As their name implies, these tools are loaded with spring mechanisms that enable easier crafting. They work by releasing or gripping handles, which opens or closes the jaws. You can use them for picking up small objects or for cutting wire. Spring tension pliers are recommended for every jeweler as they are precise, they prevent hand fatigue, and they help you work faster.
Jewelry Making Pliers Guide for Beginner Crafters
Not Sure Which Pliers to Use For Jewelry Making? Find Out the Best Tools For Wire Wrapping, Cutting, and Shaping
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When you have some skills and the right tools, you can make almost anything at home and turn almost any hobby into business. This includes making DIY jewlery such as earrings, bracelets, wire wrapped jewlery, beaded necklaces, resin pieces, polymer clay items, and macrame handicrafts. But, apart from having important skills such as creativity, dexterity, and visualization, to become truly good at this hobby, it’s critical to have adequate jewelry supplies.
From our handy guide below, you will learn about different kinds of jewelry making pliers and what can be made with each type. We will also explain what each type does and what to include in your starter tool kit. Using information provided here you will be able to pick the right jewlery pliers and craft beautiful, unique pieces neater, easier, and faster than ever before.
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What Are Jewlery Pliers & How Are They Used In The Design Creation Process?
Jewelry making is an exciting and rewarding craft and in order to experience the true joy of making original, signature designs, it’s important to have proper hand tools. Having basic tools of good quality will enable you to bring your unique designs to life more easily and to complete your work with exceptional precision.
Types of Jewelry Pliers
When you have adequate equipment not only it’s easier to improve your skills but it also helps you cut down the time it takes you to make an item. Although, at first glance, all the different types of pliers may look the same to new learners, you will soon discover that each type is used for specific tasks and has its own unique characteristics.
Round Nose Pliers
Round nose pliers are intended for wire manipulation. You can use them to wrap, hold, shape and bend jewlery wire to create precise round shapes like loops, coils, curves, and circles. In essence, they are necessary for anyone making earrings or bracelets and necklaces with beads. Their jaws are perfectly round, allowing you to make various sizes and ultimately, helping you achieve professional finish. You can purchase them individually or as a set.
Side Cutters
Side cutters, also known as ‘diagonal pliers’ and ‘flush cut pliers’, come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and gauges, rated for cutting various thicknesses. They look like scissors because their jaws are parallel to the handles and their jaws are sharp blades with pointed tips. You can use them to cut soft wire, threads, or sheets made of soft metals such as copper, brass, silver, and gold. Because they have fine tips, it will be easier for you to get into those hard to reach, tight places and leave precise and clean edges. You should avoid using them on steel as hard metal can damage the blades.
A large subcategory of side cutters are flush-cutters, also referred to as ‘micro cutters’ or ‘nippers’. They are designed to cut wire (and other materials) into clean ends.
Chain Nose Pliers
Chain nose pliers have smooth, flat inner jaws with slightly rounded edges and tapered tips. They are used for bending, holding, and shaping the wire, but also for securing components (crimping), and opening and closing jump rings. Using their small ends you are able to reach tiny spaces and tight areas and grip miniature pieces well.
Flat Nose Pliers
Chain nose pliers have smooth, flat inner jaws with slightly rounded edges and tapered tips. They are used for bending, holding, and shaping the wire, but also for securing components (crimping), and opening and closing jump rings. Using their small ends you are able to reach tiny spaces and tight areas and grip miniature pieces well.
Specialty Pliers
Once you improve your skills and get better at what you do, you may want to invest in a few specialty tools. Take a look below at some of the options.
Crimping pliers – This hand tool is used to secure a bead or clasp onto the wire by crushing a metal crimp. Although some other types can also be used for crimping, these specialty ones give a much better and neater finish, so you may consider purchasing a pair of these.
Round nose rosary pliers – It’s combination of side cutters and round nose pliers used for making loops and curves, but also for cutting cord or slicing chain.
Half round pliers – This would be a fantastic addition to your basic set. They have one half round jaw, used for crafting curved shapes, while the other, half flat jaw serves to reduce scratches. Apart from making rings, you can also use them for forming hooks and wires for earrings.
Jewelry Pliers For Beginners
When you first become interested in jewlery making, you may start with pre-made bracelet kits and then move onto crafting wearable art by following step-by-step guides, such as this Hemp cord bracelet tutorial. This hobby is a great way to explore your creative side, and you can find a lot of resources online on how to start crafting your first piece.
When it comes to necessary tools, we’ve already established that pliers are an absolute essential in the DIY jewlery making process. And it is a known fact that jewelers’ work depends on the condition of their tools. But how do you choose the right ones if you are a beginner? With so many different kinds it can be hard to pick the right type that matches your needs.
How To Choose The Right Type: Things To Consider
Although most of the time you are told to acquire high-grade tools, that may not necessarily be the case. Sometimes, even cheaper options may do the trick and serve you as well as some expensive ones. Another reason why you may not want to purchase expensive equipment in the beginning is because after a while you may not want to continue with this craft. You may want to switch hobbies, so, before spending a lot of money, it’s better to wait and see how it goes down the road.
Type & Size
Pliers range in shapes and sizes from miniature to heavy duty, but the majority of tasks can be completed using light weight and medium weight pliers. For instance, heavy weight type, as the name implies, is designed for heavy duty work such as bending metal, or closing watch pendant bows. Flat and half-round pliers are mostly used for ring shank bending and large loops making. There are also lots of specialty pliers like bow opening pliers, diagonal cutters, end cutters, and rosary pliers. Think of what kind of items you will be making to determine the exact kind of tools to purchase.
Material
You shouldn’t forget to consider the material they are made of. They are often made from hardened, tempered steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, or steel alloys. All of these materials are durable and resistant to wear and tear, some more than others. Stainless steel is resistant to rust but less durable than hardened tempered steel. The latter is, however, at higher risk of rusting, so it has to be oiled regularly. As novice crafter, it’s best to pick stainless steel as it doesn’t rust, has good life span, and doesn’t wear quickly.
Handles
When you are doing detail work with hand tools, it’s imperative to find the one with the handle that fits your hand properly. When shopping, pay attention to handle length, as although the jaws may be the same in size, handles may be of different length. Keep in mind that longer handles cause less hand strain when working with metal. When it comes to width, thicker handles are easier to work with than thinner ones.
Cost
Although low-budget pliers found in craft stores are not meant to last, you could still use them in the beginning to practice before you perfect your skills and become ready to advance to a better pair. To save money, introduce higher end tools slowly, as you may even be able to combine lower end tools with pricier ones.
Springs
Pliers typically have some sort of spring, which serves to make the work easier on your hand. Rather than having to repeatedly open and close the jaws, they automatically open and close as you apply pressure. Take into account that most specialty pliers do not have a spring.
Comfort
No matter what type of work you intend to do, it’s recommended to get padded handles with ergonomic grips that comfortably fit your hand in order to avoid muscle strain. As you are probably aware, repetitive motions can cause repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, or wrist/hand pain and inflammation. Here’s several strategies which will help you avoid injuries:
- Good posture – Always maintain proper body posture (sit upright, back straight, shoulders relaxed) and keep your wrist in neutral position
- Take frequent short breaks - Remember to take a short break every 30 minutes or so to relieve muscle tension and rest your hands
- Stretch your hands – Before and after crafting sessions, stretch your hands and wrists
- Ergonomic tools – Choose tools that are ergonomically designed to reduce risks of injuries
- Keep your workspace at comfortable height – To minimize bending of your wrist, make sure your work surface is set to suitable height.
Cleaning & Caring Tips
To ensure your equipment remains functional for long time, you have to properly maintain it on a regular basis. Clean your pliers regularly with soft cloth to remove residues, and introduce rust inhibitor sprays to prevent rust.
- Cleaning – After each use, remove dirt and debris using clean piece of cloth.
- Treatment against rust - Apply anti-rust spray or a small amount of oil to the jaws. This is particularly important step if they are made of carbon steel.
- Storing - Store in a dry, moisture-free environment to prevent rusting.
- Proper use – Avoid using them on hard surfaces which can deform and damage the jaws.
FAQ
1. What are spring tension pliers?
2. What are the best materials and supplies for making jewlery for beginners?
Novice crafters should start crafting with affordable, beginner-friendly materials, such as beads, threads, cords, leather, wire, and polymer clay. Starting with low cost supplies allows you to practice and improve your skills without having to make a substantial initial investment.
3. How long does it take to make a handmade piece of jewlery?
It is difficult to give timeframe for the duration of the process as times vary based on the complexity of design and your skills. Plus, if you have all the tools, you may be able to do it faster than those who don’t have them. Simpler, beginner-friendly designs like beaded bracelets may be completed within a few hours, while other, more intricate pieces may take days to finish. As you develop your skills and gain more experience, you will become more efficient and work faster.
