 Review by
Richard Sumrall"As a silversmith, my task is surprisingly
straightforward. I transform flat pieces of sheet metal into useful objects
with different hammers, stakes and other simple tools." In her book "The
Craft of Silversmithing," silversmith and author Alex Austin describes the
process of converting raw nonferrous silver into objects of beauty, artistry
and utility. She does this by explaining the basic principles of
silversmithing: understanding silver and silversmithing; the tools and
techniques for forming silver; and the tools and techniques for finishing
silver.
"Understanding Silver and Silversmithing"
According to Austin, the key to silversmithing is understanding what is
not included in the creative process. Silversmiths do not "hot work"
the metal; because it is a nonferrous metal, containing no iron, it is
worked cold. A process known as annealing makes the silver malleable, or
soft, to manipulate and form. The process of quenching, whereby the metal is
quickly cooled by water rather than air, further enhances this malleable
condition.
When buying sterling silver material, it is best to consult a reputable
jewelry supplier for the best selection. For purposes of demonstration and
instruction, Austin uses sterling silver sheets and wires in the book's
projects.
"Tools and Techniques for Forming Silver"
Austin devotes a considerable portion of the book's instruction to
explaining the different tools and techniques used in forming and shaping
silver. Although silversmiths accumulate many tools during their smithing
experience, she points out, "You'll be relieved to know you can start
working with just a few (tools)." A collection of the proper tools is
essential to this craft, as they are related to the techniques used by the
silversmith: cutting, piercing, filing and sanding, heating, cleaning,
hammering, sinking and raising, and soldering.
Many of the processes are self-explanatory; for example, cutting and
piercing the metal allows you to develop the design style and decoration for
a particular object. Likewise, filing, heating and cleaning further work and
refine the surface and its appearance. According to Austin, "Hammers are
what make a smith a smith. … They're the tools that define what you do, what
you can do and what you will do." Although there are numerous kinds of
hammers mentioned in her book, Austin recommends beginning with two common
types: a planishing hammer and a good wooden or rubber mallet.
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Sinking and raising are hammering techniques that manipulate and
change the metal in opposite ways. Whereas sinking "stretches metal
down and makes the hammered areas thinner," raising silver on a
stake thickens the metal by pushing it in on itself.x
"Tools and Techniques for Finishing Silver"
Austin emphasizes, "Cleaning and polishing a silversmithed piece
is just as important as forming one." Behind this belief is the need
to develop the skill to properly use a polishing lathe. The lathe is
a critical step in the finishing process and involves the use of
abrasive (cutting) wheels and polishing wheels. Your first lathe
does not have to be a professional-grade machine. Austin recommends
that beginners start with a small motorized rotary tool known as a
flexible shaft. Its single-speed motor improves your ability to
polish the silver and decreases your chances of making a mistake or
causing an injury.
The other step in polishing is to select the right compound.
Compounds are used to create the beautiful shine on the surface and
guarantees that your silver "can become absolutely radiant."
Always remember that the first concern in polishing is safety. In
working with a mechanical lathe, Austin reminds us, "You need to
always be physically healthy and mentally alert. If you polish for
too long, you'll lose concentration, an object could fly, and your
back and arms will ache for days afterward."
"The Craft of Silversmithing" is an excellent source of
information for anyone curious about silversmithing. The book
contains 18 different projects of varying degrees of ease (a money
clip) and difficulty (creamer and sugar bowl). The photographic
illustrations clearly explain every step of each process and
demonstrate the extraordinary beauty of a finished silver object.
In the introduction Austin writes, "My goal with this book has
been to make these topics accessible and the process approachable
for beginner and experienced metalworkers alike." This book is
recommended to anyone who is interested in the art and craft of
silversmithing.
[Text from file received
from Richard Sumrall,
Lincoln Public Library District]
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