Customer Reviews

Jewelry Studio: Silver Wire Fusing

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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. 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.

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.

i was intimidated at first by using a torch, but the author makes it simple and accessable to the beginning beader/jewlry maker. i had so much fun playing and love all the complements i get on what i've created. the author includes lots of project ideas and inspiration. i can't wait for a sequal! easy to read, lots of detailed photos. a must have!

I have recently started silversmithing. Before I finally tried it, I was kind of scared of the process. I bought this book because I thought it would be easier to just fuse the silver wire instead of going through all the processes of fluxing, soldering, and pickling silver, and I thought I would have to have an oxyacetyline torch to do it.

In the fusing technique used in this book, the author uses a butane torch, which is quite strong enough to melt sterling and fine silver. I did suceed in completing some of the projects (while experiencing the expected learning curve of destroying quite a lot of silver). However, when I began doing the flux/solder/pickle type of silversmithing, I was quite surprised to find that not only can I solder jewellery findings with a butane torch, doing it this way nearly guarantees that I'm not going to ruin things accidentally. (Heavier projects DO require different gases, but small things like jewellery can be done with butane.)

Solder, particularly easy solder, flows at a lower temperature than molten silver. Since the purpose of silver fusing is to actually melt the silver together, you have to be really meticulous about the timing. Also, when soldering silver, you protect what you are not soldering with a layer of flux, which is then removed by pickling. This keeps the firescale (oxidized silver) to a minimum.

With fusing, the whole ring is covered in firescale, requiring a lot of polishing. It also kind of pits the silver, so if you are looking for a rugged look with built in patina, fusing is a way to achieve that, but if you want shiny smooth silver, be prepared to invest a lot of time and elbow grease. Using a tumbler will help but it takes a lot longer than the time specified in the book.

The fusing technique is not an invalid process or have any less artistic merit. I just don't know why someone would do it when they could just use regular silver solder. There are recipes online for simple borax flux and pickle with citric acid (even unsweetened lemonade mix!), so even someone with a small budget could get set up doing these projects. And if I can do it, just about anyone with two brain cells working in tandem can do it.

I did like the designs and the author's instructions on making and shaping rings were really good. The techniques she laid out for fusing could (and should) be applied to soldering, such as working from small rings to large ones. There was a lot of great jewellery making advice and her projects were better than the usual beginner jewellery stuff -- things you'd actually wear instead of giving to someone else.

My experience with metal jewelry-making stems primarily with sterling silver (SS), while the use of nearly 99% silver has been used with my glass and Precious Metal Clay (PMC - also approx. 99% silver) work. However, I have to admit that at times the steps taken when soldering SS and removing fire scale is time consuming. I decided to look into working with a purer form of silver and therefore purchased this book. Yes much is the same, but the ability to fuse silver without seeing the fire scale was pleasing (tested it yesterday - couldn't wait). Expense-wise it is often a set-back, but when you take into consideration time also equals money when in production of jewelry pieces, this may equal out. One of the most useful charts in the book was on page 67 where information of amount of wire needed to produce various sized rings. I also enjoyed playing with my little propane torch more than ever (have used it for other things).

Yes this is a basic book, but one that is useful for those previously used to working with SS or those new to field of silver work. There are differences in methodology. I also feel that the safety issues brought up in this book should be required reading in every book that requires the use of machines, tools, or other items that can cause potential health hazards. I also appreciated the more detailed insights on various items (e.g. how the fire brick retains heat thus helping in providing heat to the metal from beneath) and how to set-up a studio focused on silver work. Some items required can be a bit pricey, but luckily for me, I already have them all.

Reference guide, basics to follow, projects to get you started into the design of silver jewelry, and more make this a book to have in your metal design library. Giving it only four stars may seem a bit low after my positive review, but I really wish more examples of designs, especially outside the most common general circle designs, and applications for those wanting to advance in their skills would have been provided. Even if it were only two or three examples. Then again, since this is a beginner book on silver fusing, follow your own design path using the skills garnered from the guides in this book. You may be surprised!

This is a terrific resource for learning about fusing (instead of soldering) fine silver. The information is clear and easy to understand. It's especially helpful for those who might not have easy access to a hands-on class.

I have been wanting to take a class on fine silver wire fusing, but haven't been able to. After recieving this book, I just may not have to! A wonderful beginner's book, the directions are clear, accompanied by lots of color step-by-step photos. The explanation of tools needed, and work area set up, is well done, and can perhaps alleviate some of the fear of using a torch. The designs are beautiful, some simple, some a bit more advanced. I can see anyone use this book not only to learn fusing, but to improve on your skills. As one of my favorites, I would recommed this book to anyone. Well worth the money!

This is a AWESOME BOOK for the beginner silver fuser. It is very easy to understand, the illustrations are very well done, and the finished projects are beautiful! If you are a intermediate or experienced silver fuser... this may not be the book for you. It is definitely a great "beginners" book. As a beginner...I love, love, love this book!!! It has inspired me and I am getting rave reviews on the projects I have made using the ideas and techniques in this book!

Got this for my creative mother for mother's day (she requested it) and want to buy one for myself now! Really neat book for beginners to learn techniques to begin this phase of jewelry-creating and several CUTE (not cheezy) projects to get started with!