Here's the thing. As some of you know I play with metal. I do ok but compared to my idol Casimir Nawrocki I'm a complete hack. I went for a visit today to check in on him and ask some questions about Mercedes 280 SL doors. As it turns out not only was he able to answer my questions, he has a right and left door skin fixture for making new skins and about a dozen skins sitting in a pile. HOLY!

Anywho, I have been out of touch with him for quite awhile and just found out today that he has published a how to book.

He pulled out a copy and in his fairly good but broken english (He's from Poland) went through the entire book in an instructional fashion with me and my upholstery buddy.

I'm blown away! This was one of the best days I've had in a long time. Hard to top the pure enjoyment of spending time with a master craftsman and being treated as though I am his equal. Humbling.

So, here's the thing. He had this book published on hs dime. It's as thick as a Chiltons soft cover manual and wall to wall page after page of step by step photos. Things I've never even dreamed of doing with metal.

First I want to post a link for his site so you can purchase a copy off his site.

http://forgiare-il-ferro.webs.com/

Second I want to offer you the opportunity to get a signed copy. I'm thinking the best way could be to sent a check made out to Casimir to me and I will personally deliver the checks and get him to personally sign your copy.

If you ever had any interest in metal crafting this book is a must! I garrentee you will not be disappointed.


Here's the start of the list

euro911- Mark S.--Check received

Rob914- Rob-- Check Received

Gint- Mike G.-- Check received

Ruby914- Mike--Check received

billh1963- Bill-- Check Received

BritCarJim- Jim-- Check received

Pat Price (my friend that owns the 280 SL in my garage) Paid

old914dog- mike floyd-- PM received and returned

Dr Evil- Mike L.-- Check received

jmmotorsports- Jerry--Check received

John Jentz- John-- Check received

A&PGirl- Carrie S.--Check received

dflesberg- Duane--Check received

914coop- Irv-- Check received

Scottyb- Scotty-- Check received

mtburman- Mike-- Check arrived Saturday after I already went to see Cass

JRust- Jamie-- Paid

ArtechnicA- Rich-- PM received and returned

Kwales-Ken-- Check received

Dailberl- Juergen-- Check arrived Saturday after I already went to see Cass

Jim Dorociak- Jim-- Check received

Sean_V8_914- Sean M.--Check received

BudK- Bud-- Check Received

maxwelj-Jack-- Check received

laflaur- John-- PM received and returned

ellisor3- James-- Check Received

ClayPerrine- Clay-- Check received

Davesprinkle- Dave-- Check recieved

Charliew- Charlie-- Check received

ottox914- Dave-- Check Received

Series9- Joe-- Check received

Thanks everyone for your interest in my friends book.

PM me your mailing information with your full name. I will PM back with my mailing information and instructions. The price of the book is $ 55.95. This is the first edition. You will get a personally autographed copy of the first printing. These are already printed and instock. I want to close out the first order by friday and start getting checks in the mail next week. I would like to deliver the checks to Cas by the week of the 20th so you can start getting books shortly after.

Cass is 68 years old. This is a man's life work and knowledge for the price of a nice dinner and a couple drinks. The metal forming technics he shows in this book have never been in the box.

i would be in for a group buy.....could you talk to him about doing one?

I did. He is happy to personally sign every copy. I would like to deliver a list to him with names and addresses. Lets see what kind of interest we have with this and see how long we should let this run.

cool. subscribed.

I would be interested, Rick. My metal pounding skills could use a little help

Put me down for one.

Definitely gonna grab one of those!

I'm in!

I'm in! Always room to learn especially with all the headspace I have

Could have used this 2 weeks ago.
Still need it now. I'm In.

Don't know that I will do any metal projects but I'm in.

Yep.

sure. why not? i'm in.

in.

Looks good. Just ordered one directly from his site

I am in for one.

Jerry

Rick, is this book geared towards master craftsman with access to machine shop and fancy tools or shade tree mechanic with only rudimentary tools?

Count me in on this please.....................Jerry

Thanks for finding this. I just bought one off the website. If he can sign it great, if not no problem either. Ahhh, metal.

The book has many simple solutions to complex metal shaping problems Lots of hand built tools. Many examples of working with an english wheel, several examples of stretching metal over hand built forms with come-a-longs and simple port-o-powers. A cool home built hand held bead roller powered by an air ratchet! The list goes on.

Several of the tools are specialty stuff like a pull max and he makes many of the shaping dies with a lath. But many of the tools are one off hand made. I think the novice will benifit from this the most. This is an exposure to metal crafting like you will probably never see again.

I'm in, PM sent

Most definitely a novice, I am in.

Cass is one of the guys I have always wanted to do a DVD, but as far as I know he has only made appearances on Covells shop tours. So I guess the book will have to do

It would be a real life lesson. He has an accent but I think he could do it.

I'm in too!

in; PM sent.

I sent out several PM's this morning. I will be on the road all day today but will reply to any PM's and add anyone other interested members to the list tonight. I want to end this Sunday night so checks have time to get to me by next Friday.

Remember, this is the first run of these book.

The list is building nicely! This offer ends Sunday night.

I'm in, PM sent.

Me too.

PM sent and recieved.

Ken

I would like to buy a book. Jim Dorociak

Thanks everyone! The list is updated. Everyone that posted an interest in the personally signed copy of the book amd sent me a PM with their address has received instructions by return PM.

I sent a PM to all those that expressed an interest in this post and did not send me a PM with their address. If I sent you a PM please take a minute and send me a reply so I know your still in.

I have to end the offer to personally deliver your checks to Cass Sunday night Feb-12. I want to be able to deliver them next Friday Feb-17. His shop is 50 miles from me but alway worth the drive.

Count me in for two copies. I have a friend who would love this.
PM me your address again so I can send you back some of the money you left at my place for those parts...

-Dave

PM sent

gotta have it!

Please add me to the list!

Bump for the day! I'll be out in the shop all day. If you send me a PM I will reply and update the list tonight.

The list is to update now. Please see the first for your status.

I sent a PM to all those that expressed an interest in this thread. I have not received a reply from some.

If I sent you a PM please take a minute and send me a reply so I know your still in.

I have to end the offer to personally deliver your checks to Cass Sunday night Feb-12. I want to be able to deliver them next Friday Feb-17.

I am in.

Check in the mail as soon as I get your address.

Well, the book arrived almost instantly. So a review is appropriate. I am disappointed. The level of skill, native talent and experience are immeasurable. Also really great projects shown. Three problems. First the writing is a problem. He is not fluent in English so he writes less. That makes each word more important. However because he has limited English sometimes the words say something that is not what is meant. This sometimes is to a point where it makes a difference in following. Second he comes from a point of view of a lifelong commitment. That means he has about a half million in equipment and doesn't mind spending weeks or days building a tool. I won't be able to make use of a technique shown with a three ton tool that I might use only one time. To be fair, this is the only way to see how a real master works at his craft. Finally he simply doesn't say much sometimes about the why and how's. So i cannot figure out what is going on. I work with metals a lot, but not for a living. Leaves me tantalized.

I would love to follow him around for a month and edit the book.

I said I was disappointed. Is my copy for sale? No!! I like the book, it just shows a master without a path to follow with. Your mileage will surely vary.

P.s. My iPad is self editing my text, so even this needs editing.

Bought mine back in November. Great read! Lots of Pictures. Very informative. I was not disappointed!

Cass shows how to do metal shaping using machines, David Gardner shows how to do metal shaping using just hand tools. Having both in your library will give you a good start on learning the craft.

The first checks arrived today! I updated the list.

Worn, I'm sorry you found the book less that satifying. Cass does have broken english. He used a woman as an editor. During the writting of the book she developed cancer. She did her best but really wasn't up to the task nor did she have a working knowledge the craft. So really she was doing as good as she could under the circumstances.

I agree you are looking at atleast a half million in equipment. But you need to realize that Cass purchased this equipment broken and worn beyond use. He then not only refubbed the equipment but then had to train himself to use it. This is a glimps into the lifes work of a master craftsman. He has many photos with diagrams showing the proper movement of the metal. So in addition to the text he tries to explain with pictures.

The fact of the matter is, many of the processes in hand crafting and moving metal requires some special tooling. Stuff like this is just not on the shelf at Lowes or your local FLAPS. Many times home built tooling doesn't work and needs refining. I found it an absolute joy to not only see the end product but the thought process that went into making the tooling that brought the part into a usable form.

You have to agree there are several examples of building simple bucks and forming metal with a come-a-long, torch and hammer or pulling and stretching metal with port-o-power.

Sure there are some complex forming dies for making trim and moldings. But have you ever wondered how it was done? When would you ever have a chance to even see that?
An example here is the window trim Mark is forming for our windsheilds. Ever wonder what type of dies were used or how that stuff was even formed?

After you receive your copy of the book take a good look at it. If anyone has any questions about how and why Cass is doing a project a certain way PM me. I will spend as much time on the phone as needed to explain his meaning and method.

I'm sure there will be many hours of pleasure thumbing though this book.

I plan to start a conversation in a couple weeks when the books get mailed out. I'm looking forward to the general impression from the group.

I couldn't wait for the group buy so I went ahead and ordered mine online.
First of all I want to thank you Rick for bringing this to our attention!!!!!!
You are very priviledged to know Cass personally!

The book is an amazing reference of how sheet metal components with complex shapes can be made using specialized machinery - both manufactured and hand made.
I am absolutely in awe of Cass' knowledge and skill.

The book is not a how to, or a proper reference book, by any means.
It is merely a glimpse into what one can do, given the motivation to succeed.
To truly appreciate the depth of his knowledge one has to already be somewhat experienced with metal forming equipment and technique.
I already know I must find an Eckold Piccolo or similar machine, somewhere, someday. Or maybe I'll make my own.

Yes there are numerous typos, and I'm sure worse errors in the text. I've only scanned through the book once.
I know where witch is written it means which, and when I see tub it means tube.
I'm the type who learns best by one or two examples and lots of personal trial and error, with occasional redirection from a master craftsman.
I'll be poring over the text and pictures for a long time to come, trying to absorb as much as I can of the knowledge Cass has unselfishly shared. The contents of this book are worth far more than the cash price.

This is an overview of the lifes work of a master.

He did not get a publisher in the formal sense. This was self published. There are 750 copies in the first run. He told me he sold 300 so far. If he ever gets this in the hands of a real publishing company and it hits Barns & Noble or Amazon. They will be flying off the shelf and we will have signed copies of the original unedited version.

Last day to get in on this. See the first post for instructions!

I'll be out working on the Ravenna car all day but I'll check in from time to time and up date the list if I need to.

OK boys and girls. The deadline has passed. No more members will be in on this unless you get to the post office ASAP. I want to deliver the checks to Cass on Friday. I will update the first post as I receive checks. When the checks get here I will head over to see Cass and have him sign your copy of the first printing of his book.

I spent the weekend with the book fascinated. The man is ingenious beyond belief. Furthermore he has a feel for things - you can just tell. If he weren't such a master, I would probably have settled for less, but with all of that at stake, he has the potential for a really great book and stops short. I can understand that. As I said, my copy isn't going anywhere soon. I am a scientist and I work producing technical articles about our research. I have worked with native Poles, Albanians, Belgians, Germans, Russians, and hardest of all Americans to get their language into line and their graphics so as to explain what is meant. So I know what it takes. It is just as much a craft as pushing metal.
The man is a metal God. But to be honest some chapters just turned out un-understandable.
Of course you have to chalk up some of this to pure and simple ENVY!

This is a self published effort. It is extremely diffecult to get published and extremely expensive. I'm sorry his book and discriptions are over your head. Take it at face value and enjoy it for what it is. Who knows, maybe he will have a workshop again you could attend.

Also, all of the metal forming technics he uses now with large equipment he used to execute by hand with hand tools. As he grew as a specialist his tool box grew with him. This allows a person to work smarter not harder. So don't let the tools intimidate you into thinking you can't make something he shows you in the book because you don't have the Pull Max. Let the book inspire you and work on your imagination.

Rick, I mailed you a check on Saturday.

I agree with 'Worn', that technical writing is a craft. I used to write technical articles and operating procedures at work (retired now). Found it necessary to proof-read and edit numerous times before publication and mass distribution. Pretty sure I'll read past any typos and get the gist of it.

Coincidentally, while looking through some boxes of books for a misplaced MSO (for a custom bike I started constructing back in 2006), found several old books on metallurgy, metal casting, metal shaping and machining. Cass's book will make a good addition to the 'metal' library.

Now, if I could only find those old Metallica albums ...

I'm not disputing the fact that there is likely type errors but metal work is more an art form than word smithing. Lets try to look beyond the written word and appreciate the book for the effort it is. I have always dreamed of writting something or doing something that would live on well past my life. Actually, I would just like to see the book again. I won't actually have a copy myself until I go back out there.

Please everyone Check the list in the first post to be sure I have you listed and you have received my return PM. I don't want anyone that expressed an interest before Sunday to miss out.