The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques

This is a well-organized encyclopedia of jewelry techniques. If you're looking for a book with "projects", this is not the book for you. What it does do is show specific steps of many different techniques in jewelry making. Many of the techniques covered lean more towards metal work (rings, bracelets, bezels, etc.), but has a lot of useful information, no matter what kind of jewelry artist you are. The techniques are shown, step-by step, with photos showing the process, as well, and it's a fantastic addition to my growing library. I highly recommend it. This book answered my questions about the differences between and the uses of various tools, metals, and they "whens", as well - when would I use this technique, and why this tool, or metal, or stone, as opposed to something else. I learned a ton just skimming through it, and it will be a go-to for years to come, I know.The book begins by going over the safety basics for protective equipment, using machines safely, working with heated metal, and using and storing chemicals. It goes on to give a brief history of jewelry.Next, the "meat" of the book:Chapter 1: "Work Space and Tools, and Materials": This chapter covers a wide range of tools and equipment, how to set up your workspace, health and safety equipment, and a section on materials like precious metals, base metals, other types of metals, natural materials, synthetic materials, and gemstones. I love that the author explains the differences between and the uses for the different types of metals, and why one would choose to use one over the other. She also shows pictures of each of the tools/machines she talks about, their function, and the techniques they are useful for. She reiterates the use of safety equipment; bringing awareness to what type of safety equipment is appropriate for what job. She takes you step by step through the process of the techniques she covers, with pictures to illustrate the steps. She covers steps for the technique, but doesn't present a "project" as a context for the technique - the author assumes you have a project in mind that you want to do, and shows how to do a lot of different techniques that could help you accomplish your project. This is very much an encyclopedia and a reference manual for someone who maybe hasn't taken a lot of classes or for someone who doesn't want to hunt down a technique on YouTube. It's also great for the serious beginner or hobbyist. It's well cross-referenced, too, so if you're looking at a tool, it's cross-referenced to a technique, and visa-versa.Chapter 2: "Techniques". This chapter mostly focuses on metalworking techniques (the core techniques used, construction, forming, steps to create mechanisms for catches, latches, chains, clasps, and hinges, etc., color and texture, and stone setting). At the end of the chapter, there is a section on stringing and knotting beads, and when to "outsource" your work for specific techniques or processes that require highly specialized skills.Chapter 3: "Design": This chapter covers inspiration, drawing (and the different kinds of drawing, from "life-studies" to design ideas, to technical drawing, and "presentation" drawing), and takes the reader through how to develop a design. it's a short, but very informative chapter.Chapter 4: "Going Into Business": This chapter covers photography & promotion of a finished piece. It also covers selling and exhibiting your work. For those who are considering selling their work, it is a helpful overview of going into business, determining cost and pricing, and what type of jewelry artist you are, and where you might want to show or exhibit your work, whether it be online, in a gallery setting, etc. It covers how to show your jewelry in various settings/situations, as well. (Again, a short chapter, but good info.)Chapter 5: "Reference": This chapter covers gemstones, metric and imperial conversions, tool shapes, standard sizes for rings in a chart that shows U.K., US, and Europe sizing. There's a glossary of terms, and a useful section on Suppliers and Services for some of the materials and tools used in the techniques covered in the book. There's also a "Further Reading" section, that lists books, magazines, websites, galleries, fairs and institutions as well as an index.In short, love this book, and I'm glad I made the investment!

Love this book! Great info for bench jewellers.

The review above covers the content of this book, so I'll just go on to add my own observations.. This is a lovely, fully illustrated book - full of photo's and a good variety of work. It covers a lot of techniques and gives a brief demo of them. These are not in depth though, they don't go into great detail and if a certain technique interests you or you want to learn it, I'd say you would probably need to find further, more detailed, reference. It covers a lot, so this was to be expected. I think its a very good book for showing the large variety of techniques available to us and it does a really good job of introducing the reader to the various methods with photo's and work examples.. It also has some great sections near the back of the book covering personal design work and the business side of jewellery making - what jewellery do you make? ie; is it studio jewellery, fashion jewellery, fine jewellery etc.. These sections are really useful to read. The author, anastasia young, is a lecturer at central st martain's in london and the work that comes out of that university is incredible. Having visited there I can confirm that it is a high achieving course and the students push themselves utterly. Considering the work that emerges from this university, I find it very exciting that one of its lecturers/tutors is now sharing her knowledge and thoughts/processes/techniques in beautifully put together books.. She has also added a section on outsourcing - getting work electroplated, cast, set etc.. this is a brilliant resource - particularly for us brits! (as it has extremely useful addresses and contacts) (O:To sum up, this is a beautiful and useful book - somewhat of an encyclopedia of techniques - it is definately worth having and will be informative. However, it does not cover all these workbench techniques in great detail, sometimes not really enough to successfully achieve a result, unless you already have some experience - so perhaps bear this in mind.. I am glad I got it and I would not be without it now in my growing library! I think that this cover vers is also the nicest.. (I got mine from the states as the UK vers has a different cover and came out a little bit later)

Perfect for Beginners but anyone with experience will quickly run out of run way if you get my drift.I would give this 5 stars if this was my first book as a beginner but since I've been at this for a while I find it less useful.Seems to attempt to be like a mini, modern Jewelry: Concepts And Technology by Untracht.