Customer Reviews

Getting Started Making Metal Jewelry (Getting Started series)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful book to get you started with metal jewelry. Mark Lareau covers the basics such as tools and how to use them. He prioritizes the tools, which is helpful when you're on a budget. The book includes little mini-lessons such as a one-page course on how metals behave--did you know many metals have a crystalline structure?--and a three-page lesson on how soldering works. He even devotes a page to stringing your jeweler's saw! Some of the descriptions come from the kitchen (peanut butter sandwiches, for example).

Lareau has a wonderful, approachable style of writing and takes away any fear you may have of using unfamiliar tools and materials. He follows his lessons with a variety of basic projects which build on the information he's given and which slowly increase in difficulty. Throughout the book are large, clear photos showing just how the steps should look.

Other books I have on this subject are awfully advanced, and assume too much prior knowledge. This book has lots of detail in the instructions, both verbal and pictorial. The projects are simple, yet good-looking.

Explains everything with detail. Great for someone that wants to try working with metals and has NO prior experience. Easy to read. Written with humor.

Interested in designing your own metal jewelry. Start with this book FIRST. Learn the basics and if you love what you are doing - buy a more advanced book (there are several in various degree of complexity) or one that focuses upon the metal design subject you like best (e.g. cold soldering, chain designs, wire work, casting, setting stones). If you are not a beginner or know a thing or two about metal and how it can be manipulated, do NOT get this book. You will be disappointed and probably sell it or give it away. Therefore, the "GETTING STARTED" portion of the book's title is very appropriate and should be kept in mind when buying this book. A good series of books (there are other subjects in the Getting Started series) that are definitely for those wanting to dabble first before putting lots of money into setting up a studio focused on a particular art form.

I am a mostly self taught jewelry maker and metalsmith. One of the bad things about being self taught is that you miss out on the tricks and sometimes basic info. With that in mind I wanted to read a book that would fill in the blanks and this book was perfect. It gave clear information and a lot of great tips that would be otherwise trial and error. You could make metal jewelry with just this book to guide you. Great job!

I have taken Mark's class: Intro to Metalsmithing and this book is the next best thing to being there.

Mark covers all the basics plus those important safety tips!!

Wanting to learn a new jewelry art? Then this is the book for you.

If you are getting into making metal jewelry - or even thinking about it - this is THE book you need. Mark Lareau did a phenomenal job writing a clear, expansive, how-to manual. This book seems to cover it all - and is one I reference frequently. His writing style makes this book enjoyable, and you learn loads without even realizing you're learning. For something akin to a textbook, this is a great investment.

The author manages to simplify the discussion regarding which tools are necessities - and why. Without a lot of complicated talk - or extraneous information you don't need - he gets you going. Following this book will allow you to set up a great beginning bench - and the remainder of the book will have you creating metal jewelry in no time. Highly recommended. I own several books on making metal jewelry, or working with metal, but I don't refer to any of those books nearly as much as I do this one. This book is a manual, not a novel - which is helpful when you just want to learn the hows and whys...without getting into complicated discussions. There is enough theory and methodology in this book to get you well on your way to becoming a great metal jeweler - if you put in the time. Mark Lareau creates some stunning pieces - but also does the reader a great favor by being straight forward and upfront about the time, effort, practice, and patience it takes to become a master of the craft.

A must for any beginner. I have learned more from this book than any other I own on the subject. I would even go so far as to say this: if I could only choose one book to keep on metal working, this would be it. I would let the rest of the metal books in my library go in favor of keeping this one. Yep - it's that well put together and written. A true gift for the metal novice. If only all "how to" books were this well done.

I make welded sculptures and want to venture into jewelrymaking.

I was looking for a book to explain setting stones in bezels plus making really creative silver pieces.

This isn't the book for either.

There are some flat pieces, a bell cap bracelet, a few simple band rings and a few other pieces. Most of the designs didn't seem especially inspired.

I'm sure the book I am looking for is out there. This just wasn't it.

This is a very good book for anyone wanting to start with metal jewelry (as the title indicates!). It covers an excellent range of skills and I've referred to it often. This was my very first metal jewelry book and I highly recommend it.

I am enjoying this book. It is a book I will keep around to refer back to. I am new to metalsmithing and jewelry making and the information and ideas in this book are inspiring. I would highly recomend this book.