Jewelry Studio: Silver Wire Fusing (Paperback)

by Liz Jones (Author)
Key Phrases: pair sterling silver ear wires, butane microtorch, sterling jump ring, Firebrick Butane, Hot-pliers Quenching, Next Level (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I always heard that you could fuse fine silver, but after reading [Liz Jones's] book, I was amazed at how simple it seems. Or, at least, she makes it look pretty simple."  —About.com Guide to Jewelry Making

"With its clear instructions, big photos, and simple approach, I definitely recommend this title if you're brand new to fusing and brazing."  —Chris Franchetti Michaels, jewelry editor, BellaOnline

Product Description

Showcasing a classic accessory that has always been in style, this all-in-one guide to silver wire fusing teaches crafters and jewelry makers how to create dazzling silver designs. With 11 technique exercises, including tumbling and finishing, this resource highlights the cost-effective benefits of the craft, which, using only a torch, requires less equipment than other types of metalwork. From basic beginners to experienced jewelry makers, crafters of all skill levels will delight in the book's 16 contemporary jewelry projects that include rings, pins, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680660
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680661
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,742 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #35 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Metal Work
  #37 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Decorating
  #80 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Jewelry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like having my own wire fusing class!, April 3, 2008

By	A. Janney "Jewelry chic" (Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been wanting to take a class doing fine silver wire fusing and for less than $16, I got my own little class with this book. I had done the basic balling of headpins with fine silver wire but was intimidated to fuse larger gauges of wire together. (With the price of silver today, I didn't want to make a lot of mistakes.) This book gave me the confidence to try it and within a half hour, I had made a really cute chain bracelet. Her directions are clear and easy to follow. She gives a lot of tips and hints along the way. I have a favorite new jewelry technique!!! I had worked with torches before (with glass), so as long as you can get over the fear of using a torch, it's a fun and easy way to make silver jewelry. I still need a little practice (and you will ruin a few rings when you start out), but my first few projects went so well that I'm excited and inspired to keep going.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Filled a knowledge gap, found a favorite, April 27, 2008

By	N. Smith (CT, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Teaches you making your own ball-end head pins from wire, fusing rings closed, shaping them via hammer or pliers as you can see by the shapes on the cover, stamping "inspiration" links (my favorite find, I will upload a photo of that page in a moment), and it has some good info and tips along the way.

I gave it 4/5 stars because her suggested resources for fine silver wire only offer it in thickness up to 18 gauge - yet for her projects you frequently need thicker stuff. [...] is the website I found so far to get it... getting your metal will be pricier than the tools that's for sure!

And it tells you it has to be a pure metal to fuse, FINE silver, not sterling. To me the obvious question is "Ok, so can I fuse and practice with copper first to save a few bucks?" If the book gives you the ok or tips to try copper (or pure gold if you're a lotto winner), I could not find that information in here.

You'll need a kiln brick, torch, pliers, high-quality flush cutters, and fine silver wire to get started on basics. Steel bench block, hammer, metal stamps, and a tumbler if you want to get fancy and finish to perfection. I had everything but a tumbler, which I just picked up on ebay for less than $30. :)

Where I'm coming from FYI: I'm a beadweaver, chainmailler (jump ring weaving really), lampworker, and I've dabbled in wireworking. Somehow I missed trying fusing along the way so this book filled that gap nicely for me. I plan to make frames for my lampwork beads, and some funky links to insert in my chainmaille pieces.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For beginners, February 29, 2008

By	Sally S. Wooten "Sunny Bead dot com" (Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although this book is good, it is strictly for beginners. I consider myself an advanced beginner (I've taken one class) and I only learned one thing in this book. Buy this book if you've never done any kind of fusing or soldering and you'll learn alot, but if you've ever done it before buy a different book.