This paper explains how to make a chain tool, a class of chasing tool which lets you make organized, regular rows of round... More > dents for borders, frames, bands and decorative repeated marks. Different shapes are possible, and the registration bumps on the tool let you automatically extend a decorative line or row, otherwise very hard to do with chasing tools. More complex patterns can be placed between the registration bumps allowing complicated rows of marks. The same idea can make rope-like lines of marks. Tool steels, sources and hardening and tempering are addressed. Chain tool information is not available elsewhere. Includes 30 black and white step-by step photos. < Less

This is a reproduction of Diderot's famous French Encyclopaedia from 1751. There are three pages, a title page, a... More > descriptive key page to the images and a page that has an engraving of a chasing and damascening workshop along with a plate showing chasing tools and chisels as well as some typical workshop tools. After the reproduction comes a new section: the translation of the workplace descriptions and the tool key into English, with the proper English chasing terms used for the tools. A variety of tools are named. < Less

This wide-ranging, truly eclectic paper is chock full of suppliers, sources, technical information, patinas, stonesetting... More > tips, bench tools, book reviews, gemology information and thoughts about metalsmithing. This book derived from a large handout for Lewton-Brain's workshops between 1984 and 1996, at which time it formed the core of Lewton-Brain's information published at the Ganoksin Project(ganoksin.com), which is what got the website going at the beginning. 176 pages. Lots of diagrams. This is the original unchanged, classic 1996 version. It is all that content in one document. Some of the addresses are dated, but all told this is a ton of information. ISBN 0-9698510-1-4 < Less

Patinas for Small Studios by Charles Lewton-Brain

This classic paper describes safer, easier patination methods for metals... More > involving easily obtainable and even kitchen chemicals to produce blues, greens, browns, blacks, grays and reddish tones on metals. Cupric nitrate patination, which gives a wide ranges of controllable green, blue, black and brown color options on a number of metals, is extensively discussed. Paint types which emulate patinas are mentioned. Application methods and options for pattern and surface control are described. 35 pages < Less

This book analyzes hinges and hinge-like mechanisms in a manner never done before in a single volume. It has become a... More > classic for jewelry making. Along with history, generics, classes of hinges, guiding principles, sections include: design, tube making, hinge pins (force-fit, riveted, upset, tapered, cotter type, tubing, square, threaded, stud), hinge types (basic, thick-walled, locket, bracelet, box, block, cold-rolled, tab, cast and milled), lubrication, catch systems, hidden, alternative, cast hinges and solving design problems. Good index and table of contents. Covers more information about hinges than any book in English. 112 pages, over 200 line drawings.. < Less

This book documents a significant Lewton-Brain project, "River Trip", an exhibition first shown at INFLUX gallery in... More > Calgary. It represents key works from more than a years work in the Cage Series, works made with the trademark copper and gold electroforming that marks Lewton-Brains work since 2000. < Less

This Classic book is a loose, eclectic collection of short cuts, bench tricks and alternative equipment options for... More > goldsmiths. Cheap tool making, conversions and unexpected sources for tools are all described. Sections include shop machines, tools, setting tools, soldering and more. Will save you hundreds of dollars in the jewelry studio. Lots of line drawings, lists and reviews of sources round out the book. A good table of contents and index make finding information easy. This was the first bench tricks book published in English in 40 years and led the interest in Bench Tricks in the jewelry/metals field. 80 pages. 82 line drawings. $34.95 < Less

This is the original classic paper that started the fold-forming scene. Fold-forming or foldforming is a system of sheet... More > metal forming which emphasizes forming using the metals characteristics. Forms are derived from the natural plasticity, ductility and elasticity of the metal. The system is internationally recognized as a new approach to working metal. It is extremely efficient and rapid. Tools are simple: fingers, hands, anvil hammers, mallets, and rolling mills. The paper has a theoretical introduction and step-by-step recipes for quickly working sheet metal. 49 pages, over 70 B/W line drawings. This was the precursor to the full color 2008 book "Foldforming" by Lewton-Brain. < Less

This book teaches how to easily hot burnish gold foil permanently onto silver objects, and raw sheet for soldering and... More > building patterned jewelry with. It is a very rapid, easy method of adding the buttery richness of 24k gold to your silver and gold objects. This incredibly simple designing technique was re-introduced to the West from Korea in the 1980’s. It lets you make pictures and patterns using pure 24k gold foil placed onto other metals as well, including steel, platinum, palladium, 14K, 18K and other gold alloys, aluminum and even copper. Step-by-step photos show how to make your own gold foil, hot burnish onto silver, platinum. Also discussed are how to calibrate a hot plate and use liver of sulfur. The white electrum alloy for keum-boo is described. < Less

A historical and technical introduction to gold surface enrichment. This academic paper describes the approaches that... More > goldsmiths have used historically in various cultures to remove base metals from gold alloys for refining or "coloring the gold": depletion gilding. There is an extensive listing of recipes from numerous historical and contemporary sources to foster contrast and comparison and deepen readers understanding of the subject. It is intended for information only and is not a "how to" for depletion gilding. Many of the procedures described are hazardous and not to be done without a chemical fume hood and similar stringent precautions. 40 pages. < Less