Customer Reviews

Woodturning Jewellery

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

150 pages, Full color photos throughout the book, good gallery in each chapter. Most items are single piece (except necklaces). Well written with clear instructions but I haven't made anything from this book (just not my style). Projects: Earrings, Brooches, Bangles, Rings, (Bead) Necklaces. Finishing: Dying, Inlaying Wire, Laminating.

I am totally new to the wooden jewellry making experience. I bought this book to get an understanding on how to begin with this craft. I always look for well photographed books with good instructions when I want to learn about a craft. This book has both. The photographs are inspiring and the jewelry projects are nice. I could wear most of them. I haven't attempted to make any of the projects in the book because my time is consumed with urgent unrelated matters; however, when get stated and make something, I will write another review about that experience when it happens.

I found the book Woodturning Jewelry a very well written and informative book, Hilary Bowen has a conversational style of writing that speaks to you, not at you. Giving the right amount of information without being over whelming. The directions are clear and understandable even to a beginner. The illustrations and pictures make step by step instruction great for quick review reference when making a peace of jewelry. I also found her side notes of great help for quick reminders. In the book you will find information on specific types of woods to use. She explores the use of different types of stains and includes step by step instructions on how to inlay metal into the wood. As a relatively new wood turner I would highly recommend this book to any and all wood turners that are looking for great ideas and information on making wood jewelry.

This book is the only book a person working in the jewelry/metal arts would need to get a very good education in wood and alternative materials. If you have a small wood lathe that will allow you to change chucks or face plates some wood bits and a couple of ideas. Than you will be set for a fun time in the shop. You can get your Christmas presents out of the way. The projects shown give enough design info that you can just continue to expand.
The third section is well worth the cost of the book twice over. Even if you only read and use one of the chapters it will be well worth the time spent.
The pictures are clear,and of good size, the work table surface in the pictures is keep to a minimum. The drawings that will be enhanced with color were given color. the line drawings are also good. This is a keeper and it will be number one on the reference shelf. I own It

Wooden jewelry is hot these days, or so my wife tells me, so I looked through this book to pick up some tips. (By the way, "jewellery" is the British spelling). I'm always looking for new ways to use up the small scraps and offcuts of exotic woods that I can't bear to throw away.

The first part of the book contains the requisite safety rules and a general discussion of tools, equipment and design fundamentals you'll need to create jewelry on your lathe. The part that really caught my attention, though, was the section on further techniques and refinements. In this section, the author discusses stains and dyes, inlaying wire (very cool, I'm going to try that next), laminating and alternative materials, as well as finishing techniques. She also identified the various jewelry findings and what they're used for. ("Findings" are those little clasps, wires and other necessary hardware.)

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the book because it addresses all the basics, yet it has enough different ideas in it that the advanced turner won't feel left out. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to experiment with turning small items such as jewelry. You'll never make much money at it, but hey, it's a hobby, right?

Anyone who has some woodturning experience should enjoy this very well written book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in turning jewelry.

In the beginning of the book you get short lessons on Health and Safety, Tools and equipment, type of wood, different type of chucks and design.

Then you get lots of good detailed information on different projects including earrings, brooches, bangles, rings, and necklaces. The book does a very good job, step by step, on design, turning procedures and mounting the turned wood pieces to the jewelry findings. The book has many high quality and very close-up photos of the different stages of each project.

Another section covers details on enhancing the wood turnings with stains and dyes, inlaying with different types of wire, and laminating. And if all this isn't enough, there is another chapter that will give you ideas on other techniques like beading, inlays, gold leaf, and carving on your turnings.

Overall this is an excellent book for anyone wanting to make jewelry on a lathe.

Ms. Bowen?s book assumes that you have some woodturning experience, and so does not go into detail on the basics of turning wood. She has included many high-quality, full-color photos of both finished pieces and works in progress.

The first part of the book covers tools (both essential and optional), glues, chucking, and woods that are suitable for jewelry. The first section also includes a chapter on the concepts of design. This chapter covers the topics of form, function, proportion (including the golden rectangle), balance and delicacy. This will be a good help to those of us that are not natural born artists.

The second part of the book has 5 chapters, covering earrings, brooches, bangles, rings, and necklaces. Each chapter starts with photos of finished items and includes many individual photos within the chapter. These photos will be excellent for helping the beginning jewelry maker get started. Each chapter also includes step-by-step instructions for making a couple of basic pieces.

The third section covers staining/dying, inlaying wires, laminating and other decorative methods. In this section there is a good chapter covering the various jewelry findings that can be used with turned items. This section ends with a chapter on alternative materials such as bone, horns, nuts, plastics and metals that can also be turned on the wood lathe.

The book has an appendix detailing the properties of some common woods that are good for jewelry making. There is a bibliography of 5 books with titles covering band saws, gilding, dyes, Art Nouveau Style, design, and wood identification.

Overall this is an excellent book with outstanding photos that should be an inspiration to anyone that wants to make jewelry on a wood lathe.

Hilary Bowen's book on Woodturning Jewellery caught my interest because I turn wooden earrings for a hobby. The photos of Ms. Bowens turned jewelry are valuable alone for inspiration.

The book is divided into three parts. Part one explores Health and Safety, Tools and Equiptment, Timber, Chucking Techniques, and Design. Part two looks at five different types of turned jewelry and the techniques Ms. Bowen uses to turn them. Part three discusses finishes and finishing techinques, and other decorative techniques such as wirer inlaying, laminating woods, and turning materials other than wood.

I found the chapter on Design very interesting because it discussed how Form and Function should complement each other and how Ms. Bowen looks at nature for inspiration.

A great find for all skill levels.