Tools

If you are new to jewellery making it is worth acquiring the following tools as they are the ‘essentials’ that you will need for a professional looking result:

• Round Nose Pliers – you will need these for putting smooth bends and forming circular loops in wire. Perfect for finishing off head pins and eye pins when making earrings or charm dangles. The tapered round jaws can be used for making jump rings, or simply opening and closing them.

• Chain or Flat Nose Pliers – both of these plier types have flat inner jaws. The chain nose pliers have a rounded tapered outer jaw, whereas the flat nose have straight sided outer jaws. You will need the flat inner jaw for squashing shut crimp tubes, folding down ribbon ends and keeping a good hold of wire when the need arises (wrap your jaw ends in plastic tape to avoid scratching the metal). The advantage of the chain nose over the flat is that the tapered jaw allows you to get into smaller spaces, so again good for opening / closing jump rings.

• Cutters – For cutting most wire end or side cutters will put a neat finish on your wire (sand the end of the wire for a super smooth finish). However, memory wire is a different kettle of fish as it is so tough, and needs to be cut either with specialist memory wire cutters, or a pair of sharp household pliers. Use your jewellery pliers and risk ruining the jaws. Lighter weight snippers are good for trimming thread and cord.

• Crimping Pliers – This is a specialist tool that will give a neat finish to your crimp beads. A pair of flat nose pliers will flatten a crimp bead – perfectly functional – but crimping pliers will produce a rounded shape to the crimp that looks better and more professional if you are leaving them exposed.

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