Customer Reviews

Metal Techniques for Craftsmen: A Basic Manual for Craftsmen on the Methods of Forming and Decorating Metals

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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I took a chance on what the first two reviewers on this site said about this book and bought it unseen. Thanks to Oppi Untracht and those two people I have purchased a book without parallel. Their descriptions are both honest and accurate. In fact the title and sub-title of this book is both accurate and understated.
This is the most exhaustive photographic treatment of artmetal on the market. As an example we see a detailed treatment on inlaying in which a craftsman from India first casts and then inlays silver into a piece of Bidri work.(Bidri work is the inlaying of pure silver, in wire and sheet form, into cast objects of a non ferrous zinc alloy) Thirty Four photos show the process from casting a dish to finally polishing the finished product with the silver inlaid into the surface. There are other books on the market that talk about inlaying like "Metalwork and Enamelling" by Herbert Maryon (another excellent book) but they only talk us through the process whereas here we get to see it being done in photographic form. I will only list that one example but all the processes and subjects are explained equally well whether it be discussing Soldering, Casting Waxes or Raising metal, or even explaining the subject of Polishing Compounds.
The section at the back of the book on Material and Tool supply houses will be of much use to those living in North America. No doubt since its publication some of these will have closed but at lest it gives you a point of reference to start from and I only wished that we had them way down here at the bottom of the world.
The book also includes a good Glossary and there is also included a Bibliography which will be of use to those wanting to look up some of the older titles.
I will finish there as I am giddy with delight and am about to really start rambling on and believe that you will be too if you buy this outstanding book.
5+ Stars

This book, printed in 1968 and reprinted in 1975 is a classic text with over 440 well written pages on metalworking processes and another 60 pages of detailed tables, charts, indexes et cetera. It provides a mini-course in the history, philosophy, anthropology and technology of art metal working.

The book is well illustrated in black and white, demonstrating a logical progression of techniques from ancient to mid 20th century. There is little except sketchy mention of industrial processes such as electroforming, heavy casting and spinning and none at all of recent gimmicks such as sonic carving.

In the paranoid and safety conscious social climate of the late 1990's the most notable deficit in this book is the general absense of discussion about health and safety hazard issues. (I suppose that when the book was written authors still presumed their readers had either common walking-around sense to know that fire is hot, dusts and fumes toxic and hammers would mash their itty bitty fingers or if in doubt would go look up safe shop practices in other books written on that subject.)

I have always regarded this as the ultimate reference book for metaworkers. It covers many different facets of metalworking in a very clear way with lots of good photographs. How can this important book be out of print?

Uppi writes with great detail and so many pictures its hard to put down her books. I've learned so much from her and it's made me more confident to start metalsmithing.

This classic reference covers a huge range of the techniques used in jewelry and sivlersmithing. Descriptions of tools cover a huge range, but could be better illustrated - a lot of the pictures look like engravings from a manufacturer's catalog. Basics, like soldering, fabrication, raising, and casting get fairly thorough treatment. The "gallery" aspects inspire the beginner with beautiful works by traditional craftsmen and modern (1960s) artisans.

A few things about this book have aged, not least its reliance on asbestos as a heat-resistant material. Tools, especially torches, have advanced a bit since then, and newer scholarship finds that the layers of mokume gane aren't soldered but diffusion welded. Disposal of spent etchant has changed dramatically, and no current maker treats tortoiseshell as a commonplace material. The 1975 publication also meant that only B&W photos could be used economically, too.

But, to make up for these (and other) shortcomings, Untracht presents two classic techniques that few others discuss. One, niello, creates a glossy black inlay, somewhat like enamel but made from metal sulfides rather than glass frit. Metal inlay techniques, like those that adorn steel implements with gold and silver, get plenty of attention, too. Anyone who want to learn these traditional methods should start here.

This isn't a must-have for today's metal-workers, even though it was a landmark in its day. More recent books do at least as well with most of the material. Still, it presents niello and inlay better than others I've seen. And, just as much as ever, it informs and inspires the beginner. If you can find this at reasonable price, I recommend it highly.

-- wiredweird

Received book today. I believe the seller should have listed that it was a smokers book. It smells from cigarette every badly even after spraying with Fabreeze. I am airing it out. Hoping the smell disappears. I knew it was a used book. However, I expected it to be clean.

I was pleased with the condition of the used book. It is not often I receive a used book in this condition. Thank you