Metalsmithing Made Easy

Book excerpt: Following the success of her first book, Simple Soldering, Kate Ferrant Richbourg walks kitchen table metalsmiths through the basics and into new territory! In addition to teaching the essentials of soldering, Metalsmithing Made Easy demystifies rotary tools and introduces different kinds of hotter small-space torches. In her signature friendly, easy-to-follow style, Kate lays out a lesson plan of techniques to help readers gain familiarity with soldering tools and methods. In the chapter "The Field Guide to the Rotary Tool" you will learn how to quickly and efficiently, with a simple handheld tool and a few select bits, add professional-quality surface effects and finishing to your jewelry designs. A practice sampler of metal tiles, to be worked on step by step, helps to hone skills in surface manipulation, stone setting, cold connections, and more. Once these skills are mastered in the sampler, you can undertake any (or all) of fifteen gorgeous projects included, such as a locket, bail with set stone, prong-set pendant, and much more.