Tools I need to make jewelry?
09 Mar 2010
I want to start making jewelry necklaces, earrings, bracelets as a hobby I know they sell a lot of tools to help you with, Can someone give me the absolute "must have" tools you need also ones that will be used a lot!
i know it depends on what type of jewelry i want to make, im not quite sure of that yet, i know i don’t want to work with clay, im thinking wire work and possibly beading.
thank you
Okay, so I started beading a few years ago and i found that these are the three most important tools to have:
* round nose pliers (used for making loops in wire)
* flat nose pliers or chain nosed pliers (used for holding and bending wire at right angles) i use both, but either is probably ok for starting out. Chain nose pliers are good because they have a small tip allowing you to do more detailed work.
* flush cutters (used to cut wire)
there are of course many other tools which make beading/wire work easier such as nylon jaw pliers, crimping pliers and many others but these three are really the ones you need to start off with
you can also get pliers which are 3-in-1 type of things which include many different tools in the one. but these can be more expensive
as with all tools, prices range from cheap to really expensive professional ones. Most people say to by good tools to start with because they’ll last longer, but if your like me and at first didn’t really know what to do, sometimes the cheaper, not-so-good options are better just until you really know what you want to do.
also, you can probably buy the three pliers I mentioned in a set. That’s how i first bought mine.
Another thing to look out for is that the pliers don’t have serrated edges as this can damage and scratch the wire or findings.
Other must have equipment is basic jewelery findings (earring hooks, clasps, etc) this makes it easier when you suddenly have a fantastic idea, you have some of the necessary items already available. Again these come in a range of materials making them cheap or expensive. As i only make jewellery for myself, i don’t mind having clasps which are not sterling silver as it makes my jewellery a little bit cheaper but once i got into it, I did buy some more expensive tools as it does make everything easier.
hope this helps 
powered by Yahoo Answers
2 Responses
Nicola C
2010 Mar 09 1Okay, so I started beading a few years ago and i found that these are the three most important tools to have:
* round nose pliers (used for making loops in wire)
* flat nose pliers or chain nosed pliers (used for holding and bending wire at right angles) i use both, but either is probably ok for starting out. Chain nose pliers are good because they have a small tip allowing you to do more detailed work.
* flush cutters (used to cut wire)
there are of course many other tools which make beading/wire work easier such as nylon jaw pliers, crimping pliers and many others but these three are really the ones you need to start off with
you can also get pliers which are 3-in-1 type of things which include many different tools in the one. but these can be more expensive
as with all tools, prices range from cheap to really expensive professional ones. Most people say to by good tools to start with because they’ll last longer, but if your like me and at first didn’t really know what to do, sometimes the cheaper, not-so-good options are better just until you really know what you want to do.
also, you can probably buy the three pliers I mentioned in a set. That’s how i first bought mine.
Another thing to look out for is that the pliers don’t have serrated edges as this can damage and scratch the wire or findings.
Other must have equipment is basic jewelery findings (earring hooks, clasps, etc) this makes it easier when you suddenly have a fantastic idea, you have some of the necessary items already available. Again these come in a range of materials making them cheap or expensive. As i only make jewellery for myself, i don’t mind having clasps which are not sterling silver as it makes my jewellery a little bit cheaper but once i got into it, I did buy some more expensive tools as it does make everything easier.
hope this helps
References :
personal experience
ThomasW
2010 Mar 09 2I have found that using a square cut for wire is a big time saver. It leaves the end of the wire blunt so a quick bur file finishes it off with just a twist or two of the file. Also a tapered or step mandrel is handy for bail making.
Can’t tel you much about beading as my wife nor I do any but we do know some top notch beadiers that do work for us. I would be glad to get you in touch with them if you like. We do have a few pictures of their work on web site http://www.glassbyjulie.com. please feel free to contact me about other questions on tools.
Tom
References :
http://www.glassbyjulie.com
Leave a reply