Using The Right Tool for The Job Will Give You More Secure Crimps

Using the right tool for the job will give you more secure crimps, tighter and neater loops and perfect coils. Here's a guide to the most commonly used jewelry-making hand tools, the work they are designed to do and tips on when to use each tool. Bent chain-nose pliers are used to reach into tight places to grip components, close jumprings, bend wire and stabilize a design while working. The bent tip allows access into difficult areas without blocking your line of vision. Chain-nose pliers are used to reach into tight places, at difficult angles, to grip components, close jumprings, bend wire and stabilize a design while working. They are available in both long-nose and short-nose varieties. Short-nose pliers offer more strength and stability and long-nose pliers give more reach. Crimping pliers are an invaluable tool for stringing beads, as they easily secure crimp tubes to your beading wire. The jaws have two notches (when closed, one notch forms an ''O'' shape, the other a ''U'' shape). To crimp, first squeeze the crimp tube or bead in the ''U'' shaped notch to lock it into place. Then squeeze the crimped tube in the ''O'' notch to further secure and round it. End-cutting nippers are ideal for conquering problems such as cutting the post off an earstud or trimming the peg on a flat pad with peg. The highest quality nippers are constructed with lap joints and polished heads to prevent marking the surface of soft metals. Flush-cut pliers trim headpins, eyepins and beading wire such as Accu-Flex® professional quality beading wire, as well as fine wire used in wireworking. Flush-cutters allow a flat, even cut even in the tightest of places (hence the name), making for less filing and cleanup time. The tiny jaws camouflage their incredible accuracy and power. After cutting the end of a piece of metal wire, check out the cutting surfaces and see how one side makes a V shape and the other is flat. For a perfectly flush cut, always keep the waste end of the wire toward the concave side of the cutters. Flat-nose pliers are used to bend wire and hold beads and components without marring and scratching. The flat inside surface of the jaws help stabilize jumprings, flatten wire and create sharp corners for wireworking. Available in both long-nose and short-nose varieties. Short-nose pliers give you increased strength and stability and long-nose pliers give you more reach. Gem setting pliers are used for setting or tightening the prongs on gemstone settings. They have great leverage and are designed with parallel action jaws which can be adjusted to the exact width you need. By adjusting the jaws to the width of your setting, you can be sure you're not applying too much force on the setting or your stone. Loop-closing pliers smoothly close loops, jumprings, bracelet links and more. The jaws have a groove which allows for the curvature of different sized loops, and the smooth finish prevents distortion or scratching. Memory wire shears are made specifically to easily cut hard wires such as memory wire (steel) and precious metals. These shears will create a straight (flat) cut, so they work wonderfully for headpins too. Rubber coated, spring return handles are easy to use. Nylon-jaw pliers are designed to prevent marring the surface of round and square profile, precious and base metal wires. They are used like flat-nose pliers when forming wire and wire wrapping. They are also great for straightening bends and some kinks in wire. Rosary pliers are a perfect two-in-one tool -- round-nose pliers and side-cutting pliers in one handy tool. Round-nose pliers create loops and curves. Side-cutting pliers trim metal or beading wire. This is a great tool for highly repetitive work such as making rosaries (hence the name) or handmade chain. Round-nose pliers are an essential tool in a jewelry-maker's tool box. Use them to create multi-diameter loops when wire wrapping and forming headpins and eyepins. Scissors, Precision are designed to cut into tiny places with ultra-sharp precision. For left-handed or right-handed people. Great for trimming excess bead cord from those tiny bead tips. Stainless steel blades, polypropylene handles. Scissors, classically forged embroidery and beading are professional-quality Mundial brand scissors are great for getting into small areas to cut and for cutting small or fine materials. Made of fine forged carbon steel and carry a lifetime warranty. Scissors have extra-fine double sharp points. Split ring pliers are designed to open the split rings just enough to slide them onto the end of your finding and then have them close right back up without distorting the ring. Thread Clippers, for quick snipping work, these easy-to-use clippers are designed with no finger holes. Spring action handles and sharp blades make these a handy tool. Wire-Wrapping pliers are designed to create three-different sizes (4mm, 6mm and 8mm) of consistently perfect loops. They are used like round-nose pliers for wire-wrapping, forming simple or wrapped loops or creating your own jumprings. Source: firemountaingems.com