Clear, descriptive photos fill just about every page. These pictures serve three major purposes: they instruct in technique, they show the kinds of results that each technique can create, and they display masterworks that exemplify the finest results experienced crafters can produce - sometimes, all at once. Artisans at every level will find something they can use. Someone with just a hammer and bench block can get great results, as can the maker with access to a powered rolling mill and hydraulic forming press. My one peeve with this book, and it's just a small one, is that Lewton-Brain never specifies the thickness of materials to work with. I know that he encourages direct experience and experimentation, but the beginner might want to know whether to start closer to 24ga or 12ga sheet - it makes a difference.

One thing that makes this book attractive is its emphasis on inexpensive materials, the kind you don't mind making mistakes with. Samples in gold and silver appear, of course, but nearly all of the demonstrations use copper - not just because of cost, but also because of its unique working properties and the many kinds of surfaces it yields. The big appeal, however, is not just the organic beauty of the results, but the sense of play and exploration that pervades this book. I can't think of any other book on any craft that conveys so much pure fun in handling the material.

-- wiredweird

Thorough presentation of techniques. Photos and directions are clearer guide to the techniques than the instruction I received in a 3 day workshop taught by a student of the author. In fact a student in the class had a copy of the book which had just been published, and we took turns consulting it, especially the photos. This book is different from the step-by-step books that consist of a certain number of projects resulting in finished pieces of jewelry designed by the author. Foldforming does not lend itself to such an approach, so look elsewhere if that is what you want. The purpose of this book is to allow you to understand the dynamics of foldforming, practice the techniques, quickly master the wide range of folds presented, and use your creative imagination to combine them in unique ways to make jewelry or other objects of your own design.

I had seen some jewellery made using foldforming and I decided that I wanted to try it but could find no suitable classes in my area. A friend told me about this book so I ordered it.
It was the best decision I have ever made as the book is extremely readable and the projects are both easy to do with minimum tools and with cheaper metals.
Instant gratification! I know I will refer back to this book in my metal smithing for years to come.

This book really got me excited. I love the organic, natural shapes caused by fold-forming, and I never would have believed that such beautiful things could be made with so little fuss. The author's deep understanding of metallurgy makes this technique work, and yet even someone like myself with only a novice's understanding can have a thrilling time hammering and come out with beautiful metal shapes, because the book is so well written, photographed, and just unassumingly empowering. My only sad face is because I will probably never get to study with the author in person.

The most comprehensive book on form folding available. Excellent photos and directions. A must for every metalsmith's bookshelf.

This book gives every possible way to fold form. There are many techniques and lots of pictures. I would have given it 5 stars if there had been more pictures of finished products with fold forms.

This book explains everything you need to know about fold forming for metal used in art and jewelry.
Wonderful pictures and great explanations of how to do form folding...

My husband does metal sculptures. He saw this book mentioned in a magazine he reads and asked me to order it. He was very pleased with the book. It gave many ideas for metal forming for do-it-yourselfers.

I have just decided to write this review having been sat on this book for months! I got it before xmas and flicked through it and thought, cool. Then left it alone until now.
I have, over the last week read and re read this cover to cover. It is BRILLIANT. Even if you feel your not really into foldforming or manipulating large amounts of metal - somehow charles lewton brain crosses some kind of conversational/literature boundary and makes you feel engaged in a dialogue with him. Its unbelievable and has made me think that I need to go and buy every jewellery book this guy has ever written!! He discusses the possibilities of things and the absolute fundamental technique of doing it in the most basic step by step formats. He has done this book in such a clever way, I can't even fully put my finger on how he's done this - but somehow this book has made me feel more competent and capable than I have in ages. I've had exciting discovery after exciting discovery these last few days. Its been brilliant. Upon first glance I seriously underestimated this book - I could see it was good and nicely done, but I really underestimated its actual conversation.. It seems to me that one of the things thats so good about its teaching content is how unassuming and simple he makes things seem - very "undaughnting". It makes you feel like you can just go and have a crack at it with little or no cost - to just play about and see what you come up with. I love it. (and recommend it. lol)

Beautiful work, great pictures and I can't wait to get started making jewerly using this.